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Education Plus
Join the Army, be a leader of men
SUMIT BHATTACHARJEE
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If winning is part of your aptitude then there can be no better place than the Indian Army
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A FILE PHOTO
Respect and awe: Gentlemen cadets celebrate their passing out at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun.
Be an Army man-Be a winner for life -- reads the caption at any recruiting office of the Indian Army. If winning is part of your aptitude then there can be no better place than the Indian Army, where able-bodied men are trained and groomed to be an officer and a gentleman. They are trained not just to be an officer, but a soldier’s soldier.
“This is the institution where you are trained to be the leader of men. This is where you are taught to imbibe the traits of brotherhood, patriotism, camaraderie, disciplined lifestyle, integrity and courage in your personality,” says Lt. Col. B.S. Virik of 14 Mechanised Infantry.
How to get in
People looking for a permanent commission as an officer in the army have basically got two entry points. The first is through the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the second is through the Indian Military Academy (IMA).
NDA
While still in the final year of 10+2, students from the MPC (mathematics, physics and chemistry) stream can attempt the NDA entrance examination, which is held twice a year in the months of April and September. The candidate should be between sixteen-and-a- half-year to nineteen. After clearing the entrance, one has to undergo the Service Selection Board interview, which lasts for five days.
The SSB interview includes a number of tasks like group discussion, physical endurance test and group tasks. The last will be the medical test.
On successful completion of the three-year training in NDA at Khadakwasla, Pune, one is sent to the respective academies like IMA or Naval Academy or Air Force Academy for further training to join the desired arm of service.
IMA
Admissions can be taken in the final year of graduation, by clearing the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE). While gentleman cadets from NDA and technical (engineering) graduates have to undergo training for one year, others have to go through a training period of one-and-a-half years.
The CDSE is held twice a year during the months of February and august, and the maximum age limit is 24 years.
Technical entry
One can also apply after passing the 10+2 examination with at least 70 per cent aggregate in physics, chemistry and mathematics.
If the eligibility criteria are met then he will be sent for the SSB interview. The selected candidates will have to endure one-year basic military training in IMA. This would be followed by a four-year degree course in engineering from College of Military Engineering, Pune, or Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, or College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering, Secunderabad. Apart from getting a degree in engineering one would be commissioned into the army in the rank of a lieutenant.
Short Service Commission
The Indian Army has a wonderful alternative for all those who aspire to serve the army for a few years. It is called Short Service Commission (SSC), and one can serve the army as commissioned officer for 10 years. One can also opt for permanent commission on completion of the term or extend the service by another four years.
The selected candidates are sent to Officers Training Academy, Chennai, for training. A written examination followed by the SSB interview and medical test is the recruitment process.
Technical (engineering) graduates are exempted from the written test. NCC ‘C’ certificate holders are also exempted from the written test, if the application is processed under the NCC (special) entry scheme.
The Army also has an aviation wing of its own and commissioned officers can join the wing to satiate their wish to fly.
Challenges
A career in the Army could be very challenging. Unlike in the past, the army today is a perfect blend of latest technology, training techniques and strategic doctrines. “Apart from combat action the army is today used in the service of relief operations and peacekeeping. Officers get the opportunity to serve in different countries under the UN Peacekeeping operations. During the tenure an officer is exposed to different cultures, as the posting could be anywhere between Kanyakumari to Kashmir. Professional growth is in every step. Officers are made to upgrade their knowledge through various trainings and seminars, be it for enhancing their computer proficiency or management skills. A person with a stint in the army is the most sought after by the MNCs,” says the Lt. Col. B.S. Virik.
Great lifestyle
Apart from attractive pay and perks, the army offers a great lifestyle. The Army has some of the finest clubs, hospitals, golf courses and schools in the country. A lot of importance is given to conventional sports and adventure sports like river rafting, gliding, sky-diving, parasailing, shooting and skiing.
Apart from deriving the sense of satisfaction for serving the country, one should not forget the respect and awe that the men in olive green uniform commands.
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