Tag: defence services

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DRAGON’S BRAIN: DIFFERENTLY WIRED (PART 2: STRATEGIC AND MILITARY THOUGHTS)

This is continuation of the previous article on the same subject. This part lists out the aspects related to strategies, tactics and means employed as a weapon for achievement of desired goals. These aspects are as follows:

Strategic and Military Thoughts

Rich Strategic Tradition. China has had a number of scholars and philosophers in her thousands of years of history. Chinese Confucian philosophy advocates peaceful political solutions and discourages use of military force. But the works of a number of well-known strategists have heavily influenced her military philosophy, warfare, and political discourse.

Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu was a Chinese general, military strategist, writer and philosopher. He is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, an influential work of military strategy. His works focus on alternatives to battle, such as stratagem, delay, the use of spies and alternatives to war itself, the making and keeping of alliances, the uses of deceit and a willingness to submit, at least temporarily, to more powerful foes. His writings have deeply influenced military thought in China. Major ones which are visible in China’s actions are as follows:

    • “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
    • “All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”
    • “Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”
    • “When strong, avoid them. If of high morale, depress them. Seem humble to fill them with conceit. If at ease, exhaust them. If united, separate them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.”
    • “There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.”
    • “Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
    • “Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.”

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HEALTHY WORKING ENVIRONMENT & CULTURE

Any organization will do well if it has a healthy working environment. Responsibility of creating a good and productive environment rests with the senior leadership. Senior leadership not only has to insist and encourage but also lead by example to achieve this.

During four decades of working in the Air Force, few aspects related to good working environment appealed to me. I made these as my guiding principles. Some of these are as follows:-

  • Leadership: Everyone who has a subordinate working under him or her is a leader. All the leaders should follow what they advocate. Motto should be “DO AS I DO” rather than “DO AS I SAY”. Also there should be Fairness, Honesty and Transparency in all their dealings.
  • Sell or Tell Type of Leadership: Younger generations have ready access to information and are very aware. The leadership style has to change with times. Giving a task and explaining the rationale behind it generates better acceptability and involvement. Need is for more of SELL type approach rather than TELL type of leadership.

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ROCKING THE BOAT DURING THE STORM: AD COMMAND

 

Year 2020 has been very eventful for the entire world. It started with the pandemic spreading and creating a turmoil worldwide. While the world was struggling to deal with the calamity and the associated economic repercussions, China created a global situation with its aggressive behaviour following its policy of expansionism and opportunism. This is resulting in emergence of new world order, new alliances, and changes in economic and diplomatic dealings.

Closer at home the country is dealing with multiple fronts. Besides the spread of pandemic and economic woes it has to deal with aggressive behaviour of two hostile neighbours. Situation at the borders is tense and could go in any direction.

In this prevailing scenario changes are taking place in the organisational structure of defence forces. The year started with formation of the post of CDS and Department of Military Affairs. A time bound plan has been enunciated for formation of theatre commands with the aim to increase jointness amongst the three services. It was announced that formation of AD command would be the first step towards this direction. Some reports have also appeared in the media stating that it is likely to be declared on the AF day on 08 Oct.

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