Passing out is the official graduation ceremony following the completion of a course bymilitary or other uniformed service personnel at their respective training school, college, or military academy, largely inCommonwealth nations.[1] Soldiers, sailors, or airmen take part in a passing outmilitary parade upon completion of abasic training course.[2] The military parade during the 'passing out' ceremony may also consist ofmilitary bands, and other displays of synchronisation discipline such as aflypast, which may also includeaerobatics.[3]
The parade may also be referred to as a 'Marching out' parade, as it is at theArmy Recruit Training Centre atKapooka in Australia.[4] It is also known as 'Pass off' parade, as in the case of theRoyal Army Physical Training Corps and Passing out 'Ceremony' in the case ofWarsash Maritime Academy of theBritish Merchant Navy.[5][6] It is also known as 'Sovereign's Parade' atRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst, when inspected by a member of theBritish royal family or another royal.[7] Since 1964, theFire and Rescue NSW conducts a passing out parade on course completion.[8]
_(13455348893).jpg)
A 'reviewing officer', usually a senior officer, reviews the parade and hands out any medals to cadets who have excelled.[9] Militaries around the world usually allow civilian guests including parents and next of kin, to attend the passing out parade.[3] Dignitaries may also be present, as was the case atRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2010, when the British Prime MinisterDavid Cameron was present to witness the event. Other dignitaries at the event included relatives of graduating cadets such thePresident of Yemen and thePrime Minister of Bahrain.[10]
The chief guest at the military passing out parade of Napuka Secondary School,Cakaudrove, in August 2019, was the senior most female officer of themilitary forces of the Republic of Fiji.[11] In 2019, Vice PresidentMike Pence spoke at the graduation ceremony at theUnited States Military Academy, West Point.[12]
.jpg)
In 2019, the reviewing officer for the 136th Passing out Parade (POP) at theIndian Military Academy (IMA) was Lieutenant GeneralCherish Mathson. Having such senior officers present is a morale booster for the cadets.[13] During the passing out parade, a dignitary may also make a speech, as was the case during the passing out parade in IMA in 2007, when Prime MinisterManmohan Singh addressed the cadets and guests.[14]
The passing out atRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst, known as the Sovereign's Parade, is conducted three times a year.[15] One of the main ceremonies during the parade isTrooping the Colour.[16] Various awards and honours are presented to cadets who have excelled. This includes the Queen's Medal, the Overseas Sword, and the MacRobert Sword.[17][18]
The passing out can also consist of traditions such as presentation of a 'Sword of Honour', as in the case ofSandhurst andIndian andPakistan military academies.[19][20][21] In 2010, for the first time in the history of theOfficers Training Academy, India, a female cadet,Divya Ajith Kumar, was presented the sword of honour.[22][23]
Another tradition that happens during the 'passing out' is the 'Shipping-of-Stripes', as in the case of theIndian Naval Academy.[3] During this ceremony, senior officers and the relatives of the passing out cadets 'ship' theepaulettes (commonly known as 'Stripes') on the uniform. This represents the graduation of the cadets into officers.[24]
A common song that is played during the passing out, especially inCommonwealth countries, isAuld Lang Syne, aRobert Burns poem.[25][26] Themilitary parade during the 'passing out' may also consist ofmilitary bands. At the Indian Military Academy, before the cadets begin the passing out parade ceremony, the band plays a melody (aarti), allowing the cadets to pray to their respective god.[27]
The first recorded hat toss in the United States of America was in 1946 atUnited States Military Academy, West Point. After the hat toss, children are allowed to take one hat each. Cadets fill the hats with notes, snapshots, and even money for the children.[28]
At some places such as the Indian Military Academy, 'flinging-of-cap' has been stopped.[29] The tradition of 'cap-flinging' during the passing out parade has a long past; the tradition starting well before India's Independence from British rule.[29] It was stopped in India in 2010 as some people found it disrespectful for the caps to touch the ground.[30]
Other traditions include theadjutant leading the parade to crack a joke to lighten the atmosphere, as in the case of the Indian Military Academy passing out parade.[27] At the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the parade finale includes the mounted adjutant riding up the steps of the Old College on his horse (the origin of this tradition is unknown).[31] At the Indian Military Academy, the finale is the 'antim pag' (final step), where cadets take the last step intoChetwode Hall.[32]
The passing out parade is depicted in the 1980s bookThe Passing-out Parade: A Play by British writerAnne Valery.[33] In the 2004Bollywood movieLakshya,Hritik Roshan, upon completing his course at theIndian Military Academy, takes part in a passing out parade.[34]
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
