Conquerors of Himalayan peaks deserve better

Saturday, September 22, 2012, Chandigarh, The Tribune India
Conquerors of peaks deserve better
A Punjab Regiment expedition team on a mission to conquer 6,830m peak of Mountain Kedar Dome in Uttarakhand was faced with a natural ordeal in the form of an avalanche around 11 am on September 19 when it was on its last leg to achieve the objective. Three members of the team were untraceable after the nature’s fury subsided.
An Army helicopter was put into service to locate the missing members of the expedition team (“Three missing as avalanche hits Punjab Regiment expedition team”, September 20).
Those countries that have made their mark in the international arena have shown concern for their single citizens in the hour of their needs. No concrete steps were taken by the Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre and other authorities for making this expedition safe and a sure success since each little event and achievement affect the morale and motivation of the organisation to which a team belongs and the nation in general.
JAGVINDER SINGH BRAR, Patiala
Conquerors of peaks deserve better

Army flags off motorcycle expedition

TEZPUR, Jan 31: The Corps of Signals of Indian Army will be completing 100 years of its service to the nation on February 15. To commemorate the glorious occasion, the Corps is holding various events across the nation with the aim of showcasing its proud history and achievements, according to a press release.

The Mercury Explorer Motorcycle Expedition which is a part of the ongoing centenary celebrations arrived in Tezpur station in the evening from Tenga on January 30, after covering more than 3,000 km. The motorcycle team was flagged off by Lieutenant General Gyan Bhushan, General Officer Commanding, Gajraj Corps on the balance of its expedition in a befitting ceremony. In spite of passing through rugged and difficult hilly terrain the expedition members displayed indefatigable spirit to continue their further journey to Shillong.

Commencing from January 5 from Chandigarh, the motorcycle expedition aims at motivating the youths in Himalayan region to join the Army and also to interact with armed forces veterans to rekindle the nostalgia of their association. The expedition led by Captain KIS Khangura comprising 15-member will cover approximately 6,150 km passing through Himalayan terrain in J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It has already covered half the distance and the balance is to be covered in the next fortnight before it’s flagging in at Jabalpur on February 14 by the Signal Officer-in-Chief.
Army flags off motorcycle expedition

Diamond Triangle team: 14th Reunion and Centenary Celebrations

Corps of Signals Centenary Celebrations
Indian Express Mon Jan 31 2011, 03:14 hrs Pune
The National Defence Academy (NDA) stopover of the Diamond Triangle Expedition, which started from Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, was marked by a spectacular 40-minute aerial display.
The aim of the team, which includes 13 pilots and comprises four microlight aircraft and two powered hang-gliders, is motivating more youth to join the Armed Forces
“The lot consists of two Savannah, an X Air and a Hanuman aircraft and Clipper hang-gliders. The whole idea is to expose more youngsters to the glory of the Indian Armed Forces and attract them to join the services,” said Major Ankush Goyal, one of the pilots in the team.
The expedition, undertaken by the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), Mhow, with participation of the Army Aero Nodal Centre (AANC) — an adventure node run by the Corps of Signals under the Army Adventure Wing—- marks the centenary celebrations of the Corps of Signals.
The next stop is Belgaum on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border. It will touch Goa and head back to Madhya Pradesh. The expedition will cover 2,700 kilometres aerially and the path is roughly a triangular and hence the name.
“...We are heading to Goa followed by Jabalpur on February 11. En route, we are displaying aerial acrobatics at various places,” said Goyal.
The aerial display at the NDA was attended by NDA Deputy Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Ajit S Bhonsle and Chief of Administration, Southern Command, Major General Chacko Tharakan besides officers and cadets. The team displayed stunts like low flying, ladder formation, split flying and paradrop.
Diamond Triangle team sparkles at NDA

