New Delhi: Starting month end, former Indian cricket captain M.S. Dhoni will be in Kashmir as part of the Territorial Army (TA) during which he will undertake patrolling duty and other responsibilities for two weeks.
Dhoni, who is now a Lieutenant Colonel (Honorary), will be with the 106 TA Battalion (Para) from 31 July to 15 August. The unit is in the Kashmir Valley as part of the Victor Force.
“As requested by the officer and approved by Army Headquarters, Dhoni will be taking on the duties of patrolling, guard and post duty and will be staying with the troops,” the Army said in a statement.
Dhoni had earlier announced his unavailability to the BCCI for the Indian team’s tour to the West Indies, informing about his training with the Army. Even though he is an honorary officer, he wanted to serve the mandatory two months in a year like other recruits.
With the Indian Army wanting to attract youngsters into the force and Dhoni being seen as a youth icon, the latter was given the honorary rank of a Lieutenant Colonel in 2011.
The Army has only two TA battalions for its Parachute regiment.
Dhoni’s battalion, which is headquartered in Bengaluru, is currently posted in the Valley where its personnel are carrying out static duty of guarding installations.
Dhoni underwent training with the Special Forces in Agra in 2015 and performed five jumps to qualify as a paratrooper. He had also undergone training to fire weapons, among other activities.
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What is Territorial Army
The TA is a part of the regular Army but meant only for people who are already in mainstay civilian professions. Gainful employment or self-employment in a civil profession is a prerequisite for joining the TA.
Current role of TA is to relieve the regular Army from static duties and assist civil administration in dealing with natural calamities as well as maintenance of essential services. They aid in situations when people’s lives are affected or the country’s security is threatened in order to provide units for the regular Army.
Based on requests and approval of the Commanding Officers in respective units, TA soldiers can also get attached to regular Army units and take part in operations.
The TA units were actively involved in 1962, 1965 and 1971 operations of the Army. The ‘terriers’, as they are called, have also taken part in OP Pawan in Sri Lanka, OP Rakshak in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, OP Rhino and OP Bajrang in the Northeast.
The officers and men of the TA have been decorated for their gallantry and distinguished services. So far, they have earned five Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, five Vir Chakra, four Shourya Chakra, one Yudh Seva Medal, 72 Sena Medal, 26 Vishist Seva Medal, 16 Mention-in-Dispatches and 252 Chief of Army Staff Commendation Cards.
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