As officer cadets in the Indian Military Academy at Dehra Dun way back in 1965 , we have scaled the Sivalik hills and jungles many times practicing jungle warfare , raids and night operations . I still remember a very funny incident on one such occasions involving my friend Rao , a cadet belonging to the Education Stream . He was a lecturer in a college in Guntur , Andhra Pradesh , before getting selected for the Army Education Corps and did not have the necessary ” cadet acumen ” normally found in those selected through military schools etc .
We were on a night patrol exercise starting at 9 pm and were walking for almost 7 hours through inhospitable jungle terrain with one or two halts in between wearing full FSMO [ field service marching order ] with weapons and bayonets strapped to the waist belt . When we reported at the RV [rendezvous] point at 4 am to the Instructor on completion of the mission , the instructor asked for a report that all is clear and there are no injuries to any one or losses of any personal items issued for the training . At this stage , Rao found out that his bayonet is missing from the strap attached to his waist belt .
The instructor shouted at Rao and pulled him up along with the patrol leader cadet who should have checked this before leaving any location where the team rested en route . Seeing the mood of the instructor , Rao innocently suggested ” Don’t worry sir about the loss , I will pay for it !! ” . The instructor just exploded and answered ” You idiot and clown , like hell you will pay for it !! go back on your haunches along with your buddy , the patrol leader on the route you came and find the bayonet and bring it before day break ! OK , is that clear ? ”
Rao brought the bayonet by day break as ordered and we all sighed in great relief !! . I met Rao as a colonel in the Army HQ after 20 years where he was a staff officer in the Army Training Directorate and we spoke about the above incident over a cup of hot coffee with a lot of nostalgia .