The Army Training Command (ARTRAC) recently held its Investiture Ceremony at Shimla on April 16, 2024, honouring outstanding contributions in education and defence training.
Led by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Lt Gen Manjinder Singh, the ceremony celebrated the remarkable achievements of several Training Establishments and Institutes within the Indian Army.
Seven Training Establishments received the prestigious ARTRAC Unit Appreciations for their exceptional performance. Among the recipients were the Military Intelligence Training School & Depot in Pune, the Army Medical Corps Centre & College in Lucknow, and the Corps of Military Police Centre & School in Bangalore. These institutions, alongside the Army Institute of Physical Training in Pune, Junior Leaders Academy in Bareilly, Wargaming Development Centre in New Delhi, and the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh, were lauded for their significant contributions to enhancing training standards and ethos within the Indian Army.
The Commandants of these honoured establishments, accompanied by Subedar Majors, received the Unit Appreciations from Lt Gen Manjinder Singh, symbolizing the recognition of their dedication and excellence in shaping a strong and resilient force for the 21st century.
Additionally, four Training Institutes were honoured with Financial Excellence Awards for their exemplary resource management. These institutes include the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering in Mhow, the Junior Leaders Academy in Bareilly, the Corps of Military Engineering in Pune, and the Wargaming Development Center in New Delhi. Their prudent financial management reflects a commitment to efficiency and effectiveness in supporting the Army's educational and defence training initiatives.
In the individual category, several officers and personnel were felicitated with the Award of Technical Excellence for their innovative contributions. Among them were Lt Col JK Verma of the Corps of Military Engineering in Pune, Maj Preeti Mudela and Maj T Irom of the Military College of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering in Secunderabad, and Maj Atul Pathania of the Army Airborne Training School in Agra. Maj Gurpal Singh of the Military College of Telecommunication & Engineering in Mhow, Nb Sub Sunil Patil of the Electrical Mechanical Engineering School in Vadodara, and Cfn Rahul Parmar of the Simulator Development Division in Secunderabad were also recognized for their technical prowess and ingenuity.
These awards underscore the Indian Army's commitment to fostering excellence in education and defence training. By recognizing and rewarding outstanding contributions at institutional and individual levels, the Army strengthens its training ethos and standards, ensuring a highly skilled and capable force ready to meet the challenges of the modern era.
The ARTRAC Investiture Ceremony honours the dedication and hard work of those who play a pivotal role in shaping the nation's future leaders and defenders. It reflects the Army's unwavering focus on continuous improvement and innovation in education and defence training, reaffirming its position as a bulwark of national security and excellence in military professionalism.
As the Indian Army marches into the 21st century, such ceremonies stand as a testament to its enduring commitment to excellence, innovation, and the pursuit of knowledge in service to the nation.