Source : The Indian Armed Forces - A Basic Guide by Major General AFSIR KARIM AVSM (retd), © 1995 by Lancer Publishers & Distributors.
The organisation, weapon systems, training and movement of the armed forces is still considered secret, and the result of this attitude has been that a common citizen knows very little about his/her own Army, Navy or Air Force. My aim from this venture is provide some ground work of our armed forces to the common man/woman in simple non-technical language.
I have listed the functions, organisation and the basic equipment of various branches of the Army, Navy and the Air Force in separate section for ease of reading.
The armed forces whose main concern is the defence of the country are sometimes called out for controlling lawlessness or riots within the country on specific request from the civil authorities. The services should normally be asked to do these tasks for short periods so that 'war preparedness' does not suffer. The Army has however been deployed for long spells to combat insurgencies in the North-East, Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab.
The armed forces also provide immediate and effective help to people during natural or man-made calamities. They can provide helicopters, boats, free medical help and carry out large-scale rescue operations. In the recent devastating earthquake in Maharashtra, the Army virtually controlled the operations for rescue and relief as the civil organisations were unable to cope with the situations.
War can be compared to a deadly kind of sport, for which your team has to be well trained, with good equipment and players (soldiers), otherwise, you cannot win or stop your enemies. War however is a matter of life and death where the country's independence, freedom and honour are at stake.
The primary task of the armed forces therefore is to defend the territorial integrity of our country from external aggression or threats.
As we all know, the armed forces are also required to restore peace and order within the country whenever required by the government. Thus the secondary role of the armed forces is to provide aid to the civil authorities whenever required due to internal problems or natural calamities.
To fulfil the primary role the Army, Navy and the Air Force have been divided into several branches or departments. Those which are required to go in close combat with the enemy on land, on the seas and in the air form the 'combat elements'. Those who support these troops in combat are called 'supporting arms'. The supporting Services carry on administrative and supply jobs.
Combat arms : Infantry ; Armour; Army Aviation Corps.
Combat support arms : Artillery; Corps of Engineers; Corps of Signal.
Logistics services for support of war effort : Army Supply Corps (ASC); Army Ordnance Corps (AOC); Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME).
Medical support : Army Medical Corps (AMC); Army dental Corps.
Postal dept. of the Army : Army Postal Service.
Others: Army Education Corps (AEC); Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC); Military Farms Service; Judge Advocate General Department; Corps of Military Police.
Combat aviation arms / Submarines : Executive Branch.
Others : Engineering Branch; Electrical Brach; Education Branch; Medical Branch.
Pilots and Navigators : Flying Branch.
Aeronautical engineering, Electronics, Mechanical : Technical Branches.
Others : Administrative Branches; Logistic Branch; Accounts Branch; Meteorological Branch; Education Branch; Medical and Dental Branch.
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