#bofore sunrise

[durchhaltevermoegen]

ich bin das Leben. ich bin die Gier.

natürlich gibt es auch Streitsuchende, die es nicht wegen der Angst tun. die etwas dafür können. die naiven Liebesgedanken kann man widerlegen. aber was auch immer wir uns schön saufen, wir erinnern uns ans Menschliche. den, der Polizisten angriff und dabei heult. die, die mich nicht versteht, und dabei heult. before sunset ist für mich, before arbeiten, before es mich innerlich treibt.

[born2battle]

Defence Services Staff College Course @ Wellington

     We left Dhrangadhra after an emotional farewell by the Jat Balwans for yet another prestigious Course with a special professional significance.  This time our luggage had doubled since our small beginnings in Deolali & had to be sent in advance, neatly packed for a long journey, by civil truck to Wellington. The schedule for reporting had been intimated for each of the four Batches separately. My Batch of approx 60 officers reached Mettupalayam ( nearest railway station ) by overnight train from Coimbatore & all of us including the families  were welcomed with South Indian breakfast arranged at the Railway station by the Staff College. Thereafter, we moved in a convoy of Army buses on the scenic mountainous road upto Wellington. 

        At the Officers Mess, we had another grand reception after which we were briefed on a layout chart about the allotment of accommodation, spread out at different locations. Hence, we were required to board the mini-buses earmarked to take us to respective locations. We were lucky to be allotted a House in Castle Quarters which was just 2 kms from the College campus & just 200 metres from the DSSC Children School. Another surprise awaited us after reaching our House ---- the NCO to hand over the House who also handed over two huge cartons containing essential grocery items & fresh vegetables and a gas cylinder ( based on our requirement projected earlier ). We were also assured of all the meals in the Officers Mess till completion of settling down after unpacking the luggage. We were really impressed with this novel approach to facilitate settling down as quickly as possible. Both of us got onto the job of unpacking & settling down soon after our truck reached. Finally, we were adequately settled in our new Home within a week. 

       In this week, we also availed the opportunity to visit Ooty --- popularly called the Queen of the hill stations. Our first visit to the Ooty lake, the Botanical gardens & the highest point  --- Dodabetta peak gave us a glimpse of the splendour of the Nilgiris. However, the train journey from Wellington to Ooty & back by the Nilgiris Toy Train was the most exciting part for our daughters. The view of the tree plantations and the scenic valleys enroute was indeed splendid as the Toy Train traversed through tunnels and over beautiful bridges. The salubrious weather enhanced the experience further which triggered our desire to visit Ooty several times later in addition to visits to tourist spots in Coonoor, just adjacent to Wellington. These small trips over the weekends  provided the much needed break during the hectic schedule of the Course.

             Defence Services Staff College ( DSSC ) was founded in 1905  at Deolali when it was called Army Staff College. Later it moved to Quetta in 1907 & yet again to Wellington after the partition. Naval Wing was added in 1948 and the Air Wing was added in 1949.Finally, it was established as DSSC in 1950 & became the premier Joint Services Training Institution.The coveted DSSC Course trains selected officers from all the three Services & representatives from foreign countries for holding Staff & Command appointments in their career. At the end of the year, all officers are awarded M Sc ( Defence & Strategic Studies ) from Madras University. The Owl is the mascot of the Institution. The motto is “ Yuddham Pragya” meaning ---  “To War with Wisdom”.

      The Course commenced with the formal welcome address by the Commandant who complimented our selection for the most important Course in our career. He exhorted us to maintain our focus and work hard to the best of our ability & utmost of our capacity so as to become dependable Staff Officers and competent Commanding Officers. His motivational talk was followed by address by Chief Instructors of Army/Navy/Air Force who emphasised about  the concept of joint operations. We then moved to the respective Divisions ( each Division had 60 students ) for briefing by the Senior Instructor. He gave an overview about the Curriculum, the coverage of subjects in each of the six Tutorials and the pedagogy.This was followed by interaction with the Syndicate DS ( Directing Staff ). Each Syndicate comprised 10 students having a mix of officers from all Arms & Services. Syndicates as well as the Syndicate DS were changed after each Tutorial. This system enabled fair assessment of the students progressively in each Tutorial besides giving the students an exposure to different Syndicate DS having varied operational & command experience.

