Camp Medical Form Template. Camp Medical Form Template: Fill & Download for Free

GET FORM

Download the form

How to Edit Your Camp Medical Form Template. Camp Medical Form Template Online Lightning Fast

Follow the step-by-step guide to get your Camp Medical Form Template. Camp Medical Form Template edited in no time:

  • Select the Get Form button on this page.
  • You will enter into our PDF editor.
  • Edit your file with our easy-to-use features, like adding checkmark, erasing, and other tools in the top toolbar.
  • Hit the Download button and download your all-set document for reference in the future.
Get Form

Download the form

We Are Proud of Letting You Edit Camp Medical Form Template. Camp Medical Form Template With the Best Experience

Find the Benefit of Our Best PDF Editor for Camp Medical Form Template. Camp Medical Form Template

Get Form

Download the form

How to Edit Your Camp Medical Form Template. Camp Medical Form Template Online

When you edit your document, you may need to add text, Add the date, and do other editing. CocoDoc makes it very easy to edit your form in a few steps. Let's see how this works.

  • Select the Get Form button on this page.
  • You will enter into our online PDF editor web app.
  • Once you enter into our editor, click the tool icon in the top toolbar to edit your form, like signing and erasing.
  • To add date, click the Date icon, hold and drag the generated date to the field you need to fill in.
  • Change the default date by deleting the default and inserting a desired date in the box.
  • Click OK to verify your added date and click the Download button once the form is ready.

How to Edit Text for Your Camp Medical Form Template. Camp Medical Form Template with Adobe DC on Windows

Adobe DC on Windows is a popular tool to edit your file on a PC. This is especially useful when you like doing work about file edit on a computer. So, let'get started.

  • Find and open the Adobe DC app on Windows.
  • Find and click the Edit PDF tool.
  • Click the Select a File button and upload a file for editing.
  • Click a text box to give a slight change the text font, size, and other formats.
  • Select File > Save or File > Save As to verify your change to Camp Medical Form Template. Camp Medical Form Template.

How to Edit Your Camp Medical Form Template. Camp Medical Form Template With Adobe Dc on Mac

  • Find the intended file to be edited and Open it with the Adobe DC for Mac.
  • Navigate to and click Edit PDF from the right position.
  • Edit your form as needed by selecting the tool from the top toolbar.
  • Click the Fill & Sign tool and select the Sign icon in the top toolbar to make you own signature.
  • Select File > Save save all editing.

How to Edit your Camp Medical Form Template. Camp Medical Form Template from G Suite with CocoDoc

Like using G Suite for your work to sign a form? You can make changes to you form in Google Drive with CocoDoc, so you can fill out your PDF in your familiar work platform.

  • Add CocoDoc for Google Drive add-on.
  • In the Drive, browse through a form to be filed and right click it and select Open With.
  • Select the CocoDoc PDF option, and allow your Google account to integrate into CocoDoc in the popup windows.
  • Choose the PDF Editor option to begin your filling process.
  • Click the tool in the top toolbar to edit your Camp Medical Form Template. Camp Medical Form Template on the field to be filled, like signing and adding text.
  • Click the Download button in the case you may lost the change.

PDF Editor FAQ

If all parents in your child’s school were asked not to include peanut products in their lunches because some kids have life-threatening allergies, would you comply or insist on your child’s right to eat whatever he or she wants at school?

