What is Sword of Honour and How to Earn Sword of Honour?
Sword of honour is a dream of every gentleman Cadet/Lady Cadet or defence aspirant. Sword honour is given to the best-performing cadet in training academies of the Indian Army, Indian Airforce, and Indian Navy. In this article, we are going to discuss ‘What is the sword of honour and how to earn the sword of honour?’
A sword of honour is an honour given to the best-performing cadet during overall training. After the passing out parade (POP) ceremony, this honour is given by the commandant of the academy. To achieve this honour, cadets have to perform exceptionally well during their training and get the highest merit in all tests and parameters. Sword Honour is among the most honourable awards and most of the winners of this sword of honour have done exceptionally well during their careers. Former CDS Bipin Rawat and Colonel Rajya Vardhan Singh Rathore are among the most successful winners of the Sword of Honour.
How to earn the Sword of Honour?
Like any other honour, the sword of honour can be earned with great hard work and dedication only. The sword of honour is a dream of every cadet in the academy. But selection criteria for this prestigious award are multidimensional in nature.
Gentleman Cadets and Lady Cadets go through the criteria for getting the sword of honour:
1. Physical Tests
Cadets have to go through several physical tests and drills during routine physical fitness tests. In these tests, cadets have to cross obstacles and do long-distance running in a time-bound manner. Generally, These tests include a 2.4 km run in 9 minutes, a 5 km run in 25 minutes,20, 30 & 40 km runbacks, swimming, and several other obstacles. Cadets who perform well during these tests have higher chances of getting the sword of honour.
2. Field Training
During training in the academy, cadets are taught field training like ambush, camping, reconnaissance, and various other drills. These techniques are generally taught in the classroom. But cadets have to perform these exercises in the field as well. Those gentleman cadets and lady cadets who perform well in these field training have higher chances of getting the sword of honour.
3. Service Subjects
Gentleman Cadets and Lady Cadets are taught various tactical subjects like map reading, Radio Telephony, Organization, and Administration, Integrated Character and Leadership Training, Field Engineering, Military Writing, Intelligence and Security, Military History, Military Geography, Science, and Military Technology, English, and Communication Skills. Cadets have to undergo various tests conducted periodically to test their knowledge of these subjects. Marks in these subjects are one of the criteria for the sword of honour.
4. Participation in events
Many events like sports tournaments and other cultural activities keep on taking place during the training. Many Sports tournaments like Boxing, Football, Archery, and Swimming are organized in the academy. Cadets who participate in these events and perform well in these events are considered to be the right candidates for the sword of honour.
5. Holding Appointments
Cadets who hold important appointments are Senior Under Officer (SUO), Company Sergeant Major (CSM), Company Quarter Master (CQM), and Junior Under Officer (JUO) in the training academies. Cadets have to perform various functions related to these appointments. Cadets who perform well during these appointments are given preference during selecting cadets for the sword of honour.
6. Officer-Like Qualities
Officer Like Qualities are tested in the training academies as well. There are a total of fourteen officer-like qualities and cadets are evaluated based on these qualities. Cadets who have the majority of these qualities are given preference for the sword of honour.
7. Additional Course
There are some additional courses that are conducted during the training academy only. One such course is the para-jumping course. This course is conducted during the term break and the cadets who choose this course are sent for para training in Agra. Cadets who complete this course get a para wing badge as well. Cadets who have successfully completed para courses get preference for the sword of honour.
Some Facts Related to the Sword of Honour
- First Female Winner of Sword of Honour- Divya Ajith Kumar. Divya Ajith Kumar was the first female winner of the Sword of Honour in Officers Training Academy in 2010.
- First Sword of Honour in IMA- British Indian Army Officer Smith Dun.
The sword of honour is the dream honour or award of every defence aspirant. If you too want to earn this honour, you should start preparing for this award from now only and put in extra effort for this honour. Candidates should start making them both physically and mentally fit so that they can easily get good merit for the sword of honour.
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