HINDI IS THE COMMAND LANGUAGE FOR INDIAN POLICE AND ARMY
The drill instructor must bear in mind that instruction is an art and should be studied as such. He must always bear in mind the primary object of his subject, which is to promote and maintain a high standard of discipline, turnout, hearing and esprit de corps. He will at all times reflect to his squad the qualities which
POLICE DRILL MANUAL- Bureau of Police Research And Development–2012
drill is designed to instil in the men. The drill instructor must ensure that a squad understands reasons for doing various movements. He must not be a slave driver nor must he imagine that he can achieve his object only by bullying and shouting, but at the same time his attitude towards his squad must always be firm and
determined. He, cannot afford to accept anything but the very highest standards in all movements. To achieve the best results the instructor himself must mirror the qualities that drill is designed to develop—he must in fact teach by his own example.
“A Professional Soldier has an obligation to be well trained”
Arjun – Mahabharata
The object of drill is to teach and maintain discipline. It is essential that drill should be done extremely well. Slovenly drill merely impairs discipline. The quality of drill is all important and this matters far more than the variety and quantity of drill practices. It is, however, essential that while the standard of drill should be higher than it was ever before, the amount of time which can be devoted to it should be reduced.
The primary object of parade ground drill is to build up and maintain in a recruit a high standard of discipline, turn-out, bearing and pride in self and in the Force. In addition to these qualities being instilled among the force, well executed parade ground drill also indirectly develops individual self-respect and gives to the Force a feeling of power, cohesion
and purpose. Drill brings about the co-ordination between mind and body and serves as the basis for imparting other service training.
A drill in military terms is the action of memorising certain actions through repetition until the action is instinctive to the soldiers being drilled. Complex actions are broken down into simpler ones which can be practised in isolation as when the whole is put together the desired results are achieved. Such is necessary for a fighting force to perform at maximum efficiency in all manner of situations. Drilling increased in importance when men stopped fighting as individuals and began to fight together as units. Drilling as a vital component of a war machine further increased with the increases in the size of armies, for example when Phillip II of Macedon disciplined his army so they could swiftly form the phalanxes that were so critical to his successes as a general. Military drilling later was used by the Roman Army to maximise efficiency and deadliness throughout their long history. After the fall of the empire, and the Dark Ages set in Europe, most feudal lords more heaviliy relied on peasant levies and their wealthy knights to fight their wars, the knights for the most part reverting to fighting as individuals. Massed military drilling was used mostly by only the foremost armies and nations, such as the Normans.The U.S. drill is based on the contributions of Baron von Steuben, a Prussian Army officer who served as a volunteer in the Continental Army. During the winter quarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, von Steuben taught a model company of 100 soldiers musket drill. These soldiers, in turn, taught the remainder of the Continental Army. [POLICE DRILL MANUAL- Bureau of Police Research And Development]
Infantry is organised as under:
- Section : 10 soldiers make a Section
- Platoon – 3 sections make a Platoon headed by a JCO (Junior Commissioned Officer)
- Company – Three Platoons make a Company (90) headed by a Company Commander
- who is a Major or Lt.Colonel in rank.
- Battalion – Four companies make a Battalion (360). This is the main fighting unit of infantry
- and is commanded by a Battalion Commander in the rank of Colonel.
- Brigade – Three battalions form a Brigade and commanded by Brigade Commander,
- a Brigadier rank officer.
- Division – Three to four Brigades make up a Division headed by a Major General who is termed GOC (Division Commander). The Indian Army today has 37 divisions including Infantry, Mountain, Armoured, Artillery and Re-organised Army Plains Infantry Division or RAPIDS.
- Corps – Three to four divisions make up a Corps. A Lieutenant General heads the Corp as GOC (Corps Commander).
- Command- Each command is led by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief with the rank of Lieutenant General. India has 7 Commands of which six are operational commands and one training command called ARTRAC (Army Training Command)
Drill is defined as being instructed in military exercises which involves marching, saluting and turning. There are different types of drill including, static drill (which does not involve marching) ceremonial drill and squadron drill.
Proper execution of any command depends on the tone and the pitch of voice in which it is given. A properly delivered command is loud and distinct enough to be clearly understood by every person. It is given with an in inflection, a cadence, and a snap that inspire prompt , precise and simultaneous response and assists in producing effective results with the minimum of effort and strain.
Sample
SAVDHAN (Squad Attention): In ‘savdhan’ –
(A) Heels are kept together and in line, feet turned out equally
forming an angle of 30 degrees, knees straight, without
stiffness, hips level and drawn back slightly, body erect and
resting equally on hips, chest lifted and arched, shoulders
square, falling equally and neck filling the collar.
(B) Arms hung straight down without stiffness so that, the
thumbs are immediately behind the seams of the trouser;
back of the hand face outwards, hands closed (not clenched)
and thumbs straight to the front.
(C) Head is held erect and square to the front, chin vertical and
eyes straight to the front.
(D) Weight of the body rests equally on the heels and the toes of the feet.
(E) In assuming the position of Savdhan , heels are brought together with extreme
sharpness by lifting the left foot six inches from the ground and placing it flat and very
firm besides the right, avoiding stamping of foot.
(F) All drill movements are commenced faster. When speaking to or being addressed by a
superior officer a cadet will have to stand in Savdhan.
(G) Adapting the position of ‘Savdhan’ is a basic movement of drill. Therefore, the term
‘place the foot flat and firm on the ground’ must not be mistaken for stamping.
VISHRAM (Stand at Ease):
‘Vishram’ (Stand at Ease):- The left foot is carried 12 inches to the
left; the weight of the body is placed on both feet. While doing the
movement the foot is raised 6 inches from the ground.
Simultaneously both the hands are taken behind the back,
through shortest route, the right hand over the left with open
palms facing out-words, thumbs interlocked.
ARAM SE (Stand Easy):
‘Aram Se’ (Stand Easy):- Without moving the feet, the limbs, body
and head are relaxed. Talking, turning the head, slouching and
using a handkerchief is not permitted. On the cautionary word of
command ‘squad’, correct position of stand-at-ease is assumed by
an upward snappy jerk of the body.