Somehow, when two adults with no allergies came together to produce two children, we hit the universal lottery and received two kids with food allergies.While in daycare, Cassidy had a series of strange vomitings. We’d observed them, too. We couldn’t put a trigger to what was causing them until daycare served her a tortilla with some peanut butter spread on it. She broke out in hives and threw up. Our daughter now had to worry about peanut butter—which seemed to be in great abundance in daycare centers. Fortunately, the kids were still eating in high-chairs and it was fairly easy for the staff to keep any peanut butter off of her tray. She didn’t seem to have any problems with the smell. She had to ingest the food to have a reaction.Parents don’t think about kids having allergies and we were no different. Our girl was four and our son was still in a high chair. It was a beautiful Monday morning of a three-day Memorial Day weekend. We’d decided to make South Beach Pancakes for breakfast. Mostly, they contain instant oats and Egg-Beaters egg whites. I mixed them up and we decided to eat on our back patio. There were no peanuts in our breakfast, of course as we’d already modified our eating to keep it away from Cassidy.My wife and I were just about done eating. My wife asked if I thought our son might want to try a pancake. He was beginning to gum solid food, so I said sure. Let’s tear one up for him. Our daughter had eaten most of hers when her head lolled to one side and she pointed toward the glass-top table. She said, “Thaddy, dares an anth on the thableth.”What the hell?My wife and I assessed her. She was clearly altered. She couldn’t speak clearly and she was lethargic. We made the decision. We had to call 911. We live 3 blocks from the fire station. We heard the sirens immediately and they arrived within minutes. They put our daughter on a stretcher and started taking her vitals. They put her on oxygen and she started to perk up a bit.My wife was holding our son. “Clint. There’s something wrong with Ryan.”I looked at him. He was gasping for air in sharp wheezing barks. Clearly, he couldn’t breathe. I called to the fire captain and pointed to my son. Within moments, our daughter was off the stretcher and my son was on it and we were off to the hospital.My readers know that I have two great kids, so of course, they were okay after our trip to the local Emergency Room.What we didn’t know before that morning that we soon learned was that our daughter was allergic to ants. The ant she had seen had bitten her and she was reacting to the toxin. Fortunately, it was short-lived and wore off rather quickly. She was already recovering when the paramedics arrived. We learned that my son is allergic to eggs. Thus began our lives as parents of allergic children. South Beach Pancakes will forever be known in our home as, “Dad’s Killer Pancakes” as we could have lost both of our kids on one happy Monday morning.We had both kids allergy tested. Cassidy was allergic to anything with the word “nut” in it. Peanuts, tree nuts, etc. Ryan was allergic to eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish. He’d never consumed a nut in his life, but he was allergic to all of them.For their entire tenure in public schools, they had to sit at the allergy table with other kids with known food allergies. Both have to eat their toxin to have a reaction. Smelling peanut butter doesn’t trigger them. In that, we are lucky. Others are not. If our kids consume a trigger, they get hives and then throw up and it usually ends. Not a pleasant experience, but it seems self-limiting and correcting. Once they toss their cookies, the incident is mostly finished. They get really tired after, but they sleep it off and wake up feeling better. Both have to carry Epi-Pens everywhere they/we go.We read the ingredients of EVERYTHING.This is the part that you don’t get. When I say, “you” I mean the folks who don’t deal with allergic kids. Some products have the common allergens listed below the ingredients, making it easy to sort out eggs or nuts from thiamin and niacin and riboflavin and red dye number 6. Others don’t and we have to dig through all of the chemicals to sort out the trigger words that mean we can’t buy that product.You are used to buying hotdog buns when you want to eat hot dogs. You don’t have to ask the clerk at the Circle K if he can find the bag the buns came in so you can know if your kid can have a hotdog with a bun, or not. They still charge you for the bun, even if your kid can’t eat it. You aren’t used to asking to talk to the cooks when the wait staff can’t answer questions about allergens in the food. You aren’t used to having the allergy talk with any parent interested in asking your kid over for a sleepover and then teaching them how to use an Epi-Pen. When my son prepares to go to Boy Scout Camp, the leaders always ask if any kids besides Ryan have food allergies. They are all well-acquainted with his and they have a copy of the allergy form that already has his needs listed in the template.We are totally immersed in food allergy concerns. You are not. So, when I encounter those of you who insist that your kid isn’t going to adapt to help protect my child…that’s fine. You get added to the list of people who will not be hosting my kid at your birthday parties or sleepovers.Our kids play soccer. When they were on younger teams, somebody was always designated “snack parent” to reward the tikes with a snack after the game. Each week, we’d contact the snack parent and politely ask if they could bring a snack that was safe for our kid. “Oh, sure. No problem!” Then they’d show up with packets of peanut butter crackers or nutty buddy bars.“What? You were serious about that?”I always wanted to bring their kid a bag of crushed glass for a snack.Instead of sharing my broken beer bottles, we just started bringing “disappointment snacks” as a backup. The kids never got to eat the fun stuff their friends were eating, but here are two Oreos for you. Sorry, your friends' parents can’t read or don’t care.It is really hard navigating our world without feeding our allergic kids something dangerous. And, as more and more kids are diagnosed with food allergies, the food industry hasn’t been very helpful. Some, are good. Others have looked at the legal landscape and have chosen to put a blanket, cover your ass disclaimer language on their packaging:“This product may contain or is made in a facility that uses, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, milk, flashlight batteries, car horns, broken glass, and cat dander.”Here, I’m going to name names. Sara Lee. One of the biggest producers of bakery goods has been a company we could buy from. Until recently when they added the cover your ass language to products we’d been safely eating for years. I contacted the company and called them on it. They gave me a number I can call from the store to give them the lot number of the loaf of bread and they can tell me whether it is safe or not. They’d rather staff a phone bank than print actual ingredients on actual bags. Well here’s a new one for you, NOBODY IN THIS FAMILY LIKES SARA LEE.By adding a few words to a package, they took away the English muffins that were a staple of my son’s breakfasts for years. They don’t care.Now, to answer your question, I’m going to say what needs to be said:This ain’t about you. It’s about the safety of allergic children, mine included. Your kid doesn’t care about his peanut butter sandwich. You do. This is your issue. How do I know? My kid sits at the allergy table and YOUR kid asked to be given a different sandwich so he could eat with MY kid. Kids want to sit with their friends. Kids have been our strongest allies.When our grade school first created the allergy table, it was a round table that sat 6–8 kids. It grew to be an entire two-sided cafeteria table that seats 24. Why? Friends wanted to sit together and they didn’t want a peanut butter sandwich to come between them.This is about you.And you just don’t get how difficult this is.I love my kids. I assume you love yours. Imagine me sending a baggy of broken glass to snack time. Would you be concerned? Would you politely ask me to bring a kid-safe snack?My bet is you would. The difference is, I’d understand because I have two allergic kids.Edit: 6/4/19Thanks for all of the comments!For accurate info regarding allergies and life with allergies, look up: Food Allergy Research & Education® (FARE) They are the leading source for allergy info in the United States.A new movement affiliated with their site is the Snack Safely organization: SnackSafely.com - News and resources to help your family cope with food allergy They are working with manufacturers to properly label their food in a consistent and easy to read format to aid families in making good food decisions.We all want to see our kids grow to be thriving adults. The more we all know about this life-threatening condition, the more likely we are to help them get there.Because the first step toward acceptance and tolerance is understanding, and because some comments appear to be digging into the “you aren’t going to make me stop feeding my kid…” I copied this from the FARE site in hopes that you can begin to understand how pervasive and life-threatening this can be:What Is a Food Allergy?A food allergy is a medical condition in which exposure to a food triggers a harmful immune response. The immune response, called an allergic reaction, occurs because the immune system attacks proteins in the food that are normally harmless. The proteins that trigger the reaction are called allergens.The symptoms of an allergic reaction to food can range from mild (itchy mouth, a few hives) to severe (throat tightening, difficulty breathing).Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is sudden in onset and can cause death.To Which Foods Are People Allergic?More than 170 foods have been reported to cause allergic reactions.Eight major food allergens – milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and crustacean shellfish – are responsible for most of the serious food allergy reactions in the United States.Allergy to sesame is an emerging concern.How Many People Have Food Allergies?Researchers estimate that 32 million Americans have food allergies, including 5.6 million children under age 18. That’s one in 13 children, or roughly two in every classroom.About 40 percent of children with food allergies are allergic to more than one food.Food Allergies Are on the RiseThe Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports that the prevalence of food allergy in children increased by 50 percent between 1997 and 2011.Between 1997 and 2008, the prevalence of peanut or tree nut allergy appears to have more than tripled in U.S. children.Food Allergy Reactions Are Serious and Can Be Life-Threatening.Every three minutes, a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency room.Each year in the U.S., 200,000 people require emergency medical care for allergic reactions to food.Childhood hospitalizations for food allergy tripled between the late 1990s and the mid-2000s.More than 40 percent of children with food allergies have experienced a severe allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis.Medical procedures to treat anaphylaxis resulting from food allergy increased by 380 percent between 2007 and 2016.Serious Allergic Reactions Require Immediate TreatmentOnce a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) starts, the drug epinephrine is the only effective treatment.Epinephrine (also called adrenaline) should be injected within minutes of the onset of symptoms. More than one dose may be needed.Easy-to-use, spring-loaded syringes of epinephrine, called epinephrine auto-injectors, are available by prescription.Not treating anaphylaxis promptly with epinephrine increases the risk of a fatal reaction.Food Allergy Impacts Quality of LifeFood allergy limits a major life activity and may qualify an individual for protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.Caring for children with food allergies costs U.S. families nearly $25 billion annually.About one in three children with food allergy reports being bullied as a result.Compared to children who do not have a medical condition, children with food allergy are twice as likely to be bullied.Who Is at Greatest Risk?Compared to children who don’t have food allergy, children with food allergy are two to four times as likely to have other allergic conditions, such as asthma or eczema.Compared to non-Hispanic white children, African American children are at significantly greater risk of developing food allergy.Delaying introduction of allergenic foods does not provide protection against food allergy. In fact, feeding peanut foods early and often to babies with egg allergy or eczema dramatically reduces their risk of developing peanut allergy.While most food allergies arise in childhood, at least 15 percent of patients with food allergies are first diagnosed in adulthood. More than one in four adults with food allergies report that all of their food allergies developed during adulthood, and nearly half of adults with food allergy report having developed at least one food allergy during adulthood.Approximately 20-25 percent of epinephrine administrations in schools involve individuals whose allergy was unknown at the time of the reaction.Severe or fatal reactions can happen at any age, but teenagers and young adults with food allergies are at the highest risk of fatal food-induced anaphylaxis.Individuals with food allergies who also have asthma may be at increased risk for severe or fatal food allergy reactions.Most fatal food allergy reactions are triggered by food consumed outside the home.More than 15 percent of school-aged children with food allergies have had a reaction in school.Can Food Allergies Be Outgrown?Although allergies to milk, egg, wheat and soy often resolve in childhood, children appear to be outgrowing some of these allergies more slowly than in previous decades, with many children still allergic beyond age 5.Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish are generally lifelong.Is There a Cure?There is no cure for food allergy. Food allergies are managed by avoiding the problem food(s) and learning to recognize and treat reactions symptoms.Food allergy therapies are under study in clinical trials, but none has been approved yet for general use.Downloadable PDF of Facts and Statistics with References

