A prominent saying painted on signboards at army units is, “Mera buddy, mera bhai”, which translates to, “My buddy is my brother”. Interestingly, this is not just a saying but a sentence that symbolizes the spirit of the buddy system in Indian Army. It is about camaraderie, support, and unwavering belief in each other. Today, we decode this military practice for you.
Who is a Buddy?
Before we decode the buddy system, let us look into the meaning of being a buddy to someone. In very simple terms, a buddy is a fellow soldier who is paired with another soldier for mutual support. The relationship between the two is based on reliability, responsibility and mutual dependence.
Buddies do most of the things in a day together. They can train and work together and also help each other equipment and everyday tasks. This isn’t just a military practice but an association that lets soldiers comprehend each other’s strengths, weaknesses, behaviour and motivation. This is exactly what helps them in combat.
Need For Buddy System
You might ask why a buddy system is needed in the Indian Army when each person is on their own. Well, that is not particularly true because the Army operates on the principle of, “One For All, All For One”. Hence, having a buddy helps a soldier counter isolation, fatigue, stress, and danger among other things that they may face during service. Therefore, the buddy system helps with:
- Improving the safety of a soldier by having each other’s back
- Building trust which is essential for service and otherwise
- Ensuring accountability to each other which is also the basis of the organization
- Providing emotional support against personal stresses
- Improving teamwork through joint effort
Clearly, the buddy system helps establish a trusted companion away from family. This is why the buddy is considered like a brother in the Indian Army.
Where All Is Buddy System Followed?
But, where is the buddy system really followed? Please know that this is not just a random system that is followed on special occasions only; rather it is followed everywhere. Some of the common areas where it is followed are:
Training
This is the most prevalent areas where the buddy system is followed. During military training, soldiers are exposed to very harsh conditions that often cause mental and physical stresses. Hence, a buddy helps with emotional support, and even equipment and physical training. This ensures that the soldier is not left behind.
Field Exercises
Just like training, even field exercises can be very demanding. The soldiers often operate in inhospitable conditions like extreme cold or hot, living in trenches and bunkers, or even away from family. But, the buddy system keeps the soldiers at pace and provides a family away from their own.
Combat and Missions
Combat and military missions are an inseparable part of the Indian Army, and one of the primary reasons why the buddy system exists. During such situations, having a buddy helps you communicate and coordinate with each other to respond to emergencies as and when they occur. It is the mutual trust of the system that keeps both going.
Managing Stress
A buddy knows you inside out. He knows your behaviour, your preferences, and your strengths and weaknesses. Hence, he is the first one to point that out. We must admit that the military can also be a very lonely space at times where you may not have someone to speak to for days. This is where the buddy system helps, by managing stress and provide emotional support whenever required.
Final Thoughts
The buddy system followed in the Indian Army is more than just a partnership at work. It highlights the fact that no soldier is left out whether during training or combat. It is based on camaraderie and mutual trust, therefore, each soldier is forever sure that his “brother” will always have their back no matter what the situation may be.
