Sabathu, April 25
Army recruits are all set to receive basic training in nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) warfare. Infrastructure and training aids have been put in place at 14 Gorkha Training Centre (GTC) here for the purpose and training in this aspect is expected to begin next month.
While the Army has already incorporated NBC warfare capsules in basic training for officers at the Indian Military Academy as well as the Officers Training Academy, incorporating this in the basic training for jawans is significant as it indicates the threat level of a nuclear strike as perceived by military planners. A dedicated training area, complete with specialised bunkers and other paraphernalia required for simulating passive defence in an NBC environment, has been built at the centre. While the NBC training facilities at 14 GTC are scheduled to be commissioned early next month, some regimental centres have already initiated NBC training capsules.
The capsule will be included at the advanced training level. The 40-week basic training of recruits at 14 GTC has three levels: the first 6 weeks of Hindi learning for Gorkhas and information technology training, the next 19 weeks consisting of the basic level and the remaining 15 weeks of advanced training. The shift in the training curriculum results from a training policy formulated by the Shimla-based Army Training Command (ARTRAC) in the wake of the nuclearisation of the Indian subcontinent, which requires that recruits be acquainted with aspects of NBC warfare at the inception stage itself.
The change in policy comes in the backdrop of Pakistan issuing a veiled threat of using nuclear weapons during the Kargil conflict as well as Gen Pervez Musharraf’s statements some time ago that Pakistan would use nukes if it felt the need to do so.
Sources said that the present policy warranted Army recruits to be “oriented” in NBC warfare. The training capsule, the sources added, included basic concepts only. Besides lectures and films on NBC warfare, the training capsule would also include on-ground demonstrations.
The major feature of this capsule is defensive measures in an NBC environment. “NBC training will encompass defensive measures in the field against radiation, both with and without equipment,” an officer said.
No army can hope to equip its troops fully with NBC protection gear as it is extremely costly and has a limited shelf life.
The protection costs are exorbitant. An ARTRAC study indicates that an individual protection kit costs Rs 12,000-15,000 while the cost of an “operational brick” for providing protection to a single infantry battalion, including radiation detection devices, will be in the vicinity of Rs 8-10 crore.
Besides, 14 GTC, which is the home and training ground for 1 and 4 Gorkha Rifles, had introduced hi-tech training aids, including computer-based weapon simulators and laser-based sensors, for training in small arms.
