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• 643231
Group Captain Varun Singh SC Defence Services Staff College
Directing Staff (Air) Wellington (Nilgins)
Mob 74770 50280 Tamil Nadu - 643 231
E-rnail : varunsnghts11@gmail.com

DSSC/27987/Pers Sep 21

The Principal
Army Public School
Sector —D, Chandimandir
Haryana 134

I hope this letter finds you. your family, the faculty and the ch"dren
of the school tn the best ot healthin these challeng.ng times. I am an
alumnus of the school's 2000 batch. Wg Cdr Avtar Singh (Retd) was the
principal at the time and the present Vice-Principal Mrs Vijay Lakshmf was
our English teacher After completing school, I was selected for NDA and
thereafterjojned the A'/ Force 'n the Flying Branch. fighter stream
2. i write to you filled with a sense of pride and humility, On 15th Aug
this year I have been awarued Shaurya Chakra by the President of India
in recognition of an act of gallantry on 12 Oct 20. I credit this prestigious
award to all those I have been associated with over the years in school,
NDA and thereafter the Air Force as I firmly believe that my actions that
day were a of tne groomingand mentonng by my teachers,
Instruc:crs ana peers over tne years
3. I write to shai€- some thougnv.„about my hie which i feel may
and insptre children who might teei that they are meant to be only
mediocre in IhiS hyper competitive world.
4 I was a very average student who barely scored I •tdivision In
class. Even though was made tre Prefect 'n 12th, was equaiiy
average even in spcrgs and other co-curricularactivities. But I had a
passion for airplanes I represented the school in
 and we stood 2ndand 3rdin those
Aeronautical Society of India Quiz twice

Cadet) and did

As I wentto NDA, I passed out as an OC (Officer appointment
cut to be an
not excel either in studies or sport to make the
that my passion
in NDA. It is when I reached AFA that I started to realise then I lacked
for aviationgave me an edge over my peers. Still, even
confidence in my true capabilities.
average
I lacked confidence as I always thought I was meant to be
at
and there was no point in tryingto excel, as I possibly couldn't excel
anything. After commissioning as a young Flight Lieutenant in a Fighter
Squadron I realised that I could do well if I put my mind and heart to it. I
started working to be that best I could be, as opposed to only making sure
I achieve the 'pass' standard.
It is at this point that things started to turn around in my
professional and personal life. I resolved to do each task to the best of
my abilities, whether it was flying or otherwise. I was soon selected to
undergo the challenging Flying Instructors course, wherein I bagged two
trophies out of the five.

8. Subsequently I volunteered for the prestigious and rigorous

Experimental Test Pilot course which had a 4 stage selection and only 7
out Of 59 pilots who appeaqedmade it through. And during the 1 1 months
long course one of the pilots was withdrawnfrom the course as he could
not cope with the rigours of the course.
9. Thereafter, I was selected to undergo the prestigious Staff College
abroad and on return was posted to a Tejas aircraft Squadron even
though I had crossed the seniority bracket to qualify for change of aircraft.
My credentials as an Experimental Test Pilot were the reason for this
challenging and exciting posting
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• 643 231
Group Captain Varun Singh SC
Directing Staff (Air) Defenco Sorvices Staff College
Mob : 74770 50280 Wellington (Nilg•ns)
E-mail : varunsnghts11@gmail.com Tamil Nadu -643 231

10. In 2019 1 was in the first list of 12 candidates for ISRO's

Gaganyaan programme Though. I did not make the final cut due to a
medical requirement.Subsequently.last year on the fatefulday, I was
faced with a grave and critical failure in my aircraft The SOP required me
to eject and abandonmne aircraft. However. I took a few calculated risks
and managed to tand tile aåcrafi wilhoui any damage either thc aircraft
or civilians. The citation tor the award is attached as reference.
11 I bring out the above not to blow my trumpetor witha desire to
seek a pat on the back. I write to let the children know a few of the
following thoughts of my life expenences that may help them in future,

12. "It is ok to be mediocre. Not everyone will excel at school and not
everyone will be able to score in the 90s. If you do, it's an amazing
achievement and must be applauded However, if you don't. do not think
that you are meant to be mediocre. You may be mediocre •nschool but it
is by no means a measure of things to come in life. Find yourcalling, it
could be art, music. graphic design. literatureetc. Whateveryou work
towards, be dedicated. do your best, Never go to bed thinkingI could
have put in more effort,
13 Never lose hope. never think that you cannot be good at what you
want to be. It not come easy. it take effort.It will require sacrifice
reacheddifficult
of time and comfort. i was mediocre.and today I have
milestones jn rny career Do åiat 12'"board marks decide what
yourself. work towards it."
Believe jn
you are capable of achieving in life.
of this
14, I would be deeply humbled if in your judgement some part
the teens as they near
story may be shared Withthe children, especially pressures, academic
adulthood with its comp!exities of societal frighteningfuture.
challenges and a sometimes an uncertainand
believe him/herin
15 If I am is able to inspire even one child toot writing to you
himself/herseif I would have achieved my objective
16. Once again reiterating, the honour I have been bestowed is a result
of my grooming over the years starting from school. I still hold my
teachers in the highest of esteem and thank them for where I am in my
life and career.

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