Joint training of Indian armed forces mooted to enhance synergy

For the first time Indian armed forces will integrate training programmes for personnel in order to enhance synergy amongst the three services, says a document released by Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba.

The document, called the Joint Training Doctrine Indian Armed Forces – 2017, was promulgated at a simple function in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The document, prepared in a 'collegiate manner' involving all the three service headquarters, aims to promote 'synergy' and 'integration' amongst the three services and other stake-holders leading to enhanced efficiency and optimum utilisation of resources, a defence ministry release said.

The document will also go a long way in 'fostering initiative' and 'stimulating creativity' for promoting 'Integration' between the three Services in times to come, it added.

''The doctrine brings out our approach to Joint training at macro-level, fundamentals, objectives, joint structures, planning, organisation amongst other aspects in existence and in use in the armed forces which have matured over 15 years of the existence of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS). The concept includes 'joint training' as a leverage for promoting 'diplomacy' and 'civil – military interface' issues have also been highlighted in the document,'' the release stated.

The recently concluded INDRA – 2017 and three humanitarian and disaster relief exercises held every year are some shining examples towards this end, the release noted.

The `doctrine' will basically serve as a 'foundation' and 'knowledge base' from which specific directives and strategies will be issued by the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee to the HQ IDS and Service HQs to consolidate proven concepts, structures, mechanisms, capacities, capabilities, etc, from time to time.

With the consolidation of joint training, the doctrine will be further developed in due course deriving from experience and derived wisdom ''Doctrines are always 'unfinished products' being 'evolving in nature', for ready reference as 'distilled wisdom' and a 'referral document' for the policy makers, armed forces personnel, academia, etc,'' it added.

Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa and Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Lt Gen Satish Dua were also present on the occasion.