KATHMANDU: The Nepali Army (NA) has deployed 13 military officers to participate in the National Defense Course (NDC) in seven different countries this year.

The thirteen officers include 12 NA Colonels and a Brigadier General. The attainment of NDC is mandatory for promotion to higher ranks, including to Major General, in the NA.

Thirteen officers, including NA Brigadier General Dipesh Jung Shah, are doing the NDC abroad as the country’s National Defense University is under construction.

The NA has been deploying military officers on the international quota for the NDC for the past many years.

According to military sources, China has not assigned a quota for the NDC for the past two years, citing the COVID19 pandemic. Besides China, seven countries have admitted Nepalese military officers as per their regular quotas.

According to sources at NA Headquarters, Colonels’ duo Manoj Thapa and Drabya Bhandari went to the United States earlier this year to attend the NDC.

Similarly, Brigadier General Shah is doing the NDC in the United Kingdom. He is a military officer of 29 BASIC and is deemed as an officer likely to reach higher ranks in the NA.

Similarly, Colonels’ Purna Khatri, Pawan Khatri, Sobendra Mahat and Prakash Thapa are doing NDC from India, Colonels Prakash Thapa and Shakti Jung Basnet from Pakistan, and Colonel Rajendra Mani Giri from Bangladesh.

Colonel Jagat Poudel is in Kenya (newly added quota) and Colonels’ Manoj Baidya and Lila Khanal are in Nigeria.

The NA has been sending officers based on the merit they achieve in the examination held for the purpose. Military officers, this year too, have been selected based on the merit gained.