Observation and Learnings from Indian Army

Recently, I visited REACHA’s Social Impact Projects that we are implementing in collaboration with Indian Army in Kashmir — Uri, Boniyar, Kupwara and Baramulla. These are areas near the border line in North Kashmir Terrain — difficult and tough terrains and where a lot of work needs to be done to positively strengthen the communities, and enable them to get skilled and trained so that they can stand on their own feet and also are in the position to contribute to the economy of Kashmir and India.

Some key learnings and observations are as follows —

1. Time management — being on time always, always listening to their seniors.

2. ⁠Fitness — Waking up early and going to the gym and working out before start of day.

3. ⁠Relaxation — pulling each others leg and very light hearted, stress release zone — primarly through heavy workouts

4. ⁠Patience, Persistence, lots of will power and mental toughness, cant be taking soft options, be very firm..

5. ⁠Community engagement is very important, technical things that we are delivering to the community in collaboration with them

6. ⁠Strengthening the borders through Northern Tourism

7. ⁠Loading the day, backed to back is very important. Maximum impact and output should be generated through the day.

8. ⁠If you find ways excuses, alternative ways to do a problem / task in hand .. then that excuse comes and bite you and put you in pressure

9. Respect all , suspect all

10. Things that are banned to say within the unit and campus by an official — abhi me chutti se aaya, mai naya hu yahan, mujhe abhi kuch din hue hai join kiyehue hai, yeh mujhe nahi patah yeh kisi aur ko assigned hai..

11. ⁠Armys mandate is to kill and eleminate the militant

12. ⁠Kinetic is major, Social Impact projects under Non-Kinetic are equally important for more transformation

13. ⁠Very well dressed , proper , neat clean , and filled with pride for the work that they are doing.

14. Complete ownership