Discussion on Indian Special Forces

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wig
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by wig »

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/garu ... 70825.html

the bullet proof helmet used by the IAF Garud apparently did not perform as expected against AK 47 bullets
Two AK-47 bullets fired by the terrorists pierced the bulletproof helmet worn by Sergeant Milind during the fierce encounter where the attackers were trying to escape spraying bullets at the cordon laid down by the Garuds and 13 Rashtriya Rifles,"


excerpts
The helmets have to be equipped with other tools such as night-vision devices during operations and cannot be made very heavy. This may be a reason that's making them vulnerable to bullets fired at a particular range and angle," they said.
Security personnel who operated with the Garud special forces in the Rakh-e-Hajin village said the bullet piercing marks on the helmets could be seen clearly after the bodies of the two soldiers were recovered following the operation
Gaur
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Gaur »

^^
Misleading article. I don't know which helmet Garuds use. Perhaps OR-201. That certainly isn't designed to protect against 7.62mm round. In fact, no modern helmet is designed to protect against even 5.56mm NATO round. Patka had that level of protection in its front and sides but then it was too heavy.
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Aditya G »

wig wrote:http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/garu ... 70825.html

the bullet proof helmet used by the IAF Garud apparently did not perform as expected against AK 47 bullets
The helmet performed as expected unless mfr claimed that it can stop an AK round.
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Gagan »

Rakesh wrote:Here’s IAF Garud commando Sgt Milind Kishor Khairnar in battle gear. May his family in Nashik find the strength.
OFB Ghatak
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Aditya G
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Aditya G »

AK upgraded by FAB defence Israel.
Gagan wrote:
Rakesh wrote:Here’s IAF Garud commando Sgt Milind Kishor Khairnar in battle gear. May his family in Nashik find the strength.
OFB Ghatak
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by sum »

SFF Tibetan trooper killed in paradrop accident at ARC base in Odisha:
SFF trooper killed
Gagan
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Gagan »

^^^Corrected url
SFF trooper killed
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by rkhanna »

Garuds in Israel - cross training with Unit 669

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sohamn
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by sohamn »

Gaur wrote:^^
Misleading article. I don't know which helmet Garuds use. Perhaps OR-201. That certainly isn't designed to protect against 7.62mm round. In fact, no modern helmet is designed to protect against even 5.56mm NATO round. Patka had that level of protection in its front and sides but then it was too heavy.
That is not true, there are some modem helmets that protect against regular 7.62x39 lead rounds but most helmets can't stop a steel core or copper jacket rounds at close range. A thick Kevlar helmet will stop a lead AK or 5.56 round fired at a distance, but for anything more you require ceramic or hardened steel which makes an helmet very heavy.
Last edited by sohamn on 16 Nov 2017 02:01, edited 2 times in total.
sohamn
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by sohamn »

sohamn wrote:
Gaur wrote:^^
Misleading article. I don't know which helmet Garuds use. Perhaps OR-201. That certainly isn't designed to protect against 7.62mm round. In fact, no modern helmet is designed to protect against even 5.56mm NATO round. Patka had that level of protection in its front and sides but then it was too heavy.
That is not true, there are some modem helmets that protect against regular 7.62x39 lead rounds but most helmets can't stop a steel core or copper jacket rounds at close range. A thick Kevlar helmet will stop a lead AK or 5.56 round fired at a distance, but for anything more you require ceramic or hardened steel which makes an helmet very heavy.
Ref: https://www.geek.com/gadgets/advanced-c ... t-1536798/
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by srai »

rkhanna wrote:Garuds in Israel - cross training with Unit 669
...
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To me, the rank patch seems to be too visible in that camo. Remember in Sri Lanka in the initial phases, the IA officers wore highly visible rank patches and they suffered heavy casualties in the hands of LTTE snipers.
Gaur
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Gaur »

sohamn wrote:
sohamn wrote:
That is not true, there are some modem helmets that protect against regular 7.62x39 lead rounds but most helmets can't stop a steel core or copper jacket rounds at close range. A thick Kevlar helmet will stop a lead AK or 5.56 round fired at a distance, but for anything more you require ceramic or hardened steel which makes an helmet very heavy.
Ref: https://www.geek.com/gadgets/advanced-c ... t-1536798/
Hi SHohamn. A quote from provided link
A comparison of the M14 and the AK-47 performed by the United States Army shows that the AK-47 can penetrate helmets within a range of 400 meters, whereas it most likely won’t from 400 to 600 meters away.
400 m is hardly a short distance. It is AKM's effective range and most soldier's wont be able to shoot beyond that. If ACH can't even protect that that range, it cannot be stated to provide protection against 7.62*39 round.

But you are right to state that such protection would require ceramic and/or hardened steel which will make the helmet too heavy (case in point patka).
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Aditya G »

Piece below pi$$es me off at multiple levels.

