In a commendable feat of endurance and skill, two Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) from the Indian Army have successfully completed the prestigious Survival, Escape, Evasion, and Combat Tracking Course at the Special Forces Training School in Sri Lanka. The intensive 16-week training, held from February 24 to June 11, 2025, saw Havildar Bhim Singh and Naik Lalit Thakur push their limits in one of South Asia’s most demanding military programs.
Havildar Bhim Singh, representing the Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) in Vairengte, Mizoram, was awarded the title of Best Foreign Student—an accolade that reflects the high caliber of Indian Army training standards and individual excellence. The course tested participants on survival without food or water in dense jungles, 20-hour endurance exercises at sea, and high-stress combat tracking through hostile terrain.
These exercises are designed to strengthen psychological endurance and physical adaptability, aligning with global military training benchmarks. A 2019 study in the Journal of Applied Physiology highlights the long-term resilience benefits of such training under extreme conditions.
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The achievement not only showcases the capability of Indian troops but also underscores the growing defense partnership between India and Sri Lanka. Once strained by the legacy of the 1987–1990 Indian Peace Keeping Force mission, bilateral military ties have now matured into strategic cooperation. This initiative takes on greater significance in light of China’s rising presence in the Indian Ocean Region, as outlined in a 2024 RAND Corporation report.
The success of Havildar Singh and Naik Thakur serves as a proud moment for the Indian Army and reinforces regional collaboration for collective security in South Asia.
