Draft:10 Guards The Terrific Ten

Brief History of The Unit

(a) Details of Raising. 10 GUARDS The Terrific Ten was raised as an Inf Bn on 01 Jan 1965 at Kota (Rajasthan). The bn comprises of pers from the North Zone viz, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Western UP.

(b) Participation in Ops.

(i) OP ABLAZE/OP RIDDLE (1965-69). In Jun 1965, immediately after raising the Bn was dply in Fazilka for ‘OP ABLAZE’ and later, moved to Sikkim and stayed there upto 29 Jun 69 dply in ‘OP RIDDLE’.

(ii) OP CACTUS LILY (1971). The bn was given the offensive task to adv across Ravi River on to Nainakot. 10 GUARDS succeeded in capturing Nainakot (West of Malakpur), Fatehpur Afghana and Bisso Buzurg in Shakargarh Sector. The bn was decorated with one VrC and two SC. After the war, a war memorial was constr at Lasian vill across Ravi R in memory of those killed in action, which is being m`aint till date as ‘Nainakot Memorial’

(iii) OP GARAM HAWA (IS Duties - ASSAM) (1980-83). The bn was deployed for IS duties in Assam under 21 Inf Div, later Bn moved to Jung (Arunachal Pradesh) for op task and returned to Thakurbari in Nov 82.

(iv) OP BLUE STAR (1984). On 28 May 84, the unit, loc in Jalandhar was ordered to mov for flushing out armed terrorists in ‘OP BLUE STAR’. The unit was decorated with one AC, two KC, eight SC and three SM.

(v) OP WOOD ROSE (1984). Bn was dply in ‘OP WOOD ROSE’ involving sealing of the border with Pak. It was deployed along the IB from 24 Jun to 07 Jul 84 and later in various dists of Punjab for IS duties till Feb 85, after which it mov back to Jalandhar.

(vi) OP HORNET (1985 – 87). In Nov 85, the unit came under 9 (I) Mtn Bde Gp on the UP - Tibet Border. It took over op resp for def of Malari sect, During this tenure, two offrs and one JCO were awarded the COAS Commendation Card.

(vii) OP MARUSTHAL/OP RAKSHAK-I(1990-95). The bn after conversion to mech role, moved to Suratgarh under 6 (I) Armd Bde. During this five yr tenure the bn participated in ‘OP RAKSHAK’ duties and assisted in peaceful conduct of elections in Punjab.

(viii) OP RAKSHAK(1999). In Mar 99, the bn was dply for CI Ops in South Kashmir at Pulwama. In Jun 99, the bn was ordered to revert to mech role for ‘OP VIJAY’.

(ix) OP VIJAY(1999-2000). During ‘OP VIJAY’ the unit was dply in the Western Sector under 58 Armd Bde.

(x) OP RAKSHAK (2000-2001). On termination of ‘OP VIJAY’ the bn was re-inducted for ‘OP RAKSHAK’ (J&K) on 31 Jan 2000 and remained dply till 20 Mar 2001.

(xi) OP PARAKRAM (2001-2002). In ‘OP PARAKRAM’, the bn was deployed in Western Theatre under HQ 58 Armd Bde.

(xii) OP ‘KOSHI PRAHAR’ 31 Aug to 26 Sep 2008. The Bn was nominated for flood relief in Ex ‘KOSHI PRAHAR’. Two jawans of the unit were awarded Army Cdr’s Commendation Card for their act of saving lives of eight drowning persons and selfless service during the Op.

Time Travel

(a) 10 GUARDS was raised as an infantry battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel KS Mani on 01 Jan 1965 at Kota (Rajasthan). The battalion comprises of personnel from the North Zone viz, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Western UP. It is the ‘FIRST’ Battalion of the Brigade of The Guards to convert into the Mechanised Infantry role.

(b) During 1971 Indo-Pak War the battalion captured considerable enemy territory in the Shakargarh sector. The bravery of the officers and men was rewarded with one Vir Chakra and two Shaurya Chakras.

(c) In Nov 1973, the battalion moved to Poonch (J&K) where it was deployed along the Line of Control where it stayed for the next three years. In Nov 1976, the unit moved to Chandimandir where it had a stable tenure interspersed occasionally with training in the Deserts of Rajasthan.

(d) In Feb 1980, the unit moved to Thakurbari (Assam) to undertake internal security duties in which two unit personnel were awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry. In Apr 1982, the battalion moved to the heights of Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh) and was engaged in the task of construction of defences along Sino-Indian frontier.

(e) In Mar 1983, the battalion moved to Jalandhar. In Jun 1984, the battalion participated in Op BLUE STAR. Under the command of Lt Col Israr R Khan, the terrifics went inside the holy temple and accomplished the delicate task in an exceptional manner for which the battalion was awarded one Ashoka Chakra, two Kirti Chakras, eight Shaurya Chakras and three Sena Medals.

(f) In Nov 1985, the battalion came under 9 (I) Mtn Bde Group on the Indo - Tibet Border. It took over operational responsibility for defence of Malari sect which included the disputed Barahoti plains and the 16000-19000 feet high passes of Niti, Tunjun La, Marhi La, Shalshal La and Kungribangri La.

(g) Conversion of Unit . In Jun 1987 the battalion moved to Babina for conversion. The Tenth was officially converted into mechanised role on 28 Oct 1988. The battalion was the ‘First’ Guards battalion to be converted into Mechanised Infantry role.

(h) In Aug 1995, the battalion came under the umbrella of 58 Armd Bde at Roorkee where it spent its initial few yrs in routine ex/training. From Mar 1999 onwards, the battalion moved to Pulwama in J&K for CI Ops.

