Speaking about the friendly fire incident which resulted in the accidental downing of an Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter, resulting in the loss of lives of six IAF personnel and one civilian. The newly appointed Air force Chief Air Marshall RKS Bhadauria has said it was a “Big mistake on our part. We accept it.” The airforce’s top officer has stated that a court of inquiry had completed its sitting last week. “Our missile had hit the helicopter, this has been established. Administrative action and disciplinary action is being taken.”
IAF Chief RKS Bhadauria speaking to ANI about the Mi-17 helicopter crash
The friendly fire incident took place at around the same time Indian and Pakistani fighter jets were engaged in aerial combat along the Line of Control, following the events of Operation Bandar ie The Balakot Airstrikes.
The Government of India has made a landmark proposal, to allow civilians to visit the Highly strategic Siachen Glacier. The Glacier at 22,000 feet is the worlds highest battlefield and is manned by highly motivated soldiers and officers of the Indian Army. These soldiers serve in some of the most austere conditions known to man, at a great personal cost. With citizens likely to be allowed to visit the icy frontiers, here are five things about the Inhospitable Siachen Glacier you probably did not know about.
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1.) Only Thing Preventing A Joint Pakistani-Chinese Military Offensive
Pakistani flag patch on a soldiers arm.
The barren icy landscape of the Siachen Glacier serves as one of the countries most geostrategic locations. The 22,000 feet high geographical monstrosity is the only thing keeping the Pakistani Army from linking up with the Chinese military to launch a combined offensive.
2.) Siachen is Guarded Daily On An Astronomical Cost!
Logistics is a risky and very costly affair at Siachen
The cost to secure the Siachen Glacier is monumental! An estimated five to seven crore rupees goes to sustain the daily operations and logistics at Siachen. The significance of maintaining the supremacy over Siachen justifies the significant financial toll it takes.
3.) Hellish Serving Conditions
Every day is a personal war (Picture Courtesy Praveen Khanna)
Soldiers deployed at the Glacier serve on a three-month rotation, meaning after the completion of 90 days a new unit takes over. Before a solider or young officer is deployed the icy frontier, they are made to undergo rigorous training at the famed High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Jammu and Kashmir. However, no amount of training can prepare a soldier for the brutal condition in which the men and officers have to serve. Soldiers are often required to march a distance of 128 kilometres in around 28 days to reach some of the most remote military outposts of the Indian Army. Covering such punishing distances in an environment where oxygen is scarce and risk to the cardiovascular and respiratory system is high makes the job a nightmare.
4.) Mother Nature Is The Most Ruthless Killer
The mortal remains of soldiers who lost their lives at the Siachen Glacier
For the soldiers manning the countries icy frontiers, survival is a daily battle. More than 1,000 Indian soldiers have breathed their last on the remote glacier, out of whom only 200 soldiers lost their lives in a military engagement. A bulk of the casualties on both the Indian and Pakistani side were the result of harsh weather conditions, sometimes the circumstances of the deaths, mean that the mortal remains of the soldiers are not found or are not recoverable. Such a situation takes a massive psychological toll on the soldiers deployed there. Pulmonary oedema, acute mountain sickness, suicide in rare cases is also a result of loneliness and the barren landscape. Death, however, is not the only challenge the environment poses; soldiers are known to suffer from frostbite, which often turns into gangrene and requires immediate amputation. According to a retired army major who served in Siachen, soldiers at times have torn layers of their own skin while taking off their boots, at times stripping flesh to the point of exposing bone!
Cheetah Helicopter pilot making an emergency landing for casualty evacuation
5.) India Currently Maintains The Military Initiative
Practising Rappeling at HAWS for operations in Siachen
India maintains the strategic initiative, with Indian Army having entrenched itself in superior positions. The Pakistani Army positions in the Siachen Glacier remains around 2,000 feet below the Indian army’s posts.
Soldiers patrolling the barren glacier
Siachen is an unforgiving glacier, that is manned tirelessly by soldiers of the Indian Army, at great personal cost. The weight of the geostrategic location is also felt by the honest taxpayer whose hard-earned money goes into the smooth operation of life at those heights. The natural boundary serves as a testament to a soldiers commitment to duty and superhuman resolve.
