NEW-DELHI: According to Defence sources on Tuesday, the Army has decided to adopt a common uniform for officers of the Brigadier rank and above, regardless of the parent cadre and appointment.
This decision was made in an effort to promote and strengthen a shared identity and approach in service matters among the force's senior leadership, moving beyond regimentation, they said.
The sources claim that the choice was made following careful consideration at the just-completed Army Commanders' Conference and significant consultation with all parties involved. Beginning on August 1st, the adjustments will be in effect.
In order to comply with the new regulations, senior officers of flag rank (Brigadier and above) must now wear uniform headgear, shoulder rank badges, gorget patches (worn on collars), belts, and shoes. No lanyard will longer be worn by officers with the flag rank.
Colonels and other lower-ranking officers will continue to wear the same uniform.
Currently, various uniforms and accoutrements are specifically associated with the corresponding Army services, regiments, and armaments.
According to sources, the junior leadership and the rank and file need to be recognised as having a distinct identity within the Arms, Regiment, or Services in order to further enhance the regimental ethos, esprit de corps, and camaraderie that are the cornerstones of soldiering. According to a defence source, “At the unit or battalion level, a distinct sense of identity reflects a strong bond among officers and men in the same regiment,”
However, in the Army, officers with the rank of brigadier and above have completed appointments where they have led units or battalions and are typically placed to headquarters or other Army institutions where officers from all Arms and Services work together.
They continued by saying that the decision will strengthen the Indian Army's reputation as a fair and equitable outfit. They said that a uniform will guarantee senior-rank officers' shared identities while “reflecting the true ethos of the Indian Army.”
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