CIJWS Vairengte Warriors Episode 2 Documentary: Reflex Firing to Slithering Operations

Counter-Insurgency & Jungle Warfare Training

The Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) in Vairengte, Mizoram, is more than a training ground. It is a crucible where soldiers are forged into warriors excelling in the most hostile terrains and unpredictable combat scenarios. Conceived under the vision of a future Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, CIJWS has evolved from its early days combating insurgents in the North East. It has now become a global hub for counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism training.

Episode II of our ‘Vairengte Warriors’ documentary series captures the visceral intensity of reflex firing drills. Soldiers train to react instantly to ambushes, adjusting firing positions, and mastering ambidextrous shooting. The drills teach soldiers to adapt to uphill and downhill firing angles, shifting stances, and maintaining composure under stress. CIJWS Instructor, Major Abhishek Rawat explains how reflex firing is designed to hardwire reactionary fire into subconscious muscle memory, ensuring soldiers can respond instinctively in life-or-death situations.

Series In 4K

Watch this series in 4K. Click the gear icon in YouTube’s settings and choose 2160p/4K, if your device is compatible. We recommend big screen viewing for the best experience. A BharatShakti team of Amitabh P. Revi, Rohit Pandita and Ankit Mattoo filmed extensive footage and interactions at CIJWS to bring you this series. Purnima Singh and Deepankar Verma provide the graphics that adds punch to these documentaries.

Beyond the firing range, the Information and Research Centre (IRC) bridges theory and practice. Here, officers immerse themselves in insurgency case studies, global terrorism trends, and military innovations. Major Manish Bansal highlights CIJWS’s unique role in the 1971 war, underscoring its operational legacy.

Special Heliborne Ops

A critical exercise also unfolds at the CIJWS helipad, where Indian and foreign officers rehearse special heliborne operations. An Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter insert troops onto a drop zone (DZ) for slithering drills. The troops descend ropes with precision, securing perimeters and advancing in buddy pairs. Capt. Sandeep emphasizes how these drills replicate real-world raids, teaching stealth, synchronization, and fire-and-move tactics.

CIJWS is not just a school—it is a conditioning ground where skill, drill, will, guile, and kill converge. Its alumni, from India and abroad, carry forward lessons that shape modern counter-insurgency warfare. If you missed Episode I: Counter-Insurgency, Jungle Warfare Masterclass: Meet The CIJWS Commandant I Vairengte Warriors, watch it here.