Jaisalmer Military Station witnessed a historic moment recently when General Dalbir Singh, Chief of the Army Staff, on behalf of the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, presented the ‘President’s Standards’ to 75 Armoured Regiment and 43 Armoured Regiment. Both the Regiments conducted a mounted parade on the indigenous Arjun tanks with clockwork precision and immaculate coordination in consonance with the highest traditions of the Indian Army. To commemorate this historic event, the Chief of Army Staff also released a ‘Special Cover’.

The Chief of the Army Staff said: “This veneration will add to your responsibility and certainly I believe that you all will go beyond your capabilities to execute every single task that would be assigned to your Regiments.”

75 Armoured Regiment was raised in 1972 under the command of Lt Colonel Vijai Singh (later Lt General). The squadrons of 75 Armoured Regiment participated in the 1971 Indo-Pak War to include the Battle of Laungewala. 75 Armoured Regiment has a unique distinction of being the only unit of Indian Army to be raised on captured Pakistani Territory ‘Sakna’ (26 kilometres inside Pakistan) on March 12, 1972. The Regiment Colours are Canary Yellow over Bottle Green and the Regiment’s motto is Sahasam Vijayate which means Courage Wins.

43 Armoured Regiment was raised in 1981 under the command of Lt Colonel B.M. Kapur (later Lt General). 43 Armoured Regiment is the first armoured Regiment to be equipped with India’s indigenous tank, MBT Arjun. The Regiment Colours are Sky Blue and Navy Blue. Sky Blue signifies limitlessness and Navy Blue signifies fearlessness. The Regiment motto is Yudhyasva VigatJwar which means ‘To fight with a calm and determined mind’.