Pathankot Attack: Shouldn't a Younger Force Guard Airfields?

[Stag112]

You can see from this thread, and from all over the Indian media, that is isn't just our neighbours who have these misconceptions. People thrillingly listen to these fancy titles of "black cats", "garuds", "paracommandos", "special forces" (only the MARCOS was missing) and so on being "rushed in", and wonder what superannuated jawans of DSC are doing there. The fact of the matter is that these DSC jawans are expected to be, and always have been, the first line of defence in such situations. And they have never disappointed the nation - no attack on a military base has been successful in India, ever. All the multibillion dollar equipment, all the starred officers etc have been protected, almost always by the DSC. That's what they get paid for, and that's what they do.

Protecting vital installations is the job of sentries, not warfighters. Especially so when it is on a 24/7/365 basis. The CISF, the DSC etc are meant for that role, and that's what they do. Yes, we lost 5 DSC jawans - but if the base was only patrolled by Garuds or NSG, would the outcome be any different? Did the DSC jawans commit any tactical errors that led to their deaths? Would the outcome have been different if the sentries were 20 somethings?

If anybody can explain how their age was a hindrance or their tactical efficacy was lacking, I am eager to listen. But simply spouting armchair analyses about "50+ year olds" and so on, is a disservice to men who have volunteered to serve the nation not once, but TWICE - once as young warfighters, and then as old peacekeepers.

If anything our 50 something unarmed jawan killed a heavily armed suicide terrorist in his twenties and also gave the supreme sacrifice for us, that unfortunately includes those rich fat bastards in newsrooms too.

Tukaram omble, was aged, unarmed, but did more for our anti terrorism effort than ANY individual has done.

Valor comes from a sense of duty. I salute our martyrs, and I also salute you for your powerful words. Thank you I could not have expressed it as well as you did.

 

[atomix]

Really? What experience were they lacking? They served an entire career in the Indian army, before retiring and then choosing to serve the country further by guarding military bases. They are at least as experienced as any serving jawans, if not more. They are battle hardened veterans, not greenhorns.

There is a difference. Not all the units have expertize in urban warfare. Most of the army is trained to fight a conventional warfare along with tanks and other heavy equipment.

Some time back there was an attack on some armored regiment camp and terrorist managed to get inside the camp. Troops stationed there ended up using tanks to combat few terrorists bcos thats what they were good at. They had to wait for RR to come and clean them up.

One of the reasons why RR is setup was to fight terrorists so that army's conventional fighting expertise does not get diluted or eroded.

 

[ayesha.a]

There is a difference. Not all the units have expertize in urban warfare. Most of the army is trained to fight a conventional warfare along with tanks and other heavy equipment.

Some time back there was an attack on some armored regiment camp and terrorist managed to get inside the camp. Troops stationed there ended up using tanks to combat few terrorists bcos thats what they were good at. They had to wait for RR to come and clean them up.

One of the reasons why RR is setup was to fight terrorists so that army's conventional fighting expertise does not get diluted or eroded.

Several mistakes there. I wish I could address them in order, but I'm in a hurry.

1) RR was raised for counter-insurgency, not counter-terrorism. The NSG was raised for counter terrorism and hostage rescue.

Short, swift counter terrorist operations would not dilute the army's conventional war-fighting ability. But sustained, slow, prolonged counter insurgency certainly would. Raising the RR was a brilliant move by the army and the MHA.

Your assertion that troops in the armoured regiment had to wait for the RR to clean up the terrorists is simply not true. I know which event you are referring to, but I don't remember the details right now - but I'm pretty sure that it wasn't a commando swoop by the RR that ended it. The RR is comprised of some 60+ battalions raised and trained to patrol insurgency laden places every day, and to collect intelligence and eliminate insurgents holed up somewhere. They are not flash-bang commando raiders.

(They have done a fantastic job in counter insurgency, I'm not trying to take anything away from them. But they are not commandos called in when regular armymen can't handle a situation.)

2) (This should have been point 1, I suppose.) Sure, not all units have experience in urban warfare. Not every single soldier in the 1.2 million army has experience in mountain warfare or jungle warfare or amphibious operations.

But here's the thing - what the DSC does is not warfare of any kind. It's sentry duty. It's guarding bases. Urban warfare has nothing to do with it. Somebody with zero expertise in urban warfare, but a lot of expertise in force protection, can do a good job of...force protection.

Armymen can patrol and shoot and keep vigil. That's pretty much what it takes to guard a place. That's what these sentries do.

Now that's about skill set. About temperament - a humble jawan in the infantry, if he has served all his life in it, will have a certain spirit and ethos. He would put mission first. That is why, yesterday, Havildar Jagdish Chand chased the terrorists bare handed, snatched their weapon and shot one before being shot. That is why Sub inspector Omble disarmed Kasab bare handed before and while being shot.

BTW, do garuds have experience in urban warfare? Do para commandos? And is this about urban warfare at all? No, this is about protecting a target. It's about sentry duty. It's about peacekeeping, not warfighting.

 

[Stag112]

There is a difference. Not all the units have expertize in urban warfare. Most of the army is trained to fight a conventional warfare along with tanks and other heavy equipment.

Some time back there was an attack on some armored regiment camp and terrorist managed to get inside the camp. Troops stationed there ended up using tanks to combat few terrorists bcos thats what they were good at. They had to wait for RR to come and clean them up.

One of the reasons why RR is setup was to fight terrorists so that army's conventional fighting expertise does not get diluted or eroded.

Not the job of sentries to fight urban warfare, is it? Not the job of rr, nsg, garuds, para to do sentry duties, is it?

Sentries are more vulnerable as the element of surprise is against them. Please appreciate that.

This is not to say improvements are not possible or desired. Thats a continuous process.

 

[atomix]

Not the job of sentries to fight urban warfare, is it? Not the job of rr, nsg, garuds, para to do sentry duties, is it?

Sentries are more vulnerable as the element of surprise is against them. Please appreciate that.

This is not to say improvements are not possible or desired. Thats a continuous process.

Sentries are good at manning the post and raising an alarm.
"Not the job of rr, nsg, garuds, para to do sentry duties, is it?" ?????

"Thats a continuous process."
Agreed.