Career in Armed forces

Do you love your country..? And are patriotic enough to devote your entire life in the service of the nation,There are
several youngsters who are enamored by the defense sector and the thought of serving their nation. If you have the
personality traits and are eligible for the defense services then this could be the best career option for you

The First thing to understand is the role of the Defence forces plays that is “To contribute to the security of the
country by providing for the military defence of its territorial integrity and to fulfil all roles assigned by
Government, through the deployment of well-motivated and effective Defence Forces.”

The Following is the heirarchial organisation of the Armed Forces

Army Navy Air Force

Commissioned Officers
General Admiral Air Chief Marshal
Lieutenant General Vice Admiral Air Marshal
Major General Rear Admiral Air Vice Marshal
Brigadier Commodore Air Commodore
Colonel Captain Group Captain
Lieutenant Colonel Commander Wing Commander
Major Lt. Commander Squadron Leader
Captain Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant
Lieutenant Sub Lieutenant Flying Officer
Junior Commissioned Officer
Subedar Major Master Chief Petty Master Warrant
Officer Officer
Subedar Master Chief Petty Warrant Officer
Officer
Naib Subedar Chief Petty Officer Junior Warrant Officer

Non-Commissioned Ranks
Regimental Quarter Master Petty Officer Sergeant
Company Havildar Major Leading Seaman Corporal
Quarter Master Havildar Seaman – I Leading Aircraftsman
Havildar Seaman – II Airman
Naik
Lance Naik
Sepoy

Indian Army
The Indian Army is the largest and the oldest branch of the Indian armed forces. It trains the individuals to fight on
land and consists of various divisions including the infantry, the artillery, the armored corps etc.
Besides these combat divisions, the support division in the army includes the supply corps, the engineers, the
ordinance supply corps, military intelligence and medical staff etc. apart from this the most popular arm of Indian
army is its Territorial Army

The Territorial Army initially had various types of units such as Armed Regt (TA), Infantry Battalion (TA), Air
Defence (TA), Med Regt (TA), Engineers Field Park Coy (TA), Signal Regiment (TA), EME Workshop (TA),
Coast Battery (TA), ASC GT Coy (TA), ASC Compo Pl (TA), AMC Field Ambulance (TA), by 1972 these units
have either been disbanded or converted to Regular Army except Inf Bn (TA).

The Territorial Army is part of Regular Army and its present role is to relieve the Regular Army from static duties
and assist civil administration in dealing with natural calamities and maintenance of essential services in situations
where life of the communities is affected or the Security of the Country is threatened and to provide units for
Regulars Army as and when required.
Presently the Territorial Army has a strength of approx. 40000 persons comprising of Departmental TA units such as
Railway, IOC, ONGC, Telecommunication and General Hospital and the non Departmental TA units of Infantry Bn
(TA) and Ecological Bn (TA) affiliated to various Infantry Regiments.
The TA units were actively involved in 1962, 1965 and 1971 operations. The "Terriers" have also taken part in OP-
PAWAN in Srilanka, OP RAKSHAK in Punjab & J&K, OP RHINO and OP BAJRANG in North East in a most
active manner. Departmental units came to the aid of the civil authorities during Industrial unrest and natural
calamities, most famous being earthquake in Latoor (Maharastra), Uttarkashi in Garhwal Himalaya and the Super
Cyclone in Orissa. The Ecological units have arrested man made environmental degradation by planting 2.5 crore
trees over 20,000 hectare of land in Mussoori Hills & Pithoragarh (UP), Bikaner & Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) and
ravines of Chambal in Madhya Pradesh.

Men of TA have taken active part in various adventure activities, famous one being scaling of Mt Tengchen Khang
(6010 Mtr) in West Sikkim by Jt-Indo-British TA Mountaineering Expedition in May 98.

The officer and men of the Territorial Army have been decorated for their gallantry and distinguished services. So
for they have earned 02 Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), 15 VSM, 05 Vir Chakra, 13 Sena Medal, 25 Mentioned-
in-Despatches and 43 COAS commendation card.
Many industrialists, politicians and eminent personalities have been members of the TA. The force also has the
honour to appoint 11 officers as Hony ADC to the President of India.

