Beyond Borders, Beneath the Tricolour: My NCC Youth Exchange Programme Journey to Russia

SUO Mohita Mourya Velaga

2(A) Composite Technical Regiment NCC, Visakhapatnam Group, AP&T Directorate. 

Introduction: More Than a Camp, More Than a Journey

There are some experiences in an NCC cadet's life that remain memories, while a few become milestones. For me, the NCC Youth Exchange Programme (YEP) to the Russian Federation was one such milestone.

I had the opportunity to represent India as part of a ten-cadet NCC delegation at the IV Festival of Cadet Friendship, “Strength in Unity!”, held in Stavropol, Russia.

But this journey was not simply about travelling to another country.

It was about wearing the Indian uniform in a completely different environment, meeting cadets from another nation, understanding their culture and military traditions, participating in international activities and gradually discovering the responsibility that comes with representing India.

The journey actually began much before our flight to Russia.

It began at Directorate General NCC Camp, Delhi Cantt, during the Pre-YEP Preparatory Capsule.

What Is the NCC Youth Exchange Programme?

The NCC Youth Exchange Programme (YEP) provides selected NCC cadets with an opportunity to interact with youth and cadets from other countries and gain exposure to their culture, traditions, institutions and way of life.

For a cadet, an international programme like YEP offers something that cannot be completely experienced through classroom training or regular NCC camps.

It places the cadet in an environment where every interaction matters.

When you are abroad in uniform, you are not representing only yourself.

You are representing your country.

That realisation became increasingly clear throughout my journey.

Pre-YEP Preparation at Delhi Cantt

Reporting at DG NCC Camp

We reported at DG NCC Camp, Delhi Cantt, on 21 May 2026.

The ten delegates were accommodated in the camp dormitories, and from the very beginning, it was clear that this would not be an ordinary NCC event.

We had only a few days to prepare ourselves for an international programme where discipline, presentation, cultural awareness and teamwork would all matter.

The ten-day preparatory capsule therefore became an important part of the journey itself.

Training and Rehearsals

Our daily preparation included:

• Morning PT and Yoga
• Squad drill
• Country-presentation rehearsals
• Cultural-performance preparation
• Western dining etiquette
• Table manners and correct use of cutlery
• Kitting and documentation
• Visa and international travel preparation

The preparation was not restricted to physical activities.

We also attended interactive sessions with our Delegation Leader and Deputy Delegation Leader.

These sessions covered topics such as:

• India–Russia relations
• Etiquette while representing India abroad
• Youth and cadet institutions
• International interaction
• Cultural representation

The purpose was simple: prepare us not only as NCC cadets, but also as young representatives of India.

The Moment We Became Senior Under Officers

One of the most memorable moments during the preparation took place on 27 May 2026.

The ten delegates were pipped to the rank of Senior Under Officer at the DG NCC Hall of Fame.

Receiving the rank in front of the “Unity and Discipline” memorial gave the journey a completely different meaning.

Until then, we had been preparing for Russia.

From that moment, the responsibility of representing India felt much more real.

Later that day, we proceeded to DG NCC Headquarters, R.K. Puram, where we briefed senior Directorate leadership about our preparation.

Our country presentation, cultural rehearsals and training activities were showcased during the briefing.

The remaining days were dedicated to final rehearsals, packing and ensuring that everything was ready for international travel.

Russia was no longer an idea.

It was now a departure date.

From Delhi to Stavropol, Russia

On 29 May 2026, we left the camp for Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Our journey took us from Delhi to Moscow and, after transit, onwards towards Stavropol.

When we finally landed at Stavropol, the experience suddenly became real.

At the airport, we encountered Russian cadets who had also arrived for the same event.

That first interaction was simple, but it became the beginning of many friendships and conversations that followed.

The festival was hosted by the Presidential Cadet School, Stavropol, and brought together cadets from different military and cadet schools across Russia.

Our delegation stayed at the Kontinent Hotel, located beside Lenin Square.

