This is a discussion on Kuwaitis pull out of tough Indian Navy course within the Navy & Maritime forum, part of the Global Defense & Military category; Hi! this is my first post here.
I came across this in another forum.Is Indian training standards really that tough?
...
Hi! this is my first post here.
I came across this in another forum.Is Indian training standards really that tough?
Kuwaitis pull out of tough Indian Navy course
In an unprecedented incident, 10 Kuwaiti Naval officers recently deserted a training course run by the Indian Navy after complaining of 'maltreatment' by the hosts.
The 10 Kuwaiti officers of the rank of lieutenant were undergoing a Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate Course conducted by the Indian Navy's Southern Command at Kochi and Vishakhapatnam. They had completed four-and-a-half months of the six-month course when they pulled out in August. This was the first time Kuwaiti officers were attending this course.
The Indian Navy has denied the Kuwaitis were maltreated but indicated that they were soft, expected "five-star treatment" and were unable to take the rigour of training.
The course is rudimentary but rigorous. "It's an important benchmark. An officer can be useful on a ship only if he is a qualified watchkeeper," a senior Navy officer said.
The Kuwaiti embassy in New Delhi appeared to concur with its officers that the Indian Navy’s training regimen was too rough.
It cited the "inability" of its officers to put up with the training regimen in high seas during the monsoon as the reason for the "withdrawal". Significantly, each of the 10 Kuwaiti lieutenants had a record of five to ten years of service.
Indian training standards are tough. Apocryphal legend has it that even the US SEALS — the universally-known crack marine commandos — were staggered at the Indian training rigour (for their counterparts) and had described it as “inhuman”.
The Indian Navy insists the trainees have to be "put through the paces" and that there can be no compromise on the regimen. "This is only a reflection of the high standard of training imparted by the Indian Navy," a senior officer said. "The Kuwait Navy needs to be concerned that its officers were unable to cope up," he pointed out.
On its part, the Indian Navy was observing a certain leniency with the Kuwaitis, as it does with many foreign trainees.
"Foreign personnel from certain Gulf countries under training with the Indian Navy have been provided additional residential facilities of soft furnishing and air conditioning on payment by their governments," a Navy spokesman said.
In the case of the Kuwaitis, they were allowed to stay in hotels on off-duty days while their ships were in harbour. The 10 officers were assigned to three Indian naval ships based at Kochi and Vishakhapatnam.
The Navy has strongly dismissed the "maltreatment" charge. "We have been training foreigners from 28 countries since 1965. Currently, about 350 foreign personnel are being trained by the Indian Navy annually. No complaint of maltreatment has been received,” a spokesman said.
certainly indian naval standards are much better then Quait's and Indian navy is much better trained then Quait's.Usually soldiers of these countries expect VIP treatment which is not good.A soldier is made to be tough and tough and rough conditions will make them a better soldier.I think if indians did this on these basis then its a right decision.
Seems a bit propaganderish (I think that's a word...) for my liking. As someone who has often worked with foreign militaries, the personnel sent on courses and exchanges are "always" prepared very well for such things. Armed forces do not like being embarassed as such I find this article rather dubious.
In addition to which one armed force would never come out and outright insult the foreign troops as this article seems to suggest... I CAN well imagine an overly nationalistic news service engaging in thi sort of unnecessary reporting though...
I would agree that sometimes reporting agencies engage in 'nationalistic news service' but I found this article in 'southasiamonitor.org' which is not an indian news service.So it might be true.
I don't mean to doubt you or disparage the Indian Navy, but a Bridgewatchers Course, can only I assume meaning keeping watch etc of the running of the ship etc from the bridge. I cannot see how this would become too dangerous, let alone too ardous, short of sailing in conditions which threatened to sink the ship. If this was the case then I would withdraw as well. The old saying fits well here, "train hard to fight easy". This says nothing about engaging in potentially suicidal acts though, whilst training...
well Panzar, I've been visiting southasiamonitor.org for quite some time now and can confidently say that the website is heavily pro-indian so it might be a nationalistic kinda reporting as aussie digger pointed out. Chances are quite high abt that being the case
________________
With passion and sacrifice, comes freedom!
Here is a question for those Kuwaiti Officers. As tough as it was do you think when it's a live enemy out there or a real world contingency would that be any easier? Military forces around the world from ANY nation should be prepared to defend the sovereignty of their nation and to fight in tough conditions. Maybe if that was their mentality the Iraqi army wouldn't have rolled over them so quickly. Yes they were outmatched in almost every way but I think history has shown were a weaker opponent who fights hard and fights smart can at the very least bleed his enemy and make him pay for his gains. I'm not trying to make any offense but warfare is a tough and ugly business and it puts enormous stress's on human being. Especially in cases where your unit or ship has suffered casualties, imagine how stressful it is then.
