Indian Army Officers Excel in Sri Lanka's Survival Course, Strengthening Defense Ties
Two Non-Commissioned Officers from the Indian Army have achieved a significant milestone by completing the demanding Survival, Escape, Evasion, and Combat Tracking Course at the Special Forces Training School in Sri Lanka. The rigorous 16-week program, conducted from February 24 to June 11, 2025, challenged Havildar Bhim Singh and Naik Lalit Thakur to demonstrate their endurance and skills in one of South Asia's toughest military courses.
Havildar Bhim Singh, who is affiliated with the Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School in Vairengte, Mizoram, earned the distinction of Best Foreign Student. This honor emphasizes both the high standards of training in the Indian Army and the exceptional capabilities of its soldiers. The course included tasks such as surviving in jungle conditions without food or water, enduring 20-hour exercises at sea, and engaging in combat tracking through difficult terrain.
The training exercises are structured to enhance psychological resilience and physical adaptability, in line with international military training standards. A study published in 2019 in the Journal of Applied Physiology underscores the long-term resilience benefits gained from such extreme condition training.
This accomplishment highlights not only the prowess of Indian troops but also the strengthening defense relations between India and Sri Lanka. Previously strained by the historical context of the 1987-1990 Indian Peace Keeping Force mission, bilateral military ties have evolved into strategic cooperation. This development gains additional importance with China's increasing influence in the Indian Ocean Region, a point emphasized in a 2024 report by the RAND Corporation.
The success of Havildar Singh and Naik Thakur is a source of pride for the Indian Army and reinforces the importance of regional collaboration for security in South Asia.
