Ladakh Scouts

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Insignia of the Ladakh Scouts, an Urial native to the Ladakh mountains

The Ladakh Scouts is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was raised on 1 June 1963, following the 1962 Indo-China War, with just eight companies taken from the 7th and 14th Battalions of the Jammu & Kashmir Militia; the regiment's main task at its inception was to guard India's borders in the high altitude areas of the Ladakh region. Also known as the Snow Warriors, the Regiment has taken part, and proved itself, in various operations since the 1965 Indo-Pak War. The Regiment was one of the first units to take part in Operation Vijay - the 1999 Kargil Conflict - and covered itself with glory during the conflict. Major Sonam Wangchuk, was the most recent recipient of the MVC for the Regiment in the Kargil Conflict. The Ladakh Scouts was given the status of a full infantry regiment in 2000, with more battalions planned to be raised.

[edit] Colonel Chewang Rinchen

Colonel Chewang Rinchen, MVC & Bar, SM, (Retd.) joined the Army (J&K Militia) as the youngest Junior Commissioned Officer in 1947, at the tender age of 17½. He won the first Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) for the Regiment in the 1947-48 Jammu & Kashmir operations. He won another MVC for the Regiment in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Later on in his distinguished military career, Colonel Rinchen was appointed the Honorary Colonel of the Ladakh Scouts.

[edit] Battle honours

Turtuk 1971, Jammu & Kashmir 1971

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