Life Coach - Kaikaku - 12 - Checklist for whether the defence forces can be a super power

When I was 10 years and Chandamama used to rock, I read a story of a King whose general retires. He has to choose between two equally good deputies. He decides to rotate them for a year each in the post of the general. General A brings around innovation in training, tactics, improvises and improves weaponry - does everything possible. General B takes over the command and restores the army to its golden era to what existed before General A took over. The enemy king attacks and General B defeats the enemy - it is a sounding defeat though a few lives are lost.
Betal asks Vikram "Who does the King appoint as the General and why?"
Vikram answers "The King appoints General A because during his one year tenure, the enemy dare not raise its hood".

The best defence forces are those who the enemy fears even to tread on their toes.

I guess this 10 things in my checklist capture every possible dimension of whether we are that defence forces - politics or not, corruption levels or not, lack of attracting talent or not - if we set our minds we can achieve it.

1. Are we passionate and confident of taking on any adversary in any theater? Apne gali mein to kutta bhi sher hota hai.
   
2. Do we focus on maintaining a competitive advantage in whatever gives us that necessary confidence? Be it telecommunications, weaponry, training, tactics, experience - whatever be the case.
3. Do we pursue operational excellence? A minute spent that does not build the competitive advantage is anti operational excellence.
4. Do we ensure rapid and sustained cost management? A rupee spent in pursuit of endeavours that do not help is a rupee lost from pursuing point 4. With budget constraints and more important with World Bank and IMF dictating how much percent of budget should be spent on defence, every rupee matters.
   
5. Think outside the box to ensure point 3 & 4? We have to think beyond the normal to harness the respect that is ordained for the great.
   
6. Look for unprecedented opportunities to build ourselves.
7. Remember that training is the king. We can fool ourselves by being the most trained army on paper (as my company commander used to say).
8. Focus on long term perspectives and keep the end in mind always.
   
9. Take our understanding what can make the enemy lose to new levels. If we have to fight them in air, water, land or in mind or in UN or in relationship to their allies or morally - what will ensure that we will win. The war is often won even before it is fought physically.
   
10. Build leadership and organizational capabilities to ensure all the points above. A wave of leaders after leaders who can ensure that no one dares even raise an eye on us.