IKON
General Sunith Francis Rodrigues, PVSM, VSM was Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army from 1990 to 1993, and Governor of Punjab from 2004 to 2010. Born in Bombay in 1933, he was educated at St. Xaviers High School in Bombay. He is another proud son of Goa.
He joined the joint Services Wing of the Indian Military Academy in 1949 and was commissioned in December 1952 into Regiment of Artillery. In 1972, after the war with Pakistan, he was awarded the VSM for distinguished service. He later served as a GSOI operations of a division from 1973 to 1975. He was Chief Instructor at Defense Services Staff College from 1979 to November 1981, then took over the command of a division in a high altitude area. In 1982, he was awarded the Masters Degree in Defence Studies, was the Chief of Staff of a Corps from 1983 to September 1985 then took over as Director General Military Training.
He was GOC of a corps in the Northern Sector in 1986. He was Vice Chief of Army Staff from November 1987 to April 1989 and then GOC-in-C of Central Command from April 1989 to October 1989. He then took over Western Command from 1 November 1989 to 30 June 1990 and was the Chief of Army Staff from 1990 to 1993. He retired on 30 June 1993 after nearly 41 years of service.
What is the job all about?
There are three wings in the Defense Services – viz. Army, Navy and Air Force. Within each wing there are various sub-divisions. For instance the Army has – Infantry, Armoured Corps, Artillery and the Technical Branch i.e. Signals, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Medical Branch, etc.
The Navy has the Executive Branch, the Technical Branch, Electrical Branch, Education Branch and the Law Offices. Similarly the Air Force has the Flying Branch etc.
There are Permanent Commissions and Short Service Commissions:
When you join the services in the Permanent Commissions it means that you leave the services only on reaching retirement age. However in the Short Service Commission you work for a period of 5 years and this maybe extendable by another 5 years.
There are job positions for virtually all categories of professional / technical and in-experienced persons viz. Pilots, Scientists Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Accountants, Naval Architects, Teachers, Naval Captains, Musicians, Sportsmen, Technicians, Junior Officers, Soldiers, Sailors Airmen, etc.
Women too have positions, though not all positions are open to women. Women are granted Short Service Commission (SSC) in Naval Architecture, Law, Logistics, ATC, Aviation (Observer) & Education Branches. The government has also given approval for Permanent Commission (PC) in Education, Law and Naval Architect branch on completion of SSC tenure, depending upon merit and vacancy.
Can I go for it?
In the defense services there are periods of War and periods of Peace. War involves fighting in difficult terrain and circumstances. India is also called to work in foreign lands in Peace Keeping operation. In peace times, you may be called on to help the Civil Government in any State in India during floods, earthquakes, terrorist attacks and so on.So life is tough though it has many pleasant moments too.
Is there a future in this field?
India has one of the largest Defense Services in the world. We have problems at our Borders almost on a regular basis. We also have domestic issues, so the Defense Services are on CALL quite regularly.
However, there are an opportunities for important promotions like Colonels, Commanders, Lt. Generals and even as General or Admiral or an Air Marshall.
How to join?
After 10: You could join as a Soldier, Airman or Sailor.
At 10+2 stage:
Option 1: National Defense Academy (NDA) at Pune. Please note this is only for Male candidates.
You have to pass 10+ 2 in Maths and Physics, for entry into the Navy and Air Force. The Army accepts 10+2 in other subjects. Candidates must be in the age group of 16½ to 19 years, pass the Entrance Tests both in the Mental and the Physicals.
Candidates selected are given academic and physical training for a period of three years. They are awarded B.Sc./B.A. degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. After training,you are commissioned as an Officer.
Thereafter you are sent to the Indian Military Academy(IMA, Dehra Dun. Army / Air Force cadets go to AFA, HYDERABAD / BFTS, ALLAHABAD and Naval Officers go to Naval Academy, Goa.
At the I.M.A. Army Cadets are known as Gentlemen Cadets and are given strenuous military training for a period of one year, aimed at making the Officer capable of leading Infantry Sub-units. On successful completion of training, Gentlemen Cadets are granted Permanent Commission in the rank of Lieutenant, subject to being medically fit.
Option 2: To become a Doctor or a Nurse, open for Males and Females. After 10+2 in PCB, you could try for a seat in AFMC (Armed Forces Medical College Pune).
The AFMC is a prestigious Medical Training College for Doctors/Nurses. There is strong competition to get admission in this Institution.
At Graduation Level:
You could opt for the services after Graduation in one of the following academies:
Indian Military Academy (IMA)
Naval Academy Goa (NAG)
Air Force Academy ( AFA)
Officers Training Academy (OTA)
For Entrance into IMA & OTA you need to be a Graduate of any recognized University.
For NAG you must be a B.Sc. with Physics and Maths or Bachelor of Engineering.
For AFA you need B.Sc. with Physics and / or Maths or B.E.
All the Entrance Programs are conducted by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) at specified periods each year.
Positions are advertised in major Newspapers, Employment News and on the Internet.
Army: http://joinindianarmy.nic.in/
Navy: http://nausena-bharti.nic.in/
Air Force: http://careerairforce.nic.in/
There are certain facilities given to students who are in the NCC (National Cadet Corps) and have passed the “C” certificate exam. So, if you take your training seriously in the NCC, then there are some seats reserved for you.
Post Graduation Level
Law, Medical, Chartered Accountants, Engineers, are some of the areas, where both men and women can join the Defense Services.
In the Navy, women can join the Direct Entry law cadre, if they have a Degree in Law (55%) and have passed the exam as an Advocate.
Women can also apply for the Direct Entry– Air traffic Control (ATC) area, if they have a 2nd Class Masters Degree in Physics and Maths with 55%.
Similarly women can also apply into the Education / Finance Branch.
Salaries are all as per Defence regulations: e.g. http://indiannavy.nic.in/pay.htm#pay-officers
Look for recruitment in various wings at employment news.
Please do not be satisfied with just acquiring a Degree/Diploma – try and enhance your CV by doing online learning programs (with a certificate) of programs relevant to your choice of career. Your chances of employment will be much better than just a plain degree/diploma.
Please check this website under other details for places you can learn online. Also try and develop your confidence by doing a public speaking training program with people like Toast Masters International.
For government jobs: please check : http://www.employment-newspaper.com/