Bernie Sanders stated "If President Trump thinks privatizing the VA is what is best for our veterans, he is dead wrong." Do you think he is right?

I am a veteran, and have used the VA system, especially when there were times I could not afford care any other way. I do not have any service-connected or combat-related disabilities, so I am prioritized lower, as I rightly feel I should be. There are people that need that care, and I feel they have earned that care far more than I did. I frequently get into arguments with my father over whether I earned VA care; he feels that I earned it because I was willing to volunteer, whereas I feel uncomfortable with the idea that, with only a 4 year active-duty commitment (honorable discharge) and a 4 year inactive ready reserve commitment, I “earned” anything on the same level as someone who was injured in the line of duty, especially for life. I guess that’s my own personal pride, and feelings that I didn’t do enough, that play into that stance. I am also not a medical professional, so all ideas presented below are formed from my own observations, ideas, and ideals. I’m not as familiar with all aspects of the medical systems, private and public, so please take my input with a grain of salt.I believe that the VA system, by the nature of the type of clients and their medical issues, is handed down an impossible task. By the very fact that their patients are veterans, you have a whole host of issues and medical conditions that the average hospital worker will never run into among the civilian populace, even more now that veterans and military members make up only about 7% of the population, and shrinking. The type of injuries and long-term care that veterans can require over their lives is complicated, such as knee and hip replacements (I had a nurse at the VA basically tell me that it wasn’t a matter of if I would eventually have bad knees, but when, and that was due to all the running), long-term treatment of war wounds like shrapnel and scar tissue, diseases and injuries that are generally found only within the military (not many civilians get exposed to depleted uranium, yellow fever, or malaria, or sustain injuries from training exercises, like collapsed vertebrae from high-g maneuvers or bad parachute landings), and the psychological aftershocks of military service. Because of these very specific issues, the VA frequently finds itself at the forefront of treatment for certain types of injuries, and partners with many prestigious medical programs, such as Harvard Medical, and other civilian organizations, such as NASCAR and the NFL, to combine research efforts. In the U.S., the VA medical system is the largest source of research and innovation into prosthetics, leading efforts to improve the lives of amputees.The VA medical system is the only medical system in the US that has to perform care with a radically holistic approach. The VA isn’t just the people that pay disability and get you a new prosthetic hand; there is a huge amount of social services available for veterans. The VA hospitals aren’t just hospitals; they also act as a central clearing-house for social work. These social workers perform various duties, helping veterans find housing, jobs, and skills training; putting them in touch with organizations that can help beyond what the VA can provide; helping to find shelter and clothing for homeless veterans; organizing and hosting support groups for veterans and their families. The level of social services available for veterans, centered from the VA hospitals that are usually the largest presence in an area, is well beyond anything you will see at a private-care facility. Imagine if Cigna or Kaiser Permanente had to provide that same level of service and care, and still be profitable. I do agree that there needs to be a moonshot-like project to digitize all medical records by a certain date, and that there should be a standardized system to allow records management between VA locations, and to provide a standard for data capture and sharing between potential contractors for veteran health care. This standard could also be used as a template for how records are shared between medical facilities, again using the VA system as a demonstration platform for better medical regulations.I have received exceptional care from the VA when I have utilized it, and have been impressed with the quality of the medical staff and social workers that work for the VA. These hard-working people truly care about taking care of the veterans in their care. I have also had a friend that graduated from Harvard Medical, and he told me that they worked with a VA-affiliated hospital; the residency slots for that facility were the most competitive, since everyone wanted to work with the veterans, and the level of care at the facility was top-notch. But the VA system has been under attack for a while, by people that don’t understand the costs of the level of care provided by the system, constantly cut the costs and hold hiring of new personnel hostage, and push for privatizing of care, thinking that privatizing government services will instantly lead to cost savings. Unfortunately, history has shown that outsourcing does make sense, but only in limited areas, where the costs of a government maintaining a service is higher than the private sector can, without a loss of access or service for the population. Government owned and operated services are required in cases where there is a recognized need for services, but the cost of operating or failure is high. Fire departments and law enforcement are examples of formerly private industries that have reverted to the public sector, due to abuses of limited to no oversight and inequalities for the public commons. Let’s be honest, if the private sector could provide the same services for veterans faster, cheaper, and better, they would’ve done it on their own already. As long as profits for a private sector player requires that they receive the same pot of money, but reduce the amount of people that can utilize it as well as the level of service, that’s not better.A concept that we were introduced to in boot camp is triage, the system of assigning degrees of medical severity to injuries and allocating care and evacuation accordingly. I think that the actual long-term solution to the poor outcomes that some veterans experience at VA medical centers will require a certain level of triage and load sharing. Complete privatization is a non-starter, in my opinion; I refuse to subject my fellow veterans to substandard care for complex medical issues, in the name of lobbying and profit margins for shareholders. I do recognize that a lot of backlog could probably be handled by privately run medical facilities contracted to perform certain functions, like general practitioners, most basic tests, medicines, and basic care, thus reducing backlog, and potentially save costs. I also feel that the costs for basics like these should be tied to Medicare’s schedule of costs, and Medicare should be able to negotiate the price of services and prescription drugs. If the care required goes beyond basics, we should leave that to the VA system, and by migrating basic care to private contractors, that should free up the system to take care of the areas that the VA should be specialized in: care for veteran-related healthcare issues. If private contractors are used for care, oversight needs happen, to ensure that outcomes, not increased profits, are the deciding factors for care.

