Mhow: The 20th edition of the Higher Defence Orientation Course (HDOC-20) held at the Army War College (AWC), Mhow, concluded successfully on Saturday. It has marked another milestone in professional military education for senior officers from India’s tri-services and allied nations.
The course brought together officers from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force alongside participants from friendly foreign countries, fostering a rich environment for cross-service and international collaboration. Over its duration, attendees engaged in a comprehensive curriculum focused on strategic leadership, joint operations, contemporary security challenges, and policy formulation in an evolving global landscape.
In his closing address, the AWC Commandant Lt Gen HS Sahi urged participants to embrace visionary leadership, deeper jointness, and strategic resolve. He emphasised the need for agile thinking to navigate the complexities of a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) world, equipping officers to address multifaceted threats ranging from hybrid warfare to great-power competition.
Lt Gen Sahi gave away the certificates and awards to the officers who had successfully completed the course. The commander of the Higher Command wing Maj Gen SS Kartikeya was also present during the programme.
The HDOC series is a flagship programme at AWC, renowned as a premier institution for higher military studies, tactical research, and doctrinal development. It plays a vital role in preparing senior leaders for command and staff responsibilities at the operational and strategic levels. Activities during HDOC-20 included expert lectures, visits to key national memorials, and interactive sessions on comprehensive national power.
Defence analysts view such courses as critical for strengthening interoperability and shared understanding among partners, especially amid shifting Indo-Pacific dynamics and emerging security paradigms. The successful culmination of HDOC-20 underscores the Indian Armed Forces’ commitment to intellectual preparedness alongside operational excellence.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.