tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post3606796784874209183..comments2024-03-28T05:22:10.255-07:00Comments on Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence.: Army promotion politics drives reshuffle of top commandersBroadswordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-79732374310455351342013-07-17T03:59:41.844-07:002013-07-17T03:59:41.844-07:00Well Sir,
Firstly, I agree with you that pro-rata ...Well Sir,<br />Firstly, I agree with you that pro-rata is not going to do much good for the org.<br />Now, I disagree with your subtle hinting at the competence of armd corps offrs - please interact with young offrs of today and you'll realise just how BAD our intake has become - ACROSS THE BOARD, into the armd corps, the inf & all other arms.<br />Having said that - it's time we left our petty affiliations behind while suggesting measures to better this org we so love.<br />As far as Gen Chait is concerned, one search on "google news" is enough to see through the motives of this gentlemen.<br />I have said enough. I am from the Infantry. I am a third-generation officer and fouth-generation in the indian army.<br />@ConceredAboutIndianArmysFuturenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-53776457981294462102013-07-10T04:23:37.755-07:002013-07-10T04:23:37.755-07:00One wants to scrounge upon the other's share w...One wants to scrounge upon the other's share with the mistaken belief that he is more meritorious. It is the famous "Whiteman's Burdon" of civilizing the uncivilized Indians. Similarly the mounted corps want to professionalize and civilize the Artillery and of all the Arms, the Infantry from which they run into the mounted Corps during their commission.<br /><br />Hilarious and interesting ? <br /><br />All the best to you guys. Someone has to stop your plunders...<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-39860486936106244592013-07-09T21:59:04.256-07:002013-07-09T21:59:04.256-07:00Another retrograde step..............why officers ...Another retrograde step..............why officers in army need reservation for promotion ....... while it is still considered a taboo on civil street.......if you need a quota for promotion , it means you are not competent.........an incompetent leader ......recipe for disaster......... and failure of generals of other arms to protect the interest of officers of their own arm. Disgraceful indeed Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-75852848172828744472013-07-09T06:17:20.809-07:002013-07-09T06:17:20.809-07:00Apropos my previous comments against the pro-rata ...Apropos my previous comments against the pro-rata system and the unabashed infantry-artillery nexus in perpetuating the practice despite its obvious pitfalls.<br /><br />At no point have I tried to disgrace or denigrate the infantry or the artillery as an arm (or supporting arm). I have merely highlighted the flawed professional (and aspirational) culture that has taken root in these two arms especially, resulting in a disproportionately small number of officers from the two arms making it to flag-rank. This ideally should have stimulated introspection and corrective actions - that's the mark of a professional entity. Instead, both the arms sought to correct the 'perceived anomaly' using affirmative action by forcing through the pro-rata policy. As a result of the same, if you see the past ten years record, there has been an alarming upsurge in the number of cases of criminal and moral turpitude involving flag-rank officers almost entirely from the artillery and infantry. We have the sordid sagas of <i>booze-brigadiers, ketchup-colonels </i>, Lt Gens Avadesh Prakash and P K Rath as also Lt Gen Jatinder Singh (ex-Commandant NDA) and numerous false or staged-encounter killings that are under investigation. The reputations of Gen Vij (ex-COAS) for financial misappropriation and then Gen Deepak Kapoor and his cronies for buying flats in the Adarsh Housing Society are open secrets. Paradoxically, Gen V K Singh's legal battles against the System were indirectly symptomatic of this malaise of quotas and nepotism.<br /><br />The point I am making is simple - pro-rata upto Colonel's rank is defensible because we want the best officers commanding units of the Army. Therefore the number of Colonels must be tied to the number of command vacancies. Pro-rata selection processes should end here and not extend to quota-based selection for career courses or higher (flag) ranks and appointments. <br /><br />If the infantry, and its combat cronies like the artillery, is employed perpetually in field conditions or in counter-insurgency or in high-altitude then they are being compensated for it in many ways - allowances, postings, priority accommodation, honours and awards, and what have you. A field tenure is a mandatory requirement for a UN tenure - why so beguiles me but it is thus because the infantry says so.