How much training time is usually given to special army units for a covert ops?

Para (Special Forces),[2]commonly known as Para SF, is the special operations unit of the Indian Army. It is attached to the Parachute Regiment.The unit's heritage stems from World War II, with the creation of the 50th Parachute Brigade in October 1941. 9 Para SF, raised in 1966 as9th Parachute Commando Battalion, is the oldest among the eight Para SF units of the Indian Army.Contents1 History 1.1 1971 Indo-Pakistan War 1.2 Operation Bluestar 1984 1.3 Sri Lanka 1987 1.4 Operation Cactus 1988, Maldives 1.5 Kashmiri hostage-taking, 4 July 1995 1.6 1999 Kargil War 1.7 Operation Khukri 2000, Sierra Leone 1.8 Operation Summer Storm 2009 1.9 Ongoing Counter-insurgency Operations (COIN) in Jammu and Kashmir and the Eastern States 1.10 Counter terrorist operation in Samba 1.11 Counter insurgency operation in Myanmar 2015 1.12 Surgical strikes in Pakistani Occupied Kashmir2 Organization 2.1 Functions3 Personnel 3.1 Selection 3.1.1 Four phases 3.1.2 Training centers and courses 3.1.3 90-day probation 3.2 Training 3.3 Joint exercises with other nations 3.4 International competitions4 Equipment 4.1 Small Arms 4.2 Transport5 Insignia6 Gallantry awards 6.1 Ashok Chakra7 In popular culture8 See also9 References10 Bibliography11 External linksHistoryAn Indian Para (Special Forces) officer tries a U.S. Army weapon.The parachute units of the Indian Army are among the oldest airborne units in the world. The 50th Indian Parachute Brigade was formed on 27 October 1941, comprising the British 151st Parachute Battalion, the British Indian Army 152nd Indian Parachute Battalion, and the 153rd Gurkha Parachute Battalion.[3]The Parachute Regiment was formed from these and several other units in 1952.Indian Army Para CommandosIn 1944, the 50th was allocated to the newly founded 44th Airborne Division. In the post-independence restructuring, India retained only one parachute brigade—the 50th. This brigade consisted of three distinguished battalions personally nominated by the then Commander-in-Chief, namely 1 PARA (Punjab), 2 PARA (Maratha) and 3 PARA (Kumaon). During the Jammu and Kashmir operations of 1947-48 these battalions distinguished themselves with glory in the battles of Shelatang, Naushera, Jhangar and Poonch, and were awarded the respective Battle Honours.On 15 April 1952, the three battalions serving with the Parachute Brigade were removed from their respective Infantry Regiments to form the Parachute Regiment. Since then the Parachute Regiment has grown to comprise ten battalions including Parachute (Special Forces) battalions. In 1986, 8 PARA became 12 Battalion, Mechanised Infantry Regiment, while 21 Maratha LI converted to PARA (Special Forces). During their short but eventful existence so far, the regiment's battalions have had extensive operational experience, and singular achievements, to speak of their level of professionalism.During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, an ad hoc commando unit, named Meghdoot Force, consisting of volunteers from various infantry units was organized by then Major Megh Singh of the Brigade of the Guards. The unit performed well in combat, and the Government authorized the formal raising of a commando unit. Lt Col Megh Singh was selected to raise the unit which was originally intended to be a part of the Brigade of the Guards. However, recognizing parachute qualification as an integral element of special operations, the unit was transferred to the Parachute Regiment and raised as its 9th Battalion (Commando) on 1 July 1966. The erstwhile members of the Meghdoot Force formed the nucleus, and the new unit was based in Gwalior. In June 1967 the unit was split equally into two to form a second commando unit, designated as 10th Battalion, each with three Companies. 10th Battalion was mandated to operate in the Western Desert and 9th Battalion in the northern mountains. In 1969, these battalions were re-designated as 9 and 10 Para (Commando) battalions.[3]In 1978, the 1 Para, as an experiment, was converted to become the first special forces unit of the Indian army, and was kept as the tactical reserve. Already a recipient of the Chief of Army Staff Unit Citation twice, and the {GOC-in-C Eastern Command Unit Citation once, the unit was originally 1 Punjab, which was later re-designated as 1 PARA (PUNJAB) and in 1978 was converted to 1 PARA (SF). The unit is well over 200 years old.On 15 January 1992, the Parachute Regiment Training Centre along with the Records and PAO(OR), and the Para Regiment, moved to Bangalore and occupied the erstwhile location of Pioneer Corps and Training Centre. Bangalore is the new Key Location Project of the Centre.[4]1995 saw the formation of the fourth commando battalion when 21 Maratha Light Infantry was selected to convert to special forces and slated for the Eastern Command. After a stringent selection and training process that spanned more than a year, on 1 February 1996, the unit under Colonel VB Shinde, was formally inducted as the 21st Battalion (Special Forces), The Parachute Regiment. The unit has done well in its short lifespan, and is the proud recipient of the Chief of Army Staff Unit Citation twice (1992 and 2006) and the GOC-in-C Eastern Command Unit Citation once (2008), as well as a host of individual gallantry awards. With the changing scenario in military operations and the need for more special forces units, 2 Para began the conversion process from parachute to special forces role, followed closely by the 3 Para and the 4 Para in the year 2004 and 2005. The attempt did see a some success, but the reason it failed to achieve its goal was due to the stringent selection process.[citation needed]1971 Indo-Pakistan WarThe unit (Para Commandos, Indian Army) first saw action in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war, the first six-man assault team was inserted 240 kilometres (150 miles) deep into Indus and Charchao, where they carried out raids. The assault team killed 73 and wounded 140 on the Pakistani side. In addition, they also destroyed 35mm artillery guns of the Pakistan independent battery. They also destroyed an airfield. In Bangladesh 2 PARA (Airborne), which was a part of 50 (Independent) Parachute Brigade, carried out India's first airborne assault operation to capture Poongli Bridge in Mymensingh District near Dhaka. Subsequently, they were the first unit to enter Dhaka. For this action 2 PARA were given the Battle Honour of Poongli Bridge and the Theater Honour Dhaka.[5]Operation Bluestar 1984In 1984 the Para (SF) were involved in Operation Blue Star. They were charged to lead an attack on the Holy Site of the Sikh religion the Golden Temple to evict Sikh militants in Punjab. 80 members of 1 Para (SF) were given the task of assaulting two areas of the temple, one of which required divers. However, there were a number of setbacks as a result of inaccurate intelligence on the strength of the militants who were trained by Gen. Shabeg Singh (ex- 1 Para himself), operating in low light, the conventional manner of the raid, and the lack of incentive, all of which resulted in a mission failure. The diver mission was aborted after the first team got bogged down. The commandos achieved their aims after a gunfight with militants that lasted hours.