The team comprised 10 NCC cadets along with four officers, two junior commissioned officers, one girl cadet instructor and 10 non-commissioned officers. The ten cadets include five boys and five girls. The expedition was flagged off by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from New Delhi on 3rd April. The Defence Ministry said that the selected cadets were novices, chosen from across the country.
They underwent a strict selection and training process. As part of their preparation, they conducted a pre-Everest expedition at Mt Abi Gamin. A team of 15 cadets was then selected to undergo winter and technical training at the Army Mountaineering Institute, Siachen Base Camp. After months of training, ten cadets were selected for the Mount Everest Expedition.
The team, comprising the youngest climbers with an average age of 19 years, became the centre of attraction and were noted for their fitness and discipline during acclimatisation training at various stages of the ascent. Sherpas of Nepal praised the NCC team for their physical readiness and morale. Despite facing challenging weather and terrain, the cadets successfully unfurled the Tricolour and the NCC Flag atop the world’s highest peak.
