HANUMANTHAPURAM (CHENGALPATTU): First, the paratroopers jumped from 8,000 feet and then, a nearby mountain was pounded by mortars and guns of the Bihar regiment as 700 Officers Training Academy cadets were exposed to a real time warfare scenario.“We wanted to motivate our cadets and expose them to a real-time warfare scenario where they can gauge the effect the weapons have on the enemies,” said Maj Gen U M Rajavelu, Commandant of Officers Training Academy.And the exposure had all the ingredients, from drama in high air to firing by medium and light machine guns, INSAS rifle as well as rocket launchers and 51 mm mortars, 81 mm mortars and anti-tank mines.The event began with 21 paratroopers, eight from Indian Air Force’s renowned Akash Ganga sky diving team and 13 from Army Parachute Brigade, jumped from AN 32 aircraft at an altitude of 8,000 feet.Group captain Arun Marwah from Aakash Ganga sky diving team told Express that they were falling at 200 feet per second at a speed of 120 mile per hour and only while they reached 3,000 feet they used their parachutes. The diving team displayed the flag formation leaving the audience spellbound. Maj Gen Rajavelu said para jumps and para trooping form part of special operations, which have come to characterise a host of counter-insurgency operations. “The feat will inspire the young cadets,” he added.And then the guns boomed as army spokesperson provided information on various kinds of guns used. Crouched on the floor, the jawans of 16 Bihar regiment of Bangalore, displayed the firepower of the army. First, it was the INSAS rifle, then the medium and machine gun followed by rocket launchers and mortars.“The aim of this demonstration was to inculcate the spirit of adventure among the cadets of OTA who are slated to join the officer cadre of the Indian army,” said Rajavelu.
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