The Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes visited 92 Uttar Pradesh battalion NCC at Ghazipur. Mr George Fernandes was received by Lt Gen AS Rao, DG NCC, Brig Gurdial Singh Dy DG NCC (UP), Col LA Shinde NCC Group Commander Varanasi ‘A’ Group and other military and civil dignitaries. After introduction to the officers, a guard of honour was given to the Minister by the NCC cadets. This contingent was prepared by Lt Col PS Cheema and commanded by SUO Pankaj of Varanasi. He was given a demonstration of para-sailing by NCC cadets.

Later, Mr Fernandes visited Ghazipur PG College where an impressive array of NCC activities was presented. He was received by Lt Col Sarabjit Singh, Commanding Officer, 92 UP Battalion NCC, Ghazipur. He saw a mock attack by NCC cadets on an enemy bunker. A blood donation camp was also organised in this connection where the cadets donated blood. Mr Fernandes also saw adult education classes being conducted by NCC cadets and appreciated the efforts of NCC cadets in educating the masses. He showed an interest in watching the static air and ship models prepared by NCC cadets as per exact specifications. The Minister appreciated the NCC cadets and entered excellent remarks in the visitors book before his departure.

The Corps of Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (EME) of Indian Army celebrated its 57th Corps Day at Station Workshop EME, Colaba recently.

To commemorate the occasion, various events viz pagal gymkhana, barakhana and a variety of entertainment programmes were organised for the serving and retired officers of Corps of EME. Maj Gen VS Yadav, GOC, Maharashtra and Gujarat Area was the chief guest on the occasion.

A two-day after-sale-cum service mela was inaugurated by Maj Gen Vinod Bhanot, GOC, Delhi Area at Delhi Cantt. A large number of service personnel along with their dependants and ex-servicemen visited the mela.

Maj Gen Bhanot, GOC, Delhi Area was received by Mr BR Das Chaudhary, Area Manager and Mr Dharam Pal, Regional Manager. The GOC visited all stalls and evinced keen interest in products that are offered through CSD.

The idea behind conducting this mela was to bring about awareness about the products available through the CSD. A first-hand information about the products was given by the concerned dealers. Even non-CSD items were displayed in the mela. A total of 64 stalls were put up by different companies. Items ranging from food items to two wheelers were on display. The company technicians provided on- the-spot service for defective electric appliances, pressure cookers and other items bought by the defence personnel. Non-CSD items were also sold to the consumers at the mela. The response to the mela was overwhelming.

Addressing all ranks at the special Sainik Sammelan, Col Jasbir Singh said that the battalion had opened a golden chapter in the Army history by earning two Param Vir Chakra - one for Rfn Sanjay Kumar and another posthumously for Capt Vikram Batra during Kargil operations. Hence the battalion is now known as 13 JAK Rif (PVC), he added.

A military delegation from Kuwait visited the Armoured Corps Centre and School (ACC & S) Ahmednagar recently. The delegation comprising 7 officers of Army, Navy and Air Force was headed by Brig Qasim Ghuloom Mohammad Hussain, Commandant, Kuwaiti Defence Services Staff College.

The delegation on arrival was received by Col AK Gulati. The visit commenced with a briefing at the headquarters on the functioning of ACC&S. This was followed by a visit to automotive and the armament wing, functioning under the School of Technical Training. The delegates were shown the modern training aids and CBT packages used for training of all ranks. They also visited the School of Armoured Warfare where they were briefed on the courses conducted in all aspects of armoured warfare. The delegation was highly impressed with the various modern teaching methodologies adopted by
ACC&S.

A lunch was hosted at Cavalry Officers Mess in the honour of the visiting delegation. Mementos were exchanged by Lt Gen VK Sewal, Commandant ACC&S and Brig Qasim Ghuloom Mohammad Hussain.

The 515 Army Base Workshop, a wing of the Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, has successfully developed a small arms range training simulator christened Drona. Disclosing this information to mediapersons Col KVN Swamy, the officiating Commandant of the workshop, said that the Drona is a hi-tech electronic and software based equipment designed to sharpen the firing skill of soldiers. He also said that these simulators have already been installed in the Naval Commands.

Air Vice Marshal HS Ahluwalia took over the command of Headquarters Maritime Air Operations, Mumbai from Air Vice Marshal CK Krishnatri. A graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, College of Combat and College of Defence Management, the Air Vice Marshal has commanded various operational squadrons, units and a frontline base in the Western Sector.

His other important assignments include Head of Air Force Training Team at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and President of the Air Force Selection Board. For his distinguished services, Air Vice Marshal was awarded with Vayu Sena Medal and Yudh Seva Medal.

