Short on men, IAF decides to promote JCOs

With its officer cadre dwindling and fewer people joining the services, the Indian Air Force has decided to look within. In the past six mon...

With its officer cadre dwindling and fewer people joining the services, the Indian Air Force has decided to look within. In the past six months, the IAF has closed doors on short service commission officers, bid goodbyes to those willing to leave and started a survey that would be path-breaking in its recent history.

While the sceptics sniggered and a spate of MiG-21s crashed, Air Chief S. Krishnaswamy ordered a survey, took a closer look at the Warrant Officers in the IAF and lobbied with the Government to ensure that those willing to leave would be allowed to do so. ‘‘We said our thank yous and bid our goodbyes,’’ says the Air Chief.

Force adds teeth to maritime patrol

NEW DELHI: The IAF is all set to tone up its capability to patrol maritime boundaries with the induction of the latest versions of the US-30 MKI. While it has at least 28 SU-30s in its fleet, the induction of the two upgraded variants may add another squadron to the force. ‘‘It is a little early to decide whether we will raise a new squadron but when we have the numbers we will,’’ Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy said. During the first induction in 1997, the IAF had raised the Hawks squadron. (ENS)

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The nine-month survey looked at the qualifications of the airmen closely. ‘‘We were amazed to find 400 graduates, some even PhDs with brilliant records,’’ says Krishnaswamy.

After further selection tests, the IAF sent 17 Warrant Officers to officer school for training before being commissioned. In fact, the IAF has managed to substantially cut down on its officer-shortage while, at the same time, making it easier for those who would like to quit.

With the IAF looking at cutting edge technology, the service has also done away with excessive red tape to attract engineers. From now on, engineering graduates from IITs will find a pride of place in the IAF as entry-level tests have been done away with.

‘‘It is now a well-paying attractive career and those from the IITs have anyway undergone rigorous testing so we can do away with any entrance tests,’’ says Krishnaswamy.

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The ranks are being tapped to impart additional skills to increase the force’s utility. A massive recruitment drive, aimed at unexplored areas, has also paid off. The IAF has picked up 100 recruits from areas such as Srinagar and Tripura.

The aggressive recruitment drive has brought in 44,000 applicants in the past six months and 4,000 have been selected for further tests.

The Air Headquarters has also decreed that air bases across the country be thrown open to the public on certain days. This, say officials, will ensure greater transparency and provide the IAF the publicity it has been seeking for the past few years.

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