[6]Sri Lanka 1987Main article: Indian Peace Keeping ForceThe late 1980s saw the Para (SF) in action in Sri Lanka, as part of Operation Pawan. However, the lack of proper planning by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), and insufficient intelligence on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) whereabouts, caused the initial heli-borne assault on Jaffna University on 11 October 1987 to be a tragic failure. However it was because of the efforts of the Para (SF) that later led to the capture of the Jaffna peninsula, forcing the LTTE militants to take refuge in the forests.Six soldiers lost their lives in that mission. Due to their superior training, the Para (SF) took refuge under a house, after they were misled by a youth who offered his services to help the commandos track Velupillai Prabhakaran but instead took them on a wild goose chase. They engaged the enemy for 24 hours and picked up all their dead with their weapons after reinforcements arrived the next morning.After the failed assault on Jaffna City, the 10 Para (SF) participated in a heli-borne assault on the town of Moolai 23 kilometres (14 miles) to the north west in November 1987. More than 200 LTTE guerrillas were killed and an arms depot seized. In order to give the commandos battle experience, 1 Para (SF) was rotated home in early 1988 and replaced by 9 Para (SF).This battalion was scheduled to return home in June 1988, but the tour of duty was extended due to a planned air assault into the coastal swamps around Mullaittivu. The mission was a success, in that it located several arms caches. The 9 Para (SF) also provided 12 men for the security of the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka.Operation Cactus 1988, MaldivesMain article: Operation CactusWith the capture of Maldives, an island nation off the south western coast of India, on 3 November 1988 by the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) mercenaries, the army turned to the 50 (Independent) Parachute Brigade to carry out an airborne/air transported operation to liberate the country and return power to the legal government. This operation had 6 PARA spearheading the mission. 6 Para flew in on 4 November 1988 in a fleet of IL-76, An-32 and An-12 transport aircraft. One team rescued the president, another took over the airfield, and a third rescued Maldivian security personnel besieged in the National Security Service HQ. Later 7 Para and part of 17 Para Field Regiment were also deployed to the Maldives. When mercenaries tried to escape by sea along with hostages, they were intercepted by the Indian navy. Thus, 6 Para, and the 17 Para Field Regiment conducted the first-ever international intervention by the Indian army without any loss of life.Kashmiri hostage-taking, 4 July 1995In 1995, Para (SF) took part in mission to rescue the six Western tourists kidnapped on 4 July by Al-Faran, a Kashmiri Islamist militant organisation.[citation needed]None of hostages were rescued, but the operation resulted in the death of Al-Faran leader Abdul Hamid Turki and four other Al-Faran members.[citation needed]1999 Kargil WarMain article: Kargil WarIn 1999 nine out of ten Parachute battalions were deployed for Operation Vijay in Kargil, which bears testimony to the operational profile of the Regiment. While the Parachute Brigade cleared the Mushkoh Valley intrusions, 5 PARA was actively involved in the forgotten sector of Batalik, and was awarded the Chief of Army Staff (COASS) Unit Citation.Operation Khukri 2000, Sierra LeoneOperation Khukri was a rescue mission conducted by the 2 PARA (SF) in Sierra Leone in June 2000. About 90 operators commanded by Major (now Lt. Col.) Harinder Sood were airlifted from New Delhi to spearhead the mission to rescue 223 men of the 5/8 Gurkha Rifles who were surrounded and held captive by Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels for over 75 days, just 90 Para (SF) forced 2000-5000 members of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) divided into 5 battalions to surrender. This ultimately led to the liberation of Freetown.Operation Summer Storm 2009On 11 April 2009, the 57 Mountain Division of the Indian Army based in Manipur, Para Commandos along with the para-military Assam Rifles and State Police, launched a counter insurgency operation, code-named "Operation Summer Storm" in the Loktak Lake region and adjoining Loktak Lake in Bishnupur District, located south of State capital of Imphal. The first major mobilization of troops in 2009 ended on 21 April. As the troops began pulling out, an Army spokesperson described the operation as a success, disclosing that 129 militants, all belonging to the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) were killed. The Forces also claimed to have located and destroyed five militant camps during the Operation and more than 117 weapons, including sixty nine AK-series rifles, forty eight rocket launchers, and an unspecified quantity of explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). No militant was arrested. No fatalities among the Special Force (SF) personnel or civilians was reported.[7][8][9]Ongoing Counter-insurgency Operations (COIN) in Jammu and Kashmir and the Eastern StatesParatroopers and Para (SF) have conducted thousands of counter-insurgency (COIN) operations in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the eastern states in India. Sometimes these units work with the Rashtriya Rifles (COIN force) in complicated operations. Since the mid-1990s, the role of Paratroopers and Para (SF) as a counter terrorism force has increased substantially. They are now actively involved in counter terrorist (CT) and COIN operations in Kashmir as an essential part of the Home Ministry's decision to conduct pro-active raids against militants in the countryside and mountains. Personnel include Para (SF), Paratroopers (Airborne), National Security Guards (NSG) and special units of the Rashtriya Rifles - a paramilitary unit created for counter insurgency operations in Kashmir. They may also include MARCOS personnel, many of whom are seconded to the Army for CT operations.Counter terrorist operation in SambaOn 26 September 2013, terrorists dressed in Army fatigues stormed a police station and then an Army camp in the Jammu region killing 10 people, including an Army officer, in twin fidayeen attacks. The terrorists sneaked across the border early on Thursday, barely three days ahead of a meeting between the prime ministers of India and Pakistan. The attack was on a police station. The 16 Cavalry unit of the Army in Samba district falls under the jurisdiction of 9 corps, headquartered at Yol Cantonment in Himachal Pradesh. The three heavily armed terrorists, believed to be from the group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were holed up in the cavalry armored unit's camp at Samba for several hours after they barged into the Officers mess, until they were killed during a fierce gunfight with 1 Para (SF) of the army. The bodies of the three terrorists aged between 16 and 19 were in the custody of the Army.[10]Authorities moved commandos of 1 Para (SF) in helicopters to the shootout site. The Para (SF) commandos first carried out an aerial reconnaissance of the camp before landing to neutralize the three terrorists. The 1 Para (SF) had identified the exact spot during the aerial reconnaissance from where the intruders were returning the army fire. After landing, the commandos started engaging the terrorists in a direct gunfight, but in order to give them an impression that their exact hiding location had still not been identified, an abandoned building inside the camp was blasted. This made the terrorists complacent thinking that their hiding spot had not been yet been pin-pointed. They kept on intermittently returning army fire until all three of them were eliminated. The entire operation, from the moment the terrorists entered the camp until they were gunned down, took nearly nine hours to complete. The main worry of the soldiers tasked to eliminate the terrorists was the Army Public School situated some distance from the place where the terrorists had been engaged in a sustained firefight. Army men were worried about the possibility of the terrorists moving into the school and taking children and staff