Representing India in Uniform

One of the things that repeatedly caught my attention during the journey was the reaction to our uniform.

At Indian and Russian airports, people noticed the delegation, looked at us with curiosity and pride, and sometimes requested photographs.

It may appear to be a small experience.

But when you are travelling internationally in uniform, such moments make you conscious of something important:

People are not simply seeing a cadet. They are seeing India.

Every interaction therefore becomes part of representation.

Exploring Stavropol and Russian Cadet Culture

Discovering the History of Stavropol

Our first full day in Stavropol began with a city excursion accompanied by a local historian. We explored historic parts of the city and visited several important locations, including:

• Fortress Mountain
• Statue of General Alexander Suvorov
• Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
• Eternal Flame commemorating Soviet soldiers who lost their lives during the Second World War

The visit provided an introduction to the history and cultural character of Stavropol.

Visiting the Presidential Cadet School

Later, we visited the Presidential Cadet School, Stavropol.

The school gave us an opportunity to observe another system of cadet education. We explored its museum, learned about its history and achievements, interacted with its cadets and experienced the environment in which they were being prepared.

We also participated in routine medical testing, playground activities, rehearsals and interactions with cadets from different participating schools. The uniforms and traditions were different from ours.

But the atmosphere had something familiar. There was discipline, camaraderie and a strong sense of belonging.

From Strangers to Friends

Perhaps the most beautiful part of YEP was not a monument, ceremony or formal event.

It was the gradual transformation of unfamiliar faces into familiar ones.

Cultural Exchange Through Matryoshka Dolls

During a cultural craft activity, we painted and assembled Matryoshka dolls while interacting with Russian cadets.

We discussed our cultures and interests, exchanged rank insignia and took photographs together.

It was a simple activity, but it created an informal environment where cadets from two different countries could interact naturally.

“Symbols of the Motherland”

The following day, we participated in the “Symbols of the Motherland” event.

This was followed by a team-building activity titled “Let's Strengthen the Cadet Brotherhood.”

Indian and Russian cadets were placed into mixed teams and participated in activities that required coordination, cooperation and trust.

These activities demonstrated an important aspect of international exchange.

Sometimes friendship does not begin with a formal introduction.

Sometimes it begins with a game, a photograph, a conversation or simply working together as a team.

Understanding Russia Beyond Tourism

The YEP experience was not limited to sightseeing.

We were given opportunities to understand Russia through its history, culture, institutions and youth programmes.

Exploring Russian Culture and History

We visited a local museum that introduced us to the region's people, traditional clothing, livelihoods and houses.

We also visited an art gallery featuring the work of a Russian painter who had travelled extensively through India.

Seeing India through the eyes of a Russian artist was an unusual and thought-provoking experience.

It reminded me that cultural exchange is not simply about learning about another country.

It is also about understanding how another country sees you.

Visit to the Nikita Gusev Centre

One of the most memorable visits for me was to the Nikita Gusev Centre for Patriotic Education and Military Excellence.

At the Centre, we were introduced to various aspects of military-oriented youth training and technology.

We experienced:

• Unmanned-system and drone training through simulators
• Laser-simulated firing drills
• Close-quarter-combat scenarios
• Firing simulators
• First-aid training
• Exposure to historic and modern Russian small arms
• Safety briefings
• Demonstration of AK-74 assembly and disassembly

The most valuable part of the visit was not simply seeing equipment.

It was observing how another country connects youth training, technology, patriotism and military awareness.

For an NCC cadet, such exposure provides a perspective that cannot easily be gained through conventional training.

Exploring the Caucasus: The Journey to Pyatigorsk

One of our most memorable excursions was to Pyatigorsk.

During the journey, we could see the Caucasus mountain range, including Mount Elbrus in the distance.

The road itself became part of the experience as we observed glimpses of rural Russian life.

Experiencing Pyatigorsk

Pyatigorsk had a calm and distinctive character.