These strikes were a landmark even whereby our whole politico-babu-military combine came out of years of action and deliver a punitive strike on an enemy across the border (in the North Eastern theatre). The last time was in Bhutan in 2003 - also under NDA govt.

Of all the things to talk about, Suhasini Haider and Josy Joseph used the opportunity for pulling off a Hit Job against the current COAS who was sharing some details of the operation with the public. What's distressing is that the hit job originates from the ministries.

The MEA/IFS babubom needs to deliver a relationship with Myanmar despite all the issues and uncomfortable facts. Gagging the Army through hit jobs is not done. Furthermore, I also think this is the journalists way of getting back at Nitin Gokhale as well.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a ... 3.ece/amp/
Suhasini Haidar
Josy Joseph
03 DECEMBER 2017 23:47 IST
UPDATED: 04 DECEMBER 2017 14:05 IST


At a book release function in Pune on Friday, General Rawat elaborated on the cross-border raid carried out by the Army on NSCN-K militant hideouts in Myanmar.

While India is working to improve ties with Myanmar, comments by Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, confirming for the first time that Indian troops crossed into Myanmar in 2015 for operations, are being seen as a cause of concern, officials in the Home and External Affairs Ministries have told The Hindu.

However, neither Ministry agreed to comment on the issue. The government has been trying to get Myanmar’s support for its efforts to control cross-border movement of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland rebels and Rohingya refugees.

“The Army Chief should have been mindful of the realities in Myanmar and our efforts there. Such detailed discussion on the operations wouldn’t help the situation at all,” a senior official in the security establishment, who asked not to be named, said.

At a book release function in Pune on Friday, General Rawat elaborated on the cross-border raid carried out by the Army on NSCN-K militant hideouts in Myanmar. He particularly underlined the the difficulties that Special Force commandos faced in Myanmar “after crossing over” and the “heavy losses” they inflicted on the militant camp there. It is the first time a senior government functionary has given such extensive details of the operation.

Gen. Rawat was commanding the Dimapur-based 3 Corps when the surgical strike was carried out on June 10, 2015, in retaliation for an ambush in Manipur when 18 soldiers of 6 Dogra battalion were killed by Myanmar-based militants.

Into the details

Gen. Rawat, who was tasked with overseeing the operation, even told the Pune gathering that he had to alter the original plan because of a call from National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who asked for the commando team leader to be recalled and briefed before launching operations.

“I got a call from the National Security Advisor asking if I had something in mind. I was a little taken aback because I had already launched the troops for the operation; they were on their way,” Gen. Rawat said.

“The troops which had reached the Myanmar border had to later change their route while carrying out the operation, four days from the day it was initially planned,” he said, revealing that the special commandos donned the uniforms of the 12 Bihar Battalion, which was deployed on the border, to carry out the raid.


While military sources had circulated some details of the operation at the time, the Government of India had moved in quickly to stop any official reports after the Myanmar government and military objected, saying only that an operation was carried out “along the border”.

“We will not allow any foreign military operations in Myanmar territory,” Zaw Htay, Director in the Myanmar President’s office, told journalists a day after the surgical strike. “Every country must respect the other country’s sovereignty.”

According to Myanmar’s constitution Article 41&42, no foreign troops can be deployed within the country’s boundaries for any reason. In a visit to Delhi in October 2016, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi also reportedly repeated the concerns to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue and a joint statement issued by the leaders “underlined their mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity” when speaking of joint operations against terrorists.

In particular, the government is worried as it is in the process of sensitive negotiations on the Rohingya situation, and had also claimed some success in military-to-military ties with the first ever India-Myanmar Bilateral Military Exercise (IMBAX-2017) at the Joint Warfare Centre at the Umroi Joint Training Node in Meghalaya on November 20.

Gen. Rawat’s statement is seen as a major gaffe, particularly his assertion that more such surgical strikes could be undertaken “if required”.

A senior official said the diplomatic concerns had been conveyed to him.
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Rakesh »

Vips
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Vips »

'Garud' eyes new targets in Jammu and Kashmir.

Having tasted major success by eliminating around eight terrorists during their brief stint in Jammu and Kashmir, the Garud Special Forces of the Indian Air Force are raring to go and want to be given more exposure to direct counter terror operations in the state.

The youngest Special Force of the country, which encountered one of its first major operations during the Pathankot air base attack by Pakistan-backed terrorists, is also expanding its numbers to meet its requirements during peace and also war-time roles assigned to it.

"Two of our teams are already in operation in Hajin area of Jammu and Kashmir and they would be replaced by two other units soon. This is going to help more and more of our troops get exposure to real action," a senior Garud officer told MAIL TODAY.

In the aftermath of Pathankot operations, the IAF and Army had agreed to give exposure to the Garuds in counter-terror ops in the Valley and two teams were attached to the 13 Rashtriya Rifles. After a few weeks, they started operating in close coordination with the Army, but also kept developing their own intelligence network.