as hostage. For this reason, the operation to eliminate the terrorists was carried out with extreme caution and patience[11]Counter insurgency operation in Myanmar 2015Main article: 2015 Indian counter-insurgency operation in MyanmarBased on precise intelligence inputs, the Indian Air Force and 21 para (SF) carried a cross-border operation along the Indo-Myanmar border and destroyed two militant camps one each of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K) (NSCN) and the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL). The operations were carried out inside Myanmar territory along the Nagaland and Manipur border at two locations. One of the locations was near Ukhrul in Manipur. The army attacked two militants' transit camps.70 commandos were reportedly involved in the operation. The commandos, equipped with assault rifles, rocket launchers, grenades and night vision goggles, were divided into two groups after they fast roped from Dhruv helicopters just inside the Indian territory near the border with Myanmar. The teams trekked through the thick jungles for at least 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) before they reached training camps. Each of the teams was further divided into two sub-groups. While one was responsible for the direct assault, the second formed an outer ring to prevent any of insurgents from running and escaping. The actual operation (hitting the camp and destroying it) took about 40 minutes. Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 helicopters were put on standby, ready to be pressed into service to evacuate the commandos in case anything went wrong. In its statement after the operation, the Indian Army said it was in communication with Myanmar and that, "There is a history of close cooperation between our two militaries. We look forward to working with them to combat such terrorism."[12]The Indian Army claimed to have inflicted heavy casualties (158 reported)[12]on the attackers behind the ambush of the Army on 4 June, which claimed the lives of 18 Army jawans (soldiers) of 6 Dogra Regiment from the Chandel district of Manipur.[13]This has been noted as the largest attack on the Indian Army after the Kargil war of 1999.Surgical strikes in Pakistani Occupied KashmirMain article: 2016 India–Pakistan military confrontationOn 29 September 2016, India attacked the strike targeted areas close to the Line of Control (LoC), where militants congregate for their final briefings before sneaking across it into India. An Indian security source said the operation began with Indian forces firing artillery across the frontier to provide cover for three to four teams of 70–80 para SF commandos from 4 and 9 Para (Special Forces) to cross the LoC at several points shortly after midnight IST on 29 September (18:30 hours UTC, 28 Sept.). Teams from 4 Para SF crossed the LoC in the Nowgam sector of Kupwara district, with teams from 9 Para SF simultaneously crossing the LoC in Poonch district.[2][16]By 2 a.m. IST, according to army sources, the special forces teams had travelled 1 km (0.62 mi) - 3 km (1.9 mi) on foot, and had begun destroying the terrorist bases with hand-held grenade and 84 mm rocket launchers. The teams then swiftly returned to the Indian side of the LoC, suffering only one casualty, a soldier wounded after tripping a land mine.[2]The Indian army said the strike was a pre-emptive attack on the militants' bases, claiming that it had received intelligence that the militants were planning "terrorist strikes" against India.[36][37]India said that, in destroying "terrorist infrastructure" it also attacked "those who are trying to support them," indicating it also attacked Pakistani soldiers.[48]India later briefed opposition parties and foreign envoys, but did not disclose operational details.[16]The footage from the strike captured by overhead drones and thermal imaging was released to the media afterwards.[1]However, the Pakistan army dismissed the claim stating that Indian troops had not crossed the LoC but had only skirmished with Pakistani troops at the border, resulting in the deaths of two Pakistani soldiers and the wounding of nine.[14]OrganizationThe Parachute Regiment presently has nine Special Forces, five Airborne, two Territorial Army and one Counter-Insurgency (Rashtriya Rifles) battalions in its fold. The regiment has tried raising new battalions to augment the strength of the special forces however the task has not been completed due to the tough selection phase. Furthermore, in the absence of a centralized command and lack of a centralized and standardized procedure for selection, even among the Para (SF) battalions, selection procedures vary. Meaning there is a different standard to get into different Para (SF) battalions.In the mid-1980s, there were plans to take the three para commando battalions from the Parachute Regiment and bring them together under an individual specialized organisation, the Special Forces Regiment. However, after several logistic and administrative obstacles, these plans were abandoned, and they continue to be trained and recruited by the Parachute Regiment.Para (SF) operate in assault teams, which work individually behind enemy lines, whereas the Paratroopers (Airborne) work in large teams and coordinate with other units as their role involves occupying large areas behind enemy lines. The total strength of the regiment stands at about 10,000, this includes five airborne infantry battalions, one Rashtriya Rifles and two Territorial Army battalion personnel, while the Para (SF) includes between 5,000 and 6,000 personnel. They have to hide their identity from general public.FunctionsIntelligence collection, special reconnaissanceSubversion and sabotage of vital enemy infrastructure and communications through deep penetration and surgical strikes behind enemy lines.Covert and overt/direct action special operations as part of the Indian Army's counter-terrorist and counter-insurgency operations.Hostage rescue operations within and beyond Indian territory.The unit is tasked with missions such as special operations, direct action, hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, counter-proliferation, counter-insurgency, seek and destroy and personnel recovery.[2]PersonnelThe neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met.(May 2015)(Learn how and when to remove this template message)A soldier of 9 Para displaying the TavorA soldier of 31 RR (SF) on operationsPara SF displaying arms & ammunition seized from terrorists in Jammu and KashmirSpecial forces soldier displaying captured arms & ammunition (1st on right)Special forces troopsSelectionAll Indian paratroopers are volunteers. Some enter the Para regiments fresh from recruitment, while others transfer in from regular army units.[15]They are put through a probationary period / selection process of three months for Paratroopers (Airborne) Battalions (5,6,7,23,29) and six months for Para (Special Forces) battalions (1,2,3,4,9,10,11,12,21 PARA), in order to be a Para (Special Forces) all personnel are first required to qualify as Paratroopers; once selected the candidates may choose to advance to the SF selection, which takes place twice a year in the spring and the autumn term. It is one of the longest and toughest training regimens in the world,the applicant is exposed to sleep deprivation, humiliation, exhaustion, and mental and physical torture. Deaths have been reported during this selection process. The attrition rate is very high, and selection rarely exceeds 10 percent. Even though a candidate may have cleared selection, he is not formally inducted into the regiment until completion of the Balidan Padh where, after training, a candidate is involved in active operations in a hostile zone for a year. Provided the candidate survives the Balidan Padh, he is given the Balidan Badge and formally inducted into the regiment.There are nine Para (SF) battalions and soldiers are selected accordingly. An example of this would be the 10 Para (SF) who are also known as Desert Scorpions. The probation period for this is six month and the probationers are selected accordingly for desert warfare.