ODA 69

A Garud operative somewhere in the valley

PARA SF and MARCOs operators during a CASO op Para SF operator armed with AK(FAB furniture) + EoTech 552 holographic sight and wearing an ACH MARCOs operator using TAR21 and a HCBH by Indian armour systems Source : https://youtu.be/2VelFnkmDPs

North Korean 'People's Special Operations Force'

Maj. Arjun Galoth SM, 4 Para SF

followed with baptism by fire in OP BLUE STAR. Towards end 1984, 9 PARA COMMANDO had moved to New Delhi for security of the Prime Minister and few highly myopic decision makers wanted to converted it into NSG. Finally, the commando experiment was deemed to be successful and all three Commando Units came on the new War Establishment in 1985. Next move was to create a Cell at the Army HQ level in the Operations Directorate to deal exclusively with things related with the Parachute Commandos. Finally reported the first Director of the Commando Cell, Colonel S S Mann. He was the 2IC and later the Commanding Officer of 1 PARA CDO, while the Unit was undergoing the initial conversion. He had been associated with up gradation of Parachute Commandos into Special Forces right from his days as a General Staff 3 (Captain) in the Military Operations Directorate with GSO2 being one Major B C Joshi. Now the DGMO, Lt General B C Joshi had picked him up as his first SF advisor. Just a few days into the new task, Col Kumar was asked to quickly write out a DRAFT GOVT LETTER authorizing the creation of a new Army Regiment, the Army Special Forces Regiment. In my draft, The President was pleased in just 5 minutes and in the last paragraph he wished the SF battalions to be named as under: 1 PARACHUTE COMMANDO to 1 ARMY SPECIAL FORCES REGIMENT 9 PARACHUTE COMMANDO to 2 ARMY SPECIAL FORCES REGIMENT 10 PARACHUTE COMMANDO to 3 ARMY SPECIAL FORCES REGIMENT While naming the new units, the only thought process had been that after 1 comes 2 and then comes 3, though much later one learnt that maths, physics and chemistry have not much of a relationship outside the class rooms. The DGL was taken immediately by Sukhi Mann, as he was called by everyone, to one of the Additional Secretary in the MoD. He came back and told me to just remove the word ARMY from everywhere in the draft. The new name would be just SPECIAL FORCES REGIMENT. It took a few more months for the President to get pleased to change the names to 1 SF, 9 SF and 10 SF respectively. Though in 1998 the battalions were reverted back to the para regt. This Article was written by Col. Awadesh Kumar(retd.), 9 para SF

The Unit (9 Cdo) was moved to Udhampur. By 01 Aug 1967, the Unit was divided in virtually half to raise two light Commando battalions 9 PARA and 10 PARA. The new Unit 10 PARA moved to Rajasthan. After surviving a near disbanding, 9 stabilized and finally was turned into a PARACHUTE COMMANDO Unit by another maverick Lt Col G P Tripathi.By 1969 we had two parachute commando battalions, who proved their worth in gold during 1971 war both in the deserts of Rajasthan and the mountains of J&K. After the war there was a yet another deep analysis and not only a need was felt for up gradation but the expanding requirements necessitated the addition of a third battalion. However instead of raising a new Unit, shortsightedness led to conversion in 1978 of the second oldest infantry unit 1 PARA into 1PARACHUTE COMMANDO and thus reducing the size of the conventional parachute forces. 1 PARA too went through an upheaval but stabilized soon and started functioning on an experimental basis for roles ranging from conventional Commando tasks, touching onto strategic SF roles and also for all anti terrorist / anti hijacking roles now delegated to the Special Action Group of NSG. 1 PARA came out with flying colours in various demonstrations and exercises so much so that it built up an image of a Super Commando unit (contd.)

At he was over and Lal Bahadur Shastri no more, things got back to “NORMAL” once again and it took 9 months for issue of implementation orders for raising of the Special Force battalion. It seems there was a bid by GUARDS to have the Special Forces within their fold. However para trooping being one of the basic skills for the Special Forces, the new force was given to Parachute Regiment. Implementation orders were issued in June 1966 and on 01 July 1966, NINE PARA came up at Gwalior and raising commenced.