It has been widely reported that the Indian Airforce is facing a massive shortage of squadrons. With the IAF operating a squadron strength of only 32 over its sanctioned size of 44 squadrons. Many have raised concerns over such criminal neglect. However, for most of those who are not attuned to military issues and terminology, the question has been, what is a squadron? This article will answer just that! A squadron is a military unit, which in the case of a flying squadron, comprises of a fixed number of aircraft, pilots, ground staff, maintenance specialists. A squadron has often been designated a type of aircraft. So, for instance, a MiG-21 squadron will comprise only of MiG’s and pilots along with support staff who have been specially trained on that particular platform. Squadrons are not limited to flying units, but also includes air defence and engineering units.
Jets flying in formation
The IAF fighter squadrons typically have 18 operationally deployed aircraft, with three crafts kept as a reserve.
IAF transport aircraft Golden Arrows Squadron Who Will Fly The Rafales Fighters
Facts: No. 1 Squadron (The Tigers), the oldest squadron of the Indian Air Force operates as a multirole (air superiority and electronic warfare) unit. Part of 40 Wing of the Indian Air Force under Central Air Command, it is based at Maharajpur in Gwalior.
Captain Akhilesh Saxena is not one to be chained to his desk. Now, Vice President of Tata Communications and founder of the motivational speaking platform ‘Inspiring Mantra’s’ had two decades ago, led a team of Rajputana Rifles to capture the ‘Three Pimple’ peak, in one of the Indian Army’s most pivotal missions during the Kargil operations. The capture of Tololing, led by Captain Saxena and other military legends, such as Captain Vikram Batra and Captain Vijayant Thapar. (Both of whom he has served with) The actions of these young officers, who are now household names, changed the face of the Kargil war. Severely wounded in Kargil, Captain Saxena started his second inning corporate, after being awarded a Gold medal from FMA.
Captain Saxena and Mrs Shikha Saxena paying their respects to the martyrs of Operation VijayBeing awarded at the Aegis Graham Bell AwardsCaptain Saxena being awarded for excellence in Corporate
Despite being a senior corporate professional, Captain Saxena has always gone out his way, to motivate the youth. Imparting some of the most critical leadership lessons he learned from the battlefield. To do so, he along with his wife Mrs Sikha Saxena started a popular Motivational Talks forum for youngsters named ‘Inspiring Mantras’. The Saxena’s have been invited as chief guests at the Kargil celebrations, National Cadet Corps programs and have been called in as keynote speakers, during many educational, management and media events. It is through these events that they have strived to inspire the youth to keep national interests in mind.
Two decades after Kargil the Army officer has still ready to lock and loadMrs Saxena firing an INSAS rifle during Kargil celebrationsThe military couple inspiring young NCC cadets to be patriotic citizensThe hardcore military man still kills the miles!
Two Decades Since Kargil, The Adventure is Still On!
Before the dangerous extreme sporting event
Recently the inspiring ‘Fauji’ couple embarked on a risky adventure! They successfully attempted the dangerous ‘couple jump’ at Victoria Falls. This extreme sporting activity, notorious for its grave risk, takes place at the scenic Victoria Falls, located between the Zimbabwe and Zambia border. These falls are home to several adrenaline-pumping adventure activities, most notably, the couples bungee jump. The Couples Jump attempted by Captain Saxena and his wife, is said to be one of the most challenging bungee events in the world.
Glimpses From The Jump Of A Lifetime!
Four seconds of high risk and adrenaline!The jump requires pinpoint coordination between the two jumpersTrust is crucial!
Captain Saxena has once again gone on to show that you can’t take the soldier out of an ex-serviceman, no matter their occupational profile.
Revisiting the battlegrounds in which he fiercely fought two decades ago
Hello friends, I’m Yogendra Singh Rathore and Will be joining Indian army through SSC tech September course. It’s been a long journey to reach here as I appeared in my first attempt at 14 SSB Allahabad for NDA 134 in Feb 2015 and got conference out. As being a Sainik School cadet this was most disheartening because a Sainik School cadet dreams of it from the sixth standard when most kids don’t even know the full form of SSB. But this was not ending, my this failure was the most crucial part of my success. I again appeared in my next and last NDA attempt as I got 3 attempts and wasn’t able to clear my written in the first one. This time again I cleared my written and continued my SSB preparations. One thing I learned from my previous SSB attempt is that it’s all about self-introspection as how well one knows about oneself. So I wrote about all my achievements, failures, about friends, family and my environment in a diary as both interview and psych must be related to one’s environment and that’s why 2 PIQ forms are given to us after getting screened in. And for GTO as GD and lecturette, I regularly followed SSBCrack for all updates on current affairs and other information, moreover, I also took guidance from col. Dagar’s KC academy before appearing in SSB.
