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Journalism of Courage
Career Chart:
One can get into the officers8217; cadre through two different routes. One is by selection to NDA National Defence Academy, where they undergo a three-year training programme, which is followed by another year at Indian Military Academy Dehradun, or Naval Academy Cochin, or Air Force Academy Hyderabad, depending upon the choice of service. During this training a cadet is referred to as a Gentleman Cadet. At the end of the course the cadet becomes a Lieutenant or equivalent rank in the different branches. Conditions for eligibility for NDA:
1. A candidate must have completed his 102. For those wishing to opt for the Navy or Air Force, Science with Physics and Maths is a must.2. He must be between 16 1/2 and 19 years of age approximate.3. Height 8211; minimum 157.5 cms 162.5 for Air Force. To meet special requirements as a pilot in the Air Force, a certain minimum and maximum leg length, and sitting height is also specified.4. Chest expansion after full inspiration should be 5 cms.5. While the Navy and Air Force specify a vision of 6/6, 6/9 correctable to 6/6, the Army relaxes the case where myopia is not more than 2.5D and hypermetropia not more than 3.5D. Radial Keratotomy is a disqualification as is colour blindness and night-blindness. Good binocular vision is also required.
Mode of selection:
NDA inducts two courses every year, one in January and the other in July, advertisements for which appear in April and October. The first step is a written examination of 900 marks 8211; Maths and a General Ability Test which includes a General Knowledge, current events and an English paper.
The next part is the Group Task and Group Discussion in which a task is assigned to a group of four or five and they have to solve it collectively within a given time frame. After this comes the interview which may be as long as 45 minutes.
A candidate who qualifies in all these rounds has to undergo a medical examination by a Board of Service Medical Officers.
Prospective candidates are advised to keep themselves in good physical condition by:a Jogging around five kms.b Skipping.c Push-ups and sit-ups minimum 20 each.d Chin-ups minimum 8.
Another way of getting a Permanent Commission is the Graduate Direct Entry Scheme for which a candidate is required to pass the Combined Defence Services Exam. Interested persons may take the exam after graduation or in their final year in college. The prescribed age is from 19 to 24 years.
English, General Knowledge and Elementary Maths are the subjects tested at this stage and those who qualify undergo an interview, Personality Test and Medical Examination. The physical requirements are the same as for NDA.
Courses begin in July and January and advertisements appear in April and October. Duration of the course is approximately 75 weeks at AFA and 18 months at IMA.
Pay scale:
While Lieutenants start at around Rs 8250 p.m. it goes up to Rs 18,050 for Brigadiers, and Rs 24,500 for Lt Generals. Besides this there are additional allowances and qualification pay based on the qualifications held by officers.
Figures are prior to revised rates after Fifth Pay Commission.
Pensionary benefits:
An officer qualifies for pensionary benefits only if he retires after a minimum period of 20 years service. Disability pension and Special Family Pensionary award are also payable according to prescribed rules.
Some may wish to opt for a Short Service Commission SSC, the course for which is held at Officers Training Academy, Chennai. The courses which are for approximately 42 weeks commence in May and October/ November. Advertisements appear in March and October.
Qualifications are a degree.
Those opting for the technical branch require an engineering degree in notifying discipline. SSC officers on expiry of their five-year terms carry a reserve liability for five years or upto the age of 40, whichever is earlier.
