Their mission -- to overwhelm an enemy defended post that has been sighted about a 100 metre ahead of them. At the same time, ensure minimum risk in their bid to reach the target, by keeping the well-entrenched enemy at bay.

Amid deafening booms of gun cotton slabs (an explosive device) and grenades and the rattling sound of bullets -- flying across barely a feet or two above their heads -- the young men make a determined surge, cutting through a thick veil of smoke and clearing various wire and mine obstacles, to wrest the enemy post.

The fire support, located at about 90 degrees from the point of their surge ahead, ensures an apt cover for them by keeping down the enemy heads. A loud war cry signals their mission accomplished even as some of these men take positions, around the post, in anticipation ofany attempt by the enemy to recapture the post.

Welcome to the exciting `battlefields' of the Guards Regimental Centre (GRC) at Kamptee, about 15 km from here. The mock warfare -- more aptly termed as Battle Inoculation -- witnessed by visiting mediapersons at the GRC firing range on Friday, forms an essential component of the nine-month-long training imparted to the young recruits before they are classified as trained soldiers and commissioned in the Army to join an active infantry battalion.

The exercise not only marks the culmination of the arduous training but also provides an ideal opportunity for the recruits to practice field signals in simulated battlefield scenario and have a feel of the trying conditions. As Colonel Anil Mathur, Deputy Commandant of the GRC, puts it, "Battle Inoculation is basically a confidence building exercise for the recruits."

A lot of effort is put in the conditioning of these recruits before they attain the final phase of their training. This includes physical trainingfor developing fitness and endurance, drills, weapon training and bayonet training which aims at improving mental toughness and test the coordination of mind and body.

Besides, tactical training that covers such aspects as correct use of ground and cover, selection of fire positions, camouflage and concealment field signals, visual training, recognition and indication of target and observation of enemy movements. The recruits are familiarised with mines and mine-field and also the improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The Battle Inoculation is preceded by a two-week camp training in the jungles to provide the recruits with an opportunity for practical application of training.