[16]The 9 Para (SF) who specialise in Mountain warfare go through a nine-month course at the Special Forces training centre in Nahan, Himachal Pradesh which is followed by further specialised selection.[17][18]1 Para specialises in mountain warfare. This concept of geographical specialisation was over time reduced and each Para (SF) battalion is trained to operate in various different terrains and climates.[19][20]Soldiers of the Indian army volunteer for the course irrespective of rank.[21]Depending on the battalion, the probation period varies from three months, six months or nine months, with additional time for specialized skills selection. Over the probation period, all soldiers are stripped of their ranks, including officers, and are known as probationers or probies. During any day of the course, a probationers can opt to leave the course.[22][23][24][25]The completion rate is under 12-15 per cent and this slightly high completion rate is because many probationers are drawn from their regimental battalions.[26]Each Special Forces operative specialises in various skills such as weapons, demolition, navigation, communication, medical. PARA (SF) work in small teams, five to eight men, and are also focused on operations other than war (OOW), strategic reconnaissance, surveillance, target designation (RSTAD) and direct action (DA) tasks and are selected and trained accordingly.[27]Those who complete the probation period and are inducted into the para sf and undergo further selection and training, but to earn the para sf balidaan (sacrifice) badge, they have to further survive being deployed in active operations in hostile zones, known as the balidaan padh.[28]Four phasesThere are four phases to become a Para (SF):Basic military training - to start the process a candidate first must join the Indian army and complete the basic training requirements, which vary according to the training center and prospective role.Pre-Selection - this stage encompasses administrative procedures and the soldier applying for the Para (Air) or Para (SF) and the necessary medical requirements.Selection (encompassing a selection process and basic SF training) - the duration of this stage has changed over the years. For the Para (Air) it was initially 28 days which became 45 days after 1999 and is now 90 days. The Para (SF) was 90 days long and hasn't been changed since. The intensity also differs according to the prospective battalion. Para (SF) selection takes place twice a year. Probationers undergo extreme physical and mental tests. The drop out rate is high. Those who fail go back to their parent regiment. Those who complete the probation are inducted into the Parachute Regiment. 10 Para (SF) selection: the probation for the 10 Para (SF) starts in the desert, with rigorous physical training being undertaken in desert climate. There is no training manual, so there is no specific routine. Probationers go without food for 4 days, they have to minimize water consumption up to 1 litre water for 3 days and be able to go without sleep for 7 days. A 10 kg sandbag become a permanent buddy for the probationer. Routine speed marches and runs of 10 km, 20 km, 30 km and 40 km with full battle gears are conducted. Probationers must be exceptional navigators in areas where there is no network signal, no roads or landmarks and sand dunes that keep shifting every night.[16] Parachute Training: Candidates then complete a 3-week Basic Parachute Course at the Indian Army's Parachute Training School in Agra.Advanced SF Training[29] - all those who opt for Para (SF) must first qualify for Para (Air). Although this is also a training phase, this is still part of the selection process. Here the soldiers undertake various different kinds of training with various organisations overseen by the Parachute Regiment Training Centre and the Special Forces Training School. Training includes weapons handling training land navigation and field craft training, infiltration, assault and ambush tactics; close quarter battle (CQB) training; urban warfare; counter-terrorism; unarmed combat training and various other courses across training centers of the Indian defense forces.Training centers and coursesCommando Training Camp, Belgaum, Karnataka4-week High-Altitude Commando Course, Parvat Ghatak School in Tawang, Arunachal PradeshDesert Warfare School, RajasthanHigh Altitude Warfare School (HAWS), Sonamarg, KashmirBasic Combat Divers course, Indian Navy's Dive School, KochiCounter insurgency, at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) in Vairengte, MizoramIndian Special Forces Training School, Nahan, Himachal Pradesh;Combat free-fall training (HAHO and HALO) at the Parachute Training School, Agra90-day probationSome of the training during the 90 day selection includes:[22][30]Day 1 to 35: The first 35 days comprises 'Physical and Skills Training'. This includes hours of rigorous exercises apart from other tests and skills training such as blindfolded team assembly, weapons training, demolition, navigation, communication, medical and cooking skills. Probationers are also taught animal handling skills,[31] insertion and extraction techniques and have to learn several languages. Many probationers are not able to complete this stage of the course itself and up to 50% drop out here.Day 45: The 36 hour Para SF stress test includes 36 hours of exercises, maneuvers, insertion, extraction where the probationers stress capabilities are put to the test. It starts with a 10 km speed march with 30 kg battle loads and an additional 40 kg each. This is followed by various exercises included lifting buddies over long periods. This is followed by weight shifting. Weight shifting has three rounds, where various kinds of weights have to be shifted such as 40 litres of jerry cans, tyre trucks and wooden logs up to 85 kg in weight.[32] During the 11th hour, trial by water is conducted[33] - simulated drowning, allowing only the bare minimum oxygen over a long period of time. This is to test probationers panic reactions under stress. The hands are also tied later on and using ropes the probationers are pulled under water. It is well known that hypoxia and blackout due to lack of oxygen is common during this test. The first 16 hours are completed without a drop of water or food. This is followed be immediate observational skills and operation tactics under pressure which included probationary having to recall objects placed in their exercises. This is followed by 10 km speed march and 6 hours of continuous exercises. Finally practical combat skills tested such as placing ambushes, response to an ambush, making camps, stretchers and simulated evacs. This is all done at the last stage of the stress test under lack to sleep and extreme fatigue mainly to test mental endurance of the probationers under such conditions and how they react. The 36 hours stress test also sees many probationers leave.Day 56: The Para SF 100 km endurance run is a must for all probationers. With 10 kg battle load and personal weapon of 7 kg they have to run 100 km. The time taken averages 13 to 15 hours. A known route the Para SF have used for this run is the hilly route between Rampur and Dakkal. The run is divided into four stages.[34]Day 60 to 90: The final and toughest test is reserved for those who make it to this stage, the Counter Terror Operations. Not much is publicly known about this stage or the other parts of this course. During the end of the 90 day probation, the successful candidates go through a glass eating tradition.