<br /><br />The armoured corps and the mechanised infantry have managed to develop and nurture an ethos of professional and social 'ebullience' (for want of a more descriptive phrase) that encourages them to be more forthright, gracious and assured in all that they do. This confidence is misinterpreted as brashness by the ironclad-discipline infantry, not to mention the obvious envy directed at the mounted fraternity. For the record, the Armoured Corps writes-off more Lieutenant Colonels and Colonels in ACRs earned within the Corps than any other arm - notwithstanding the Artillery culture of 'cut-throats' and 'lanyard-stranglers'. This 'culling' represents an inherently self-cleansing and self-correcting culture that promotes merit above all other considerations.<br /><br />I conclude by reiterating the fact that let us not get swayed by lanyard and beret colours (and shapes) to berate one arm against the other. As a professional Army we need mature and comprehensive HRD practices to retain and promote the best men for the corresponding jobs. <br /><br />After all, it did take an Armoured Corps COAS to decide on raising Rashtriya Rifles, increase the number and employment of TA battalions, institute several Army-wide welfare measures such as the AWES etc.Ghope-Nikaal, Kharhe-Kharhe Kadam Taalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-88222696547933909102013-07-08T11:26:58.827-07:002013-07-08T11:26:58.827-07:00Just to be clear I am not int the armed services b...Just to be clear I am not int the armed services but follow this blog in general.<br /><br />It is ridiculous for anyone to support pro-rata based promotion. No one in their sane mind can say that such a system is fair. If there has been a problem where infantry or artillery guys have been under-presented earlier then those issues need to be addressed separately.<br /><br />No argument can be made which supports pro-rata based promotions and the best interest of the army. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-51917065793881525342013-07-08T06:07:35.084-07:002013-07-08T06:07:35.084-07:00@
Anonymous Ghope-Nikal, Kharhe-Kharhe Kadam Taal ...@<br />Anonymous Ghope-Nikal, Kharhe-Kharhe Kadam Taal <br /><br />Is this is the opinion of an Mud Corps officer about Infantry and if Mud Corps senior officers carry that narcissist love about Mud Corps and hatred for Infantry, Artillery and as a matter a habit for all others, imagine where will the Army land up..<br /><br />I am sure Shukla and other Mud Corps officer are blinded not to realize the consequences of it..<br /><br />You know where will it end ?? Signs are not good. One can fight for his share and not for the loot..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-52799537294299798952013-07-08T04:21:11.436-07:002013-07-08T04:21:11.436-07:00Finally, if the infantry-dominated commanders of u...<i>Finally, if the infantry-dominated commanders of units and formations have been unable to sort out militancy in J&K or in the North-East all these years, it is absurd for the infantry to cite perpetual field and counter-insurgency tenures as a rationale for professional eminence under the garb or pro-rata.</i><br /><br />In the end you did show how much knowledgeable and professional you are (probably from Mud Corps : from the Punjab plains and deserts of Rajasthan) who thinks it is for infantry to do away insurgency !<br /><br />Do not expose your corps so much... remain on those tanks which would never run but in models and charts... leave aside combat activities...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-76454089495503861952013-07-08T00:25:25.637-07:002013-07-08T00:25:25.637-07:00Firstly, this merit issue needs to be examined tho...Firstly, this <i>merit</i> issue needs to be examined thoroughly. What establishes <i><b>merit</b></i>?<br /><br />The appraisal system in the armed forces has suffered from flawed design and implememntation from the word go. It is a totally subjective and non-transparent process and tying one's faith to the arbitrary benchmarks such a system throws up is not a totally rational way to manage and administer HRD.<br /><br />More often than not, it's a question of whom the reporting Officer 'likes' and whom he doesn't while raising an appraisal report. All the individual parameters of appraisal then can be 'worked out' in a bizarre process of HRD reverse-engineering.<br /><br />That said, the pro-rata system may further compound the situation. Friends in the Indian Air Force narrate how, even as early as the mid and early 90s, this pro-rata matter was heavily tilted against the ground duty branches in that Service.