Hyderabad: Training for the first batch of Agniveers is currently underway in full force at the Hyderabad Artillery Centre, where 2,265 personnel, all men, are being trained. Women, meanwhile, are being trained under the scheme in select centres across the country.
Brigadier Rajiv Chauhan, Commandant, Artillery Centre of Hyderabad, said that another batch of 3,300 Agniveers will report mid-February and commence training from March 1.
The first batch, which commenced training on January 2, will undergo the exercise for 31 weeks. “There is a broad division in the training as the Agniveers will initially undergo basic military training for the first 10 weeks followed by advanced training for 21 weeks,” said Lt Col Amar Bhaskar.
In the first 10-week phase, candidates will learn basic military skills, and undergo weapon training that will assess their ability to handle a weapon and fire at the target, followed by personality development training on how to carry oneself.
In advanced training, Agniveers will be split into various sectors, like the communication team, which will learn how to use radio sets, and technicalities of various equipment and fire an artillery weapon under different weather conditions. Other groups, like the gunners, will learn how to set up guns, load ammunition and fire them, while few will also be trained on moving equipment and manpower, based on skills.
Currently, weapon handling and firing are being taught on a computer-based system, following which Agniveers will be allowed to fire real weapons after the sixth week. They are being trained on standard-issue INSAS rifles and will fire artillery guns after 10 weeks.
Ayush Pandey, 18, from Madhya Pradesh, who is undergoing training, said he felt that the Artillery Centre was his second home but also missed his family. “All our needs are taken care of here and we are trained for everything right from how to make our bed. We are informed about our schedule a day before. We are allowed to talk to our family every Sunday. We get to watch movies and our hobbies are considered as well.”
