Defence Correspondence Course-07

ARMY –NAVY GUNNERY TRAINING INSTITUTIONS AFFILIATE

The School of Artillery of the Indian Army at Deolali( Nashik) and INS Dronacharya, the Gunnery and Missile weapons training establishment of the Navy, signed the affiliation charter at INS Dronacharya Fort Kochi on 16 Aug 08. An impressive Parade jointly presented up by the Army and the Navy was reviewed by Vice Admiral Sunil K Damle, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Southern Naval Command. The Parade was followed by a scintillating display of the Army and the Naval Bands. The ceremony was also witnessed by Lieutenant General BS Pawar, the Commandant of the Artillery School and Lieutenant General IJ Koshy, the Director General of the Artillery Corps.

During the ceremony a charter inscribed with the vision and blue print of the affiliation was jointly signed by the senior officers of the Army and the Navy. Mementos, flags and insignia were also exchanged between the Commandant of the Artillery School and the Commanding Officer of INS Dronacharya Captain Sanjiv Issar.

The affiliation of Indian Naval units and the Regiments of the Indian Army is a time honoured tradition that cements the spirit of jointmanship between the two professional forces. The close interaction that such affiliation initiates, serves to maximize the combat potential of the Indian Armed Forces at the time of reckoning. They also foster camaraderie and a deep understanding of each others customs and traditions. It would also help sharing of new operational concepts, training methodology, infrastructure and faculty. Previous instances of such affiliations between units of the Army and the Navy include the affiliation between INS Viraat with Garhwal Rifles, JAK LI regiment with INS Ganga, Maratha Light Infantry with INS Mumbai and more recently the Grenadiers with INS Beas. However, this is the first time that two premier training institutes are getting affiliated.

INS Dronacharya provides broad based and integrated training, in functions and responsibilities of Gunnery Officers and Sailors of the Indian Navy, and Coast Guard. The school achieves this through hands on practical exposure on live equipment, simulators and emulators. The School of Artillery of the Indian Army is a prestigious institution with a great legacy, having been established in the pre independence era. The institution serves as the seat of learning for all aspects of artillery warfare of the Indian army.