<br /><br />More than that, even at the stage of promotion to Wg Cdr, the existing vacancies of technical branch would be 'hijacked' through some process of 'vacancy transfer' at the time of promotion boards in order to accommodate Officers of the predominant branch. This would be something on the lines of 'Super Pro-Rata', where after exhausting one's own already inflated 'quota' of vacancies, other's share could be preyed upon.<br /><br />The AV Singh Committee did provide some relief from such predatory and capricious practice, but it was not enough.<br /><br />No matter which way one looks at it, this pro-rata and merit debate will remain surrounded in mists of ambiguity. App[raisals, Merit and Promotions in the armed forces will always remain a grey area till concepts such as enlightened Total Quality, with it's requisite transparency and overview structures, get a firmer toe-hold in the HRD processes relating to armed forces.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-83838609126442512932013-07-07T20:36:34.347-07:002013-07-07T20:36:34.347-07:00.... Contd
The infantry, or for that matter othe....... Contd<br /><br />The infantry, or for that matter other 'arms' (given its incestuous relationship with the infantry, the artillery thinks of itself as a 'teeth' arm now), get more than their due for their field (combat ?) tenures. Preferential family accommodation priority, allowances, foreign postings, honours and awards are a de-facto infantry domain from which they have shut out everyone else to a miniscule symbolic representation.<br /><br />Officers from the armoured corps and other mounted arms attend the infantry-oriented and infantry-dominated 'all-arms' JC course and match the infantry professionally. Yet the infantry, as also the artillery, continue to allot vacancies at DSSC and TSOC courses based on pro-rata basis. Evidently, these two arms remain convinced that their officers cannot match officers from other arms professionally.<br /><br />The result is a downward spiral wherein professional merit is swept aside by 'affirmative-action' such as pro-rata promotions beyond Colonel rank. The increasing number of professionally-challenged, tongue-tied infantry (and artillery) flag-rank officers who appear on electronic media are testimony to this decadent and corrosive policy. Finally, if the infantry-dominated commanders of units and formations have been unable to sort out militancy in J&K or in the North-East all these years, it is absurd for the infantry to cite perpetual field and counter-insurgency tenures as a rationale for professional eminence under the garb or pro-rata.Ghope-Nikaal, Kharhe-Kharhe Kadam Taalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-82163577106653512472013-07-07T20:35:19.776-07:002013-07-07T20:35:19.776-07:00The battle between merit and pro-rata kicks-in at ...The battle between merit and pro-rata kicks-in at the IMA and OTA itself during allotment of arms to passing-out GCs as evident in the inter-se distribution of vacancies to various arms and services based on relative merit. For example if 'X' number of 'super-block' merit holders opt for a particular arm, these vacancies are automatically deducted from those otherwise allotted to the higher merit blocks. This form of moderation of merit is adopted to ensure an even distribution of merit across arms and services for each passing out course. I don't know whether it has ever been reviewed or modified but it appears to have served its purpose. And, eventually, it is the passing-out order of merit in its IC Number form that decides ultimate seniority amongst peers. So if it is indeed merit that decides inter-se seniority on passing out, why resort to pro-rata later - give each GC what he wants in terms of choice of arms or service.<br /><br />Apropos above, if merit is being distributed evenly, atleast amongst the arms, then there is no rationale for pro-rata; and especially so beyond unit command (Colonel rank). That infantry and artillery Chiefs have done so, and gotten away with it, stinks. They have distorted the promotional structure for very, very petty reasons.