CIJWS becomes a preferred training destination for army personnel

Vairengte, May 1 (UNI) The Counter Insurgency Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) deep inside the sub-tropical jungles in Mizoram has become the most preferred training destination of army personnel of developed countries like the United States, the UK, Russia, France and Israel.

The unique warfare school has trained about three lakh defence personnel from across the globe since its inception in May 1, 1970 when Col. Mathew Thomas shifted an adhoc army school from Shillong to Mizoram, CIJWS spokesperson Col. Bawa told UNI here today on its 37th Raising Day.

"CIJWS is the first-of-its-kind centre in the world teaching military personnel how to tackle terrorism in non-conventional ways", he said.

Countries like Isreal and UK would be sending their troops once again next month for training, he said.

The school imparted several techniques of counter insurgency in most non-conventional ways to the visiting countries and the western counterparts.

One of the major achievements of this institute was the conversion of an abandoned area into a model training village, Col. Bawa said.

It has more than I5 indoor and outdoor firing ranges and various militants hideouts and practice training programmes and above all experienced training staff, he said.

''The two-week training would test the skills of the trainees.

Once they pass out of CIJWS they would be confident of handling any counter-insurgency operation,'' Col. Bawa added.

The CIJWS has now formulated "Combating today's war", a compendium of detailed and comprehensive strategies to combat terrorism, Col. Bawa said adding that the end product was the result of long research work.

"This book has been carefully designed to provide majority of the answers to the questions frequently asked (FAQ) by security personnel. This book will serve as an invaluable guide for all security forces engaged in counter insurgency operations at various levels across the globe", he said.

Col. Bawa said apart from the anti-terrorist training, CIJWS has decided to set up a museum with records of cultural heritage of all NE states, the local soldiers and thousands of army troops, who came here to get trained from different countries.

"We also have plans to extend the training area by 100 hectares and we are awaiting for the sanction order from the Mizoram government", he said.

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