In the first major operation in Rakh Hajin area of Bandipore in October, the Garuds tasted big success in a direct encounter against Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists. While tackling a team of six to seven terrorists who were trying to escape from a house even before the cordon could be established, Sergeant Milind Kishore and Corporal Nilesh Nain killed two of them before attaining martyrdom.

The injured terrorists managed to escape but the rattled Garuds started pursuing them. Gathering intelligence, the Special Forces traced a group of terrorists hiding in a house in Chandargeer area.

During the subsequent encounter, the Garuds eliminated six terrorists, majorly due to the bravery of Corporal JP Nirala who used his Negev LMG to kill three of them while pinning down the rest of the group.

"The troops are highly motivated by the acts of valour of our fallen buddies and want to be given more roles in counter-terror ops in Kashmir," another officer said.

"More than 30 per cent volunteers return within weeks of training. Most find it tough to survive the 16-18 hours-a-day life during which they are prepared both physically and mentally to earn their Garud badge," an officer said. A Garud instructor told MAIL TODAY that due to tough selection standards, only 26 officers from different branches have been able to join the elite force in the last 13 years of its existence.
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

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NSG enhances sniping capabilities of its commandos.

Elite counter-terror force NSG has bolstered its sniping capabilities so that it can effectively tackle terrorists and other emerging threats to national security, the force's chief said on Tuesday.

The 'black cat' commando force has procured new sniper weapons and trained more sharp-shooters in the skill in the recent past and is increasingly using them for special operations, NSG Director General S P Singh said.

"The skill of sniping is a big asset for a commando force like us. We have put a greater stress on this domain," Singh told PTI.The National Security Guard (NSG), he said, has also procured advanced sniping weapons and has trained more personnel for special tasks. The NSG DG, however, did not quantify the number of NSG commandos trained in the skill.

Official sources said while snipers were essentially part of NSG assault teams in operations, their numbers were now being increased and used more frequently.

"So, the next time a counter-terror team is making an intervention where a terrorist is holed up, the snipers would not only give them a good cover but also help in neutralising the target in better time," a senior officer said.

PTI, in February last year, had reported that the force, has upgraded its sniper rifles and inducted the German PSG1 A1, which carries an enhanced number of 20 rounds to engage and pin down targets for a longer time and is complemented with longer range and extreme accuracy. The 7.2kg rifle with telescopic sight is an upgrade of the PSG1 sniper variant being used by the marksmen of the NSG till recently.

The sniping discipline has also been included for the first time in the 8th All India Police Commando Competition, being hosted by the NSG this time.
The competition, involving 25 teams from various state police and paramilitary forces, will begin this weekend at the NSG garrison in Manesar near here.

The DG said the NSG desires that all the security forces of the country have "synergy and inter-operability" when it comes to tackling terror threats and attacks.

Singh said the force is "all prepared" to tackle any situation in the run up to the upcoming Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

The NSG was raised in 1986 as the federal contingency force of commandos to counter any variant of terror or hijack threat.
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Thakur_B »

^^ NSG has been using PSG1 for donkey years now. The A1 version has minor upgrades, but still uses proprietary optics mount.
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by jaysimha »

https://www.pressreader.com/india/mail- ... 9600652102

Army ready for cross border ghatak strikes
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by jaysimha »

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-new ... sAidN.html

Special clothing, equipment for ITBP troopers posted above 9,000 feet, says Rajnath Singh

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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Rakesh »

Austin
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Austin »

SPECIAL OPERATIONS INDIA: SURGICAL STRIKES Documentary (ENGLISH)

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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Shameek »

^^ All the English ones I could find on YouTube have audio problems. Found a Hindi dubbed one that worked.
wig
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by wig »

Interview with Col Varun Chhabra, SM, Commanding Officer, 10 th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment ( Special Forces)

http://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/col ... rview.html
wonderful read
excerpts.
What was your motivation to join the Special Forces?
Ours is a great nation. The very basis of the society is the family system where sons and daughters grow up seeing the world through the eyes of their parents. My father cherished a dream of commanding this elite and finest unit one day. I only hope, that he sees his dream come true through his son. This was and is my motivation.
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Akshay Kapoor »

Do you know his father made the supreme sacrifice in OP Pawan. There is a BR article on 10 Para which mentions this. Goes like this ‘when author visited Rashtrapati Bahwan he spoke to Maj Varun Chabra and seeing Vakis an badge mentioned Col Chabra. Major Varun didn’t say anything. 15 mins later when author was leaving Major Varun went up to him and told him that Col Chabra was my father and that’s why I joined his paltan’ And today he has become a Col and has done his father’s memory proud.

