PUNE: A batch of 19 Recruits Religious Teachers (RRTs) were commissioned as Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) on May 4, after a passing out parade held at Institute of National Integration (INI), located on the campus of College of Military Engineering (CME), Dapodi.
In a press release, the INI stated, “The RTs passing out from INI were considered optimally ready to perform assigned duties of ‘Dharam Yodha’ and also shoulder additional responsibilities of a psychological counsellor and mental health mentor in times of stress-related environmental dynamics, across varied and harsh terrains along the northern and eastern borders.”
“The RTs must not get categorised as mere ‘Men of Rituals’ but are indeed a force multiplier in all combat and combat supporting units, since they are now being additionally trained and equipped to perform multitasks to include mitigation of lifestyle diseases via conduct of rejuvenation camp, management of non-fatal battle/physical casualty, welfare of next of kins of fatal casualty for financial terminal benefits, besides ecology preservation,” it stated
Brigadier Samir Salunke, Commandant of INI, reviewed the parade and awarded General Officer Commanding in Chief, Army Training Command and INI Commandant’s Gold and Silver Medals to Naib Subedar (RT), Arvind Sharma and Naib Subedar (RT), Yogesh Dubey respectively, who distinguished themselves in varied facets of the 11 weeks of intense training.
The commandant congratulated the commissioned JCOs and their parents in attendance, for successful completion of the gruelling pre-commissioning training and incorporating subjects related to national integration, behaviour and social science including spiritualism, yoga, psychological counselling and stress management.
The commandant further reiterated that these RTs indeed play a prominent role towards building up of morale, motivation amongst troops and their families, to serve as a catalyst to ensure unit’s cohesion, thus contributing to battle winning ethos prevailing in units.
“INI as a premier and unique training institution established in 1984, remains committed in its resolve to serve as ‘Nodal Centre for Behaviour and Social Science’, while wholly contributing towards its primary mandate of nation-building through national integration,” the release further stated.