We explored its architecture, visited a cathedral, observed the local tram network and travelled to a hilltop viewpoint overlooking the valley and surrounding Caucasus landscape.

We also experienced smaller moments that became important memories:

• Trying local food
• Visiting souvenir shops
• Tasting local ice cream
• Exploring the city
• Spending time with fellow cadets

These moments may not appear significant in an official itinerary.

But they are often the moments that make an international journey personal.

The Indian Cultural Performance

As the festival progressed, one event carried a completely different emotional weight—the Indian cultural performance.

We had spent days preparing and rehearsing.

Finally, the delegation performed before Russian cadets and guests.

The response was overwhelming.

The performance received a standing ovation, making every rehearsal feel worthwhile.

But the most memorable moment came at the conclusion.

I had the privilege of carrying the Indian national flag.

Holding the Tricolour in Russia

Standing there with the Tricolour in my hands, after spending days interacting with Russian cadets and representing India through our uniform, presentation and conversations, was one of the proudest moments of the entire journey.

For a few seconds, everything else seemed secondary.

There was simply:

The flag.

The uniform.

And the feeling of being an Indian cadet thousands of kilometres away from home.

That moment changed the way I understood the word representation.

Representing India was not limited to the stage.

It had been happening throughout the journey.

The Journey Back to India

On 7 June 2026, we left Stavropol for our return journey.

We travelled from Stavropol to Moscow and then continued towards New Delhi.

On 8 June 2026, we finally landed in Delhi.

The following morning, we returned to DG NCC Headquarters, R.K. Puram, for a post-visit briefing.

The delegation presented an account of the complete YEP experience.

A journey that had started with preparations at Delhi Cantt had finally come full circle.

But some journeys do not really end when the flight lands.

What NCC YEP Taught Me

Looking back, the Russia YEP remains one of the most significant experiences of my cadet career.

The biggest lessons were not limited to international travel or cultural exposure.

Representation Comes With Responsibility

Wearing the NCC uniform abroad made me realise that representation exists in every interaction.

A conversation, a photograph, a formal event or even a casual meeting can contribute to how people perceive your country.

Cultural Differences Do Not Prevent Friendship

Russian and Indian cadets had different languages, uniforms, traditions and backgrounds.

Yet we found common ground through sports, games, conversations, cultural activities and simple moments of interaction.

International Exposure Changes Perspective

Seeing another country's cadet institutions and youth-training systems provided a perspective that cannot be gained by simply reading about them.

YEP allows a cadet to observe, compare and learn.

The Best Memories Are Often the Smallest Ones

The most memorable parts of the journey were not always the formal events.

They were also:

• Conversations with Russian cadets
• Exchanging rank insignia
• Team games
• Photographs
• Local food
• The Caucasus landscape
• Evening walks
• Laughter among delegates
• Brief conversations with people we had just met

These small moments gradually became the strongest memories.

More Than a Certificate

The certificate may mark the completion of the programme.

But the real souvenir of YEP cannot be printed on paper.

It is found in the friendships, conversations, memories and perspective that remain after returning home.

The experience changed my understanding of what it means to represent India.

Representation was not confined to the moment when I stood on stage with the Tricolour.

It existed in every interaction, every conversation and every moment spent in uniform.

Final Thoughts: What “Strength in Unity” Really Meant

YEP began for me as an opportunity to represent India.

It ended as an experience that changed the way I understood representation itself.

Somewhere between Delhi Cantt and Stavropol, between the Indian Tricolour and the Russian cadet uniform, and between formal ceremonies and ordinary conversations, I realised what “Strength in Unity” truly meant.

Different uniforms. Different languages. Different cultures.

Yet beneath them all, the same spirit of youth, discipline, friendship and hope.

That is what I brought back with me from Russia.

And that is why the NCC Youth Exchange Programme was not simply a journey to another country.

It was a journey that changed the way I saw the world—and my place in it as an NCC cadet.