Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Mar 1: The Army Postal Service Corps (APS) celebrated its 44th anniversary at Headquarters Northern Command here today.
Lt Gen DS Hooda, GOC-in-C, Northern Command extended his warm greetings and good wishes to all ranks of the APS for performances in providing efficient postal services in the Northern Command zone. The spirit of APS is reflected in their motto of “MAIL MILAB” and the corps has a record of outstanding contribution in all operations and has proved its mettle both in war and peace.
Over the past years, the APS has had made rapid strides in technological advancements thereby leading to a much more efficient system of communication. Army post offices in the Northern Command have been provided with multipurpose counter machines. It is noteworthy that, only Postal Life Insurance has provision for ‘War Risk Cover’ along with higher rate of return without any extra premium.
To convert field post offices into troops-friendly establishments, computers and peripherals have been incorporated and modernization of offices has been undertaken, giving a facelift to the Field Post Offices (FPOs). Many FPOs are also working as eMO / ePost Centres to transmit Money Orders and letters of troops through the internet which has resulted in reduction in time taken in delivery and remittance of money.
Although the APS came into existence as a separate Corps on March 1, 1972, the FPO is more than 150 years old. The first FPO was raised in 1856 initially as a war time organisation accompanying the Indian Expeditionary Force abroad. Thereafter in Jammu and Kashmir operation of 1947-48, the organisation of FPOs was initially affiliated to Army Service Corps and APS personnel were finally declared combatants in 1950. Further, on July 1, 1969 the collection, transport and delivery of official mail (SDS) was entrusted to APS.
The APS, the youngest Corps is an integral part of the Indian Army and functions as an extension of Department of Posts (Ministry of Communication and IT) to meet specific needs of the Armed forces, Border Road Organisation and para military forces.
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