Base Jump: Corps of Signals Centenary Celebrations

NEW DELHI: In a daring effort, Lt Col Satyendra Verma is India's first BASE jumper leaping off the 235-metre-tall Pitampura Tower here.
BASE jumping, considered one of the most dangerous adventure sports in the world, differs from the more popular sky-diving in that the former is made from a much lower altitude giving the jumper only a few seconds to deploy the parachute.
An expert
Col Verma is the captain of the Army Sports sky diving team and undertook the BASE jump as part of the centenary celebrations of the Indian Army's Corps of Signals. He has attempted more than 1,200 sky-diving jumps and is an expert in hand-gliding, para-gliding, hot-air ballooning, sky-diving and BASE jumping.
He has participated in World Military Parachuting Championships in Russia and Switzerland. Backed by his massive sky-diving experience which is considered a pre-requisite, Col. Verma trained in Malaysia and the US before venturing on his first BASE jump. He has earlier performed BASE jumps from K L Tower in Kuala Lumpur and Perrine Bridge in the US.
Elated by his success, a proud Col. Verma said he hoped his effort would make sky-diving and BASE jumping more popular in India. “I have done many such jumps outside India but this one being the first in our country makes it truly special,” he gushed. “My attempt reiterates the famed daredevilry of the Army and the Corps of Signals. I hope this invites the attention of youth seeking adventure and inspires them to join the armed forces.”
Corps of Signals, known as the “nerves” of the Indian Army, shoulders the responsibility for providing to the Indian Army peace-time static and combat communication.
Besides providing conventional communication, the Corps is also responsible for IT-related activities including networking, automated message switching and handling system and installation of state-of-the-art exchanges with latest interactive voice response systems.
The Hindu: Armyman dares country's first BASE jump

A Giant Leap into history: Col Verma Jumps 475 ft Tower

Daredevilry: Armyman dives from 475-ft TV tower in Delhi
A giant leap into history
Kalyan Ray, New Delhi, October 29, DHNS:

India witnessed its first BASE jumping here on Friday when an Army Signals officer dived from a 475-ft television tower in west Delhi creating a history.

BASE jumping is a new form of a risky adventure sport in which divers undertake a free fall from tall buildings, antennas, spans (bridge) and earth (cliff). The jump involves using a specialised parachute, manufactured to ensure faster and more reliable opening.

After the successful jump on Friday morning, Lt Col Satyendra Verma said: “It was a thrill — nothing more, nothing less. When you jump, you forget everything. But it involves right preparation, and when preparations are right, nothing will go wrong.”
Read More: Daredevilry: Armyman dives from 475-ft TV tower in Delhi- A giant leap into history

IESM: 1971 Indo-Pak war veteran on the drive

12 Jan 2009, 0217 hrs IST, TNN
Bangalore : Colonel S S Rajan, 64, a veteran of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war and convenor of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM), left Bangalore on January 11 for Himachal Pradesh to persuade young people to join the army, navy and air force. He'll travel by a van through Pune, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Delhi.

"There is a growing sense of resentment among ex-servicemen in India due to years of neglect and apathy by the government. The issues relate to pension and resettlement problems," Rajan said. "Seeing ex-servicemen lead a life of neglect and penury, youths think a career in the armed forces is hopeless."

But in the backdrop of a sense of insecurity prevailing in the country, consequent to terrorist strikes, there is a need to motivate youths to join the force. Also, IESM has organized a relay hunger strike to support its long-standing demand for grant of `One Rank, One Pension' at Jantar Mantar, Delhi. The hunger strike entered the 25th day on Sunday.

"Our country belongs to a young generation. We require more youths to join the armed forces," Rajan said.

In November 2001, he had taken up a journey, accompanied by a van that had a TV set and VCD player. He visited villages, towns, marketplaces, and especially schools and colleges, where he showed video clips of army sky-divers to young people.

He narrated adventure stories that form the core of the lives of army personnel. "I received an overwhelming response from students."

Rajan will also undertake a `padayatra' of approximately 500 km in Himachal Pradesh in March to ask ex-servicemen to join IESM.
1971 Indo-Pak war veteran on the drive

ESM may be roped in adventure tourism

NEW DELHI : The Tourism Ministry is considering a proposal to use the services of ex-servicemen as part of an exercise for manpower development in adventure tourism.

There is a need for manpower development in adventure tourism and the services of ex-servicemen may be used for the purpose, said a senior Tourism Ministry official. With an aim to boost adventure tourism, the Ministry has worked out an action plan to be carried out in close coordination with state governments. Currently there are about 25 projects related to adventure tourism being implemented with central financial assistance in different states.

