What is Parachute regiment of territorial Army which MS Dhoni is about to serve as its Lieutenant Colonel for the next two months?
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The veteran Indian wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni, has made himself unavailable for selection for India’s upcoming tour of West Indies set to commence with a 3-match T20 series beginning from August 3 in Florida.
The aforementioned decision comes via a top BCCI source, who has confirmed that the 38-year-old has given prior intimation pertaining the same to the selection committee, who will meet on Sunday (July 21) for the team’s selection for the month long tour.
As per the source, Dhoni has decided to take a two-month sabbatical leave to serve the Parachute regiment of the Indian Army, where he holds eminent post of Lieutenant Colonel.
What is the Parachute regiment of Indian Army?
It was a dream come true for MS Dhoni, when in the year 2011, the then Indian Cricket Team captain officially became honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army (TA) when the army chief at that time Gen VK Singh pipped his rank on his shoulders.
The honorary commission was approved by the former President Pratibha Patil in recognition of his achievements in the game of cricket. Dhoni had always expressed his desire to serve the Army, and had not been Cricket, he would have tried his way out in joining the Indian Army.
Dhoni had chosen the Para Regiment
Dhoni had chosen the Para Regiment as he wanted to be part of a regiment that had members from all over the country and from all regiments of the Indian Army.
Since he had chosen Para Regiment, he was commissioned into the elite Para Regiment in the presence of the then Colonel of the Regiment, Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia. He was thus given the Maroon beret which made him a member of the elite Parachute Regiment which involves rigorous combat and airborne operations training.
Dhoni had undergone a two-week initial training with the elite Para regiment of the force in Agra in 2015. And has also completed five parachute jumps at the end of his course.
Does it mean that he is a Para Commando?
That does not mean that Dhoni is a Para Commando. As a Territorial Army officer, he cannot join Para Commandos (SF) of Indian Army, as he belongs to the Parachute Regiment and not Para-Commandos.
The Para Commandos is a Special Forces unit of the Indian Army’s Parachute Regiment. They are tasked with special operations including counter-terrorism, special reconnaissance, personnel recovery, hostage rescue, etc.
