26-year-old first from Ladakh to become officer from sepoy

Stanzin Norgays, 26, became the first from the Ladakh region and Army’s Ladakh Scouts regiment to get commissioned as an officer from the sepoy’s rank on Saturday.

Having served in the army as a sepoy for four years in the Ladakh Scouts regiment, he joined the Army Cadet College (ACC) which prepares jawans to make the transition to officers and was then recommended to IMA for the one-year pre-commissioning training that he completed on Saturday.

Norgays said, “It is a matter of extreme pride that I have become the first serving personnel from Ladakh to get commissioned as an army officer after joining as a sepoy on the rank of Rifleman.” Norgays, who has now joined the Army’s Artillery regiment as a Lieutenant, added, “My commanding officers back in the Ladakh Scouts regiment told me that my case would be an inspiration for the recruits from Ladakh in the regiment. I would be very happy if more sepoys from there get recommendations from ACC for the pre-commission training at IMA.” Among his family members present there, one of his cousins is a Buddhist monk who too expressed his happiness to see him rise as an officer.

Konchok Tsewang, Norgays’s elder brother and a banker in Leh city said, “We are elated that he is now an army officer. He has achieved this feat with his hard work and conviction.”