Life In Indian Army

OUALITY OF LIFE

As an Indian Army officer at 21,
you’d be looking at a lifestyle that one cannot imagine in any other profession, so early in life. What compromises “Quality of Life”? On one hand is a job with a thick pay packet but with the drudgery of 9AM to 9PM schedule, no avenues and time for extracurricular activities, no scope for adventure and excitement, no social status, lack of family life, threat of being terminated with a month’s salary, working in suffocating environment with no self respect and honour.
 On the other hand is a job which offers you challenge, adventure, excitement, honour, prestige, self respect, whole some family life, safety and security for the family and to top it all the love, respect and esteem of our great India. In the somewhat chaotic social and economic conditions that prevail in our country, Army life is an island of sanity and social order that is the envy of our countrymen. Quality of life is an important attribute of Army life, and has no parallel in any other service. Some of the intangibles, which go to make the quality of life in the Army, are:-

Ø Service of the motherland.

Ø A profession to be proud of

Ø Opportunity to travel and know the country and its people/culture/flora and fauna

Ø Opportunity to serve and represent the nation abroad

Ø A pure and noble profession

Ø Honour and social status

Ø No stagnation, a new challenge every day.

Ø Opportunity for growth

Ø Sports and adventure activity

Ø Messes, clubs and institutions facilities

Ø Education facilities – Both school and professional colleges for children

Ø AWWA hostel for girls in metros

Ø Army ensures your physical and mental health.

Ø (Quality of life ensured not only for officers, but also families.

VARIETY & ADVENTURE

Variety and adventure are the spice and romance of life. No profession has the kind of recreational and adventure facilities to offer as the Army does; from membership of the best clubs in country to horse riding, swimming, golfing, mountaineering, trekking and sailing. Posting to exotic stations gives one an opportunity to see India and its different cultures, in all its vivid glory. You may also get a chance to go abroad on course or on posting. So, if one is looking for a profession, which goes beyond being a mere job, accept the challenge and join the Indian Army.

PROFESSIONAL ENHANCEMENT

The Army affords a very open, impartial and transparent avenue for professional enhancement. For a professionally dedicated officer with sincerity and dedication, the sky is the limit. Salient aspects of professional enhancement are as follows:-

Ø Opportunity for higher study in prestigious institutions both in India and abroad

Ø Deputation in various scientific institutions in the country including DRDO, DGQA, LRDE, BEL, ITI and host of others

Ø Foreign assignments in the UNO and Indian embassies/missions

Ø Foreign assignments in connection with the procurement of advanced technology and weaponry and training to handle and maintain the same

Ø Promotions solely based on capability and freeIa of any extraneous consideration

SOCIAL STATUS

• IN SERVICE

All of us have our own opinion about what constitutes “social status”. However it is an undisputed fact that the status of a ‘warrior’ has stood the test of time. History and society have both held the soldier in esteem and offered him a unique status in society. By joining the Army, one becomes a member of an exclusive and elite brotherhood, which is the envy of one and all.

• POST RETIREMENT

Even after laying down the uniform, Army officers continue to have the status of the most respected citizens of our country. This added to their ingrained code of conduct and ethical values enable them to occupy a special social niche in society. Since he is much fitter due to the active lifestyle he has led, a second career or lateral absorption in parallel employment is always eminently feasible. His do or die attitude and mental agility ensures that he never really grows into old age, but continues to contribute and thus remain a valued member of society.

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”.

CHOICE OF ARMS AND SERVICE

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.

POSTINGS / TENURE SUSEQUENT TO COMMISSONING

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.

Here it would be apt to reiterate – That all professions serve our motherland – but none of them is in the same league as the Indian Army – for this is the only profession which affords you the opportunity to live up to these stirring lines.

“TO EVERY MAN UPON THIS EARTH,

DEATH COMES SOONER OR LATER.

AND HOW CAN A MAN DIE BETTER

FACING FEARFUL ODDS

FOR THE ASHES OF HIS FATHER

AND THE TEMPLE OF HIS GODS”

-Macauley