INDIAN MILITARY ACADEMY First among Equals GENTLEMAN CADET DOAN VAN SON FROM FRIENDLY FOREIGN COUNTRY RECEIVING SILVER MEDAL FOR THE GENTLEMAN CADET STANDING FIRST IN THE ORDER OF MERIT Passing Out with Flying Colours GENTLEMAN CADET FROM FRIENDLY FOREIGN COUNTRY RECEIVING MEDAL FOR BEST IN PT With Our Best Wishes… COMMANDANT AWARDING CERTIFICATE TO A GC FROM FRIENDLY FOREIGN COUNTRY Building Enduring Bonds COMMANDANT PRESENTING MEMENTO TO A GC FROM FRIENDLY FOREIGN COUNTRY Smiling in the Sun, after a Great Run Catch me if you can, Race to the Finish United we stand Friends who train together, stay together Home is where the Army sends us Make way for the Champion REMINISCENCE OF MY DAYS AT IMA “Awards become corroded. Friends gather no dust.” - Jess Owens. According to the dictionary a friend is a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection. It is true and we can see that in real life it has deeper meaning, a friend is someone with whom you can share your joy as well as your pain, someone who is there to listen to you and give you advice when and where needed. I have spent almost one year in Indian Military Academy and during the first term we were twelve strangers coming together. During the first six months this relationship has quickly shifted as we have been through a lot together. “United we stand, divided we fall.” as the saying goes, all the twelve of remained united. This unity brought us closer and day by day we learnt about each other and a deeper relationship began growing. Soon we realized that we were there for each other in times of need. Even if one amongst us was weak either in Physical Training or Academics we would spend time together and try to bring up at the same level as the rest. This drive and effort fueled the relationship and the bond stronger. After six months, other entries (ACC & NDA) joined the course. In the beginning some small groups were formed and these groups were interacting mainly amongst each other but soon the ice broke off and everyone started interacting with other groups, “Direct Entry”, “ACC”, or “NDA”. There was wider communication and more activities together which made the bond between us even stronger. Our new family circle was thus enlarged and each one was comfortable with one another. Day by day this relationship grew stronger and stronger, and we were there for each other. Due to this Covid-19 situation no one was able to go home, so we spent more and more time together which grew deeper, as of today the saying, “All for one and one for all” is truer than ever. We still have another term together which will further strengthen our relationship, and when we depart from Indian Military Academy, it will be a difficult moment. But whatever the situation be, nothing will break the feeling we have towards one other and this beautiful relationship. We will still be in contact with each other even if we are separated throughout the globe and one day hopefully we will meet each other. This fellowship will last for a lifetime. “Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.” - Woodraw Wilson. GC Antoine Gabriel Pescod Christian D/50130 Coy/Bn : D/Th TONGA AND MY EXPERIENCE IN IMA Kingdom of Tonga being the island nation that has never been formally colonized by a foreign power and at last remaining monarchy in the Polynesia. Tonga has been given a nickname of the 'Friendly Island' because of the welcoming and the congenial attitude shown to visitors. Tonga is a small archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean. An important tradition in Tonga is the Kava ceremony which has been part of Tongan culture for more than two thousand years now. Performing the ceremony for someone was a sign of great respect and honor. The Tongan tradition clothing wear is Tupenu, something similar to savong. On a formal occasion a taovala or mat is handmade by Tongan women is worn over the Tupenu and secured to the waist with kafa, Kafa is rope that is made from coconut. In Tonga, 98% of the population is Christian religion. The main source of income of each and every family is farming and fishing. Main income of the country is through tourism industry. Most people around the world visit the island to do whale watching and enjoy the beautiful landscape of the island. Moreover, I would like to describe my experience in Indian Military Academy. Before joining the Academy, I know that it is going to be tough but for sure it's going to be memorable and enjoyable. The first thing that I had experienced on arrival here was the winter season as we don't experience cold weather at all in Tonga. I also observed the way everyone gives out their best to perform a task and also to support their company especially in sport. I have played sport that I have never played before such as Football, Hockey, Volleyball and Cross-Country. Thus sport has created a strong bond between individual Gentleman Cadet and never let the fellow course mates down. Finally, my efforts to improve understanding of Hindi language. I used to listen to Hindi Songs and watch Hindi Movies back in Tonga but couldn't understand. Now course mates have taught me the language and I am happy that my Hindi has improved quite a bit and am still learning and will continue to do. I would love to state a quote that everyone want to be on the top of the mountain. But all the beautiful growth occurs while you are climbing it. Even my Indian Military Academy journey is just halfway but I am enjoying every bit of it. GC O Kusitino Velangilala Vete D/50199 Coy/Bn : Ch/Th MY DAYS AT THE ACADEMY DURING TRAINING 2nd July 2019, I reported at IMA where one of the drill saab was there to pick me up from the gate. I still remember that he gave us exactly 2 minutes to pick up our luggage and settle down in the bus and we were so fast that we did not even take a single minute to settle down in the bus. The very first place that we entered was Kohima Company, where we were allotted with our respective company. I got Jessore Company also known as Commando Company. The next day my Company CSM escorted me to the company and allotted me a cabin. I entered inside the cabin and I started missing my friends and family and especially my room at home. The first month of my first training was the difficult days of my life in academy. I used to get late wherever I had to go and wake up at 4am everyday and report to CSM was routine. The first camp was the longest days in the Academy. The weather and humidity used to be sickening. Those sleepless night that I spent digging trenches and running route march at the end were devastating. I came back from the fruitful thirty days of term break with the excitement to see new course mates from ACC wing and NDA. The first month was a time to make good bonding with them because during the screening test of PT. The best day of Indian Military Academy since arrival was 1 March 2020. It was the day for cross-country. The feeling before cross-country was tense and heavy. But from the start line till the end point I gave my best and managed to be in 3rd enclosure. It was my first cross- country for the company and the result was not as I promised to CSM. As the result came out it was Jessore company who stood 1st winning the prestigious award. That day I will never forget in my life. After memorable days in my II term, I was in IIIterm wearing III term badge and wearing Indian Military Academy pin across the tie on mufti, the day I was waiting for. My III term experience was not good because of corona-virus outbreak world wide. It is a disease which spreads so quickly that even though we are infected we won’t know and we will spread unknowingly. So my experience was up and down in the Academy but I am looking forward to making it a memorable and knowledgeable one in life. D/49776 GC Leki Tandin, Jessore Coy. BONDING AT IMA Once we choose Army as our profession, all part of this family became our olive green brothers or what is commonly called ‘Band of Brothers’. I have many friends but after joining Indian Military Academy, I got new set of friends which will be there till my last breath. We not only share same uniform but also share a bond developed between us which is stronger than any. We also get friends from other countries, in fact all other people who wear this uniform all around the world become a part of us. These are the friends I will cherish throughout my life. We not only share good times together but we also go through tough times together which brings us more closer. So being in Indian Military Academy I learnt a new part of friendship. It is a very peculiar type of bond which is tied like a tight knot that doesn’t come off easily. D/50155 GC Ugyen Penjor, Zojila Coy. .