JAMMU: Son of the soil, Lieutenant Commander Anil Raina, a Marine Commando has been selected to command the Indian Navy Contingent at Rajpath on the Republic Day celebrations this year.
Lieutenant Commander Anil Raina, a native of Miran Sahib, Jammu, is the first officer from J&K to command a Naval Contingent at Republic Day Parade this year.
Raina, B.Sc in Naval Sciences and a Post Graduate in Physics of Diving from Cochin University, joined Indian Navy soon after passing his matriculation in year 1999.
While serving in Indian Navy, he passed his class 12 through correspondence and qualified National Defence Services and Naval Academy Examination and became as commissioned officer in 2006.
After passing through the strict drills and trainings, Raina, son of Chander Prakash Raina, a shopkeeper in Miran Sahib, has become youngest Lieutenant Commander in Indian Navy.
Talking to STATE TIMES at the Rajpath during full dress rehearsal, Raina said, “It was my dream to walk on Rajpath while commanding the elite Indian Navy contingent.”
“In defense services, it is really a matter of pride for those officers and jawans who get chance to walk on Rajpath amidst clapping and cheers from lakhs and lakhs of people on both sides of Rajpath, “said Defense Spokesperson, Ministry of Defense, Col SD Goswami.
After going through various tests, the officers are selected to command a contingent. This is a matter for pride for J&K State that son of the soil Anil Raina, got an opportunity to display his drill expertise and march-past command, added Col Goswami.
“Raina, is the first officer from J&K to command a Naval Contingent at Republic Day Parade and this has made our family proud, said Raina’s cousin Naresh Sharma.
“Since his childhood, Raina wanted to be join defense services and his dedication and hard work has shaped him in the form of a true solider, said Naresh, adding “within two years of his service as cadet he passed the entrance tests and joined Naval Academy.
Lieutenant Commander Anil Raina became second cadet in History of Naval Academy to win Best Tenderfooter and Best Typhooner Awards in the rigorous Jungle Training camps
Raina also remained as Chief Editor of Naval Academy’s prestigious Magazine ‘AHOY’ for three terms.
He also led Indian Navy contingent during Sail Parade at Bremerhaven Germany in 2005, as a Sea Cadet from INS Tarangini (the sail training ship of Navy), along with other countries of world and the contingent was awarded the Smartest Crew Trophy
Raina also volunteered to join combat diving course at Navy Diving School Kochi, Kerala and got selected for course and passed out with the trophy of best diver of the course in Nov 2007. He became first Combat Diving Officer in Navy from J&K.
Later, he was selected in Navy Special Forces, Marine Commandos (MARCOS) in 2008. He also got best commando award in Physicals and became first officer in Marine Commandos from J&K.