Army opens all-weather synthetic obstacle course to boost combat readiness

Pune: The Army Institute of Physical Training (AIPT) on Monday opened a synthetic military obstacle course to enable soldiers and officers to train at night as well as in all weather conditions.

The synthetic surface has been developed with a focus on safety and performance, while addressing a long-standing challenge faced during conventional obstacle training. A senior AIPT officer told TOI: “The cases of injuries were large due to the mud tracks. We had to create the new facility to overcome such problems. The most important feature is that it will be available in all weathers and at night.”

During his visit to the institute on Monday, Southern Army commander Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth inaugurated the facility. The initiative marks a step towards modernising training infrastructure to meet evolving warfare demands.

Col Vinay Dalvi (retd), former physical training officer at the NDA, OTA and IMA, said the old facility came up during the early 1960s under the initiative and guidance of Lt Col SD Abraham, the then Commandant of the ASPT ( now AIPT ). “The design was adopted from the British PT school in Aldershot ,UK, where Abraham had attended an officers’ PT course. Since its inauguration, the old facility was an integral part of physical training. The modernisation of the course into an all-weather and day and night training centre with lighting and synthetic course is a big boost to training at the institute,“ he added.

Officials said the new facility would enable realistic, high-intensity training, aimed to enhance physical endurance, mental agility, and operational preparedness.

“Expert training is crucial in the evolving theatre of warfare. Soldiers must be physically resilient, mentally robust and capable of responding with confidence under the most demanding conditions. Such a training infrastructure will play a vital role to shape a future-ready force, prepared to meet the multifarious challenges of future conflict,” said an officer of Southern Command.

The AIPT conducts a range of training modules, including standard and assault obstacle courses, which form the backbone of physical conditioning for Army personnel. It also hosts a military pentathlon course, aligned with international standards and featured in the World Military Games.

The pentathlon includes five demanding events — obstacle swimming, obstacle running, projectile throwing, 200-metre shooting and a cross-country race — to test endurance, precision and overall combat readiness. “Since it is part of the World Military Games, our trainees will have the advantage to train and prepare. They will be able to elevate their physical standards to the next level,” the officer added.

The AIPT trains approximately 100 officers and nearly 2,000 personnel annually, including junior commissioned officers and other ranks. The institute is set to further strengthen its role as a premier centre for physical training in the Army with the addition of the new synthetic obstacle course.