Sainik School Kodagu had the honour of hosting a distinguished guest, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, AVSM, VM, AOC-in-C, Training Command, IAF for an enlightening and motivational interaction with the cadets. The event was marked by insightful thoughts and guidance from the esteemed chief guest. The programme also witnessed the gracious presence of Mrs. Vandana Kapoor, President of AFFWA (Regional).
On his arrival, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor offered his tributes to the war heroes by laying wreath at the ‘Wall of Heroes’. A special assembly was organised in honour of the officer. Cadet Nishant Narayan and Cdt Pratyush set the tone for the day’s proceedings at KMP Hall with their role as the Master of Ceremony. Cdt Gitesh R., introduced the chief guest, shedding light on Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor’s professional achievements and remarkable journey from his early training days to becoming the AOC-in-C, Training Command, IAF.
In his introduction of the Chief Guest, Cdt Gitesh R., also brought out glimpses of the officer’s illustrious career from a distinguished alumnus of the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force to the Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations Strategy) at Air Headquarters, Air Defence Commander at South Western Air Command, Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters, Central Air Command and the AOC-in-C, Training Command, IAF. For his distinguished service, the Air Marshal has been conferred with the Vayu Sena Medal in 2008 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022.  Cdt Deepti BU and her team welcomed the chief guest with their welcome dance, followed by a welcome song by Cdt Raman and his team. Cdt Kedar YD and team presented ‘Dollu Kunitha’, a folk dance.
In his engaging address, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor shared his experiences and insights about choosing a career in the Indian armed forces. The officer encouraged the cadets to pursue their aspirations fervently, and he provided valuable guidance on preparing for the UPSC NDA and other entries to various defence training academies. The officer encouraged the cadets to understand the critical requirements for becoming a committed Defence Officer in Indian armed forces.
The cadets received a rare opportunity to interact with the officer of such a stature. The visit proved to be an inspiring and educational experience for the cadets. Col Amar Jeet Singh, Principal of Sainik School Kodagu, expressed his gratitude to Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor and as a token of appreciation; he presented the chief guest with a memento of ‘Wall of Heroes’.
Wg Cdr P Prakash Rao, the Administrative Officer, Sqn Ldr Mohammad Shaji, Vice Principal, Senior Master, faculty members, members of administrative section, NCC and PI staff were present on the occasion
