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Infantry incorporates Kargil lessons

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

The Indian Army has introduced massive changes in the training syllabus of infantry soldiers in the wake of the Kargil conflict which brought to light several unidentified shortcomings in the traditional training.

"After the Kargil operation our training syllabi have undergone a sea change. Not that they were bad before," said Lieutenant General Shankar Prasad while speaking about the major changes that the largest arm of the Army has introduced.

The Army has recognised the need to acclimatise the soldier in a very short period, and the need for him to "survive without food, water and under the most difficult conditions." Correspondingly suitable changes have been introduced, Lt Gen Prasad said. The regimental training centres have enhanced the challenge of the obstacle courses, has introduced rock climbing courses and even long distance treks (of about 30 to 40 kilometres) in full battle gear. The regimental centres have identified hilly terrain where the camps are being held for training the soldiers.

The Army has also introduced a curriculum where the trainee "begins to play with weapons" so that he can familiarise himself with a new weapon in a few hours. Lt Gen Prasad pointed out that during an emergency "there is no time for institutionalised training of the newly inducted weapons." He said the new weapon familiarisation syllabus has been "introduced as part of primary teaching in regimental centres".

The infantry schools are also beginning to impart the stories of respective regiments' heroes, izzat and history to the new recruits. "If the heroic deeds are consistently told to the trainees, that motives them," he pointed out.

The infantry, which comprises over one third of the Indian Army, is also focussing on enhancing the night fighting capabilities of troops because, as Lt Gen Shankar says, much of the "modern day warfare takes place in the night."

Towards this end, the Army is acquiring the latest weapons and systems. It is already in the process of acquiring target acquisition devices such as battlefield surveillance radars and night vision goggles and target destroying devices.

"I don't know where the next war will be fought, but our night fighting capabilities will be geared up for all terrain," he disclosed.

Among the other lessons learnt from the Kargil conflict is the need to have long range weapons with the infantry with a range of about two kilometres for destroying bunkers, field fortifications and sunkers. The Army has already acquired anti-material rifle from South Africa which can destroy sunkers, helicopters and bunkers. It can be fixed with three different barrels and can fire six different ammunitions.

The infantry has also realised the need for having systems that can fire a large number of grenades, and the Army has already acquired automatic grenade launchers and other systems from Bulgaria and Russia. These weapons will also help in anti-insurgency operations.

Also identified for immediate purchase are the sniper rifle with a telescopic sight which was used in Kargil and the flame thrower, a deadly weapon which can accurately fire a shell through a hole three to four hundred metres away and burn everything inside.

The Army has also realised the usefulness of the mine protected vehicles, of which about 70 to 80 are already deployed in Kashmir. Being added to the infantry's inventory are other seemingly mundane yet crucial equipment: light weight bullet proofs and helmets, finest mountaineering equipment etc.

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