The projects include development of river rafting facilities, ski destinations, water sports complex, eco and adventure centre and trekking routes in several states. Tourism Ministry at a recent review meeting decided to provide an updated list of these ongoing projects to adventure tour operators association to enable them to plan activities and marketing initiatives accordingly. "We are trying to sort out various issues related to adventure tourism concerning other ministries like Environment and Forest Ministry and Defence Ministry," said a senior Tourism Ministry official.

A meeting with other Ministries where clearances are required for adventure tourism activities will be convened by the Tourism Ministry shortly, said the official. There is also a proposal to construct an Adventure Tourism Centre in Sikkim whose model can be replicated in other states as well.
Ex-servicemen may be roped in adventure tourism

Leg Amputee Subedar Jagmail Singh to Trek Thar Desert

One of the oldest Signal Regiments of the Indian Army, the “1 Army Headquarters Signal Regiment” has always been in the forefront to promote the spirit of adventure. The Regiment has a well established Adventure Club which in the past has promoted various adventure events including high altitude trekking expeditions to various parts of Himalayas. The Regiment is now organizing a unique desert trekking expedition in the great Thar Desert from 09 Sep 2008 – 03 Oct 2008. The expedition is a novel large-scale venture of its kind being attempted 1200 kms away from the home base in the areas along Hanumangarh – Jaisalmer.

Led by Col Vivek Dogra the 17 member team will attempt to cover more than 480 Kms of desert stretch by trekking on foot, an attempt, considered by people as extremely challenging in the sandy camel country of Thar. The young robust team includes Maj SPS Bali an expert in desert navigation, a must for survival in the vast expanse of desert and Capt Divya Gupta a petite but tough as a nail lady officer who amidst the grind of sun, sand and heat will be managing the complex affairs of communications and logistics, a critical link in an activity of this magnitude. Amongst the team members is Sub Jagmail Singh a leg amputee, who lost his leg during Sri Lanka operations whose steely determination will be a constant source of motivation for everyone.

The proposed expedition besides trekking and exploring the desert flora and fauna also has an important aim of showcasing the unique versatility of Corps of Signals and the Indian Army to the people inhabiting remote hamlets of the desert. The chief patron of the expedition, Lt Gen P Mohapatra, Signal-Officer-in-Chief and Colonel Commandant of Corps of Signals alongwith with patrons Maj Gen TK Das and Brig Ajay Kohli of Army Headquarter Signals flagged off the expedition from the historic India Gate lawns today.
Leg Amputee Subedar Jagmail Singh to Trek Thar Desert

Indian Army Harbingers of Peace and Stability

Western Command to hold 'Know Your Army' exhibitions
Chandigarh Tuesday, Jan 1 2008 IST

On the occasion of Army Day 2008, a series of 'Know Your Army' exhibitions have been planned during this month by the different corps of the Western Command at Ambala, Jalandhar and Jammu. The first such exhibition would be held at Ambala, with a number of activities such as equestrian display, dog show, sky diving, band display, motor cycle display and hot air ballooning lined up for the two-day show on January 5 and 6. The show would possibly be the biggest army display that the residents of the city have ever witnessed in the past, a defence spokesman said.

The theme of the exhibition is ''Indian Army: Harbingers of Peace and Stability''. It will trace the saga of valour and sacrifice of the Indian Army over the decades and portray the technological advancement and military might of the world's second largest army over the years. This would be a unique opportunity for people to witness the latest technology and a wide range of military equipment like tanks, infantry combat vehicles, artillery guns, anti-aircraft guns, radars and engineering equipment, the spokesman said. The exhibition would afford a rare opportunity to the students to experience the thrilling of undertaking rides on tanks and infantry combat vehicles. Besides, awareness stalls would be established for information about joining the Indian army as recruit soldiers and as officers.

Terminal benefits of a glowing career in the Indian army such as Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Ex-Servicemen Recruitment and Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) would also be projected. The exhibition would be held at Convoy Ground, Ambala Cantonment on Ambala-Jagadhri road.

Credit: http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20080101/860604.html