Army chief’s strong message on combat ops, use of social media

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 11: Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat has sent out very clear message to the Army officers on combat operations, use of social media, purchase of weapons, weeding out corrupt practices, contracts management, dignity of men, transparency in services and judicial expenditure of Regimental funds.
The 10-point guidelines have been issued by the Army chief to 1.3 million Army officers and soldiers and want them to be implemented strictly.
Asserting that the Indian Army functions as a team and fight together to achieve best results on the battlefield, Gen Rawat said each arms/service has a role to play in enhancing overall output of the forces.
“We need to reassure all arms/services that we are equals as comrades-in-arms with each component playing a vital role in synergizing our effort for combat,” he added.
The Army chief pointed out that all future procurement projects have been classified as ‘Operation Critical’, ‘Operation Essential’ and ‘Operation Important’. “The ‘Operation Essential schemes of any arm will not be initiated till ‘Operation Critical’ schemes of all arms and services have been progressed,” he asserted.
As social media has been playing a major role these days, Gen Rawat had a detailed and very specific message for the Army personnel on it.
“Negativity is being propagated on the social media and it needs to be analyzed with due diligence in view of the facts.  We should not get carried away by taking everything at face value. We need to be careful about material planted by the adversary aimed at weakening the organization,” the Army chief said, adding that social media is an influential and effective tool and “we need to ensure its judicious utilization to strengthen our organization”.
Gen Rawat said that all Regimental/station functions must be military-like, without being ostentatious.
He called for weeding out of corrupt practices by those involved in contracts management, irrespective of their rank or stature.
“Judicious expenditure of Regimental funds particularly at the level of Commanding Officers and Formation Commanders must be ensured. Commanders/staff who are unaware of regulations on their expenditure and tend to flout rules and regulations with impunity need to be given suitable advisories, failing which they should be dealt with in a stern manner,” the Army chief said.
He directed that the officers indulging in sycophancy with an eye on their careers through ‘eye wash’ need to be identified and those conducting themselves with dignity, often labeled as ‘work horses’, need to be given their dues.
“The dignity of men must be ensured at all times. This should translate into mutual respect between officers and men. Tasking soldiers for menial jobs must be avoided and mundane tasks be outsourced, or simplified by adoption of modern tech,” Gen Rawat said, adding that social disparity amongst officers and Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and Other Ranks during station/unit functions be reduced, especially for families.
“Focused welfare activities should be followed and unnecessary show off curtailed,” he said.
He added that the misuse of CSD liquor and groceries to encourage profits must be curbed.
“CSD facility is meant for authorized people, but even minor units are indulging in profiteering through inflated sales,” he pointed out.
Gen Rawat said the rising cases of moral turpitude are a matter of concern, strict punishment including dismissal without pension is being given to offenders. “No case of such indiscipline will be spared”.
Officials said the disciplinary instructions are in force for last several decades and Gen Rawat asked the force to comply with them.
In the note, the Army Chief also said that no Sahayak or orderly should be attached to any retired officers except those eligible for such privileges, the sources said.
Gen Rawat also emphasized on physical fitness of the 12-lakh strong force and advised them to refrain from consuming un-healthy foods.

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