SYSTEM OF SELECTION

There are a number of ways in which one could get a commission in the Army. You can join right after
school or after graduation. The selection procedures are impartial, objective and are uniformly applied to one and all
and have only one aim – to “select the best”.
TYPES OF COMMISSION
The Army offers both permanent and short service commissions. Permanent commission (PC) is granted
through the Indian Military Academy (IMA) Dehradun and Short Service Commission (SSC) is granted through
Officers Training Academy (OTA) Chennai. When you opt for ‘PC’, you are basically looking at a permanent career
in the Army, a career till you retire. SSC is a wonderful option for all those of you who aspire to serve it for a few
years. It gives you the option of joining the Army, and serving it as a commissioned officer for five years. Once your
tenure is over, you are allowed to opt for PC. Alternatively, you can also ask for a five years extension and can
choose to resign from your post any time during this period.
 PERMANENT
1. NDA
2. DIRECT ENTRY
3. ENGINEERING GRADUATES
4. UNIVERSITY ENTRY SCHEME
5. 10+2 TES
SHORT SERVICE
1. NON-TECH
2. TECH
3. NCC SPECIAL ENTRY
4. WOMEN SPECIAL ENTRY SCHEME
TERRITORIAL ARMY
Join as an officer(TA)

Eligibility

Age - 18 to 42 years
Education - Graduation

Process

(1) Gainfully employed candidates fulfilling the eligibility criteria can apply in response to advertisements published in
leading national newspaper & The Employment News in June – July and December – January each year.
Applications are to be sent to the concerned TA Group Headquarters. After processing of applications, the eligible
candidates are called for Preliminary Interview Boards held at respective TA Group Headquarters (Pune, Kolkata,
Chandigarh, Lucknow). Selected candidates go through the SSB Interview, Medical Board & Police Verification.
The successful candidates are granted commission by the President of India.
(2) Ex - Defence service officers may also join the TA. The required to apply directly to Additional Directorate
General of Territorial Army and appear before the Board of Officers presided by the Additional Director General of
Territorial Army at New Delhi . Selected Officers are to be cleared by the Medical Boards before the officer’s ar
granted commission in the TA. All such officers are given the credit of their previous commissioned service on
joning the Territorial Army.

Join as a Junior Commissioned officer(TA)

Eligibility

Age - 18 to 42 years, Education - Graduation with NCC ‘C’ certificate(for direct entry as JCO only)
Process
a)Gainfully employed civil candidates with above qualifications can join TA as direct entryJCOs.
b) Ex JCOs or their equivalent of three services, may also join Territorial Army as JCOs. The application forms can
be taken from the recruiting offices, TA Group Headquarters at Commands and from Area/Sub Area Headquarters.
Forms duly completed to be sent to the Unit where commission is sought.

c) All candidates will be interviewed initially by the Commanding Officer of the unit and then interviewed by the
Sub Area/ Area Command Headquarters. The application of the recommended candidate will then be processed at
the Addl Directorate General of Territorial Army, Army Headquarters.

Join as a Jawan (Other Ranks) TA

Eligibility
Age 18 to 42 years,
Education
Matriculation (dispensation for lower education qualification in specific cases)

Process
Report to unit or the Recruitment Office on designated dates for tests as per laid down procedures. Selected
candidates have to go through the Medical Board and Police Verification.

Recruiting- Zonal- Divisions- Recruiting will be on Zonal basis as under:-

Zone- I The state of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh,Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and the Union Territory of Delhi and
Chandigarh .

Zone - II The state of Bihar , Madhya Pradesh,Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhatisgarhand Uttrakhand.

Zone - III The state of Assam, Meghalaya,Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland, Sikkim, West
Bengal, Mizoram, Arunanchal Pradesh and UT ofAndanman & Nicobar Island.

Zone - IV The state of Andhra Pradesh, Gujrat,Kerla, Tamilandu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra,Karnataka, Goa and
Union Territories of Dadraand Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Lakshdweepand Pondicherry.

Training
Training in Infantry TA is carried out on Urban and provincial systems.

Urban systems of training

Training is carried out on weekends and holidays. Four hours training is counted as one day.

Recruit Training : 32 days in the first year only including a camp of not less than 4 days if the trainee volunteers
with the written consent of his employer, if any.

Annual Training : A minimum of 30 daysextendable upto 60 days including a camp for 14 days.

Post Commission Training: All Officers are required to undergo 10 weeks of Post commission Training within
two years of their commissioning at IMA.