This is the magic of the Indian army.
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Akshay Kapoor »

Someone link that BR article pls. I’m on the move.
nachiket
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by nachiket »

Here it is: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/ARMY/tod ... rfare.html
`Mussoorie main honeymoon manane walon ko pata chale ki IMA mein loha ban raha hai`

This is one of the many punch lines that Drill Instructors of Indian Military Academy (IMA) frequently use to encourage and push Gentleman Cadets, which would become officers of the Indian Army. Now this may be very well true and they would be making LOHA there. But the real steel is casted somewhere else – in the Special Forces battalions of the Indian Army.

Special Forces units - one of the most ruthless, dangerous and determined killing machines on the planet earth. Men of steel whose physical and mental toughness is beyond imagination. They are just 4500 selected men out of 1.25 million strong Indian Army. Why so less? Because there is no recruitment rally for any of 10 Special Forces battalions, because each one of them (Jawans and officers alike) is a volunteer from other units of the Indian Army, because 90% of the candidates who volunteer for SF fail during probation and those who finally join the SF units are `Men apart, every man an emperor`.

My first encounter with SF was in Agra way back in 2001. During a dinner, one of my friends, who had just passed out of IMA, asked then Major Rajesh Shyoran, Sena Medal of SF, `Sir, just like you I want to earn the Maroon beret and `Balidan Badge`. How should I proceed?` With a smile on his face, Major Shyoran simply said `you are very welcome to try`. When my friend insisted, Major Shyoran said `See it is simple. Either you have it in you or you don’t. Agar tumhara Dil, Dimag aur Ghutna ek line main hai, you can make it`.

I was quite surprised and when I asked again, Major Shyoran explained `Dil – we need men with extra ordinary courage and spirit of comradie, who are willing to accept any challenge under any circumstances. Dimag – we need men with undying spirit, who refuse to give up - no matter what, men who are mentally so robust that they keep pushing their break point to the next limit every time. You are out of the race the moment you show your break point during the training or probation. Ghutna – Men with great physical strength and endurance, who can endure unimaginable hardship, who can keep running with full battle load for miles even when body refuse to – without food, water or rest, `.

That is where my interest in SF grew but nothing much was (and still is) available in public domain because everything related to them – their training, weaponry, tactics, missions, capabilities etc is shrouded in secrecy. Using my memory and few sources, I am writing this tribute to the 10 Para (SF) battalion who is going to celebrate their Golden Jubilee on 1st June 2017.

Making of a Scorpion

As per the process, any officer who is eager to earn the Marron Beret must write to the Commanding Officer of the SF unit, he wishes to join. After his request is accepted, candidate officer goes through 6 months of Probation. During this time, he undergoes one of the toughest training procedures in the world.

10 Para (SF) are also known as Desert Scorpions. Officers and jawans opting for 10 Para (SF) are trained specially for Desert warfare. At the start of the probation, they are given a tent, a bucket, a knife, a rope and a laltain. They have to setup their tent in the desert. Rigorous physical training goes day and night with no specific routine as there is no specific training manual. They get trained, sometimes, without food for 4 days, 1 litre water for 3 days and without sleep for 7 days. Sleep deprivation sometimes starts the moment probation starts. He will always have a 10KG sandbag on his back – this sandbag is affectionately called permanent buddy. Objective is to make the candidate realize that he is far more capable than he ever imagined. The moment he shows any weakness, he is out.

Every month he has to complete 10KM, 20KM, 30KM and 40 KM speed walk with full battle gears that means additional 25 KG. These speed walks should be completed within stipulated time.

Scorpions are better navigator than modern GPS systems. In desert, there are no roads, no landmarks, not much human colonies. There are just sand dunes that keep shifting every night. In such vast and clueless place, they are halo/air dropped in the middle of nowhere, with just a compass in their hand. And using that compass and stars, they reach their destination without fail, every time. They are taught to survive with literally nothing to eat or drink. They collect dew in the wee hours to survive. Just 300 ml of water is good for them to survive for 2 days. Remember it is 50+ degrees in Thar and a normal human needs more than 10 litres a day to survive. They are taught to eat anything that moves in the desert area. They specially like eating scorpions - `Once you kill and roast it, remove its venom, it is really tasty`. They know which grass, which leaf, which shrub to eat to stay alive to complete the mission. Because the battle is not won by dying for your country but to kill the enemy.

During the 6-month probation period, no candidate gets rejected because 90% of candidates give up by themselves and go back to their respective units. Before declaring any candidate fit for the unit, the Commanding Officer would consult the Probation Officer of the candidate, other officers, Subedar Major, senior JCOs and even Jawans. This might sound odd but it is very important as the whole unit is a one big close knit family, where every soldier trusts his Brother-in-arms for his life. It is not easy to earn that Maroon Beret, apart from physical and mental toughness, one has to have the camaraderie to prove his worth.