Lt Gen Surjit Singh, Western Army Commander visited the Vajra Corps Headquarters. He was briefed on various military and administrative matters of Punjab by the Corps Commander, Lt Gen Kamal Davar. The GOC-in-C exhorted all ranks to be fully prepared and maintain their training standards and equipment fitness. His wife, Mrs Deep Surjit Singh was briefed on welfare matters pertaining to war widows, families of serving soldiers and ex-servicemen by Mrs Madhu Davar, President Vajra Corps Army Wives Welfare Association.

On the occasion of the Corps Day of the Military Police, Brig Atma Ram, Commandant, CMP Centre and School laid a wreath at the War Memorial at the CMP Centre and School in Bangalore. The Corps has completed 61 years of dedicated service to the nation. A two-minute silence was observed to pay homage to the brave soldiers of the Corps who laid down their lives for the nation.

At the Sainik Sammelan, Brig Atma Ram urged the Corps personnel to continue their committed service to keep the flag of the Corps aloft as ever.

The Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes visited the Sainik School at Kazhakoottam near Thiruvananthapuram recently. The Minister was given a rousing welcome by the students. After inspecting a guard of honour presented by the cadets, he laid a wreath at the memorial erected in honour of the war martyrs. The Minister also addressed the cadets.

Vice Admiral RN Ganesh, FOC-in-C, Southern Naval Command, Kochi, Mr Varkala Radhakrishnan, MP, Mrs Sarada Muraleedharan, District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram, Col AJ George, Deputy Commander, Pangode Military Centre and Cdr Paul Abraham, Principal, Sainik School were among those present during the Minister's visit.

The 9th Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment celebrated its 36th Theatre Honour Day Maharajke recently at Colaba, Mumbai.

The celebrations were attended by Col NS Negi (Retd), the fifth Commanding Officer, Brig Rajender Singh, the 11th Commanding Officer, ex JCOs and Jawans of the unit. The celebrations commenced with a mandir function followed by a visit to the quarter-guard and inspection of the guard. A special Sainik Sammelan was held in which Col NS Negi (Retd), and Brig Rajender Singh and Col Jasbeer Singh, Commanding Officer of 9 Kumaon addressed all officers, JCOs and ORs. They recounted the glorious history and traditions of the unit and hoped that the unit would continue to do well and maintain the customs and traditions of the ‘Gallant Ninth’.

The Nine Dogra was adjudged as the Best All Round Battalion of the Pine Division and was presented the GOC's most coveted banner for the same. The banner was presented by the GOC, 9 Infantry Division, Maj Gen AJB Jaini to Col Ranbir Singh, Commanding Officer of 9 Dogra at a special ceremony held at Meerut.

During the presentation ceremony, the GOC lauded the achievements of the battalion in all spheres and exhorted other units of the formation to emulate the Herculean feats of 9 Dogra. On this occasion, the GOC also presented GOC Commendation Cards to 27 JCOs/ORs of the battalion. Of these, 11 were awarded to the members of the mountaineering expedition who scaled the challenging twin peaks of the Chhamser Kangri and the Lungser.

Mr Brij Mohan Joshi, Master Craftsman of 508 Army Base Workshop, Allahabad Fort received the prestigious Rashtriya Vishwakarma award in a glittering ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. He was presented with a certificate and a cash prize of
Rs 7500 by the Union Minister for Labour, Mr SN Jetia. Mr Joshi has designed and developed two dies for the manufacturing of mudguard of tank T-55. This is a replacement to the existing four dies which were in use for the production of mudguards. This innovative design has thus reduced the processing time. His innovation has also led to a saving of about Rs. 2.5 lakhs.

The 139 Medium Regiment organised a medical camp at Panzgam in Jammu and Kashmir as part of a civic action programme. The aim of the camp was to provide medical assistance to the needy and impoverished people in the local area. A total of 435 patients were given free treatment. Medical staff comprising nursing assistants, nurses and pharmacists from 4015 Field Ambulance and local general hospitals attended the camp. The response to the medical camp was overwhelming.

Brig Ravi Khullar recently took over the command of 508 Army Base Workshop as the Commandant and Managing Director. He is an engineering graduate and was commissioned at the Indian Military Academy in 1969. During his long service in the Army, he has held many prestigious appointments. He has been twice posted as an instructor at the premier institute of the Corps ie, Military College of Electrical and Mechnical Engineers and Dean of Faculty of Aeronautical Engineering. His last posting was in Jammu and Kashmir in an Advance Base Workshop which was actively involved in counter-insurgency operations during operation Vijay.