Again I reported at 19SSB Allahabad but this time with best of my preparations. There around 85 reported and 34 got screen in and finally, 6 were recommended and I was chest no. 11 and this time I had made it. Then it came medicals and unfortunately I got medically unfit in my last attempt of NDA. It was again very disheartening because for a Sainik School cadet NDA is everything, though it was a successful failure for me. Then I continued my engineering degree, meanwhile also focused on my SSB preps and waited for my next attempts through graduation entries and first appeared in the direct entries through TGC and SSC tech but got S/O both times. This phase of life was really testing my patience and determination as after getting recommended once, it was very sad to get screened out as I had not expected it. But being a dedicated aspirant I prepared more as the level of graduation entry SSB is difficult than NDA. So after getting s/o twice, I appeared for my AFCAT entry for January 2019 course with 184 others at 4AFSB.
There 66 were screen in and finally, 3 were recommended and hopefully I had been recommended again after 15 minutes of a wait before the conference and several questions inside the conference hall by IO about my academic and sports achievements. This recommendation was a confidence booster for me, although I got merit out in this attempt, as in AFCAT entry getting merit in is always uncertain. Again I appeared for Jan 2020 course at 4AFSB and out 172 reported 2 were recommended and I was recommended for the third time. Then in June this year, I appeared for my SSC tech entry for which I was not even willing to fill up the form as in the direct entries it’s very difficult to get screen in. But listening to my friend’s advice I filled the form and appeared at 17 SSB Bangalore. There it was a crowd of 324 candidates and out of these 18 were such who had been previously recommended. So it was a very tough competition for clearing stage one, somewhat similar to getting recommended ?, this time, fortunately, got screened in as total 40 candidates were taken for stage 2, this time again everything was similar and I performed well with the experience of my 3 previous recommendations. Now all post recommendation formalities are done and I will be joining OTA Chennai on 28th September through SSC tech 53 and my afcat merit awaited.
For me, this success credit goes to my parents who have sacrificed their comforts for making my life, my friends and most importantly my Alma mater i.e. Sainik School Chittorgarh for providing me such a conducive environment for the overall development of my personality, which is very must for becoming a defence forces officer.
So finally I would say SSB is all about confidence and it is proportional to the preparations One has made. Moreover, it’s not a one day or one-month thing, it’s result of our cumulative efforts as what one has been doing in his life? How well one has made decisions in one’s life keeping in mind his abilities and future goals?
Unless you have been living under a rock, it is safe to assume that you have heard about at least some of the western three-letter spy agencies, such as the CIA, NSA, MI6 or even the Israeli Mossad. However, have you ever heard anything about any of Beijing’s intelligence outfits? Probably not!
A little Chinese Spook History!
“Spies are the most important in war because on them depends an army’s ability to move” Sun Tzu
Intelligence is said to be the second oldest profession, with the Chinese having perfected it into an art form. Espionage has been a crucial part of China’s overall Statecraft, as is evident by 6th-century general Sun Tzu’s quote. Every single Chinese empire extensively employed the services of spies.
Modern Day Chinese Spycraft!
The Chinese are believed to have one of the most sophisticated cyber-spying operations
The origin of the 21st Century Chinese intelligence apparatus has been around for only three decades. Their espionage outfits like any superpower are broadly divided into three segments.