Here comes the fun part. When an officer is selected, the CO and other officers will bring the Maroon Beret placed in the oldest trophy won by 10 Para. Trophy will also be filled with drinks – it could be whisky, rum, beer, juice or a mix of all. Candidate will have to drink that all, empty the trophy and wear his Maroon Beret himself. No one will put the maroon beret on his head because, as they say in the SF units, he has earned it. Then during the dining-in ceremony, after finishing his first drink, candidate officer will have to break a piece of his glass, chew it till it becomes (almost) sand and gulp that down with some more whisky. Showing true camaraderie, all other officers do the same.

Candidate would not earn the famous Balidan badge, just because he has earned the Maroon Beret. He will have to undergo Para training in Agra to earn the Para Wing badge and then wait for his first successful operation to earn the Balidan badge – it symbolizes sacrifices one has made on the battlefield.

After the probation, they undergo specialized training at Special Forces Training Centre, where they get trained for Weapons, Communications, Navigation, Medical and Demolition. These five trainings are crucial because during any mission, it would be a team of minimum five commandos. Team is designed in such a way that each member has completed these skills as his primary and secondary, thereby no dependency on any one person for any task.

10 Para (SF) are specially trained for operations in desert – from the lower border of Punjab till Gujarat. But make no mistake, they are always ready take on any task anywhere. They make their frequent trips to the J&K. 10 SF were among the first who went up the kargil hills and brought back information about the scale of intrusion.

Like LTTE in Sri Lanka, terrorists in J&K fear SF units because they know that SF guys will wait for them forever sitting still, for days, in the rain, dew or ice, with food or without and will not go home without capturing the terrorist dead or alive.

During a covert operation, disguised as brainwashed Kashmiris/jihadi Pakistani, Maj Sangram Singh (Shaurya Chakra) and Capt Vikas of 10 Para (SF) stayed with LeT terrorists in their camp in a jungle for 4 days. During this covert operation, they gathered tremendous amount of information and killed all 4 terrorists. Indian Army broke down LeT network using that information. Terrorists were so terrorised that they were always on the run thereafter.

Their glorious past: -

It was raised in 1967 by splitting 9 Para (SF). Within 4 years of it raising, it took part in 1971 war and conducted one of the most successful commando operation in the world – The Chachro Raid. This operation is a case study in the US special forces and UK special forces – SAS. Under the leadership of the legendry Lt. Col. Swai Bhawani Singh (Maharaja of Jaipur), 10 Para (SF) prepared for this raid for 6 months. And just like a trained medical doctor cut open patient’s body layer by layer, 10 Para (SF) captured town after town and handed them over to regular units of the Army – a surgical strike in literal sense. So thorough and accurate was the planning, the preparation and the execution that 10 Para (SF) captured Chachro, Virawah, Nagarparkar, Islamkot, Lunio without a single causality. Enemy lost 36 men and 22 were taken as PoW. For this successful operation, 10 Para (SF) received a well-deserved Battle Honour – Chachro 1971 and received 10 gallantry awards while the CO, Lt. Col. Bhawani Singh received Mahavir Chakra.

Later in 1987, 10 Para (SF) was a part of the Indian Peace Keeping Forces in Sri Lanka. The commanding officer was Col Dalvir Singh (Veer Chakra), who was known as `Saint Soldier`, who was as humble as a Saint and as ferocious soldier as a Para Commando should be. He would eat all three meals of the day with his soldiers – every single day, not in any Officer’s mess but with the soldiers he commanded, in their kitchen.

LTTE was so terrorised by 10 Para (SF) that ADC to LTTE chief Prabhakaran confessed to my source that `there is only one unit that we fear the most – Saint Soldier’s unit`. These were the words he used to describe the Commanding Officer and his paltan. One can imagine the respect 10 Para (SF) had earned.

While working on my article on the President Body Guards, I visited President House number of times. During a function, I noticed the Balidan badge worn by one officer of the President’s staff. That officer was Major Varun Chabra of 10 Para (SF), who was ADC to the President. Out of my old curiosity, I met the officer and spoke about his unit. I mentioned Lt. Col. Chabra who got martyred in Sri Lanka. We kept talking for 10-15 minutes and then I took my leave. When I turned around, he stopped me and said `Sir, Col Chabra was my father. I was determined to follow his footsteps and join his Paltan`. We shook hands again and he left me speechless.

Like other SF battalions, 10 Para is also master of every field. They have produced excellent sportsmen. In a dinner, an officer from Garhwal regiment taunted Col Bhupesh Hada (Shaurya Chkra) of 10 Para (SF) `you guys would be king of desert but mountainous region is a different ball game`. Col Hada took it in the true para spirit and gave a fitting reply by conquering Mount Everest within 6 months. He had not done mountaineering before that. It took him just 6 months to move from the Thar desert to 8848m high peak. It speaks volumes of the spirit and physical/mental toughness of Col Hada.

