Bharat Rakshak

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1. Supreme court judgement striking down discriminatory policies towards women officers.

2. Failure to phase out the Sahayak system despite this issue having been flagged almost 10 years back by internal studies.

3. Lack of sanction to prosecute or hold GCM in the Pathribal case. (Which is going to be the next egg on the Army's face)

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@RajitO
You may explain the connotation of using the term 'whistleblower' with Mr Praveen Swami and whose whistle he is blowing

Just a few posts after this link we have a diatribe against Pravin Swami - hopefully the irony is not lost on some of us here.

If one could depart from the ad hominem school of internet debate and honestly ask if the Army has done a good job of "evolving with the times", we might see some glaring lapses:

1. Supreme court judgement striking down discriminatory policies towards women officers.

2. Failure to phase out the Sahayak system despite this issue having been flagged almost 10 years back by internal studies.

3. Lack of sanction to prosecute or hold GCM in the Pathribal case. (Which is going to be the next egg on the Army's face)

Also, I'd be very careful to insinuate that people who hold the Army to a different standard than most on BR would are "ISI agents" - a man much wiser than us came up with the homily "Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels".

1. This is a long debate and a whole thread is dedicated towards it. So, I would prefer not to discuss it here. However, I would urge you to read the following article. Perhaps it would help you to somewhat appreciate the other side's POV.
http://www.esamskriti.com/essay-chapter ... cts-1.aspx

<SNIP>I wonder if tomorrow Gen. VK Singh would come up with pretty much the same analysis of Nyoma, how many here would use the same kind of language to describe him as they have done for Pravin Swami?PS has been peddling nonsense on the issue unlike VKS who has had the guts to stand up to a very corrupt system. He sees things from his tinted glasses and passes judgments. Please don't compare the honorable acts of one person and BS being peddles by other in the garb of journalism.

If one could depart from the ad hominem school of internet debate and honestly ask if the Army has done a good job of "evolving with the times", we might see some glaring lapses:Lapses, if any, are part of the growing up of any system. Nothing is fail proof. So, please stop passing these remarks on the Army

1. Supreme court judgement striking down discriminatory policies towards women officers.The policies towards women officers stem from operational requirements. It is very easy to sit outside and pontificate about gender equality. Please implement it in letter and spirit and then, may be, it will be all right to offer equal opportunities. As someone said, "You cannot have the privileges of a man and prerogatives of a woman at the same time".

2. Failure to phase out the Sahayak system despite this issue having been flagged almost 10 years back by internal studies.What exactly has failed - can you elaborate? How many reports have you come across of issues in the army due to Sahayak system? Or that it has impacted the professional acumen and fighting potential of the IA? Of all the organizations, it is IA which has put forward proposal for removing the Sahayak system - let us see how the "evolved" MOD babudom deals with this one

3. Lack of sanction to prosecute or hold GCM in the Pathribal case. (Which is going to be the next egg on the Army's face)Egg on army's face? Why so much glee on the development? Let the law take its own course

Also, I'd be very careful to insinuate that people who hold the Army to a different standard than most on BR would are "ISI agents" - a man much wiser than us came up with the homily "Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels".True but arguments for the sake of advancing once's agenda and lop-sided opinions is not a virtue either.

VinodTK wrote:
Gen VK Singh: In India we have a tendency to shoot the whistleblower


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What an admirable person ! A combination of a soldier, a thinker, a gentleman and a strategist like General VKS would be most difficult to find in these troubled days. The Indian Army and the armed forces were fortunate to have him for a few years as the COAS and for 4 decades as a warrior.

The sad fact is that we, as a nation, probably did not deserve such an upright warrior. Time to reflect for all of us.

So, please stop passing these remarks on the Army

^^The very fact that Army have women in their officer cadre for two decades and the introduction was brought about with little external clamour proves that the logic espoused by you, that Army 'is really slow and poor at change both in pace and manner', is incorrect.

But after inducting them did the Army move at the pace at which societal changes are happening and the degree of "equality" that the women officers aspire to?

But after inducting them did the Army move at the pace at which societal changes are happening and the degree of "equality" that the women officers aspire to?

An interesting development. I couldn't have thought that my respect for Gen VK Singh can go any higher. I was wrong. He is simply an unrelenting force against those who try to harm the organization and the Nation (specially from within).

