Promotions in offing for JCOs

NASHIK, February 7: The Chief of the Army Staff, General Ved Prakash Malik, today said that the much-awaited Global Positioning System (GPS) was being introduced in the army to increase its striking capability and that the shortage of army officers would be met by promoting capable Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs).

Addressing a Sainik Sammelan and later talking to reporters at the School of Artillery, Deolali, General Malik said that the GPS had been bought and was being inducted in various army units. The GPS, incidentally, gives a linkup with upto 24 satellites to the user, enabling him to scan the terrain ahead of him. General Malik further said that capable JCOs would be promoted to higher ranks to overcome the shortage of officers.

He said that seniority would not be the only criterion for promotions but others things like leadership qualities, discipline and morale would be taken into consideration for such promotions.

He further pointed out that while there was a shortage of officers, (albeitat the junior level), jawans were surplus.