Maj Surendra Poonia, VSM of 10 Para (SF) is another such example. He is amongst the youngest recipients of the Vishist Seva Medal. He also received 4 COAS commendation cards for distinguished service in the field & in sports. An exceptionally good sportsman, he participated in World Medical Games between 2010 and 2015 and won 27 medals (11 gold, 12 silver and 4 bronze). He did it all by himself with no support from anywhere.

In 2002, 10 Para (SF) was given 3 days’ notice to prepare for World Special Forces competition. Under the command of Capt Virendra Salaria (Shaurya Chakra) and Capt TR Krishna Das (Sena Medal), a small team from 10 Para (SF) participated and won the competition for India after beating special forces from the USA, the UK, France, Russia etc. In 2004, they again participated and bagged the Silver Medal.

This list can go on and on but most of them will not talk about their missions. Every SF soldier carries so many stories to narrate and leaves a legacy behind. At the end, I remember what Maj Surendra Poonia of 10 Para (SF) said in a seminar in New Delhi in 2012. A student asked him `Don’t you guys fear? All these risky operations are so dangerous. You can get killed. What moves you to do the unthinkable? `

Major Poonia’s reply left everyone speechless `Everyone fears but the love for our country and countrymen; IZZAT, honour, pride of the PALTAN and brotherly support of our fellow brother-in-arms leave that fear far behind. Our training has made so confident that when we face any challenge, we don’t think about the hurdles, our mind starts thinking about how to accomplish the mission. There is simply no room for fear. `

I regret that I could not join Indian Army. While researching for this article, I felt thrilled and desperately wanted to go back in time to give it another shot. I suggest every youth reading this tribute to try joining the Special Forces and see if you have it in you, if you have that steel inside you, if your dil,dimag and ghutna is in a line ☺ See if you are a man apart, a man worthy of being an emperor.
wig
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by wig »

an article on 10 th battalion, the parachute regiment

http://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/ind ... andos.html

good read
excerpts
But, outcomes are not always positive. In February 2016, Captain Pawan Kumar and Captain Tushar Mahajan died fighting terrorists holed up in the Entrepreneur Development Institute near Pampore in Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

The son of a headmaster in a village school in Haryana’s Jind district, Pawan had always dreamt of joining the Army. When he completed class 12, he joined the sought-after maths (honours) course at Ramjas College in Delhi. But, he quit and joined the Army after he received a letter from the Services Selection Board.

After spending a year in the Dogra regiment, he volunteered to join the special forces. After probation, he joined counterinsurgency operations in Kashmir. He was advised to go on medical leave after he was injured in one of the operations. “He requested the doctor not to endorse the leave, and returned to join the team,” recalls Vishal Ahlawat, Pawan’s friend and fellow para commando.

Pawan’s father, Rajbir Singh, 54, spoke to THE WEEK on Army Day (January 15), which is also Pawan’s birthday. “When your own child sacrifices his life for the country, what greater happiness can you get,” he said. “All of us should be ready to make that sacrifice. People die in accidents, too; so why should anyone fear death? God has created human beings to do glorious deeds. That is my message to the youth today.”

Said Dev Raj Gupta, Captain Tushar Mahajan’s father and a renowned physicist: “I am a proud father. It is true he has left us, but someone has to do this job, too. Yes, we miss him.”

Tushar’s mother, Asha Rani, 55, recalled that he used to move around her in circles, teasing her, before kissing her goodbye and leaving the house. “The last time he came to meet us and left home, he did not do that,” she said. “I miss having him around me. He treated me more as a friend than as his mother.” Today, the void left by Tushar is filled by his brother commandos, who seek Asha Rani’s blessings whenever they get a chance. Both Tushar and Pawan were awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously.
wig
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by wig »

quite a few tales on grit and determination, of soldiers; who wear a winged dagger badge
http://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/par ... -kind.html

warriors of a special kind
excerpts
In 2014, Captain Vishwas was doing his routine para jumps at Agra when he suffered a parachute emergency. He fell from a height of 200 feet and suffered burst fractures in his spine among other injuries. “When I regained consciousness, the first thing I realised was that I couldn't move. Only my hands were moving. I told myself that I will be able to do something in my life since my hands can move,'' said Vishwas. The officer was evacuated to Delhi and metal implants were used to prop up his spine again. He underwent a long process of recovery but the doctors were still not ready to upgrade his medical category. That would have meant that he could never be a paratrooper again. For a paratrooper it is mandatory to undergo refresher jumps periodically. Vishwas was adamant. From leaving his wheelchair to take his first steps and swimming 3.5 km non stop within a year, the paratrooper not only got his medical clearance but returned to his battalion. He chose to do his para jump on the same date he had got injured, three years later. “God is kind, he gave me a chance to come back,'' says the braveheart.
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by wig »

an interview with Lt Gen Katoch

http://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/pra ... rview.html

excerpts
How are countries like China and Pakistan using their special forces?
China and Pakistan are exploiting our fault lines under the cover of ambiguity and denial. We must do likewise. We must use our special forces for shaping the environment in India’s favour. The special forces do not create resistance movements, but advice, train and assist movements that already exist.
They also provide the political authority with a range of low-cost strategic options, unlike the high-cost war option provided by conventional forces. There is an urgent need for India to develop publicised overt capabilities and deniable covert capabilities to deter the irregular war thrust upon us. We must have the will to selectively demonstrate such capability.
and
Our special forces have been conducting cross-border strikes. The surgical strikes of 2016 were made public. Your comments.

