Marine commandos celebrate silver jubilee

Mumbai: Marine Commandos (MARCOS), the elite special force of Indian Navy that has won laurels for its role and proven its mettle during various operations and deployments are celebrating 25 years of service this year. The silver jubilee ceremony of MARCOS is being conducted from today and will conclude on 12 June, an official release said.[caption id=“attachment_328100” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Marine commandos. Image courtesy PIB “]  [/caption] Admiral Nirmal Verma, Chief of Naval Staff was the chief guest for the event. The celebrations included an operational demonstration where the MARCOS displayed their battle skills learned and honed over the last two-and-a-half decades. A seminar and reunion of the serving and retired MARCOS was held to introspect into various facets of Special Forces operations, to learn from the past and to navigate into the future, thus enhancing navy’s capability at sea. The event concluded with re-administering of oath and a wreath-laying ceremony at the martyrs memorial, followed by the release of a Special Day cover by the Chief of Naval Staff. The event was attended by various other senior dignitaries of the Indian Navy, which included the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Western Naval Command, Chief of Staff Western Naval Command and Flag Officer Maharashtra and Gujarat Area. The force started off as the Indian Marine Special Force and the first batch passed out on 14 February 1987. It was renamed as the Marine Commando Force (MCF) in 1991. The valiant efforts of its cadres during Operation Pawan (Sri Lanka), Operation Cactus (Maldives), Operation Muffet (Somalia), Operation Rakshak (J&K), Operation Black Tornado (26/11 attacks) and ongoing anti-piracy operations in Gulf of Aden have earned the force one Maha Vir Chakra, two Vir Chakras, eleven Shaurya Chakras, forty one Nau Sena Medals (Gallantry), two Nau Sena Medals bar and one Sena Medal. PTI