NSG commandos from army and paramilitary to train, dine together

The NSG has ordered scrapping of the practice of holding separate induction courses for trainee commandos from army and paramilitary to raise a more lethal and "composite" squad of elite soldiers.

The National Security Guard (NSG), popularly known as the 'black cats' and raised in 1984, will also now see trainees from the two forces sweating and dining together during the gruelling training sessions to forge a better camaraderie while on task.

Till now, the officers and men from the two forces used to have separate three-month induction courses upon joining, even lodging and meals done separately.

After the army or the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) depute some of their best personnel to the NSG, they have to undergo a specially drafted and strenuous Commando Conversion Course (CCC) at its garrison in Manesar near here before they are awarded the iconic commando badge to serve in the special force under the command of Union Home Ministry.

Scrapping the old decision, the new NSG Director General has recently ordered that henceforth, CCC for officers and men will be conducted commonly for the army as well as CAPF personnel.

"If they (commandos) can work together, they can be trained together as well. Indeed that would be a step in the right direction," NSG DG S P Singh reasoned in a communication sent to all his strike formations (hubs) and force commanders.

"Keeping the above in view, I do not see any cogent and convincing reason for holding CCC for the army and CAPFs personnel separately.

"The underlying mandate behind this federal contingency force was to induct the best men from the army, CAPF and police organisations into NSG and forge them into the furnace for three months through a CCC wherein the strengths, skills and mindset are honed to form a formidable composite whole," the DG said in his communication.

The directions specifically mention that the trainee commandos will now on "live and dine together."