Preparations for defence training and professional development courses, security of non-sensitive military locations, repair and recovery of stores and equipment, and other facility management services are among the various essential responsibilities being outsourced by the Army at present, officials told The Indian Express. While these tasks are essential in the routine functioning of the Army, they are being outsourced as part of a manpower optimisation plan in the Army, which aims to sharpen the operational edge of the force. Some of these practices, which are being implemented by various commands, have been identified as best practices. The Army has asked other commands to replicate them in a similar manner. According to sources, a few veterans are being taken onboard on contract as instructors for the conduct of preparatory courses for career exams, and this practice may be extended to Army training establishments as well. Language experts are also being outsourced to train Army personnel in various foreign languages. The Indian Express had reported earlier that the Territorial Army (TA) has recruited Chinese language interpreters for border personnel meetings and cyber security experts to support the Army. Facility management services, which are being outsourced, include food and catering services at military hospitals and hospital waste management services. Certain medical consultancy services such as psychologists and other specialists as well as paramedical staff such as physiotherapists, speech therapists among others are being hired where needed. Other conservancy services in military stations, manpower and vehicles for cargo handling and transportation and relocation of stores and office assistance are being outsourced wherever required. No core function, however, will be outsourced and any decision on outsourcing of any new services will have to be first approved by the Vice Chief of the Army. The Indian Express had earlier reported that the exercise is aimed at sharpening the tooth-to-tail ratio of the force, scheduled for implementation in the next five years in phases, will see the chopping of the “tail” element of every arm of the force, not only the supporting arms and services. The decision on rightsizing the Army is based on the inputs received from all arms and services and taking into account the existing shortage of manpower in the 12.8-lakh Army.
