2 jUNE :AEC celebrated its 61st Corps Day yesterday. On this occasion Major General SS Nair, ADG Army Education and Col Comdt of Army Educational Corps laid wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate on behalf of all ranks of Army Educational Corps.
The beginning of an Educational system for the army in India can be traced back to the establishment of the British Regimental Schools in India for providing training to the British troops in India. With the approval of Secretary of State for India, on 30 Apr 1946, the Governor General in Council sanctioned the formation of a new corps designated as the Indian Army Educational Corps with effect from 01 Jun 1947. Thus the AEC came into existence on 01 Jun 1947 with an authorized regular cadre of 80 officers, 120 Viceroys Commissioned Officers and 400 Indian OR.
When India became a Sovereign Republic on 26 Jan 1950, the decision to drop titles like Royal or Indian as prefix to Indian units and corps was taken. As a result the Indian Army Educational Corps was re-designated as the Army Educational Corps on 01 Nov 1950.
In the last 61 years the Corps has rendered yeoman service in the field of improving the educational quotient of the soldiers of Indian Army. The Corps has also adopted itself to the emerging technologies in the field of IT and is actively involved in spreading IT awareness in the Army. General Deepak Kapoor, the Chief of Army Staff extended his greetings to all ranks and their families and remembered those soldiers of AEC who laid down their lives in lieu of duties.