SF operations should always be shrouded in mystery. We could learn from the SAS (Special Air Service of the UK) and stop thumping our chest about surgical strikes. Most idiotically, we also paraded some of the participants [in the surgical strikes] on national television, and publicised in print and electronic media how the strikes were conducted. It not only jeopardises future operations, but also depicts the gross ignorance of our politicians as regards to SF operations. If opposition [parties] were asking for proof, they should have been told to go jump into the nearest well.
wig
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by wig »

and on lizards and lassi

http://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/ind ... style.html
excerpts on food
Apart from its exploits on the field, the unit also takes pride in its food, which includes specialities like commando toast, rocket and para lassi. The commando toast is bread, topped with a spicy paste of ginger, garlic and red chillies. Then there is the rocket—wheat bread stuffed with gur (jaggery)—called so because it looks like a rocket. The para lassi, which the commandos said is high in nutrition, gets its name from the size of the serving. It is served in a huge tumbler. As we finished our well-prepared meal, I asked them, “Is there a celebration or have you cooked this especially for us?” A jawan turned around and said, “Yeh 10 Para ke langar ka khana hai. Hamara khana officers’ mess se bhi acha hota hai [This is the food from our community kitchen, which is better than what you get even in the officers’ mess].”
Akshay Kapoor
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Akshay Kapoor »

wig wrote:an interview with Lt Gen Katoch

http://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/pra ... rview.html

excerpts
How are countries like China and Pakistan using their special forces?
China and Pakistan are exploiting our fault lines under the cover of ambiguity and denial. We must do likewise. We must use our special forces for shaping the environment in India’s favour. The special forces do not create resistance movements, but advice, train and assist movements that already exist.
They also provide the political authority with a range of low-cost strategic options, unlike the high-cost war option provided by conventional forces. There is an urgent need for India to develop publicised overt capabilities and deniable covert capabilities to deter the irregular war thrust upon us. We must have the will to selectively demonstrate such capability.
and
Our special forces have been conducting cross-border strikes. The surgical strikes of 2016 were made public. Your comments.

SF operations should always be shrouded in mystery. We could learn from the SAS (Special Air Service of the UK) and stop thumping our chest about surgical strikes. Most idiotically, we also paraded some of the participants [in the surgical strikes] on national television, and publicised in print and electronic media how the strikes were conducted. It not only jeopardises future operations, but also depicts the gross ignorance of our politicians as regards to SF operations. If opposition [parties] were asking for proof, they should have been told to go jump into the nearest well.
Agree 100 pct that we have given too many details away (tactics were given away, field craft was given away, ingress and egress plans were given away). We have compromised individuals and future operations. I was shocked when I saw the documentary and also the face of xyz.
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Akshay Kapoor »

nachiket wrote:Here it is: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/ARMY/tod ... rfare.html


While working on my article on the President Body Guards, I visited President House number of times. During a function, I noticed the Balidan badge worn by one officer of the President’s staff. That officer was Major Varun Chabra of 10 Para (SF), who was ADC to the President. Out of my old curiosity, I met the officer and spoke about his unit. I mentioned Lt. Col. Chabra who got martyred in Sri Lanka. We kept talking for 10-15 minutes and then I took my leave. When I turned around, he stopped me and said `Sir, Col Chabra was my father. I was determined to follow his footsteps and join his Paltan`. We shook hands again and he left me speechless.



I regret that I could not join Indian Army. While researching for this article, I felt thrilled and desperately wanted to go back in time to give it another shot. I suggest every youth reading this tribute to try joining the Special Forces and see if you have it in you, if you have that steel inside you, if your dil,dimag and ghutna is in a line ☺ See if you are a man apart, a man worthy of being an emperor.
Thanks for linking.
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by jaysimha »

https://nsg.gov.in/sites/default/files/ ... 20PLAN.pdf

Request for information to work as consultants ( physchology ) in NSG

pls contact
Group Commander(Est)
HQ, National Security Guard,
Mehram nagar,
Near Domestic Airport, Palam,
New Delhi - 110 037
rkhanna
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by rkhanna »

Akshay Kapoor wrote:
wig wrote:an interview with Lt Gen Katoch

http://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/pra ... rview.html

excerpts

and
Agree 100 pct that we have given too many details away (tactics were given away, field craft was given away, ingress and egress plans were given away). We have compromised individuals and future operations. I was shocked when I saw the documentary and also the face of xyz.

