Hi
Here are some more pics. I'm posting them inline, and resizing if they are too big.
Mods, please tell me if they are too big, and I'll post thumbnail links. Please note taht the majority of these photos are .gif files and are already very small file sizes compared to similar sized jpegs
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Here are images from the (internet-released) last couple issues from the Sainik Samachar, the fortnightly defense publication by and for soldiers of the Indian military.
The magazine, like those of Western militaries, generally keeps one up to date on the general happenings and goings on of the day-to-day affairs of the military, of interest to the soldier. Sadly, the online edition is updated sporadically, and only in low-resolution images. And the branch-specific magazines aren't even available online at all.
By posting some images from here, I hope to show some of the Indian military's unique culture. Remember, this is the second largest military on the planet, probably the most diverse, and each of the thousands of units has their own histories, traditions, battle honors, ceremonies and heros, which make for a very colorful and interesting display for the general military enthusiast.
Most captions are from the text, but I added some more information to explain certain things if needed.
I'll post some more (got hundreds) if you guys like!
Indian Navy:
^ Naval Marine Commando a demonstration of combat gear to mediapersons. The naval khaki beret would be replaced by newly developed PAGST type helmet in combat, obviously. Note the traditional beard. Unlike the rest of the military, IN sailors are allowed to keep beards. The MARCOS, falling under the navy, also have this permission. It also helps them infiltrate during operations against Pakistani terrorists in Kashmir.
^ Lt Abhishek Bhattacharya, adjudged best all-round trainee of the 61st Observer Course, Naval Air station INS Garuda, receiving Uttar Pradesh Trophy from Cmde Thayi Hari
The following pictures are from Western Naval Command's 'Day At Sea' exhibition for defence personnel and their families off the Mumbai Coast on March 27:
^ INS Mysore
^ A Chetak helicopter landing onboard INS Viraat. Note the new paintscheme for the SHAR
^ Seaking helicopter on INS Viraat
^ A Sea Harrier fighter aircraft taking off from INS Viraat. Again, note the paint scheme. It looks spiffier but wouldn't the previous low-viz haze-grey-blue one blend in better with Indian Ocean waters? Maybe it was just repainted for the event?
Indian Air Force:
^ Air Marshal AD Joshi inspecting a guard of honour at HQ Eastern Air Command
^ Lt Gen Bhupender Singh Thakur, Vice Chief of Army Staff, was on a two-day visit to Gajraj Corps at Air Force station, Tezpur
^ Winners from Air Force station, Kalaikunda of the Eastern Air Command inter-wing cricket championship 2005-06 at Air Force station, Salua.
Indian Army:
^ Chief of the Army Staff, Gen NC Vij presenting colours to 1 EME Centre at Secunderabad. Lt Gen VK Dhir, DG, EME is also seen in the picture
^ Lt Gen MC Bhandari, Director General, National Cadet Corps with cadets who visited Bangladesh under Youth Exchange Programme
^ Maj Gen GG Dwivedi, GOC, 57 Mountain Division inaugurated a military-civic action programme to import training in first-aid and maternal and child health to the girls hailing from Leimakhong.
^ Defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee presented the best marching contingent trophy for the Armed Forces contingent in this year’s Republic Day Parade to Sikh Regiment on March 31. The trophy was received by Lt Vikram Singh Gill who commanded the Sikh Regiment in the Parade.
^ Deputy Collector of Muzaffarabad, Pakistani occupied Kashmir, exchanging documents with the personnel of Indian Army
^ Indian and Chinese army officials at a border personnel meeting
^ Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman presenting gifts to visiting J&K students visiting Chandigarh, Punjab during a three day excursion tour under operation Sadbhavana. The operation gives students from the worst terrorism-hit areas of Jammu and Kashmir tours of the rest of the country of India, and the hugeness and warmth of the same, and is one of the most successful tools at countering insurgency.
^ Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman, GOC-in-C, Western Command during his visit to Chetak Corps, Bathinda.
^ President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam receiving a memento from Lt Gen MC Bhandari, DG, National Cadet Corps
^ Wreath laying at the War Memorial of 11 Maratha Light Infantry. The 11th Maratha Light Infantry, affectionately called Akramak Akra (Aggressive Eleven), is one of the youngest battalions of Maratha Light Infantry
^ A view of the formation flying at 667 Army Aviation Squadron's 18th raising day of Army Aviation Corps celebrations
^ Newly attested soldiers of Assam Regiment marching during the attestation parade
^ Winners of the Eastern Command Tri-Services Football Championship with Brig WJB Sturgeon. After completion of a 42 week rigorous training, 288 young Rhinos belonging to the 273rd batch of Assam Regiment were inducted as soldiers at a colourful attestation parade held at the Parson Parade Ground, Shillong
^ Army Chief, Gen JJ Singh with President, AWWA, Mrs Anupama Singh at Wood Bridge
^ Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) flagged off a seven-member mountaineering expedition to Mount Shisha Pangma. Here, defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee presenting Ice Axe to the team leader. Shisha Pangma is one of the 14 eight thousand-metre high mountains in the the world
^ Fifty-seven militants surrendered to Lt Gen Anup Singh Jamwal, GOC, Gajraj Corps at a rehabilitation ceremony organised by the Red Horns Division at Rangiya in Kamrup district. The militants handed over their weapons including pistols, revolvers, AK rifles, point 303 rifles, 12-bore guns, universal machine guns, Chinese grenades and explosives
^ Twenty NCC cadets of Senior Division (Army Wing) of Military School, Dholpur attended an adventure training camp at National Adventure Foundation, Solang, Manali.
^ The oldest infantry brigade of Indian Army, 5 Mountain Brigade instituted a program to construct and run numerous schools in a thousand remote mountain villages in its 460 kilometres deployment in the remote Along sector of Arunachal Pradesh.
^ Garhwal Rifles Rgmt soldiers march during a procession remembering the many successes the elite Royal Garhwal Rifles of the British Indian Army.
^ Soldiers from the Corps of Signals at various events held on the occasion of 94th Corps Day
^ An ex-servicemen (ESM) rally was organised as part of operation Sahayta by HQ 33 Armoured Division at Fatehabad, Haryana. The ESM rally was conducted by 4 Mechanised Infantry (1 Sikh).
^ A voluntary contribution by all ranks was used to construct a Buddhist prayer wheel called “mane” in Chorbatla sector by an Artillery unit
^ The Governor of Jammu and Kashmir addressing the special sainik sammelan commending the role of troops of the 3rd Battalion of 5 Gorkha Rifles in Chandimandir Cantonment marking the diamond jubilee celebrations of the battle honour Tiddim.
Cheers
-Raj