<br /><br />The infantry especially must admit to poor cadre grooming and management. They milk other arms and services for inducting subalterns on the ubiquitous cross-attachment, especially so in 'field' or for high altitude and counter-insurgency tenures. It goes almost without saying that a significant part of an infantry battalion's successes - operational or administrative - are attributable to very spirited junior leadership provided by subalterns on cross-attachment. Ditto for RR battalions where an all-arms mix helps hone the operational edge. Armoured Corps does not rely on cross-attached officers from the infantry for professional sustenance; these officers come prepared for a peaceful, family tenure rather than a useful professional exposure. <br /><br />Therefore the pro-rata system of affirmative action must cease from the time Colonels are screened for career progression courses like Higher Command and their equivalent. In any case, its about time that these courses were kept exclusively for the development of the General Cadre. It's quite bizarre that officers from the AD, Engineers, Artillery, Services including AMC attend HC / HDMC when they will never be employed in command of regular formations. It makes eminent sense for the parent arms and services to run specialised courses to train their cadre for higher responsibility within their parent arm or service.<br /><br />Lastly is the aspect of significant bias against the mounted arms - armoured corps and mechanised infantry. The bias was born as a result of numerous circumstantial and professional factors:-<br /><br />1. Bitterness arising from 'missing the cut' during allotment of arms on passing-out from IMA / OTA for commissioning to the armoured corps in particular. <br /><br />2. Envy, bordering on contempt, generated by the vibrant professional and social culture that marked armoured regiments and formations.<br /><br />3. The persona associated with cavalry officers of being professionally and socially ebullient was systematically distorted to project them as conceited and superfluous.<br /><br />4. A mistaken and perverse perception of inflated appraisal culture in the armoured corps that threatens the infantry and the artillery in an ACR-based quantitative merit regime. <br /><br />Contd ....Ghope-Nikal, Kharhe-Kharhe Kadam Taalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-1429167947473799982013-07-06T21:59:37.658-07:002013-07-06T21:59:37.658-07:00you said:
Is this pro-rata "quota system&qu...you said:<br /><br /><i> Is this pro-rata "quota system" officially promulgated by the government or is just being unofficially implemented "in-house"?<br />In today's modern technology driven world, when distinction between "arms" and "services" will get blurred, officers of all branches must have equal opportunity for all senior posts.<br />Also, when you cross Colonel's rank, don't you become a general service officer and lose your arm, service and regimental affiliation?</i><br /><br />Agreed. All positions from Brig rank onwards must be opened to all and there should not be any Corps vacancies.<br /><br />Why cannot a Brig of AC be DDST, DDEME, OR hold appointment of Brig Ordinance ? What is so special about these post? Why can not be an Infantry officer commend an Artillery Brigade ?<br /><br />Some want to have the cake and eat it too !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-37491220692155492152013-07-06T21:53:28.196-07:002013-07-06T21:53:28.196-07:00Tankman Ajay Shukla who spent his entire career in...Tankman Ajay Shukla who spent his entire career in Jhansi, Babina, Jodhpur and Ambala acquiring "military merit" wish his ilk to be the sole meritorious candidates to be Generals of IA which is spread in NE, J&K, Himalayas and where not? Tanks and IFVs are relevant only to 1/5 th of Indian Military machine and terrain. IA should gladly give 1/7th of their share. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-5421839248494022092013-07-05T05:41:44.812-07:002013-07-05T05:41:44.812-07:00Merit in India is determined by birth and in India...Merit in India is determined by birth and in Indian Army it is determined by the Arms you get commissioned into. Mud Corps is the meritorious like Brahmins - that is how the argument goes. Rest all have to be OBC, scheduled castes and tribal devoid of any merit. specially since they are in majority they can not be meritorious and do not deserve promotions.<br /><br />That is a pet Shukla like argumentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-75681624419941954732013-07-04T21:48:31.811-07:002013-07-04T21:48:31.811-07:00Anonymous@14.52