Looking at the two structures he has drawn out he looks to be going the Seperate JSOC and SOCOM route. Whats most interesting is that he suggests two separate Aviation Units for both.
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Singha »

if he is complaining about the history channel program and the shatrujeet writeups i do not see any operational details being given out barring the most generic. how do you cross the border - surely at night and in forested area no? you avoid roads and villages and hide in forests until you strike. you use encrypted radios and hand signals. you carry heavy backpacks and tavors and NVG. not deep dark secrets these. all who came on TV masked their faces.

history channel will soon air a program about the strikes on myanmar camps, trailer was shown yesterday. showed a squad of masked para SF armed with ak+ubgl, ags17 type mini version of grenade launcher, carl gustaf going through a forest and crossing a stream.

keeps the morale up in the general public and makes them proud of forces. movies like zero dark thirty, op delta force(chuck norris), men of honor, navy seals(charlie sheen), american sniper , top gun are all +ve psyops for the forces .. a few "realist" movies like platoon and apocalypse now come here and there.

if they want to keep it secret, they can, IA just has to refuse but also ensure all the gallantry awards are also not made public in republic day presidents list .

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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Kashi »

There have been a fair few raids post surgical strikes and none of them were made public. It's clear that 29/9 surgical strikes were publicised largely as a one-off thing because of the exceptional circumstances under which they happened.
Last edited by Kashi on 02 Feb 2018 05:32, edited 2 times in total.
nam
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by nam »

When service awards are handed out by the President, the officer bringing in the awards is seen wearing the SG badge!

The SG is probably our most elite unit.
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Singha »

I imagine they work with raw and ib to wipe high value targets
Cia has a similar pool of people from seals and delta on deputation
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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Aditya G »

I had once gone as an audience to Vikram Chandra's (NDTV) talk show and Natwar Singh was the guest. This was in early 2000s i think. I don't recall the complete conversation but he asked a question to the audience as to what we should do and somebody said "we should do hot pursuit across LoC!"

"Hot Pursuit" - how many remember that term thrown out but we never really heard it being done? Ever since at least TV media came in we heard about it - and only got frustrated. We were only beaten, never fought back.

All this has a tremendous negative effect on the psychology of the nation. The Post-26/11 inaction was the lowest point ever. Post Myanmar and SS we as a nation have at least gotten a much need relief on this aspect. The people of this country associate Indian Army's victories as their own victories.

See how Sachin Tendulkar explains the mood of the cricket team 10 days after 26/11 during test match with England;
More Aditya G Retweeted Sachin Tendulkar
Do see this conversation between Sachin Tendulkar and #MARCOS cdo Praveen Teotia. At one point Sachin recounts the effect the terrorist attack had on the psyche of the cricket team ...

https://youtu.be/Z_Wy02-Dj_Q

#MumbaiAttack #SpecialForces
Now in military terms SS were done before as well, esp in 1995's Op Golden Bird (classic Hot Pursuit op btw). We had also avenged Kaluchak. But all these ops were kept under obsessive secrecy. It robbed the people of a confidence boost.

"We" needed the surgical strikes and we want more of this good stuff! We want books, comics, TV series, movies the works.
Singha wrote:if he is complaining about the history channel program and the shatrujeet writeups i do not see any operational details being given out barring the most generic. how do you cross the border - surely at night and in forested area no? you avoid roads and villages and hide in forests until you strike. you use encrypted radios and hand signals. you carry heavy backpacks and tavors and NVG. not deep dark secrets these. all who came on TV masked their faces.

history channel will soon air a program about the strikes on myanmar camps, trailer was shown yesterday. showed a squad of masked para SF armed with ak+ubgl, ags17 type mini version of grenade launcher, carl gustaf going through a forest and crossing a stream.

keeps the morale up in the general public and makes them proud of forces. movies like zero dark thirty, op delta force(chuck norris), men of honor, navy seals(charlie sheen), american sniper , top gun are all +ve psyops for the forces .. a few "realist" movies like platoon and apocalypse now come here and there.

if they want to keep it secret, they can, IA just has to refuse but also ensure all the gallantry awards are also not made public in republic day presidents list .

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Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

Post by Singha »

DD is singularly incapable of the high production values needed to making soothing +ve psyops like the above
pvt channels are loathe to be seen being "communal" and supporting the Govt(forces) while making protesting noises if someone accuses them of not doing enough other than manufacturing fakenews.

so only natgeo/discovery/history channels are left. they have prior experience abroad in producing similar films on the military units of the US atleast. they know how to showcase and stage these shoots.
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