Port Blair, Oct 08: The 13th Raising Day Celebrations of Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) concluded on 08 October 13 with an impressive Inter Service Ceremonial Parade being reviewed by Air Marshal PK Roy, AVSM, VM, VSM, ADC Commander-in-Chief ANC (CINCAN), at INS Utkrosh, Port Blair.
It was in the aftermath of the Kargil Operations, and on the recommendations of the Group of Ministers, that the ANC was raised on
08 Oct 2001, to safeguard the country’s national interests in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI). It is the first unified Command in the country, comprising the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.
Over the past twelve years, the Command has achieved high level of integrated operational efficiency, both in joint operations and in core areas of individual services, in this South Eastern bastion of the country. Besides fulfilling operational and security related mandates, promoting the ANI as an important element in India’s future has been in the forefront of the Command activities.
As a run up to the Raising Day Celebrations, a series of events were held to include visits by the CINCAN to various units and establishments, sports meets, welfare meets etc. While these activities were confined within the domain of the Command, the celebrations formally commenced with the CINCAN’s Press Conference on 03 October 13. The meet was held at the Naval Sailing Club and well attended by various sections of the media. The CINCAN in his brief address covered the journey of the Command from its inception till the present day, after which an interactive session on various defence, security and ANI related issues was held.
A Command Reception and Dinner was hosted at ANC Officers’ Mess on 05 Oct 13 to commemorate the Command Raising Day. The occasion was graced by the presence of Honorable Lt Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) AK Singh, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, the PCCF (WL), friends from the local community and industry. On 06 Oct 13 a Barakhana with all ranks and their families was held at Birchgunj Military Station.
In the 13th Raising Day ‘Ceremonial Parade’ on 08 Oct 13, award of CINCAN’s Unit Appreciation Certificates for displaying all round competence and devotion to duty were awarded to Chief Engineer (A&N) Zone, 22 PUNJAB, Indian Navy LCU 33, 37 Wing Air Force and Coast Guard 745 Squadron. The CINCAN in his address complimented all ranks for their efforts towards comprehensive security of the ANI, and emphasized the need for the military to be mindful in balancing the security imperatives and infrastructure development with the ecological and environmental sensitivities of these Islands.
ANC, the first Unified Command of the country, has certainly graduated from being an ‘Experiment to an Inspiration’; a true representation of seamless jointness between the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Coast Guard. The vision statement of ANC ‘To set a shining example of jointmanship by excelling in all activities’ aptly takes cognisance of its role in the region.
