Veterans Attending Training Institutes, Cross-skilling Are Army's Rightsizing Strategy

Bringing in veterans with specific expertise for its training institutions on a contract basis, cross-skilling technical trades, and outsourcing several services at its static units are all part of the Army's planned manpower optimisation exercise aimed at sharpening its tooth-to-tail ratio (the number of military personnel it takes to supply and support a combat soldier).

According to a defence official, the exercise, which will be carried out in phases over the next five years, will involve the chopping of the “tail” element of every arm of the force, not just the supporting arms and services.

According to the official, work on the planned reform is already underway, and each arm and service of the force has been tasked with preparing and submitting plans detailing their rightsizing plans. Based on the inputs and the current manpower shortage in the 12.8-lakh-strong Army, a final decision will be made.

With recruitment halted for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the estimated shortfall is around 1.25 lakh soldiers.

The 40,000 vacancies released last year under the government's Agnipath scheme to recruit Agniveers will not be enough to match the annual retirement rate of approximately 60,000 soldiers.

According to defence sources, the Army Postal Corps, animal transport units, and the Remount and Veterinary Corps will all be reduced in size.

According to another official, the Army's counter-insurgency force, the Rashtriya Rifles (RR), may be resized by reducing up to two companies from each battalion. Even though the drawdown plan has not been finalised, it is being discussed whether one force headquarters and a few RR sector headquarters can be reduced.

Officials said that the workforce reduction would take effect once the recruitment for these positions is halted. There are also plans to reinvest some of this manpower in newer structures, such as drone units.

Last month, Army Chief General Manoj Pande said that the Army is considering closing or reorganising several legacy institutions and establishments and outsourcing some non-core functions.