Kya GUmnami ki jindgi jite ho or m...Anonymous@14.52<br />Kya GUmnami ki jindgi jite ho or merit ki baat karte ho! Being meritorious means being upfront, upright, uncompromising and untiring in quest for justice. And, justice means `level playing field. And, level playing field will always result in the ratios will be in proportion to their representation that is what statistics, the branch of math predicts that if there is no interference from out-side forces, and time is allowed (to paraphrase what has been earlier said by another anonymous@ 18.54. <br /><br />Actually the debate should start from an accepted definition of merit, as applicable to an Army Leader. So let us first define merit.Yogihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10813642555904398272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-17301894279792801462013-07-04T08:11:44.426-07:002013-07-04T08:11:44.426-07:00Is this pro-rata "quota system" official...Is this pro-rata "quota system" officially promulgated by the government or is just being unofficially implemented "in-house"?<br />In today's modern technology driven world, when distinction between "arms" and "services" will get blurred, officers of all branches must have equal opportunity for all senior posts.<br />Also, when you cross Colonel's rank, don't you become a general service officer and lose your arm, service and regimental affiliation?Vikram Waman Karvehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-8994470012538769912013-07-04T01:15:54.460-07:002013-07-04T01:15:54.460-07:00There are many commentators here who are spewing v...There are many commentators here who are spewing venom without looking at the color of their own collars...<br /><br />Forgetting tanks running om expensive fuel in the garages .. soda factories in unit lines and soldiers running farm lands... mutinies and what not..<br /><br />better stop stooping so low..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-47487751547053794452013-07-04T00:46:26.090-07:002013-07-04T00:46:26.090-07:00Primarilyall the comments fall under thre categori...Primarilyall the comments fall under thre categories : Fistly the armoured corps and Mech Infantry chaps - unable to digest the fact that they are no longer 'God's left b@ll' so are raking all and irrelvant points like sahayaks etc, Secondly the service corps chaps, crying about how unfairly they are being treated forgetting the case of Lt Gen Kaul during the 1962 war and lastly from the Infantry/Artillery, smug with the knowledge that for the foreseeable future we will be getting our due.<br /><br />So ..... keep cribbing but like its said '..........stood silently with victory at his feet'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-41425253462517495252013-07-03T22:31:00.925-07:002013-07-03T22:31:00.925-07:00Dear Mr Shukla
a very good article but waht you...Dear Mr Shukla<br /> a very good article but waht you have missed to cover is that the pra rata is already in place and is affecting all arm/services less infantry/artillery very badly as there has been a drastic reduction in their vacancies for Colonels rank. Bright officers which form the cream are being overlooked whereas mediocre/average officers of infantry/artillery are making it. Quality of leadership in coming years is highly questionable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-67759329985845079252013-07-03T21:59:00.627-07:002013-07-03T21:59:00.627-07:00A man who became the Chief under a cloud can hardl...A man who became the Chief under a cloud can hardly be expected to do better !<br /><br />The Armoured Coprs has always suffered at the hands of the Pongos.<br /><br />One can only feel sorry for these stalwarts who were responsible for the Humiliation of Kargil .<br /><br />Good luck to them - they need it.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-54812034811040246202013-07-03T08:07:15.088-07:002013-07-03T08:07:15.088-07:00where he successfully handled the recent Chinese i...where he successfully handled the recent Chinese intrusion in Daulat Beg Oldi...Did you mean it sarcastically?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-20318569741875611012013-07-03T07:45:13.733-07:002013-07-03T07:45:13.733-07:00Incidentally, have any of you visited the well-pub...Incidentally, have any of you visited the well-publicised Central Command administered Internet web site http://www.SuryaHopes.in ?<br /><br /> it's an appalling embarrassment! It's nothing to do with rescue or relief ! In fact it is a Headquarters Central Command farewell web photo album for the dashing omnipotent and omnipresent Army Commander who graces every frame as off in a election campaign.