Army Chief issues show cause notice to Lt. Gen. Dalbir Singh, GOC 3 Corps

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a ... 449314.ece


Some background to the case:

http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/ar ... 66819.html

In March, he had recommended a CBI probe against him for alleged involvement in a scam in Cabinet Secretariat but was turned down by the Government.

Hindu link says:

Does anyone know why Antony did not allow a probe against Dalbir Singh?

He has a clear shot at COAS after BS

Sure but what does Antony gain from DS?

Umm why does it have to be a Anthony specific gain? It could be decided by others senior to him politically and passed on to Anthony to act on?

Umm why does it have to be a Anthony specific gain? It could be decided by others senior to him politically and passed on to Anthony to act on?

"Sometime back, during one of the meetings, the Army Chief told me about the particular Lt Gen. Immediately I told him if there is any specific complaint he must take action.

"But lately, the Army headquarters sent a proposal to send him as Army Commander in one sector. I think the proposal is of March 22 to make him Army Commander. The Defence Secretary cleared it and when I checked up today in my office, it is pending. So, this is my information. The other thing (CBI inquiry) I don't know," he said.

“We are writing to the cabinet secretariat and defence ministry asking for records of purchases in the SFF during the lieutenant general’s tenure,” a CBI official said. “But we need clearance from the highest authorities to begin a formal investigation.”

Defence minister AK Antony said the general had told him about Lt Gen Suhag but he did not know that the general had asked the CBI to investigate the charges against the lieutenant general. Antony said that his ministry had recently received a proposal from the army headquarters to “send him (Lt Gen Suhag) as army commander in one sector”.

The CBI said on Friday that it would not probe a corruption complaint forwarded by army chief Gen VK Singh against a serving Lieutenant General, saying that an extensive investigation by the cabinet secretariat has found nothing in the allegations.

As the Army orients and equips itself to operate across a vast spectrum of warfare ranging from anti-terrorist operations in a low-intensity conflict environment to a high-intensity blitzkrieg in a digitised battlefield, the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) is looking at robotics and artificial intelligence to train soldiers.

“Robotics and artificial intelligence are key areas of development that have numerous military applications. We need to tap these technologies to enhance our war-fighting skills,” a senior officer at ARTRAC said. “A beginning has been made in the field of virtual reality simulation by ARTRAC’s Simulator Development Division, which enables training of a team of 10-12 soldiers in a virtual environment,” he added.

The Army is laying a strong emphasis on simulation and computer wargaming as it is not only a cost-effective method of training at various levels, but also allows for instant and highly accurate feedback and evaluation of skill levels.

Over the years, a large number of simulators have been developed, which include those for firing and driving. Infantry weapon training simulators have been introduced that can train troops on all types of weapons and in various combat situations, including conditions of bad weather, poor light and night.

“So far, only ‘Level-1’ simulation was being used, which is platform-centric and is primarily meant to enhance individual skills in firing, driving etc. We are now moving towards ‘Level-2’ for simulating crew training for tank or artillery gun crews and ‘Level-3’ which involves tactical team simulations for executing field operations,” the officer said.

The Army already has three computer wargaming centres operations, including one at Headquarters Western Command, Chandimandir. Three more wargaming centres are coming up at various places, including one at the Army War College.

Officers at ARTRAC said while several wargaming models exist for training up to the battalion level, a division-level wargame, involving the employment of three battalions, has been fielded recently and ARTRAC’s next endeavour is to develop a corps’ level wargame that would employ multiple divisions. It is working with the Defence Research and Development Organisation on this project. Wargames being developed take into account not only the number of troops and support elements in the opposing forces, but also co-relate their capabilities and firing trajectories with terrain features to assess whether a particular manoeuvre or fire support ordered by a commander is feasible or not and its impact and other doctrinal and tactical aspects to produce a realistic war scenario.

Antony gifted a silver bowl to the outgoing Chief as a memento.

to do what ?

Army mountaineering team successfully summits Mount Everest

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a ... 455078.ece

“One male officer along with four women officers, three NCOs successfully summited the Everest in the morning. One of the Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) reached the summit without using oxygen cylinders,” Army officials said.