Thread by @ColSanjayPande

1/ This is interesting. #Agniveer A particular year we were close to war with Pakistan. My General Officer Commanding, who would frequently call me for operational discussions asked me if I could make all nine Infantry Battalion Mortars (81mm) Platoons fire together.

2/ Being from Artillery and an Instructor I said yes. Infantry Battalions have one mortar platoon with few mortars, each manned by three soldiers, and all mortars under platoon commander, who has two soldiers to help. To guide the fire, there are another four jawans.

3/ Say about 30-35 in total out of which at least 25-26 are jawans or Sipahis (whom Agniveers will replace). It takes 10-12 years of training to become detachment commander of one such mortar. There are 8 such mortars in each battalion. They require years of training together

4/ to fire accurately. Now three such platoons are in one Brigade. When all three are deployed together they are referred to as ‘Brigaded Mortars’. Imagine 100 people, spread out in three real estates, firing together. Infantry is adept in it. The General Officer Commanding

5/ wanted me to train three such brigade mortars together. It meant NINE Mortar platoons, each with eight mortars, 30 soldiers, total 270 soldiers of which at least 250 were jawans (who Agniveer will replace). Challenge was till then, no one in Indian Army had attempted it.

6/ Nine mortar platoons of all nine infantry battalions were attached to my unit, all under me for training. 30 days, I would sit with JCOs and Jawans and meticulously write down drills giving each his responsibility. We would immediately practice. Day in and day out.

7/ An artillery officer of Lt Col rank training nine infantry mortar platoons to make all nine fire simultaneously on a target. Every person who knows what I am writing will hold his head and say “impossible”. After 20 days we perfected the training, wrote down micro drills.

8/ I made them a solid tight team. In war they were capable to fire alone, with brigade mortars and now with other eight battalions. The General Officer Commanding was not only shocked but was so happy since his ‘operational muscle’ increased manifold. NOW MY QUESTIONS….

9/ 1. How will Infantry Battalion Commanding Officers train Agniveers?
2. Will they trust Agniveers? 3. Will any Artillery Officer risk lives and career training Agniveers?
It takes years to train to a level where these mortar detachments reached. Will Chiefs tell this to PM? END