Standard Presented To 18 Cavalry By The Chief Of The Army Staff On 07 March 2016

Amritsar, March 7, 2016: General Dalbir Singh, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), on behalf of the Hon’ble President Of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, presented the ‘Standard’ to 18 Cavalry at Amritsar today. It was a unique and proud moment for the Chief as he is also the Honorary Colonel of the Regiment. To commemorate this historic event, the Chief of the Army Staff also released a “Special Day Cover”. Addressing a gathering of serving personnel and veterans of the force, the COAS felicitated the regiment for having earned this distinction due to its heroic deeds even since its inception 174 years back. Sharing his personal affinity with 18 Cavalry, the General said that his father Rishaldar Major Ramphal Singh (Retired) had participated in the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971 as a braveheart of this very regiment . Even prior to that his grandfather had been a soldier of Azad Hind Fauj. He added that Standard Presentation has increased the responsibility of the regiment and hoped that 18 Cavalry will come upto the expectations of the country. The mesmerizing spectacle of mounted parade added to the military elan of the occasion. On this occasion Gen Dalbir Singh also awarded COAS commendation card to six personnel.
This honour has been bestowed upon the 18 Cavalry in due recognition of the dedicated service rendered by the Regiment since its raising on 31 Jan 1842. 18 Cavalry is a frontline Regiment of the Indian Armoured Corps which has participated in a large number of operations undertaken by the Army since its raising. In the course of discharging its onerous duties, both in operations and in peace, the hard work done and sacrifices made by the valiant soldiers of this Regiment have been duly recognised by the 29 battle and theatre honours received by the Regiment, second highest in the Armoured corps.
The ceremony was also attended by Lieutenant General KJ Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lieutenant General Praveen Bakshi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command and a number of senior officers and civil dignitaries.