‘ENC to Host MILAN Multi-lateral Naval Exercise at Visakhapatnam in March 2020’ - Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain

‘ENC to Host MILAN  Multi-lateral Naval Exercise at Visakhapatnam in March 2020’ - Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain

On the occasion of 73rd Independence Day, a Ceremonial Parade was held at the Eastern Naval Command(ENC) comprising of platoons of naval personnel drawn from various ships and establishments, Defence Security Corps and Sea Cadet Corps at INS Circars Parade Ground on 15 August 2019. Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain AVSM, VSM Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ENC took the salute and inspected a 50 men Armed Guard. Vice Admiral SN Ghormade, AVSM, NM Chief of Staff, ENC, was the Conducting Officer of the Parade which was attended by all Flag Officers, Commanding Officers of various ships and establishments at Visakhapatnam and several Armed Forces and civilian personnel, veterans and their families. The parade concluded with the singing of the National Anthem by all present.

The Commander-in-Chief conveyed good wishes and greetings to all personnel on parade and their families on the occasion of the 73rd Independence Day and reiterated the need to remember the sacrifices of our martyrs who fought for our freedom and those who laid down their lives in service of the motherland. Speaking on the occasion, Vice Admiral Jain emphasized that as primary custodians of maritime security, we need to do our utmost in providing a favourable maritime environment for the country’s economic growth and prosperity by making the Indian Navy a Combat Ready, Credible and Cohesive Force capable of meeting present and future challenges. He reminded everyone present that with the changing security dynamics, maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is very vital and therefore, the responsibility of everyone in ENC to be prepared to face challenges from traditional and non-traditional asymmetric threats.

Vice Admiral Jain added that the Indian Navy will be hosting the MILAN, a Multilateral Naval Exercise at Visakhapatnam in March 2020, wherein apart from a large number of ships, senior dignitaries are expected to partake in various functions and visit naval facilities. MILAN series of biennial exercises which commenced in 1995, was conducted at Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) until last year, is being conducted for the first time on the mainland at ENC with increased scope and complexity of the Exercise. He urged everyone to prepare earnestly for this mega event which would be a historic occasion for the Indian Navy and the city of Visakhapatnam like it was done during IFR in February 2016.

In a parallel event at the “Victory at Sea” War Memorial on the Beach Road this morning, Vice Admiral Narayan Prasad, AVSM, NM Director General Naval Projects, Visakhapatnam placed a floral wreath and paid tributes to Martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice in defence of the Nation. A two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to the Martyrs.