I had already learnt how to do a parade in defence. Now it was the time to do some `live` work.
I was in a Battle field Range where we were to do live firing practice. We had our live rifles and were issued with twenty rounds each. Our Ground training Instructors were on there job with utmost care as we all were just a novice as a firer.
We all listened to the instructions carefully like ``We needed to put the muzzle of the rifle towards the dummy target in any case, in case of any problem while firing we were just to raise our left hand.
It was one day before the deepavali. Whole country would be celebrating the festival but I was to remain at the training centre.
Never mind, I consoled saying to myself, ``Let me celebrate this Deepavali with live rounds one day before itself ``
The command was given ``Fire..........................
I hit the first bullet itself to the `Bull` and was appreciated. By the time twenty rounds were over, all were sent to the `dummy target` to bring our target sheets. There were ten firers and I was found the most accurate as all twenty rounds were hit inside the first circle.
Those, whose all the rounds were not found on the target were awarded with `rifle over the head` punishment !!!
Now we were coming back to our base. But I felt that I was not able to listen properly to my friends. The reason was the huge sound of bullets for many hours at the Range Firing practice. This status persisted for 48 hours with diminishing effect.
This practice filled my heart with a lot of confidence and the real taste of a soldier.
Even after putting many years of serving with the IAF, I have been regular in practicing with live rounds practice. My arms include Pistals, Light Machine Guns and other arms.
That`s why there is a popular saying in our Armed Forces.. `` The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war``.
I assure my countrymen that our country is in safe hands and we can counter and type of aggression from any enemy.
Jai Hind.
