‘Joint Training Doctrine Indian Armed Forces – 2017’ Released

Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee & Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba released ‘Joint Training Doctrine Indian Armed Forces – 2017’ at a simple function here today. It is for the first time in the history of the Armed Forces that such a keystone document has been promulgated. The document has been prepared in a ‘collegiate manner’ involving all the three Service Headquarters and flowing from its mother and capstone Doctrine namely, Joint Doctrine Indian Armed Forces -2017 released in April last.

The aim of the Doctrine is to promote ‘Synergy’ and ‘Integration’ amongst the three Services and other stake-holders leading to an enhanced efficiency and optimum utilisation of resources. Besides numerous advantages of the Doctrines, this document will also go a long way in ‘fostering initiative’ and ‘stimulating creativity’ for promoting ‘Integration’ between the three Services in times to come.

The Doctrine brings out our approach to Joint training at macro-level, Fundamentals, Objectives, Joint Structures, Planning, Organisation amongst other aspects in existence and in use in the Armed Forces which have matured over 15 years of the existence of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS). The concept includes ‘Joint Training’ as a leverage for promoting ‘Diplomacy’ and ‘Civil – Military interface’ issues have also been highlighted in the document. The recently concluded INDRA – 2017 and three Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Exercises held every year are some shining examples towards this end.

This key stone Doctrine will basically serve as a ‘foundation’ and ‘knowledge base’ from which specific Directives and Strategies will be issued by the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee to the HQ IDS and Service HQs to consolidate proven concepts, structures, mechanisms, capacities, capabilities, etc, from time to time.

Consequent to consolidation of Joint Training, this maiden Doctrine will be further developed in due course as Doctrines are always ‘unfinished products’ being ‘Evolving in nature’, for ready reference as ‘Distilled wisdom’ and a ‘Referral document’ for the policy makers, armed forces personnel, academia, etc.

Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa and Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Lt Gen Satish Dua were also present on the occasion.

NA/NM/DK