The two-day Southern Command Investiture Ceremony concluded in Ahmedabad on Saturday, honouring exceptional acts of bravery, distinguished service, and professional excellence across the Indian Armed Forces and associated establishments. The event highlighted the dedication and sacrifices of military personnel, veterans, and civilians who contributed to national security and societal development.
Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Command, presented awards to 34 personnel for gallantry, courage, and meritorious service. Thirty-three units were also conferred the "GOC-in-C, Southern Command Unit Citation" in recognition of operational excellence, consistent performance, and professional achievements across various assignments.
The ceremony commenced with a ceremonial Guard of Honour, reflecting the traditions of the Indian Army. Addressing the attendees, Lt Gen Seth lauded the courage, professionalism, and selfless service of awardees while emphasising Southern Command’s operational readiness, technological modernisation, and multi-domain capabilities demonstrated in recent exercises and missions.
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Veteran Achievers Awards were also presented to former service personnel for their notable post-retirement contributions. Among them, Wing Commander Dharmendra Sharma (Retd.) was recognised for his environmental and social initiatives through the ARC Foundation, including tree plantation drives, waste management, education support, and rural livelihood programmes.
Civic contributions were acknowledged as well, with Jayesh Patel, Deputy Executive Engineer of the Ahmedabad Cantonment Board, receiving the Achieving Excellence Award for his 37 years of dedicated service in engineering and administration. His recognition underscored the value of sustained commitment to duty and organisational standards.
The ceremony, attended by senior defence officials, dignitaries, Veer Naris, Veer Matas, and invited guests, concluded in a solemn atmosphere, celebrating the core values of courage, discipline, and selfless service that define the Indian Armed Forces.
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