Sending top military officers abroad for training-India’s Achilles Heel

One of the biggest challenges facing any intelligence agency is to identify upcoming leaders (civil and military) in the country(s) of interest and then target them. This information is of utmost importance as it allows them to target these personnel for continued access /influence in their decision making. Military training provided by developed countries to military officers of developing countries (on a gratis or concessional basis) is one of the most effective and economic methods to identify upcoming military leaders and invest in them for furthering host countries national interests. This is most evident in the testimony of General James L. Jones United States Marine Corps, Commander US European Command testimony before the House Armed Services Committee on 08 Mar 2006. 

“International Military Education and Training (IMET) remains our most powerful security cooperation tool, and prove its long-term value every day. At a relatively low cost, the program exposes a foreign military and civilian leaders to U.S. military training, builds relationships, facilitates access, and builds influence”.

The above fact while being acknowledged is seldom acted upon by us. The promotional training imparted to Indian Military Officers prim facia happens at three levels/stages; Junior Command (Major/Lt Col and equivalent), Higher Command (Col and equivalent) and Senior Command (Brig and equivalent).

To qualify for the above courses, each service headquarters draws a merit list (which is based on a qualifying exam (if conducted) and grading in the confidential reports. Once the merit list is drawn the top of the merit is nominated for equivalent courses abroad and once all the seats for courses abroad are filled, the balance officers are then deputed for equivalent courses in India.

The surprising fact here is that even a course in a country such as Bangladesh and Indonesia is graded higher than that in India. Thus, if any country has to know as to who the top future military leaders of this country are, it has to simply see which all officers were sent abroad for courses and it will have a list right from Lt Col level to Brigadier level (and equivalent in Navy and Air force).

Identification of our future military Commanders and thereafter sending them on individual courses abroad make them an easy target by exposing them to the full might of foreign country’s propaganda/intelligence machinery, and increases the probability of security risk manifold. Also, the syllabus is tweaked by these countries to include several exercises where an individual’s decision-making process is exposed, his strengths, his weakness, his entire profile is mapped. It is like a player whose all moves have been monitored and recorded, to be used when playing (fighting against).

If one correlates the above with the fact that India is emerging/vying for regional power, trying for a permanent member of the Security Council and is the largest importer of weapons in the world; the fine print of the existing situation cannot be missed or ignored. To put things in correct perceptive and lay emphasis on the gravity of the above situation; China does not send its officers (especially upcoming senior officers) for any training abroad. Its officers are sent only for short visits, and its military leadership is trained in China at relevant training institutes, with close interaction with civilian institutes.

India’s growth (both in economic and military terms) is unquestionable, and this fact is known to all countries in the world. Therefore, the countries which are existing powers or the ones which have superpower ambitions would do anything to ensure that future India is sympathetic, adjustable and steerable to their concerns and national goals. On our part, keeping in mind our future leadership role, we need to be doubly cautious that our future leadership is unbiased, fully committed and loyal to only India’s national concerns and goals. This can only be achieved if we nurture our future leaders and most important keep them protected from any foreign influence which could affect their decision making. Towards this, exposure to foreign systems and culture should only be provided through short-duration group visits which would be structured to suit our needs and strategic requirements. Foreign deputation on long courses on an individual basis should only be meant for mid merit officers. One needs to understand that, all it takes is one slip by the individual, whether induced or accidental to become his “Achilles heel”.

(Writer is an ex Indian Naval officer and is currently pursuing his PHd from IIFT, Delhi in Defense Industrialisation in India)