Affiliation of Indian Coast Guard Ship Shaurya with 3rd (Naga Hills) Battalion of Assam Rifles

In an effort to enhance inter Armed Forces Cooperation and utilise each other’s assets for training and sports, the Director Generals of Assam Rifles and Indian Coast Guard in an impressive ceremony held at Laitkor, Shillong on 22 May 19 signed an Affiliation Charter between 3rd (Naga Hills) Battalion of Assam Rifles and Indian Coast Guard Ship Shaurya.

Assam Rifles is the oldest Para Military Force of India with a rich history of valour, courage and tradition. Assam Rifles have 46 Battalions manning the Indo-Myanmar border and countering the insurgency in the NE states. On contrary the Indian Coast Guard, with 142 Ships & 62 Aircraft is one of the youngest Armed Force under MoD.

3rd (Naga Hills) Battalion Assam Rifles is the oldest battalion of the force raised in 1835 as “The Cachar Levy” comprising of 750 personnel of all ranks for guarding the Eastern Frontier of Assam from Brahmaputra river to the Cachar Hills. Presently, the Battalion is developed at Kohima, Nagaland where it had earlier bravely fought the Japanese in World War-II and stopped their advance into India.

Indian Coast Guard Ship Shaurya, indigenously built at Goa Shipyard Limited, based at Chennai (Tamil Nadu) is a modern state of the art 105 mtrs long Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) commissioned on 12 Aug 2017. Shaurya meaning ‘Courage’ is a projection of Indian Coast Guard’s commitment ‘To Serve & Protect’ the Maritime Interest of the Nation. The ship is extensively developed for EEZ surveillance and other duties as enshrined in the Coast Guard charter to safeguard the Maritime Interest of India.

The objective of the affiliation is to promote Bilateral Cooperation between the Assam Rifles and the Indian Coast Guard in the field of exchange of information/personnel, build-up camaraderie for training, sports/adventure and sustainable development. This affiliation will facilitate the “Sentinels of the North East” to interact with the “Sentinels of the Seas” on professional and social platforms and share rich experiences and best practices.

The two Armed Forces will be greatly benefited by motivating one another towards common goals. Assam Rifles personnel will be able to understand the peculiarities of a Maritime Service (Indian Coast Guard) and their role in guarding and intercepting the anti-National forces /Non State Actors detrimental to the Maritime/ Coastal security. Similarly, the personnel of ICG will be able to see and understand the operational ethos of the Assam Rifles working along the Indo-Myanmar border.

The reciprocation Ceremony will be held onboard Indian Coast Guard Ship Shaurya at Chennai on 11/12 Jun 2019.