Background
After independence, the Indian Military fought four full-scale wars and performed brilliantly even under the most adverse conditions. One of the reasons for success during all wars can be attributed to the Indian Military Organisational Structure of Regional Commands. Currently Indian Military has 17 regional commands. The last regional command created was South Western Army Command in 2007.
The first CDS on assuming the office proposed restructuring of Indian Military from the existing stable regional command structure to a Theatre Command structure. To date, there is no white paper on the issue. Merely attacking the USA and China makes no professional sense.
In fact the directive issued was that Air Defence Theatre Command will be created by 30 th June, 2020, a professionally insane thought and proposal. It is four years and counting; not a single theatre command has been created. That in itself lays bare the hollowness and shallowness of the proposal.
Incidentally, CoAS the proponent of Theatre Command structure never enunciated his views. His flawed understanding of the employment of Air Power was evident when he called IAF as a support service on a national television debate.
Creation of USAF Global Strategic Air Command
On the contrary, the most modern military with a global footprint is in the process of decentralization for better command and control. The creation of USAF Global Strategic Command was under dramatic circumstances.
Way back in 2007, USAF Strategic Air Command (SAC) controlled USAF nuclear weapons, part of the TRIAD. SAC was a Theatre Command. Two disastrous incidents in 2007 and 2008 resulted in the creation of INDEPENDENT GLOBAL STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND.
In one incident LIVE NUCLEAR WARHEADS were mistakenly loaded on aircraft, primarily because of a long chain of communication in the Theatre Command structure and issue being handled by persons, who had little knowledge/clue about what action was intended but what order was being communicated to field commander. In early 2007 SAC Commander directed that a B-52H was to be launched with SIX “AIR LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILE with SIX DUMMY WARHEADS”. Ignoramuses involved in transmitting the message from Theatre Command HQs to the field commander conveniently missed the word “DUMMY”. Field Commander ordered loading of SIX AGM-129 ALCMs with LIVE W80-1 VARIABLE YIELD NUCLEAR WARHEADS.
In the second incident in 2008 FOUR Mk 12 forward section of RE-ENTRY VEHICLES were mistakenly shipped to Taiwan. These were meant to be transported to the USAF base. The message also contained shipment details to Taiwan of a different item. An ignoramus unaware of the difference between two items and different destinations merely ordered shipment to Taiwan. Thank God it was/is a friendly nation.
Follow up Action
The US Secretary of Defense ordered an investigation to establish COMMUNICATION methodology in SAC, then a Theatre Command. Findings established a long chain of communication handled by persons, who had little or no knowledge about air operations involving nukes and transportation of highly sensitive equipment like parts of re-entry vehicles.
Defence Secretary James Schlesinger read the findings and recommendations and IMMEDIATELY ORDERED CREATION OF AN INDEPENDENT AIR COMMAND, which will control all USAF nuclear assets. He told the congressional committee during the hearing that ‘TOO MUCH CENTRALISATION CAUSED SUCH GRAVE LAPSES’ and RECOMMENDED DECENTRALISATION. It was approved and AIR FORCE GLOBAL STRATEGIC COMMAND (AFGSC) came into existence on 24 th October 2008. Incidentally, AFGSC holds nearly 67% nukes of USA as of date.
AFGSC became an operational entity on 7 th August 2009 with just 900 personnel. The current strength is about 30000. The mission of AFGSC is “To develop and provide combat-ready forces for nuclear deterrence and global strike operations worldwide“
During Trump's presidency, further decentralization took place by creating a separate Space Command.
Indian Options
Our existing regional command structure has stood the test of time by winning every war fought so far. One of the primary reason/s for any change is that the existing structure has not met the objectives. Proponents of Theatre Command structures must provide an answer to an elementary question; “when, if at all, Indian Military has suffered reverses due to lack of cooperation from sister service during hot war conditions?”
If anyone has an answer place it in the public domain else ‘Three No Trumps’.
Let us look at ourselves. Ignoramuses are recommended over CENTRALISATION by creating THEATRE COMMANDS. Former CDS, blissfully unaware of operational facts about the employment of Air Power wanted an AIR DEFENCE COMMAND by 30 th June 2020. Thank God for COVID-19, which saved the Indian Military from disaster!
Post Script
I write this article for the ‘education’ of military strategists of India, both civil and military, who are proponents of the Theatre Command structure for the Indian Military.
When will Indian IGNORAMUSES learn that over CENTRALISATION of the Military will almost certainly result in unqualified disaster, The time and date of such disaster cannot be guessed.
It is now more than four years that I have been waiting patiently for substantive response/s from strategists, both military and civil, to my observations/objections towards the creation of Theatre Commands. It is the deeply imbibed trait of ‘MUTUAL INTER DEPENDENCE’ that has enabled the Indian Military to succeed under hot war conditions.
Alas! The mightiest military is adopting our military structure but ignoramuses of this great nation insist on driving the car looking at the rearview mirror measuring 6”x2” and not looking through the front windscreen measuring 60”x36”.
“May God grant us the wisdom to change the things we can and accept the status quo about things we cannot. And most importantly to know the difference."
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