SPECIAL FORCES OF INDIA (A BRIEF HISTORY) By July 1965, Pakistani infiltrators inside J&K were successfully carrying out convoy ambushes, attacking isolated posts, cutting lines of communications and disrupting essential services. Our losses in terms of both men and material started climbing up on daily basis. The mounting casualty rates so deeply anguished the Western Army Commander, that during a morning Operational Briefing some time in third week of August 65, in desperation he uttered loudly “can’t we do something about this“. When no one spoke out, Major Megh Singh, a General Staff Officer posted just a week back, with reputation of a maverick and under cloud, stood up and said “sir, I have the experience of operating behind the enemy lines during the World War, permit me to select few men and allow me to cross the ceasefire line into Occupied Kashmir. I will destroy their supply bases, rear dumps and mounting bases. Soon the infiltrators will be left with no logistic support and ultimately would be rendered ineffective.” Lt General Harbaksh Singh, Vir Chakra looked at Megh Singh and then and there gave his decision “Megh, if you succeed in your mission, I promise that I will myself pip you with the rank badges of a Lt Colonel.” Rest is History Maj Megh Singh reached HQ 25 Infantry Division on 24 Aug 65. With the blessings of Major General Amreek Singh, GOC 25 Infantry Division and help of Brigadier Zora Singh, Commander 93 Infantry Brigade and Commanding Officers of 3 RAJ RIF and 3 RAJPUT (both being his old friends) he selected his men out of volunteers from these two battalions. 2/Lt Mohinder Singh, Naib Subedar Hamid Khan and 30 Kayam Khane Muslims were selected from 3 RAJ RIF and same number of men were provided by 3 RAJPUT under 2/Lt N K Mukherjee and Naib Subedar Dil Jan. Just a few days of intensive training was followed by launching of the Force on their first mission, after last light on 01 September ’65. By 03 Sep 65, the exploits of this small band had raised the morale of the entire 15 Corps covering J&K (there was no Northern Command then). The Poonch Brigade Situation Report had accorded the name of MEGHDOOT FORCE to this group of men who had dared and immortalized them. GOC 15 Corps was so impressed with the results achieved by MEGHDOOT FORCE and its effectiveness behind the enemy line that he ordered the Force to shift its area of Operations to Chamb Sector, where after launching OP GRAND SLAM Pakistan was on Top. Accordingly on 13 Sep, Major Megh Singh reported to HQ 15 Corps and had a meeting with the GOC, where he received the good news that Govt of India had agreed to the idea of a Special Forces Battalion. During a period of just 22 Days MEGHDOOT FORCE organised 7 Operations behind the enemy lines in Poonch and Chamb sectors and inflicted 600 casualties on the enemy against 10 on own side. During the battle for RAJA Post, it was attacked by two battalions 2 SIKH and 3 DOGRA. They suffered heavy casualties, whereas Nejapir was captured by Meghdoots with only one casualty. Aridhok would have required at least a battalion with full fire support, whereas Meghdoots captured it in broad daylight. Kahuta was captured with 60 men which otherwise would have required a minimum of an infantry brigade. At Thil, 35 men of Meghdoot pushed out a battalion of the enemy and thereafter beat back three of their determined assaults. Had timely reinforcement been received, map of Chamb today would have been different. On the Morning of 24 Sep65, Megh Singh had just been evacuated from Akhnoor to Udhampur, with a bullet in his thigh from one of his many escapades behind the enemy lines. In the presence of the Corps Commander, General Harbaksh Singh pinned the rank of a Lt Colonel on his Shoulders and thus the General Officer Commanding In Chief of our Western Army kept his promise.

Combat Freefall Jumpmaster sahab gopro footage bhejdo 🥺🥺

Para SF with AN/PVS 4 "starlight" weapon mounted NVG during 80s-90s. Prior to GWOT, their eqpt profile was on par with global SOF standards

Unit most likely 1st SFOD-D with elements from 75th Ranger Regt.

22 SAS C. 2016

NSG H&K PSG-1 (7.62×51mm) & Barrett M98B (8.6×70mm).

Evolution of MARCOs in Valley

Another JPC type plate carrier spotted in the same encounter

Para SF detachment for CI ops. 2022

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A Very informative writeup by a Legendary Veteran from 9 SF, Col. Awadesh Kumar. He was a company commander of Charlie Company, 9 para cdo, was a part of the infamous B.A.T.S during sri lanka and later on Commanded the battalion.