Internal Intelligence
External Intelligence
Military Intelligence
Some Of Beijing’s Three-letter Agencies, That We Know Of…
Military Intelligence Department
General Staff Department (2PLA)
Third Department of the Peoples Liberation Army (3PLA)
Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)
Joint Staff Department
Strategic Support Force
According to an article on Chinese Human Intelligence, written by retired Indian Air Force officer, Squadron Leader Vidula Abhyanakar,
The First Bureau of the Military Intelligence Department is responsible for gathering HUMINT overseas and focuses the activities of countries like Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. The MID has also been known to sponsor domestic insurgencies in Afghanistan and Thailand”
The Who and How of Recruitment
China has recruited students to carry out espionage premier academic institutions
The Chinese have adopted some uniquely original HUMINT tactics, and trust only ethnic Hans Chinese. Their reasoning for the utilisation of ethnic Chinese as human agents is they are patriotic and proud of their national identity. Some of the most prevalent methods of intelligence gathering as analysed by Squadron Leader Abhynkar are:
1.) The Honey Pot
One of the more well-known tactics, courtesy of Hollywood’s romanticised portrayal of spies. This method of information gathering is as old as espionage! According to a thorough investigative report by Foreign Policy Magazine, published in 2011, it was revealed that the British Secret Service (MI5) was increasingly concerned about Chinese espionage. The reportage highlighted that in 2009 the British intelligence had issued a 14-page document highlighting Chinese ‘spook’ attempts to blackmail western businessmen over ‘sexual relationships.’ the document explicitly mentioned that Chinese Intelligence organisations are “Trying to develop long term relationships” and “exploit vulnerabilities such as sexual relationships”
2.) Thousand Grains of Sand
The Chinese have sponsored corporate espionage
This is an ingenious intel collection method for gathering mid-level. intelligence. The Chinese gather large chunks of seemingly irrelevant data, which when combined together forms a piece of critical intel. Beijing’s Ministry of State Security (A bureaucratic body and spy organ clubbed into one) leverage Information Technology Companies, News organisations, Finacial Institutions and other private firms as fronts or cover for their spying operations in foreign countries. The information garnered through these front companies are then analysed as a collective, to determine enemy developments.
3.) Mosaic
Similar to a thousand grains of sand, this method utilises Chinese academic scholars conducting sanctioned research at reputed educational institutions. The use of academics is used to garner small bits of intel during college exchanges, scientific cooperation programs etc. Large-scale deployment of human agents at relevant academic gatherings over time helps Bejing piece together a picture of a country’s upcoming developments.
4.) Seeding
Chinese ‘plants’ have established deep roots into major powers
Seeding is a standard practice used by ‘spook’ agencies around the world. The method as the name suggests means to plant a seed (human asset) into an organization to garner intelligence and develop a spy network. The deep-cover operative works patiently in the target organization as any other employee, all the while obtaining long term strategic intelligence.
5.) Recruiting Chinese Citizens to Collect Specific Intelligence
The Chinese are everywhere!
While this not much of technique, but rather a strategy taking advantage of the country’s globetrotting population, it has proved quite useful in obtaining specific intelligence. Chinese intelligence approaches working professional who travels abroad for business trips, asking them to spy for their country. Their handlers then debrief these Chinese citizens, giving specific instructions about what they are required to do. Their case officers (handler) recruit them to collect a ‘particularly specific’ piece of information which their job or proximity may give them access to. Often the concerned spy does not know themselves about the relevance of the information they are gathering. The data, when sent over to Chinese analysts, is then analysed along with several other intel sources to paint a clear picture.
Quiet Professionals
Man posing in the dark with a fedora hat and a trench coat, 1950s noir film style character
Chinese intelligence is shrouded in mystery with even experts often in the dark about their activities. Though spies from India’s eastern neighbour are not romanticised by the media or exaggerated movie portrayals, it is essential to acknowledge their professional expertise as true ‘quiet professionals. In the world of international espionage, they are truly a force to be reckoned with!
The Indian Army’s famed Infantry School in Mhow is organising ‘The Infantry Marathon’ on 3 November 2019. The flagship long-distance endurance event is organised as a soldierly tribute to the indescribable courage, grit and superhuman resolve of the Indian Infantryman! The one of a kind event is in the words of the event organiser, “A tribute of sweat for the blood our Martyrs have shed!”
Promotional Poster
The marathon is intended to promote a spirit of fitness and pique interest in military service amongst the youth. The flagship event powered by the Academy of Indore Marathoners and host of local businesses will be divided into three independent endurance events.
5 kilometres (Patriots March)
10 kilometres (Josh run)
21 Kilometre (Half marathon)
Contact details can be found on the poster
The entry fee for the 5k patriot’s march is rupees 400, while the registration for the Josh run and half marathon are rupees 500 respectively. Bib’s and timing chips will be handed out to participants going for the Josh run and half marathon. All participants will receive medals along with a free army-style camouflage T-shirt. Refreshments will be provided ahead of the finish line.
There will be a weapons display organised by the armyThe Indian Army band will perform a live rock concert
The sporting event will showcase a live rock concert performed by the Indian Army’s Bagpipers. The army will also be organising a weapons display and, an exhibition of vintage cars and bikes. The Indian Army’s upcoming distance running event is bound to ignite the patriotic fervour of defence aspirants across the country.