(j) In Mar 1999, the battalion was deployed in CI Ops (J&K) at Pulwama, under HQ 11 Sector RR/ ’V’ Force and for Op VIJAY, the battalion was ordered to revert to mechanised role in the Western Sector under 58 Armd Bde.

(k) In Jan 2003, the battalion moved to Beas under 55 (I) Mech Bde. During its three years tenure, the battalion participated and excelled in Corps level exercises and sports.

(l) In Feb 2006, the unit moved under the aegis of 43 Armd Bde, 1 Armd Div where it participated in one of the biggest ex, Ex SANGHE SHAKTI.

(m) UN Msn. In Mar 2009 the battalion was selected for United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS). It was a ‘Five Pt’ dply spread over 400kms with HQs at ‘Malakal’, South Sudan. The battalion remained deployed in UNMIS till Nov 2010. The battalion has since continued to display outstanding results in exercises, courses and sports.

(n) The battalion is presently located at Pathankot as part of 2 (I) Armd Bde and scheduled to move to Kapurthala in July 2016 under ‘Double Victory’ Brigade. The unit is being commanded by Colonel Vinod Shivran who is the 21th Commanding Officer of the battalion.

(o) Golden Jubilee Celebration. The unit celebrated its Golden Jubilee from 02-05 Oct 2015.

(p) Col of the Regt. Lt Gen Surinder Singh, AVSM, VSM, GOC 33 Corps took over as ‘Colonel’ wef 01 Jan 2016.

(q) Unit Citation. The unit recd the GOC-in-C Western Comd Unit Citation for the yr 2015-16 on the occasion of Army Day 2016.

2. Participation in Ops.

(a) Op RIDDLE (Indo - Pak War 1965). A fledgling unit, the battalion was moved to Fazilka sector for Op Ablaze in Jun 1965 and was deployed on the SOWANA DCB to restore the situation, where the enemy had ingressed with armour and demolished the ‘Beriwala’ bridge. Accomplishing the task in this highly sensitive sector, the battalion moved to Rehnok in Sikkim in the second week of August 1965 for Op Riddle and remained deployed there till Jun 1969.

(b) Op CACTUS LILY (Indo-Pak War 1971). In the 1971 Indo-Pak War, the battalion captured considerable enemy territory in the Shakargarh sector. The bravery of the officers and men was rewarded with one Vir Chakra and two Shaurya Chakras. The battalion moved to Dhana (Sagar) in Dec 1971 and was given the responsibility of guarding the PsW camp.

(c) Op BLUE STAR. In June 1984, the battalion was given the extremely sensitive task of flushing out terrorists from the Golden Temple during Op BLUE STAR. Under the able command of Lt Col Israr R Khan the then CO, the tps assaulted barefeet with prayer on their lips and compassion in their hearts and accomplished the delicate task in an outstanding manner. The battalion was awarded one Ashoka Chakra, two Kirti Chakras, eight Shaurya Chakras and three Sena Medals in this daunting operation.

(d) Op RAKSHAK. The bn, after conversion mov under 6 (I) Armd Bde at Suratgarh. During this tenure, the bn participated in ‘Op RAKSHAK’ duties and assisted in peaceful holding of elections in Punjab.

(e) Op VIJAY. In Jun 1999, the battalion was deployed in Op VIJAY in the Western Sector under 58 Armd Bde till the end.

(f) Op RAKSHAK. On termination of Op VIJAY, the battalion was inducted for Op RAKSHAK (J&K) once again in Jan 2000 and placed under HQ 12 Sector RR/ ‘V’ Force and subsequently under HQ 15 Corps Arty Bde/ 15 Corps in Pulwama district (Khreuh) and operated till Mar 2001. The battalion de-inducted in Mar 2001 to Roorkee and again came under comd 58 Armd Bde.

(g) Op PARAKRAM. In Dec 2001, the battalion was deployed for Op PARAKRAM (Western Theatre) under 58 Armd Bde till Dec 2002.

(h) Op DHANGU SURAKSHA. From 02-05 Jan 16, the Bn participated in Op DHANGU SURAKSHA at Air Force Base, Pathankot wherein BMPs were emp to neutralize the holed up trts inside the bldg. This was the first time in the history of IA when BMPs were emp in BUA for CT ops.

3. Gallantry Awards/Distinguished Service. Ser No Awards No of Awardees Remarks (a) AC 01 (b) PVSM 01 (c) KC 02 (d) AVSM 01 (e) VrC 01 (f) SC 11 (g) YSM 01 (h) SM 12 (j) VSM 04 (k) M-in-D 03 (l) COAS Commendation Card 27 (m) VCOAS Commendation Card 05 (n) GOC-in-C Commendation Card 103 (o) CISC CC 05 (p) UNMIS Force Cdr CC 02 (q) DG NSG CC 02 (r) CINCAN CC 02

Total 183

Raising/Re-organisation/Conversion.

Ser Status (Inf/Mech/ATGM/R& SP) Dt of Raising/Reorg/ conversion Eqpt

(a) Inf 01 Jan 1965 (Kota) Inf (b) Mech Inf 19 Jun 1987 (Babina) ICV BMP – 1 & 2. 3. Gallantry Awards.

Ser No Awards Indo-Pak War 1971 OP BLUE STAR OP RAKSHAK Any Other Total

(a) AC - 01 - - 01 (b) KC - 02 - - 02 (c) VrC 01 - - - 01 (d) SC 02 08 01 - 11 (e) SM - 03 06 03 12 (f) M-in-D - - 02 - 02 (g) COAS Commendation Card - - 10 04 14

Total 03 14 19 07 43