      The First Tutorial began with learning the finer details of written staff work ( termed as minor SD) where we had to submit several hand written assignments almost daily in the Locker Room, adjacent to the Library in the Campus.Late submission was not accepted at all since time management was considered crucial. In addition, we learnt in detail about the organisation, capabilities and employment of all Arms & Services, in all types of terrain. Simultaneously, we attended several guest lectures on military strategy and international relations. We were given group projects for study of technological developments in weapon systems. Thus, we adapted to the concept of task management as well as time management in the very first month.  In the Second Tutorial, we learnt about all type of operations in mountainous & high altitude terrain.. The coverage of the syllabus was sequential from indoor lectures to sand model discussions which were followed by outdoor exercises & war games. Consequent to each exercise, we had to write an Appreciation & the Operational order including the Tactical & Logistics plans. These had to be written overnight in the College campus itself and submitted by sunrise next day!! In the Third Tutorial, we learnt about all type of operations in the Plains , Canals & riverine terrain by a similar methodology. Guest lectures by eminent speakers continued on a weekly basis. The most memorable event was the inspiring lecture  by Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, MC. This was attended by all the officers & families of DSSC.

        On completion of the Third Tutorial, we were allotted the topic for the Dissertation which had to be submitted one month prior to the completion of the Course.It meant additional load of research work and study in the Library, which was possible only on Sundays/ holidays. Thereafter, we had the much awaited mid term break for one week. Three of us planned a road trip with our families and visited Madurai, Tirupati & Kanya  Kumari, which proved to be very invigorating.

       In the Fourth Tutorial, we learnt about heliborne operations & Para Commando operations. The foreign officers gave their country presentations which were very interesting. Thereafter, we had the most important  War Game for a duration of one week, which was a two sided exercise with participation by all the three Services. It was the ultimate test of application of all the tactical concepts of defensive & offensive operations in a simulated battle scenario of LOC & LAC scenario. All the aspects of Staff work were also practised during this War Game. 

       We began the Fifth Tutorial with the Staff College Tour to visit major defence establishments of the three Services. The Tour was by Military Special Train starting from Mettupalayam and covering Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmednagar, Deolali, Pune & Mumbai before returning to the Nilgiris. The equipment display & firing demonstration at each training institution showcased our combat potential. Visit to Air Force Station at Pune was very spectacular.” Day at Sea” organised by the Navy  was again a fascinating experience and was indeed the grand finale.We returned after this memorable Tour , with bags full of shopping for the ladies & the children.The rest of the Tutorial was devoted to a Capsule of Management Studies which was conducted by a Team from College of Defence Management. 

     At the beginning of the Sixth Tutorial, the foreign officers were sent on Forward Area Tour ( FAT ) to visit the border areas in the Northern & Eastern sectors. Meanwhile, we had submitted our Dissertation and gave brief Presentations before the Viva Voce panel. Subsequently, we had a Capsule covering an overview of Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Warfare.Consequent to the return of foreign officers after their Forward Area Tour, central sessions were held for joint operations. These gave an opportunity for officers from all the three Services to discuss and plan joint  operations. Sand model discussions and War Games facilitated this Phase of training. We were also given group assignments to study about joint operations carried out earlier in other Theatres of War.

     The stage was now set for announcement of our posting orders. The suspense was over when the team from MS Branch from Army HQ arrived to release the” Mystery& Surprise”. Thereafter, the postings were announced  where majority of the Officers were posted on Staff at Brigade / Division HQ while the remainder were sent to the units. I was pleasantly surprised along with two more Gunner Officers to learn that all three of us were selected for a Specialization Course on 155mm FH77 Weapon system, which was to be acquired from M/S BOFORS Sweden. We were instructed to report at Deolali for the pre-departure formalities before going for the Course in Sweden. We were to concentrate as a Team of 12 IGs and 8 AIGs who were selected for this special training. It was a rare privilege and an honour to be a part of this Team. 

        In the last week of the Course, we had the Convocation ceremony where we were awarded MSc. Degree in Defence and Strategic Studies. I felt delighted to secure First Class with Distinction and for being graded in the top five in the merit. Thereafter, we had the final farewell from the Staff College as we bid goodbye to our DS & all the Coursemates with whom we had such wonderful association in Wellington. Moments are momentary but memories are for ever!!!