Voluntary Training to gain additional military training, provided the trainee Volunteers with the written consent of
the employer, if any.

Provincial systems of training

Recruit Training : For a continuous period of 30 days in the first year only.
Annual Training : For a continuous period of two calendar months in the first and subsequent years.
Post commission Training: 10 weeks post commission training is compulsory within two years of commissioning at
IMA.
Voluntary Training to gain additional military training, provided the trainee volunteers with a written consent of his
employer, if any.

Departmental TA ( for Govt servants only )

Recruit Training: This is carried out for a continuous period of 30 days in the first year in a camp. No recruit
training is there for Medical and Nursing Officers of General Hospital (TA).

Annual Training: In the first and subsequent years annual training is carried out for a continuous period of 30 days
in a camp. For Officers of General Hospital (TA), this is carried out on weekends, without a camp, four hours
training being counted as one day.

Post Commission Training: 30 days post commission training within two years of commissioning is compulsory
for all Departmental TA Officers, except Medical Officers of Railway (TA) units and Officers of General Hospitals
(TA).

Voluntary Training : Departmental TA personnel who volunteer with the specific consent of their departments can
be attached for voluntary training.

Service Embodiment

All personnel of Infantry and Departmental TA will be called out for service embodiment by the Central
Government or the authority empowered by it to do so, on the eve of national Emergency or for Internal Security
duties and training exercises. Failure to report for service on such occasions is punishable under the Territorial Army
Act 1948.
Territorial Army personnel are entitled to the following benefits from the Defence Estimates during embodiment for
training and service embodiment:

1. Pay and allowances and Service Benefits - When embodied as applicable to

Regular Army.

2. Camp allowance of Rs 10/- per day when attending camps or courses of instruction
(For Officers).

3. Increment On completion of 365 days of physical service.

4. Bounty Rs 450/- to Officers Rs 300/- for JCOsand Rs 175/- to Other Ranks of infantry units, on completion of
minimum 80% of annual training camp every year.

5. TA Group Insurance benefits to personnel of non-departmental TA units.

6. Terminal gratuity : After completing 5 years of physical service or 10 years of total service to personnel other
than civil Govt. employees.

7. Pension : On Completion of 20 years physical service to officers and 15 years to JCOs/OR other than civil Govt.
employees.

8. Family/disability Pension is also admissible as applicable to Regular Army.

9. Leave as admissible to Regular Army personnel during embodiment of service and appointment on permanent
instructional staff.

10. Accumulation and encashment of leave accrued during the above period, as per terms and conditions laid down
from time to time.

11. Ex-servicemen status to pensioners and disability pension holders and Gallantry award winners.

12. Free Medical treatment to self and dependants in respect of all pension holders.

13. Outfit allowance: @Rs 6000/- at the time of commissioning and after every 7 years of physical service or 10
years of commissioned service to officers, Rs 3200/- to Honorary Commissioned officers and Rs 500/- to JCOs.

14.Medals and Awards as applicable to Regular Army. In addition, TA officers are entitled to TA Decoration on
completion of 20 years and JCOsand OR to TA medal on completion of 12 years meritorious service.

INCENTIVES
1. Certain state Govts and departments give the following incentives to their employees:

2. Pay and allowances in addition to the military basic pay and allowances as applicable.

3. Special increments on completion of 3 to 5 Annual training camps.

4. Additional DA at higher rates during service embodiments by certain departments.

5. One time incentive grant in certain departments and one time honorarium by state govts.

6. Mufti allowance and lump sum Daily allowance in departments like ONGC and IOC.

7. Cash award varying from Rs 2500/- to 5000/- on award of TA Decoration/TA Medal.

8.Certain tax exemptions by some state Govts.

9 Choice station posting.

SERVICE BENIFITS
• Pay and allowances of rank as applicable to Regular Army.
• Camp allowance of Rs. 10/- for Officers while attending training.
• Free rations, CSD facilities and medical facilities to self and dependants when embodied for training,
military service or when posted on permanent staff.
• Facilities of leave, leave encashment, accommodation and leave travel concessions when embodied for
military service or on permanent Staff.
• Promotion to higher ranks as per authorisation.
• Entitlement to pension for Officers with 20 years and JCOs and other ranks with 15 years aggregate
embodied service (actual Physical service).
• Ex-servicemen status and free medical facilities to pensioners.
• Terminal gratuity at the time or discharge/retirement to those who do not earn pension (Other than civil
govt. employees).
• Entitlement to all medals and awards as applicable to the regular army.
For further details, Contact:-
Addl Directorate General,
GS Branch, 'L' Block,
Army HQ, New Delhi-110011
or
HQ TA GP at Pune, Lucknow, Chandimandir and
Calcutta or nearest TA Unit.

