Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: To honour junior commissioned officers (JCOs) with a record of long and distinguished military service, the Central govt has approved ahead of Republic Day the conferment of honorary commissioned ranks on 2,241 JCOs of the Indian Army.At least 437 JCOs have been elevated to the rank of honorary captain, while 1,804 JCOs have been conferred the rank of honorary lieutenant, recognising their decades of selfless military service, according to an official notification.Among those elevated to the rank of honorary captain is Subedar Major and honorary Lieutenant Sanjay Kumar, a Param Vir Chakra recipient, whose name resonates far beyond military circles. Kumar is a legendary Army officer (13 JAK Rifles) who was awarded India’s highest gallantry honour for his heroics in the 1999 Kargil War. On July 4, 1999, he single-handedly captured Flat Top, Point 4875, by neutralising enemy machine-gun posts despite severe injuries.Honorary ranks in the Indian Army are conferred on JCOs with impeccable service records who have displayed professional excellence and sterling leadership qualities at unit level. While these ranks — honorary lieutenant and honorary captain— do not alter command structures, they carry deep symbolic value within the armed forces. The number of those conferred the honour this year highlights the oft-neglected contributions of Subedars and Subedar Majors, who form the bedrock of the Army’s functioning. They train young soldiers, preserve regimental traditions, enforce discipline and provide continuity in some of the most challenging operational environments in the world.In addition to the honour and protocol status, these ranks can result in a modest enhancement in pensionary benefits, depending on the applicable rules, an aspect that assumes importance for personnel retiring earlier than most govt employees. The honorary ranks are a formal acknowledgement by the nation that exceptional service rendered within a shorter career deserves to be recognised and respected.