Air Vice Marshal J K Pathania retired recently after completing a tenure of 37 years of distinguished service. His last appointment was Senior Officer-in-Charge, Administration, HQs Western Air Command. Air Vice Marshal Pathania is the sole recipient of one of the highest gallantry awards, the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, amongst the officers of the Administration branch of IAF.

During 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak conflicts he was awarded CAS’s Commendation and Mentioned-in-Despatches.

The 24 Mechanised Infantry (20 Rajput) organised a cycle expedition recently from Tharad to Bhuj. The expedition was conducted as part of a multi-disciplinary adventure activity, organised by Golden Katar Division. The activity included cycling, camel safari, wind surfing and sea cruise covering approximately 1720 km.

The expedition was led by Lt Rajvinder Singh and comprised one officer, one JCO and fifteen Jawans. The team visited Bhabbar, Radhanpur, Santalpur, Adesar, Chitrod, Bhachau, Bhimsar and Anjar during their expedition. On termination of the expedition, they were flagged in at Bhuj by Brig SP Mehla, Commander of an Infantry Brigade Group.The expedition undertook various activities enroute. The team members educated the local people on various matters relating to health, hygiene, illiteracy and family planning. They met many ex-Servicemen and war widows and enquired about their welfare.

An expedition by the intrepid Army Medical Corps riders on Suzuki Fieros was flagged off from Lucknow by Lt Gen Surjit Singh, GOC-in-C, Central Command. The expedition team traversed Khardungla and Tanglangla, the highest and the second highest roads in the world and Drass, the second coldest inhabited town on earth.A team of eight officers led by Lt Col AVK Mohan of the Directorate General of Medical Services (Army), Army Headquarters covered 4700 km of the rugged mountain Himalayan terrain in 15 days. The team returned victorious and was flagged in at AMC Centre and School at Lucknow by Lt Gen R K Jetley, DGAFMS and Senior Colonel Commandant of the Army Medical Corps.

The new multi-purpose parade ground at the Southern Air Command Headquarters at Akkulam in Trivandrum was inaugurated by Southern Air Command Chief, Air Marshal Manjit S Sekhon. The multi-purpose parade ground of 75 x 72 metre size can also be used as a helipad. Senior Air Force and civilian officers attended the inaugural function. Commander, Works Engineer Mr P K Jain presented the project report on the occasion.

The Kumaon Regimental Centre won the Central Command Pipes and Drums competition for the year 2000-2001. Rajput Regimental Centre stood second.

The competition was held at 11 GRRC Parade Ground. Six bands from different Regimental Centres and battalions participated in the grand finale. The award for the best bugler, drummer, piper and band JCO was given to Hav Maheshwar Singh (Kumaon Regimental Centre), Hav Alaudin (Rajput Regimental Centre), L/Nk Bhawan Singh (Kumaon Regimental Centre) and Sub Maj Ram Prasad (Kumaon Regimental Centre) respectively. Lt Gen R M Chadha, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Central Command, gave away the prizes to the winners.

The first ever exclusive mountaineering expedition of the Uttar Pradesh Directorate of NCC was organised recently. The expedition scaled the 19,090-ft high mount Rudra Gaira peak in the Garhwal Himalayas.

The 29-member expedition team was flagged off by Lt Gen RM Chadha, COS HQ Central Command at Lucknow. It included 10 boy and 11 girl cadets. Capt PS Sodhi, RMO of the NIM, Uttar Kashi led the team.

The team was given an acclimatisation training at NIM. The Base Camp was established at a height of 14,500 ft, about 14 km from Gangotri road head. The Advance Base Camp was set up at a height of 16000 ft.

Before the final assault, the team was divided into two groups. Group ‘A’ included Capt PS Sodhi, Hav RS Pundir and Cadets Mukesh Kumar, Praveen Solanki, Trivendra Rawat, Sandeep Singh, Vipin Kumar, Asha Sharma, Reena, Sonia, Shalini and Rakhi Chauhan. The rest were put in supporting Group ‘B’.

After successfully climbing the summit, the team on way back cleaned the area around the Base Camp and collected lot of tins and bottles as also plastic and polythene bags left by other expeditions. The cadets also cleaned the area around Gangotri Temple. After de-acclimatisation at various stages, the team reached Lucknow where it was received by Brig Gurdial Singh, the Deputy Director General NCC (UP).

The expedition team was flagged in by the Principal Secretary Education (UP), Mr PC Sharma at a simple ceremony organised at the NCC Officers’ Mess.