Utilization of manpower in the Army: 1985

Source : The Indian Defence Review, © 1995 by Lancer Publishers & Distributors.
Article Author : Lieutenant General K. Balaram, PVSM (Retd)
This article is based on a paper presented by the author to the Ministry of Defence in September 1985, prior to his retirement as Vice Chief of Army Staff and Adjutant General, Indian Army.
Introduction
The trade or employment structure of the Army, broadly, has three groups namely, the General Duties, Skilled and Highly Skilled or Technician groups. The General Duties group comprises the combat categories of armoured corps, mechanised infantry, artillery, corps of engineers, infantry and some categories of the corps of signals. The Skilled group generally comprises operator categories of various types of equipment mostly in the combat support and logistic units. The Highly Skilled group or Technical group includes mechanic and technical categories. The educational standard at recruitment, training period and the period of engagement is graduated upwards from the General Duties group to the Highly Skilled group. The training period varies from about a year or so at the lowest level to about two and a half to three years at the highest level of knowledge and skill. The aim of this article is to examine whether optimum use is made of this manpower and, if not, suggest an alternative method by which improved optimization and cost-effectiveness can be achieved.
The jargon prevalent in the Adjutant General's Branch, the Personnel Management Organization of the Army, is used in this article since it is expressive and brief. The meaning of the jargon is explained for ease of understanding of the uninitiated and lay readers. Quantitative analysis is essential to present the magnitude of the problem. Complicated calculations are given in the tables but derivations thereof are given in the text.
Genesis
Prior to 1965, sepoys in the General Duties categories were engaged for seven years of 'colour service' with eight years of 'reserve' liability, Skilled categories for 10 and 10 years and Highly Skilled categories for 12 and 8 years, respectively. Except for Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs), the age profile of combat units was between 18 and 25 years and those of Combat Support and Technical Services and Logistic Services units wore comparatively more, but not unduly so. Therefore, the high spirits, generally associated with youth, pervaded the entire Army. Re-employment after release from the Army was comparatively less difficult since trained manpower between the ages of 25 and 30 was more acceptable in the employment market. About 65 per cent wore released without the Army incurring any expenditure on pensions on their account since the minimum service for a pension was 15 years. Only JCOs and senior NCOs retired with pensions.
The colour service of the three groups, as defined, was changed to 10, 12, and 18 years, respectively with effect from 25 January 1965 to 15, 15 and 18, respectively with effect from 1 February 1976 and to 17, 17 and 20 years, respectively with effect from 30 June 1979. These increased colour service periods are operative till date. The effects of this upward revision of colour service will next be discussed in detail.
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1 STC Jabalpur home to Boys Company and Scouts

Brig Narinder Dhand, on March 20, 2011 said ...
After the War, there were only two Centres left in the country one in Jabalpur and the second in Bangalore. On partition, the assets of the Centre at Bangalore were transferred to Pakistan. Colonel R J Moberly OBE commanded the centre at the time of partition. A function was held in Jabalpur to bid farewell to those comrades who had opted to go to Pakistan. Major P N Luthra, the senior most Indian Officer who commanded the Military Training Regiment at the time, presented a scroll to the Pakistan Signals Corps officers at a farewell parade. On 1 December 1947, Col Moberly returned to UK and Colonel Apar Singh MBE had the honour of taking over as the first Indian Commandant of the Training Centre. The centre is considered, traditionally, the home of all Signals personnel. At the time of partition, the Centre consisted of a Headquarters, a Military Training Regiment, two Technical Training Regiments, a Boys Regiment, a Depot Company and the Signals Records.

Lord Baden Powell's Army tenure in Jabalpur
Scouting began in 1907 when Robert Baden-Powell, Lieutenant General in the British Army, held the first Scouting encampment at Brownsea Island in England. As a military officer, Baden-Powell was stationed in British India and Africa in the 1880s and 1890s. Since his youth, he had been fond of woodcraft and military scouting, and—as part of their training—showed his men how to survive in the wilderness. He noticed that it helped the soldiers to develop independence rather than just blindly follow officers' orders.
Army Life: In 1876 at the age of nineteen, Lt Gen Baden Powell graduated and joined Army. He got second rank in cavalry and forth rank in infantry among 1700 candidates. Immediately after his training, he was sent with 13th Husars Regiment as sub‐lieutenant to Lucknow.
On 6 February 1921 in Jabalpur procession, B.P. as the Chief Scout addressed to the Scouts that he had love for Jabalpur as this was his first posting as Lieutenant. Baden Powell was promoted in the army as Captain at the tender age of 26 because of his rare qualities and leadership skills. He was equally adored and liked by his seniors as well as juniors. In the army, he developed interest in horse polo, pig sticking and soothing.
In 1880 Baden Powell was moved to Kandhar (Afganistan) with 13 Army Husars as the General of the regiment. 1882 he was appointed as Musketry Inspector and travelled 900 KMs from Northern India to Mathura with the Regiment.
In 1884 he published a book – ‘Reconnaissance and Scouting’ which became popular among British’s school boys. In 1887 Baden Powell was sent to Zulu province, South Africa for peace establishment of the disturbed area. He showed great courage, bravery and leadership during the operation.