In a first, India will host a part of an international military sports event in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer over nine days in August, in a bid to promote bonhomie among the participating countries, Army officials said Tuesday.
International Army Games, organised by the Ministry ofDefense of the Russian Federation, have been taking place since 2015 and seesparticipation of close to 32 countries.
In 2019, it is proposed that the International Army Gameswill have 32 disciplines to be hosted by 10 countries — Russia, India, China,Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Iran, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, theysaid.
India will host the fifth Army International Scout MastersCompetition as part of the games, an official said.
The India leg of the event is being held at the culturallyrich golden city of Jaisalmer, nestled in the Thar desert.
“A total of eight countries — Russia, Kazakhstan,Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe, Armenia, Belarus, China and India — will participate inthis leg. The competition is being held in India for the first time under theaegis of the Indian Army and being organised by the Konark Corps at Jaisalmermilitary station,” the official said.
The Army Scout Masters Competition will be conducted fromAugust 6 to August 14, he said.
The Army Games have been a platform for participatingnations to interact and promote bonhomie.
Officials said the aim of the competition is to enhanceinternational military-to-military cooperation, assist each other inproliferation of best practices, develop competitive spirit amongst scoutsparticipating and display combat capabilities and characteristics of modernweapons and equipment.
Army Chief Gen BipinRawat, in his message, saidstrengthening of defence cooperation with friendly nations remains an importantobjective and component of the Indian Armed Forces.
With the need to build capability to operate alongsidepartner nations for meeting evolving global challenges, the Indian Army hasundertaken defence cooperation initiatives to develop friendly relations and tostrengthen engagement, based on a spirit of building mutual trust, he said.
The Indian Army is proud to host the Fifth Army ScoutMasters Competition as part of International Army Games 2019, Gen Rawat said.
“The championship will offer unique challenges andopportunities. The competition is designed to promote co-operation,collaboration and team spirit among the contestants and facilitate sharing ofbest practices, technology and hardware,” Rawat said.
Army officials said, the role of an army scout is to operateas one of the lead personnel in an operational area to gather information ofthe enemy by vehicle mounted or dismounted reconnaissance patrols.
“Army Scouts track as well as report movement behindenemy lines, assist in disruption of enemy mechanised move by using anti-armourweapons, laying ambushes deep inside enemy territory and direct employment ofvarious weapon systems,” an official said.
Their specialised skills enable them to assist withobservation and listening posts, perform and help with navigation and helpsecuring launch pads. They are trained to carry out silent battlereconnaissance after establishing contact and reconnaissance of crossing placesover obstacles.Scouts are professionally trained to find outthe strength and dispositions of an enemy, gaps in enemy defences and itslikely reactions. They are also referred to as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the army,they said.