On the occasion of IAF's 80th anniversary today, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Air Command (EAC) Air Marshal S Varthaman said that while new weapon systems were being inducted, it was necessary to carefully maintain the old weapon systems that were still relevant today.
''It is the people who will utilize the new weapon systems and infrastructure to make our Command a deterrent force, so we have to ensure our people are well trained and ably led to achieve our objectives'', he added.
He pointed out that the Command was undergoing transformation with large scale up-gradation of its operational capability which would rank it among the strongest
''The most important resource are the people and the motto of the Command-- People First, Mission Always-- is therefore paramount and significant'', Varthaman added.
Various events including cultural show, social evening and community lunch were organized during the weeklong celebration to mark the occasion.
In his message, the AOC-in-C paid rich tributes to his predecessors who had worked hard to make the Air Force one of the mightiest in the world.
He appreciated the humanitarian assistance and relief rendered to Assam, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh by the Eastern Air Command,during floods and landslides.