[35]TrainingThe initial training to become a special forces operator is 3.5 years, the longest anywhere, but the training is also a continuous process. In the special forces, the members are imparted both basic and advance training. They are taught specialised modes of infiltration and exfiltration, either by air (combat freefall) or sea (combat diving). Some trainees return to PTS to undergo the free-fall course, which requires at least 50 jumps from altitudes up to 33,500 feet (10,200 metres) to pass. Both High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) and High Altitude High Opening (HAHO)techniques are learned. The ability to use the HAHO method and specially designed maneuverable parachutes called HAPPS (High Altitude Parachute Penetration System)/AMX-310 to conduct stealth insertions over distances up to 50 kilometres (31 mi) is also perfected.[15]For combat diving training, the commandos are sent to the Naval Diving School, Kochi. Like other special forces, these para commandos are trained for land, air and water.The daily routine begins with a 20 km (12 mi) morning run. Infiltration, exfiltration, assault, room and building intervention, intelligence gathering, patrolling, ambush tactics, counter-ambush tactics, counter insurgency, counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, guerilla warfare, asymmetric warfare, raids and sabotage, martial arts training, tactical shooting, stress firing, reflex shooting, buddy system drills, close quarter battle, tactical driving, advance weapon courses and handling, sniping, demolition training, survival skills, linguistic training, logistic training, trade-craft training is imparted by the intelligence agencies. The training drills involve live ammunition at all times which is a reason for fatal accidents at times leading to death.Night and weapons training and field craft involving 20 km (12 mi) treks with 60 kg (130 lb) loads and live ammunition are conducted. Weekly forced marches with 65 kg (143 lb) combat loads with distances over 80 km (50 mi) to 130 km (81 mi) and quarterly night drops with full combat loads are also conducted.In addition to this in-house training, the commandos also attend a number of schools run by the Army that specialise in terrain and environmental warfare.[15]These include the Junior Leaders' Commando Training Camp in Belgaum, Karnataka, the Parvat Ghatak School (for high altitude mountain warfare) in Tawang Arunachal Pradesh, the desert warfare school in Rajasthan, the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Sonamarg, Kashmir, the Counterinsurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) in Vairengte, Mizoram, and the Indian special forces training school in Nahan, Himachal Pradesh. These schools are among the finest of their kind anywhere, and routinely host students from other countries.[15]Members of USSOCOM (United States Special Operations Command) and UKSF (United Kingdom Special Forces) have conducted joint training exercises with the Indian Paras. SOF members from the three nations routinely train at each other's facilities to improve military cooperation and tactical skills. This allows the SOF operators from each nation to see tactics and perspectives offered by other top-notch organizations. U.S. Army Special Forces also conducted joint HAHO training with the Para (SF) in 1992, underwater training in 1995, and anti-terrorism training in 1997. It is thought that the French Foreign Legion also has approached CIJWS regarding the courses taught by them. Para (SF) troops can also undergo a complete Combat Divers course, after which they earn a combat diver badge.[36]They are also experienced in conducting SHBO (special heli-borne operations) and typically employ Cheetahs, MI-8/MI-17 or HAL (Dhruv) helicopters for this purpose.Joint exercises with other nationsThe Para (SF) conduct a series of joint exercises, named VAJRA PRAHAR, with the United States Army every year, in which about 100 personal from the US and Indian special forces participate.[37]INDRA is a series of joint exerise with Russian special forces,[38]and operation Sampriti is the name for joint exercises with Bangladeshi special forces.[39]Para (SF) also conducts exercises and training with the special forces of Israel.[40]The Ajeya Warrior is a series of exercises with regular infantry units of the UK (as the UK's special forces are highly classified).[41]Indian special forces also conduct exercises with forces of the following 16 friendly countries: the United States, France, the UK, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Maldives, Seychelles, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.[42]International competitionsPersonnel from the Para (SF) have participated in international competitions like Airborne Africa, Cambrian Patrol. This exercise was designed to test the endurance, combat efficiency, and combat readiness of the special forces community. The regiment has a record of highest tally wins in both these exercises that is hosted annually ever since their participation was inducted in the competition hosted by Botswana in Africa’s Kalahari Desert from June 8-10, 2002, in which 10 Para (SF) participated. Special forces from other nations like the Special Air Service of the UK and the Green Berets of the US also participated.[43][44]In 2014 a team from the Indian army won the gold medal out of the 140 teams that participated[45]EquipmentPara (SF) have access to various types of infantry weapons required for particular missions.Small ArmsPistol Auto 9mm 1A Semi-automatic pistolGlock 17 9mm Semi-automatic pistolBeretta 92 9mm Semi-automatic pistolHeckler & Koch MP5 Sub-machine gunMicro Uzi 9mm Sub-machine gunIWI Galil Assault rifleIWI TAR-21 Tavor Assault rifleM4A1 CarbineMPi KMS-72 East German made side-folded Kalashnikov riflePM Md.90 Assault rifleVZ. 58 Pi Assault rifleSVD Dragunov Semi-automatic sniper rifleIWI Galil Sniper Semi-automatic sniper rifleMauser SP66 Bolt-action sniper riflePKM General purpose machine gunMG 2A1 General purpose machine gunUk vz. 59L Light machine gunAGS-17 Plamya Automatic grenade launcher.C-90-CR-RB (M3) Disposal rocket launcher.RL MkIII 84mm Recoilles rifleB-300 Shipon 82mm Rocket launcherTransportC-130J Super Hercules tactical transport aircraftHAL Dhruv utility helicopterAll Terrain VehiclesHAL Cheetak utility helicopterInsigniaPara (SF) personnel, like other parachute troops in the Indian military, wear a maroon beret. In addition, they wear a "Special Forces" tab on each shoulder. Personnel who serve in the Para (SF) are allowed to wear the "Balidaan" (Sacrifice) patch on their right pocket below the name plate, which is similar to the SAS beret insignia; only para commandos are allowed to wear the patch. Para (SF) personnel may grow beards, as this allows them to blend in with the civilian population, especially in Jammu and Kashmir. The insignia on their beret is drawn from the near identical insignia of the British Special Air Service.Gallantry awardsAshok Chakra2009, (Posthumous) Major Mohit Sharma of 1st Para (Special Forces) for Counter-insurgency Operations in Jammu and Kashmir in 2009.[46]In popular culturePara SF have been portrayed in Bollywood movies such as;Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), a dramatised account of the tactical strike conducted by the Para SF on the camps of terrorists across the Line of Control in retaliation for the 2016 Uri attack.Zameen (2003), Ajay Devgan and Abhishek Bachchan play the roles of Para SF officers. The latter resigns to joins the police. The film is based on the hijacking of an Indian Airlines jet.

People Trust Us

Great app to edit and work with different PDFs. I use the app both on iOS and OS X.

Justin Miller