Sharanjit Singh asked: How can joint training be enhanced in the Indian Armed Forces?

Vivek Chadha replies: The importance and need for enhancing joint training within the armed forces remains a consistent endeavour for the military leadership. The initial experiments during the Second World War led to the cementing of the idea. This saw the creation of integrated geographical commands. Thereafter, it has been a constant challenge to improve the joint capabilities of integrated organisational structures.

Several factors go into improving joint training standards. At the outset, joint training must follow a clear perception of threats and challenges a country faces. Training can only be planned once there is clarity on this vital aspect of national security. This can be aided by a national security strategy, a defence and a military doctrine, which outline the threats and challenges and the means and ways to achieve the ends. A common understanding of threats and their dissemination allows all services to work and train towards a common objective. The second aspect deals with support structures that facilitate this process. Unlike the past wherein most training establishments have been Service-specific, there is a need to create joint training establishments and tailor the syllabi accordingly. This will not only enhance joint training standards but also bring economies of scale.

The ongoing efforts at integrating the armed forces also require common training standards, which can become the basis for independent and objective testing of units and formations. A central training body could be created for this role that outlines procedures for testing and designates an independent team of qualified officers for executing this mandate. These responsibilities are best undertaken through a joint training command which can come up as one of the new functional commands.

Finally, jointness comes from a cultural shift that instils a sense of cohesiveness within an organisation. It is easier to create physical structures and difficult to make them function seamlessly. Jointness in training can ensure such a cultural shift that will bring in greater professionalism and effectiveness.

Views expressed are of the expert and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or the Government of India.