<br /><br />I could go on.... and run out of words to describe all that is wrong with the effort. Its a pity that this country and its swooning millions forgive this bizarre self-promotion by a uniformed 'celebrity'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-57327703347015833142013-07-03T07:11:00.124-07:002013-07-03T07:11:00.124-07:00There is a new-found optimism amongst the Gunners ...There is a new-found optimism amongst the Gunners & the infantry which has spawned a saying 'that as long as you pay your Mess bills in time, the pro-rata genie will make a mediocre Lt Col to a Higher Command Colonel and an ordinary plane Jane Colonel to a stuttering Brigadier'. This pro-rata Mandalisation starts early - vacancies for the DSSC and advanced career courses are distributed amongst arms & services based on pro-rata basis. So if the infantry and artillery can only survive and thrive based on this perverse form of 'affirmative action' so be it. The Army as a whole is a loser. <br /><br />There is a old jungle saying in the Army that to succeed professionally as well as administratively, one needs an Armoured Corps IO (Initiating Officer) for appraisals ands a Gurkha sahayak for administrative excellence & comfort. It has an earthy ring of truth to it.<br /><br />Lastly is this hogwash the infantry dispenses about being combat-tested and 'forever-in-field' on counter-insurgency or LC or High-Altitude deployment. The culture of sahayak misuse, extravagant diversion of combatant manpower including sahayaks to separated families and retired Generals is a distinct infantry gift. One needs to audit the Supply & Services (S&S) funds expenditure Army-wide, especially amongst infantry battalions on the LC and in high-altitude to realise the corruption and wastage of precious Govt funds. Add to that the infantry battalions and formations mismanaging extravagant funding of Birder Area Devp and Operation Sadbhavana Programmes. Post the ceasefire on the LC, most infantry battalions are holding posts with barely 50% of the mandated strength. The missing manpower is enslaved on mundane personal administrative duties earning the concerned CO vital brownie points and/or breathing space. For those who doubt this read one of Broadsword's previous blog 'Wake Up Generals' celebrating General Bikram's administrative pursuits on elevation as COAS. And the Army's not formally (or informally) denied that till date.<br /><br />Mediocrity is in - let's celebrate it until or ass is kicked in a future conflict like it was in 1962, Sri Lanka, Nagaland and the current pot-boiler in J&K which is a huge golden goose for the infantry in particular - the allowances, awards, spoils and riches are in perpetual abundance notwithstanding their self proclaimed expertise in tackling counter-insurgency.<br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-40960143343015318812013-07-03T05:54:55.195-07:002013-07-03T05:54:55.195-07:00If promotions are truely based on merit, then ther...If promotions are truely based on merit, then there is no need or pro-rata. Though I am not a statistician, that branch of math predicts that if there is no interference from out-side forces, and time is allowed, the ratios will be in proportion to their representation. It's not like the one group has smarter folks than the others. Therefore eventually a general will be named from all, but only if there were no corruption (including polical pressures). Pro-rata seems to be designed to minimize the effects of bad practices, however, in my opinion, pro-rata is a bad practice in it's self. What we really need is a fairness in the process by minimizing political and corruption related influences. Pro-rata unfairly denies someone an opportunity in the name of fairness. That's the hight of dumbness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-3931679558047257222013-07-03T05:11:36.543-07:002013-07-03T05:11:36.543-07:00An armoured corps officer pushing the case of his ...An armoured corps officer pushing the case of his arm in the guise of being a journalist. The implied ideas of Colonel Ajai Shukla (ex-armoured corps) that its only the armoured corps and the mechanised infantry that produce competent Brigadiers and Major Generals is laughable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-38719351091117707752013-07-03T02:22:12.334-07:002013-07-03T02:22:12.334-07:00@ all the anonymous who are chafed at the unearthi...@ all the anonymous who are chafed at the unearthing of the 'pro-rata' great game. Aren't you all from Infantry? So just because a guy has been in Infantry so there must be a Mandal like reservation for you when you reach the rank of brigadier. That is why less than capable officers in Infantry are commanding brigades and meritorious officers are languishing, just because they are not from Infantry. And why can't a General who has commanded a Corps in Leh cannot command the Northern Command ? What kind of warped logic is that? Mandalisation all the way , and the sufferer in the end will be the Army and the nation.<br /><br />@ Yogi - wake up & smell the coffee. However much you can rankle at the armoured corps , you can't wish it away friend; it's the arm arm of decision. Still chafed at not having got your choice when you were a cadet? Grow up !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com