Editor's Note
This timely piece by Brig Sarvesh Dangwal is in context with the Youthful Age Profile criteria proposed in the Agnipath Scheme that aims to ultimately ( in long run ) lower the average age Profile of soldiers from existing 32 yrs to 26 yrs . This point ( criteria) has been technically analysed by the author and its shortcomings highlighted. The author has vast experience and expertise in the field of physical training in the Army and was deeply and intricately involved in the 5 yrs review of PT for Army, thirty years back ( 1986- 91) and instrumental in the approval of the recommendations of the Review Committee headed by Brig GS Sandhu, then Comdt AIPT (ASPT) ,Pune.
The recommendations were approved by the Army and implemented in Feb 1992 and incorporated as new PT System and Tests (BPET & PPT) and remain unchanged till date (after 3 decades).
Brigadier Dangwal has written to the COAS, the AG and the DCOAS (IS&C) on the subject in his letter dated 22 Jun 2022. It is not for criticising Agnipath, but instead to help him seize the inputs provided therein and help arm him about facts regarding a Youthful profile of our soldiers. The manner in which this has been bandied about by the AS, DMA demands a correction of the false perception generated by such a statement and its reiteration again and again. It is an attempt to fire hose an idea to make it seem real and truthful. And which it is not. If the in service APTC has not armed the senior military leadership about the only credible study and on ground trials / experiment carried out from 1986 to 1991, on recasting the physical evaluation tests for soldiers and fixing standards for different age groups, wherein the distinction between chronological and biological age became amply evident on the basis of performance, then it is a Duty which he says he ought to perform by writing to the COAS and the PSOs. His commitment towards the truth far out reaches and outweighs his desire to be silent on the subject and allow a false narrative to remain in currency.
