Wing Commander Surinder Sawhney was commissioned on 31 Dec 63 in the Flying Branch of the IAF. He has been posted to the Directorate General National Cadet Corps as Deputy Director (Air) since Dec 81. His duties include supervision of gliding, flying, Aero­adventure activities, other training activities and coordination of maintenance, repair and provisioning of new gliders and other aviation equipment in the 54 NCC Air Wing Squadrons throughout the country. During his tenure in the NCC, Wg Cdr Sawhney with his high level of initiative, consistent application and dedicated hard work has been able to achieve many noteworthy milestones of which the main ones are firstly; revision and updating of gliding Standard Operating Procedures and admin instructions for National Cadet Corps/National Defence Academy issued 10 years earlier; secondly, achievement of 75% serviceability state on gliders which are more than 20 years old through excellent planning of repair programme and effective monitoring; thirdly 64,300 launches of gliders in one year, the highest in the history of the NCC; fourthly, reducing the accident rate from 7 to 3, the lowest accident rate in 10 year; fifthly has personally planned and safely executed four Air Shows on gliders in Delhi including for the first time formation of aerobatics display during the IAF Golden Jubilee and sixthly working out modernization plan of gliders and winches into the NCC Air Sqns which includes induction of new gliders at present and planning the future induction upto 1990.

Among the gliders planned for induction into the NCC is the, new Microlight aircraft. During a demonstration flight of Microlight aircraft on 27 Jan 84 in the PM's NCC Rally over the Army Parade Ground, the propeller of the aircraft bloke at a height of 50 feet resulting in severe vibrations and the machine getting almost out of control. In this situation of grave emergency, Wg Cdr Sawhney fully aware of the presence of distinguished audience consisting of PM, RM, RRM, Services Chiefs and many other Foreign dignitaries displayed exceptional professionalism and landed the aircraft safely. The emergency and the landing was handled and executed with such professional coolness that the grave emergency, which could have resulted in a grave disaster, came to light much later and was specifically appreciated by the distinguished members of the audience. This act of Wg Cdr Sawhney not only saved a valuable aircraft and a near disaster but was a great morale booster for the young cadets from throughout India who were watching the display.

Wg Cdr Sawhney, through his personal contribution and single minded dedication, has done yeoman services in pioneering this aero-sport into India, which has motivated a lot of young students to enter the aviation wing of the NCC and the IAF. The sustained hard work put in by Wg Cdr Sawhney and his exceptional handling of the emergency in the air have been in the highest traditions of the NCCC and the IAF.

For Wg Cdr Sawhney's exceptional initiative, devotion, professional skill, leadership and airmanship qualities displayed in the air wing of to NCC, the President is pleased to award him the Vayu Sena Model