Recruit Training Group
1. Recruit Training Group (RTG) was raised on 01 Nov 2011. Its mandate is to exercise control over four training regiments viz Basic Training Regiment, Driving & Maintenance Regiment, Armament & Electronics Regiment and Automotive Regiment following the directives promulgated by Head Quarter Armoured Corps Centre & School. RTG ensures that scientific, wholesome and focused training is imparted transforming a greenhorn recruit into a fully trained Sowar, proficient in military & technical skills required of him to be an effective part of the fighting crew of a tank in an Armoured Regiment.
2. The Recruit Training Group has the four training establishment under it :-
(a) BT Regt
(b) D&M Regt
(c) AUTO Regt
(d) A & E Regt
3. BASIC TRAINING REGIMENT. The recorded history of the Basic Training Regiment, ACC&S dates back to the days of Indian Independence, when the Indian Armoured Corps (IAC) had the following Training Establishments (as on 15 Aug 1947):-
(a) IAC Recruit Training Regiment (IACRTR) - Lucknow.
(b) IAC Trade Training Centre - Babina.
(c) Armoured Corps School (ACS) - Ahmednagar.
(d) IAC Centre & Dep and Records - Lucknow.
4. On partition, it was decided to move all training establishments to Ahmednagar and place them under command of ACC&S. Mov ex Babina & Lucknow began in Dec 1947 and was completed by Feb 1948.
5. ACC&S came into being on 01 Jun 48 under command of Brig WB Aspinnal. Initial Est comprised of a Recruit Training Regiment (RTR) with two Squadrons; RHQ with one squadron was located at Minto Lines (now Basic Training Regiment) with role to impart `Basic Military Training’ to AC Recruits. The other Squadron was located in Sandhurst Lines, which trained recruits in Driving & Maintenance of 'B' vehicles. These establishments were known as RTR 'A' & RTR 'B' respectively. The first Indian CO was Lt Col Pritam Singh (8 CAV) who commanded the Regt from Nov 1948 to Dec 1950.
6. In Jun 1970, RTR 'A' came to be known as the ‘Basic Training Regiment’.
7. DRIVING AND MAINTENANCE REGIMENT. The Driving and maintenance Regiment (DMR) traces its genesis back to the trade training centers at Ferozepur and Babina. After shifting to Ahmednagar in 1949, together these formed the recruit training regiment.
8. This regiment consisted of two squadrons of which one squadron with the regimental headquarters was located at Minto lines (on the Aurangabad highway), while the second squadron was located in sand Hurst lines (near the military hospital). These establishments were known as RTR ‘A’ and RTR ‘B’ and were responsible for basic military training and driving and maintenance training (‘B’ vehicles) respectively.
9. In 1970, the Driving and Maintenance Squadron (RTR ‘B’) and Vehicle Squadron were clubbed together and formed the Driving and Maintenance Regiment. The first commanding officer was Lt Col IJS Gill, 20 lancers, who commanded the regiment from Jun 1970 to Mar 1972.
10. This regiment fulfills the role of enabling recruits of the Armoured Corps to attain the standards of DMT CL III. The aim of the regiment is to train recruits to be physically fit, mentally robust, with a good military bearing and well versed in the driving and maintenance of a 7.5 ton ALS and 2.5 ton Tata vehicles.
11. AUTOMOTIVE REGIMENT. The Automotive Regiment traces its history to the erstwhile “Driving & Maint Regt” formed in 1951, Lt Col Kamla Nand of Skinner’s Horse had the distinction of being in command during these formative years. In 1969, the Regt was re-named as the “Technical Training Regiment” under Lt Col N Desai of 3 CAV. It took its present form as the ‘Automotive Regt’ in Aug 1979. The first CO of the Regiment was Lt Col HS Sandhu of 2nd Lancers, who commanded the Regiment from Aug 1979 to Jun 1981. The buildings that form part of the Automotive Regiment’s offices and barracks are the oldest in the cantonment, some of which date back to 1870-72. The first simulators introduced in Armoured Corps Centre & School were installed in the Automotive Regiment in 1977, since then, the training is based on modern training equipment including tank driving simulators.
12. The Automotive Regiment is responsible for imparting driving and technical training to develop the recruits into effective tank drivers of the Corps. The Regiment holds a large fleet of ‘A’ vehicles in the Armoured Corps Centre & School and tasked to contribute a major chunk of equipment during mobilisation for operational tasks.
13. ARMAMENT & ELECTRONIC REGIMENT. Armament Group was established to look after the Gunnery aspects of training, which was later converted into Armament and Signal Regiment in May 51. In addition to Gunnery, Radio Operators training also became the responsibility of this Regt.
14. In Aug 70, the Regiment was re-organised as Administration and Vehicle Wing and comprised of the Gunnery Wing, Driving & Maintenance Wing, Radio Wing and Administration and Vehicle Squadron. On re-organisation of Armoured Corps Centre and School in Jul 77, the Administration and Vehicle Wing was also re-organised and was renamed as the Armament Regiment. On further re-organisation of the Armoured Corps Centre and School in Oct 92, the Regiment was re-organised as Armament and Electronics Regiment comprising Trade Training Squadron Armament (TTSA), Trade Training Squadron Electronics (TTSE), Administration and Vehicle Squadron (AVS) and Range Wing (Rg Wg). Since 01 Oct 92, it is called Armament and Electronics Regiment, a name it retains till date.
