INDIAN TERRITORIAL ARMY

Lieutenant Colonel (Honorary) Kapil Dev, Territorial Army

Popularly known as the Citizens' Army, Territorial Army is an organization of gainfully employed Indian citizens who are not professional soldiers but amateurs who have a passion and love for the country and who are eager to contribute their spare time for obtaining military training so that, in the event of a national emergency, they can play their part to meet the internal security needs and contribute their might in the defence of their motherland.

They are recruited, trained and organized like those of the professionals to form a pool of reserves at a very minimum cost. This pool can be mobilized during any form of national emergency to augment the strength of regular forces. Although, Territorials serve for a very limited duration to train themselves as soldiers, most of them attain good professional standards over a period of training and service.

The Territorial Army is an integral part of the Indian Army as defined in paragraph one, chapter one and part one of the Defence Service Regulations which states,

"The army comprises, Regular Army, Regular Reserves, and the Territorial Army."

The Regular Army as per chapter one, paragraph 3 (217xxi) of the Army Act 1950,

"Regular Army means officers, junior commissioned officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and other enrolled persons who, by their commission, warrant, terms of enrollment or otherwise, are liable to warrant, terms of enrollment or otherwise, are liable to Union in any part of the world, including persons belonging to the Reserve Forces and the Territorial Army when called out on permanent service."

The present role of Territorial Army is:

• To relieve the Regular Army from static duties, assist civil administration in dealing with natural calamities and maintenance of essential services in situations where life of the communities is affected or security of the country is threatened and to provide support to national efforts.
•  To provide units for Regular Army, as and when, required.

The conceptual framework for the Territorial Army is based on the fundamental idea that it should exist for war-time employment, and should be maintainable at the lowest cost during peace time. The concept encompasses the employment of disciplined, dedicated and a low cost force of gainfully employed citizens from all walks of life to supplement and augment the resources of Regular Army. These citizens on joining undergo a short period of rigorous training, which makes them reasonably competent soldiers. Subsequently, they join units from 14 days to a maximum of 60 days every year for refresher training and to keep in touch with the art of soldiering.

Note:- Article compiled from open sources.

(Published by the team of Territorials)