Key Result Areas
Leadership
For a uniformed force, slated to take up counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism role dynamic leadership from officers, subordinate officers and NCOs is absolutely necessary. Leaders should lead by personal example; they should be physically very fit; and their competence in every professional field should be inspiring to the men. When it comes to hardships, a leader must be prepared to toil with men and not lead by proxy.
After executing a high profile attack, the cadres did not leave their area, because their hold over population is complete as state sympathizers have been eliminated”¦
Maoist’s ideology has a certain degree of romanticism to it. Media and political parties paint them as underprivileged and exploited class – fighting for a just cause. Such projections must not affect troops as these are percolating to them from various sources (many troops belong to these regions as well). Commanders must be vigilant against ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ wherein troops develop affinity towards the Maoists for want of clear perspective and motivation.
It is often said that, “Truth is the first casualty of war.” Truthful reporting is an indication of morale and courage of conviction in leader and men. Commanders and troops should report what they see and perform on ground. ‘Padding-up’ of reports to hide operational shortcomings must be curbed.
Leading a sub-unit in a live situation such as anti-Maoist operations is most difficult. A leader has to have some sort of permanency with his sub-unit, so that men know him and he knows the men. Knowing men becomes easy if officers and SOs train with the men. Training, in both formal and informal manner is a way of forging officer-men relationship.
In live situations, spirit of camaraderie helps. It can be inculcated by toiling together whether during games or training or operations. Anti-Maoist operations demand a very high standard of team spirit and camaraderie. “Every man to himself”, attitude must be discouraged at all levels. Troops should be in ‘buddy pairs’ – playing friend, philosopher and guide to each other. Camaraderie is a stress buster too; it helps in building of morale and overcoming setbacks.
A leader must be humane too. His administrative acumen must be instinctive to gauge the morale of his sub-unit and spot the malaise. Such qualities come with honest involvement in sub-unit’s affairs. Troops engaged in anti-Maoist operations have been found stressed up and need counseling from officers. Leaders must be trained to identify the symptoms of ‘fragging’ – a malaise very common amongst the troops engaged in counter-insurgency operations.
Training
Much has been said about the training needed for anti-Maoist operations. First and foremost, training is a command responsibility. Unit and sub-unit commanders have to find time and inclination to train their outfits. Training for counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism is the culmination of a set of individual training in sub-unit training format. Here field craft, endurance, reflex shooting, section and team leading skills find a collective expression. Unless a situation-based training programme is devised, which has the ingredients of terrain, enemy and Maoists’ tactics, the objectives of collective training remain unfulfilled.
Maoists ideology has a certain degree of romanticism to it. Media and political parties paint them as underprivileged and exploited class ““ fighting for a just cause. Such projections must not affect troops”¦.
While deployed in operations it is futile to expect a formal opportunity coming your way to train. Informal training conducted by unit-reared trainers is the most effective method, wherein troops receive ‘hands-on’ training from their seniors and peers. All ranks should be sensitized about this requirement and every opportunity should be availed to impart or receive training.
Orientation to operational situation at unit and sub-unit level is something which should be institutionalized. Units and sub-units must receive proper orientation training before being deployed in operations.
Physical Fitness
Physical fitness of a high order to withstand severity of anti-Maoist operations needs no emphasis. Personnel who are unfit, obese, hypertensive or nursing some other ailment cannot cope with the operational stress. A unit slated for induction into anti-Maoist operations must pay attention to physical fitness of all ranks. Exercises having the elements of long-range patrol, forced marches, living off the land, prolonged outings, night operations, etc. must be conducted as a culmination of individual/ collective training programmes.
A physically fit soldier exudes elan and confidence; while in operations he doesn’t rely on local resources for survival or comfort. It is the first building block on which special troops are trained. A sub-unit commander will have to find ways and means to keep his unit in a fit condition.
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