Undeterred by the red threat, OTA cadets undergo out door training in remote areas

GAYA: Undeterred by the very real naxal threat, nearly 350 cadets (both Technical Entry Scheme trainees and in service entrants) receiving basic military training at the prestigious Officers Training Academy, Gaya, one of the three institutions of its kind, undergo rigorous out door training including the physically taxing long night heavy baggage walk in difficult and unknown terrain like hills and other natural obstacles located in remote areas of the naxal infected district.
Asked about the naxal threat and its impact on the out door training programme of the army officer aspirants who include foreign cadets, Lt Gen Rakesh Sharma, Commandant of the OTA, Gaya said that though the threat was real, it did not, in any way hamper the rigorous out door training schedule. The out door training areas are located in the red corridor implying considerable naxal presence.
While maintaining that the training schedule and quality remains unaffected by the naxal threat, Lt Gen Sharma said that 'we just have to put extra effort by providing additional security to insulate the trainees and that puts additional pressure on our resources, material as well as manpower resources'. On the positive side, this kind of training makes the trainees more sturdy and combat worthy, Lt Gen Sharma added.
On the point of drop outs due to the rigours of basic military training, Lt Gen Sharma said that in the last four years the situation has improved. In any case it was, never very bad. At the worst, in the initial stages of the four years old Academy, the drop out rate called 'Withdrawal' in the army parlance was just 2 pc and now it was only about 0.5 pc, said Lt Gen Sharma.
Lt Gen Sharma also said that more and more talent from Bihar was gravitating towards the Academy. In the Technical Entry Scheme, where plus two pass outs with high scores in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics are inducted, the participation of Bihar has improved.
In the beginning Bihar share was just 2 pc. Now it was 7 pc. Lt Gen Sharma hoped that in due course of time, the percentage of trainees from Bihar may be as high as 25. The OTA went for quality and there was no dearth of talent in Bihar. All that was required was the decimation of information and awareness creation, said the senior army officer.
Asked about the planned strength of the Academy, Lt Gen Rakesh Sharma said that it was 750. At present infrastructure for only about 400 trainees was available and the Academy will realise its full potential in the next 5-7 years.
OTA, Gaya was established in 2011 and the first batch of full fledged army officers will formally be inducted into the army at the Passing Out programme scheduled for 12-13 June'2015.