Indian Army wins International Scout Masters Competition

The Indian Army team comprehensively won the 5th International Army Scout Masters Competition held at Jaisalmer Military Station from 6 to 14 August 2019. A total of eight teams, from Armenia, Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, India, Russia, Sudan and Uzbekistan participated in the competition. The Indian Army participated in the competition for the first time.

International Army Games is a military sports event organized by Russia’s Ministry of Defence. Begun in August 2015, it involves participation of the armies of about 32 countries which go through a number of competitions over two weeks to prove their mettle. Earlier this year, it was proposed that the International Army Games will be held in 32 disciplines in 10 countries: Russia, India, China, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Iran, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

It was decided that the fifth Army International Games’ event, the Scout Masters Competition, was to be held in India for the first time, in 2019. The area selected was the dunes near Jaisalmer, in the Thar Desert. The competition, from 24 July to 17 August, was organised by the Konark Corps, headquartered at Jaisalmer. Selected by Southern Command, the Indian Army team trained hard for the last ten months in extreme weather and terrain conditions of the Thar Desert.

The role of army scouts in war includes (a) to operate as lead elements and give early warning about the enemy, (b) to track and report movement behind enemy lines, (c) to assist in disruption of enemy’s mechanised movement by using anti armour weapons, (d) laying ambushes deep inside enemy territory and ( direct employment of various weapon systems.

Their specialized skills enable them to assist with observation and listening posts, perform and help with navigation and help securing launch pads. They are trained to carry out silent battle reconnaissance after establishing contact and reconnaissance of crossing places over obstacles. Scouts are professionally trained to find out the strength and dispositions of the enemy, gaps in enemy defenses and enemy’s likely reactions. They are also referred to as “Eyes and Ears” of the Army.

The Competition was conducted in five stages, which tested the overall skills of mechanised infantry scouts in simulated battlefield scenarios. The first stage on 0607 August was Infiltration and Ambush in Khuri sand dunes, 50 kms from Jaisalmer. The second stage was the Scout Specialist BMP Obstacle Course, on 08-09 August, at Jaisalmer.

The third stage was the Scouts Trail Obstacle Course, on 10-11 August, also at Jaisalmer. This stage encompassed the testing of reconnaissance squad in full combat load with weapons and simulation means to negotiate 22 obstacles designed on the battle concept of tactical move in a Semi Urban Target Area.

The Scout teams were to complete the obstacle course through different scenarios of sudden encounter with the enemy in minimum time and with least penalties. The reconnaissance squad negotiated the obstacle course according to the designed sequenced tactical drills, which involved stealthily approaching the target area, execute specific tasks such as controlled demolition, recovery of crypto material and thereafter exfiltrate. In this exacting stage Indian Army came first, with the teams of Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Sudan and Armenia standing from second to eighth respectively.

The fourth stage, Small Arms Firing, on 12-13 August, was at the Pokharan Field Firing Range, 110 kms from Jaisalmer. The fifth stage, Exfiltration and Flotation, on 14 August, was at Rohrund Pondage, 90 kms from Jaisalmer.

The combat skills were be adjudicated by an international panel of judges and referees.

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was the Chief Guest at the Closing Ceremony on 16 August. General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff, was among senior army officers present.

The Scout teams were to complete the obstacle course through different scenarios of sudden encounter with the enemy in minimum time and with least penalties. The reconnaissance squad negotiated the obstacle course according to the designed sequenced tactical drills, which involved stealthily approaching the target area, execute specific tasks such as controlled demolition, recovery of crypto material and thereafter exfiltrate