Explained: Common Uniform For Brigadier Rank And Above Officers In Indian Army

The Indian Army has announced that starting from August 1, 2023, all Brigadier rank and above officers will wear the same uniform items regardless of their cadre and appointment.

BCCL

This decision promoted a common identity and approach among the officers, said defence sources.

What¡¯s new?

According to The Indian Express report, the Indian Army has introduced a new uniform for Brigadier, Major General, Lt. General, and General ranks. The uniform includes a standard beret colour, badges of rank, belt buckle, and shoe pattern.

Further, all senior officers will wear golden shoulder rank badges, whereas officers from rifle regiments currently wear black rank badges.

The headgear, shoulder rank badges, gorget patches, belts, and shoes for Brigadier and above ranks in the Indian Army have been standardized. This change does not affect Colonels and officers below their rank.

ADGPI

Senior officers will no longer wear regimental lanyards or any shoulder flashes that identify them with a particular regiment or corps. All officers of these higher ranks will dress uniformly.

What does the old uniform include?

The uniform of senior Indian Army officers includes various accoutrements such as berets, lanyards, and badges of rank, which vary based on their regimental or corps affiliation. Accoutrements are additional items of dress or equipment that complete a uniform or outfit, commonly worn by military personnel.

Different branches of the military wear different coloured berets. Infantry and Military Intelligence officers wear dark green berets, armoured corps officers wear black berets, other corps officers wear dark blue berets, and Military Police officers wear red berets.

BCCL/Representational Image

Officers from Lieutenant to General wear uniform accoutrements based on their regiment or corps.

What would this decision change?

It will promote a more integrated and cohesive organizational culture and create a common identity for officers and eliminate regimental parochialism, leading to a sense of common purpose and identity.

Regimental Parochialism is loyalty to one's regiment or corps, which can lead to a lack of cooperation or competition with other units within the same organization. However, it may also improve the ability of senior officers to command troops of mixed regimental lineage.

To establish a more inclusive and collaborative leadership style that transcends traditional loyalties and affiliations, senior officers may present a neutral uniform rather than a regimental one, said a report published in The Hindu.