The 94th Raising Day of the Military Nursing Service (MNS) is being celebrated today. Additional Director General (MNS) Major General Joyce Gladys Roach; Principal Matron, Army Hospital (Referral & Research) Major General Sonali Ghoshal laid wreath and paid homage to martyrs at National War Memorial this afternoon. Nursing officers once again rededicated themselves to render high quality, selfless nursing care to their patients by reading the Florence Nightingale Pledge on the occasion.
The MNS is the only all women corps in the Armed Forces. It came into being on March 28, 1888 with the arrival of first batch of 10 qualified British Nurses in Bombay (now Mumbai), to organise nursing in Military hospitals in India. In 1893 it was designated as Indian Army Nursing Service (IANS) and in 1902 as Queen Alexandra Military Nursing Service (QAMNS). In 1914 for the first time Nurses were enrolled in India and were attached to QAMNS.
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94th Raising Day of Corps of Military Nursing Service. MNS doing a yeoman’s service towards patient care. Dedication & professionalism enhancing prestige of 92BH ChinarCorps. Immense confidence of soldiers, veterans, dependents, JKP, CAPF & civilians in them
On October 1, 1926, a permanent Nursing Service for the Indian troops was formed and was designated as the Indian Military Nursing Service (IMNS). The IMNS made a humble beginning and their work was universally acclaimed. On September 15, 1943, the IMNS officers became a part of the Indian Army and the members of service became Commissioned Officers. The organisation is headed at the Army Headquarters by ADG MNS at the Rank of Maj General and at command level by Brigadier MNS in the rank of Brigadier.
Enrolment into the Military Nursing Service is based on the merit selection at all India level. The candidates are enrolled at six Colleges of Nursing for Basic BSc (N) from various health sciences universities. On successful completion of the course they are granted Permanent or Short Service Commission in the Military Nursing Service in the rank of Lieutenant.
Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria PVSM AVSM VM ADC took over as the 26th Chief of the Air Staff at a ceremony held at Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan) today. In his address to the IAF, Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said “I feel honoured and privileged to have been entrusted with the responsibility of leading one of the finest Air Forces in the world. I draw immense strength from exceptional achievements and remarkable leadership shown by my illustrious predecessors who built the Indian Air Force. I convey my sincere gratitude to Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa for his vision, untiring efforts and extra ordinary leadership in bringing glory to the IAF and the Nation. The focus of the IAF shall be to rapidly operationalise newly inducted platforms and equipment as well as to ensure earliest and complete integration of these capabilities in IAF’s operational plans. There shall be impetus on modernisation through acquisition of crucial technologies and critical capabilities with increased reliance on indigenous design and development. We shall proactively promote indigenisation for sustenance of all existing fleets and equipment.” He also laid stress on the importance of training as well the safety of the aircraft and other war fighting equipment.
An alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy, he graduated from the Air Force Academy with the coveted ‘Sword of Honour’ and was commissioned in the fighter stream of IAF on 15 June 1980.
He has over 4270 hours of experience on twenty seven types of fighters as well as transport aircraft and holds the unique distinction of being an Experimental Test Pilot, a Cat ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor and a Pilot Attack Instructor. He completed his Masters in Defence Studies from Command and Staff College, Bangladesh.
During his illustrious career, spanning almost four decades, the Air Chief Marshal has held a number of significant field and staff appointments which include command of a front line Jaguar Squadron, Command of a premier Air Force Station in South-Western sector, Commanding Officer of Flight Test Squadron at Aircraft & System Testing Establishment and Chief Test Pilot as well as Project Director of National Flight Test Centre on Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project. He was extensively involved in the initial prototype flight testing on the LCA. He has tenanted the appointments of Air Attaché Moscow, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects), Commandant National Defence Academy, Senior Air Staff Officer at Central Air Command, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Air Command and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Training Command. Prior to taking over as the Chief of the Air Staff, he held the appointment of Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
In recognition of his meritorious service the Air Chief Marshal has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal(VM) in 2002, Ati Vishist Seva Medal(AVSM) in 2013 and Param Vishist Seva Medal(PVSM) in 2018. He was appointed as the Honorary Air Force ADC to the Honorable President of India on 01 January 2019. He is married to Mrs Asha Bhadauria and the couple is blessed with a daughter Sonali and a son Saurav.
Once again, SSBCrack has predicted the correct cut off marks for AFCAT exam, the official AFCAT 2 2019 cut off marks are 142 marks as declared by the IAF. SSBCrack has predicted the cut off marks as 140 marks.