Details of eligibility criteria duration and venue of training and other information is freely available through news
papers or may be obtained from www.joinindianarmy.nic.in. The following telephone numbers may also be
contacted.
(011) 26173215, 26175473, 26172861.

ADVANTAGES OF SSC
With the SSC, one has the best of both worlds. Even as it gives one the privileges and benefits of a full-
fledged commission, one will be imbibing qualities that will make him an invaluable asset to any organization that
he/she may join after the Army, analytical thinking skills, planning ability, administrative prowess and
organizational talent. At the end of the day, it will train you to become a good leader and a successful manager.

OPPORTUNITIES: AFTER STANDARD XII

 At the Standard XI and XII level, those of you who have opted for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and
achieve an aggregate of 70 percent and above, can immediately apply further 10+2 Technical Entry Scheme. The
Army will then, over the course of next five years arm you with as engineering degree and also commission you as
an officer on completion of four years of training, all free of cost.

However on successful completion of Standard XII, everyone is eligible to apply for entry to the National
Defence Academy through an entrance examination held twice every year. For the Air Force and Navy stream the
applicant must have studied Mathematics and Chemistry as subjects during the 10+2 stage.
If you are planning to pursue an engineering degree, and have not yet made up your mind, you can still be
commissioned in the Army directly as regular on Short Service Commissioned officers, while enjoying ante date
seniority of two years and earning full salary in the last one year of your training.
For those who qualify the written test and others, as applicable to them, will have to undergo the Services Selection
Board. This is one of the most scientifically designed selection tool available, and has stood the test of time. The list
of eminent personalities who could not clear the SSB, but then went on to rise to the very top of their profession is
legion and reads like a veritable ‘who’s who’ of our country. This just goes to show that the SSB is an adventure
worth undertaking. The schedule is as given above in the same website.
CHOICE OF ARMS AND SERVICES
Just prior to being commissioned as officers, cadets are asked their choice of Arms. The major fighting
arms are the Armored Corps, the Infantry, and the Artillery, with the other supporting them in battle. All arms and
services are equally vital to success in battle and individual choices are generally governed by parental choice,
educational qualification or plain fascination for a certain way of life. However at the end of the day the Army
promises immense satisfaction to each one of its warriors.

LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR PROFESSIONALS

The Army provides lifetime opportunities to professionals like Doctors, Nurse, Engineers, Lawyers, and
Teachers. Commissioned into the various Corps, one can pursue his or her passion to your heart’s content. An
excellent infrastructure, dedicated support staff, and healthy environment provide unlimited growth. The Army
invests heavily in human and technical resources. The latest and the best tools are made available for research and
employment. Periodic forays into the academic world are encouraged in order to imbibe and practice current
technology in your chosen field.

POSTING/ TENURES SUBSEQUENT TO COMMISSIONING

Training is a judicious mix of technical, military and managerial instruction, in top class institutions run by
the Army and a host of other prestigious institutes and establishments including IITs and DRDO. In accordance with
the training received, proficiency acquired and aptitude shown, one gets posted on a variety of regimental, staff, or
instructional appointments in organizations throughout the country. Additionally officers proceed on deputation to
various organizations and foreign appointments.
Unlike in a civil environment where a posting means virtual uprooting of a household and starting a fresh
new station, in the Army it is merely a change of scene. With more and more stations falling under the purview of
peace stations and with better infrastructure facilities coming up even in small stations, the pangs of moving are
speedily easing up.

How to Apply
Application for a particular position should be made to appropriate authority. The advertisement in this respect is
published from time to time in the employment news and in several leading national and regional local dailies
Selecting a career depends on the interest of the student but choice of the career and job prospects also play an
important role in making the decision. Besides top paying career options such as MBA, Software, Chartered
Accountancy, Journalism, Medical, Advertising, PR and architecture, there are numerous other careers and one of
the favorite career option these days is armed forces. Choice is yours…..!!!

R.K.Joshi