New Delhi: Starting from 1 August this year, all officers with the rank of Brigadier and above in the Indian Army will wear a common uniform. This marks a departure from the current practice where officers wear different accoutrements to signify their respective Arms and Regiments within the force.
This means that Para officers will no longer wear the maroon beret once they become a Brigadier and neither will Armoured officers wear their specific belt.
The headgear, shoulder rank badges, gorget patches, belt and shoes of senior officers of flag rank (Brigadier and above) will now be standardised and common, said sources in the defence establishment.
They added that the flag-rank officers will also no longer wear a lanyard.
The decision was taken following detailed deliberations during the Army Commanders Conference last month and extensive consultations with all stakeholders.
Explaining the rationale behind the move, the sources said that In the Indian Army, officers holding the rank of Brigadier and higher are those who have already commanded units or battalions and are mostly posted at headquarters and establishments where officers from all Arms and Services work and function together. A standard uniform will ensure a common identity for all senior-rank officers, while reflecting the true ethos of the Indian Army, the sources said.
They added that different types of uniform and accoutrements have specific association to respective Arms, Regiments and Services in the Indian Army.
This recognition with distinct identity within the Arms or Regiment or Services is essential for junior leadership and the rank and file to further strengthen camaraderie, esprit de corps and regimental ethos, which is the bedrock of soldiering, they said.
At the unit/battalion level, a distinct sense of identity reflects a strong bond among officers and men in the same regiment.
“Once an officer becomes a Brigadier, he comes into the general pool of officers. For example, an Armoured officer or someone from the Engineers could actually command an Infantry Brigade or a Division,” a source said.
The sources also said that there is no change in the uniform worn by officers of Colonel rank and below.
The Army had last year introduced a new digital print combat uniform for all its soldiers. The new uniform maintains the same colour percentage as in the previous uniform — a mix of colours and shades, including olive and earthen.
As reported by ThePrint, unlike the previous style, there is no tucking in of shirts. The trousers, too, have additional pockets keeping in mind the ease of the soldier. The material chosen for the cloth is meant to be “lighter but sturdier” and suitable for both summer and winter.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
Also read: Army to introduce new combat uniform this month, with digital disruptive patterns & more comfort