‘LEADER’ code will guide young officers throughout their careers: Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth at OTA Gaya Passing Out Parade

Reviewing the parade, Lt Gen Seth highlighted that the LEADER code Lead by example, Empathy, Accountability, Duty before self, Ethical conduct and Resilience should remain the guiding principles for young officers as they begin their service in theIndian Army.

He said leadership in uniform requires officers to set personal examples, understand the aspirations and challenges of their soldiers, and uphold integrity in all circumstances. According to him, accountability builds trust within the ranks, while resilience enables commanders to face adversity on the battlefield.

The General Officer was reviewing the Passing Out Parade of the 64th Short Service Commission (Technical) Entry for Men and the 35th Short Service Commission (Technical) Entry for Women at the academy.

Congratulating the cadets on their commissioning, Lt Gen Seth said the occasion marked their transformation from trainees into commissioned officers and their acceptance of a solemn oath of honour, duty and unwavering service to the nation.

He noted that young officers are stepping into service at a time when the global and regional security environment remains complex and volatile, with emerging challenges in domains such as cyber and information warfare.

Referring to recent military operations, Lt Gen Seth said missions such as Operation Sindhu demonstrated India’s capability for swift and precise response through seamless integration of multi-domain capabilities and sustained operational readiness.

He further said that as India moves towards the vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047, the responsibility of ensuring a secure and stable environment rests significantly on the armed forces.

“The safety, honour and welfare of your country come first, always and every time,” he said, urging the young officers to uphold the highest traditions of the armed forces as they begin their careers in the service of the nation.

A total of 281 officer cadets were commissioned, comprising 253 from the SSC (Tech) Men-64 course and 28 from the SSC (Tech) Women-35 course. This group represented diverse backgrounds from across India, reflecting the inclusive recruitment policies of the Indian Army. The inclusion of 28 women officers underscores the progress toward gender integration in technical roles.