Isnt it guud to change?
Things have moved up.
i dont say what happened in the past was incorrect or what we do today is more efficient but then procedures change with time. People still say that back in those days kids used to start writing on
takhtis with slates, and because of this their hand writing used to be beautiful, but now as the tradition has died, even i the poorest corners of the country, we really cant blame the missing takhti and slate for our bad hand writing, can we?
In short, when 'demo exercise' method was the talk of the day, our military had only two things to do back then; 'Training and Administration', today it's a different world, militarymen train (from everything ranging from conventional to unconventional warfare), they are also expected to be more learned (being awarded BS degree instaed of Bsc/BA degrees), and then they also have to keep pace with today's tech. Seriously, you cant judge computer efficiency in the field. All the IT, net centric, OAS, digital identification methods, linking of every HQ and unit through WAN/LAN are some issues at hand. Still, the military conducts the same amount (rather more time) in the field, winter/summer collective exercises, ITCs, training cadres etc. Firing/testing of weapons today is as simple a routine today as eating your lunch at Langer (the correct name is Soldier's Mess). The difference now is, that previously these training events and 'demo exercise' took place as part of an elaborate plan (oh..major saab nay promote hona hai, let's just hand him over a Charlie Cmpany and tell him to deploy it any where in Pakistan and then we'll go test/check him - bahut khola POL the us time pe janab, ab aik aik liter ko trastay hain hum), but now most of the 'demo exercies' are shifted to ON JOB TRAINING. You fight for a year in Swat and came back alive with laurels at your back, seriously i dont think there now is a need to test the dude with a 'demo exercise', again.
GOCs and Comds dont see an Officer's course result now a days, thay know anybody can mug up and attain guud grades, but with added sense of competition, more aware fauj and lesser slots, the promotion has gone tougher.
Sir Fat, i hope you know the result of SB-3 this year?
Lt are given tasks which a senior Capt would do back in those golden 'demo exercise' days, and Capts are given the task that Majors and Lt Col would have done. Seriously, when was the last time a convoy consisting 50 vehicle s was sent in a war zone under the command of a newly promoted Captain? Sir Fat, i'll your comments on this. Also with an improved officer lot, the high ups demand more, ruthlessly more. i remember Officers and Men used to refrain from carrying personal weapons, today they like to keep two with them, sir Fat should i now narrate here how the protection NCO sitting behind the back of a 2.5 ton truck used to keep his ammo (the handkerchief thingy...
)? i wont, because it would speak bad of the Army. Things have changed radically today.
Sir Fat, how would you feel if i tell you that all major exams (including the most prestigious one - Sir Fat can guess it
) are conducted ONLINE now? The entire Army has almost gone Paper Free now? i send and receive Faxes on my personal laptop these days - i dont call a clerk from his bed just to turn on that fringging fax machine laying under silk and roses in A Office? i no more ask my juniors to get the weapon clear from the soldiers because i know they have already done it and made sure that weapons are not loaded when not required. i dont run a class in the evening at the field mess for Laftains to teach them about artillery shoots that he would be conducting the next day, when we go for Field Firing, why? Because i know the dude is more concerned than me about his performance and has already prepared well for the task at his own end. i know this because he woke me up for may be like 7 times to ask certain queries and doubts regarding the technicality of a Shoot.
Also, in order to stop this ar,y going all hi tech with no traditions and history, we still do have mess nights (though on a lesser scale - you know austerity measures), we still fine you with a
saboota chicken when you commit a spelling mistake, we still give the Lt EDs when he misses his duty timings, juniors still call on seniors at home etc etc. Though internet, laptops and TV has reduced the 'Messers', but we do keep an eye on the bear minimum.
The current uniform again has been changed. Bad new?
My duty officer still wears the Royal SD cap and carries a stick. See, we havent wiped out everything.
