How to join the Armed Forces? - Recruitment Thread

merlin · Post by **merlin** » 17 Oct 2008 11:33

ASPuar wrote:Appearing for Territorial Army test and Preliminary Interview Board, end of the month. Any tips, etc? Anyone?

Could you keep us posted on how it went? I would be very interested to know details. Thanks.

prouge · Post by **prouge** » 17 Oct 2008 18:16

Surya wrote:Guys

he is asking which would be more prestigous or better career move.

ASPuar wrote:Major General Sheonan Singh, of Jaffna Drop fame, is one of the more prominent and visible Para Cdo's, because, of course he is now a general officer, and is no longer in hush hush jobs. He was originally commissioned in the Engineers (being a civil engineering graduate of Roorkee Engineering College), and volunteered for selection to the Para Commandos. So you see, it would appear to be a process of internal selection.

The SFF accepts people from the Army I think, but such vacancies are purely internal. The first head of the SFF was Lt. Col. SS Uban, who retired as IGP, SSF. (This was back when IGP was the highest police rank)!

Thanks to both of you for the reply.
Hope some one answers a/b though.

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 17 Oct 2008 20:14

I think SF positions are normally not a great career booster.

Most armies have issues with their SF guys and you will see very few SF personnel climb the ladder beyond Col\Brig.

Also many SF guys do not want to deal with the BS of regular army ticket punching and tend to leave early also.

My SF friend says "The SF is like the underworld. You have a limited timespan. In that you do the job as professionaly as possible"

ASPuar · Post by **ASPuar** » 17 Oct 2008 20:59

Surya, thats an interesting comment, and I think youre right..
Dyou have any theories as to why Armies have problems with SF, and also why so few reach higher ranks? Just quoting that eg of Sheonan Singh above, he is one of the very few to have attained General rank...

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 17 Oct 2008 21:43

is that true for other armies too or just IA ?

ASPuar · Post by **ASPuar** » 17 Oct 2008 23:50

Well, looking to our westerly neighbor, wasnt President General Kamandu Musharaf an SF type?

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 18 Oct 2008 01:28

Mushy is a bad advertisement for making an SF guy a General

I believe only 2 US chiefs were SF type. (Shelton and Schoomaker??? and he along with Rumsfeld created some of the mess) - so thats 2 bad case studies

I think it is a clash of egos, personalities, politics -

Regular army types think SF types are gung ho,do nto follow rules etc. ANd many of them have probably sat in safe havens as they punched their way up so dislike the guys who actually have been in combat.

SF types thinks the most of the rest (senior levels) are just ticket punchers with no clue of reality.

We saw it int he recent ( 2 yrs ago) clash between SF and Para - where the Para General basically said all Paras are SF

.

It would have been really interesting to know what Sheonan thought of that remark

skher · Post by **skher** » 26 Oct 2008 21:36

Sirs,

Are there any job opportunities for psyops personnel here?

Also,is there any job profile that would suit a journalism graduate like me in Armed Forces/DRDO/DPSUs in Short Service?

I tried many sites couldn't find any info....sorry to bother you folks again.

PS:My engg. friend would like to thank you all (esp.prouge) for starting this thread and answering all queries.

RayC · Post by **RayC** » 29 Oct 2008 19:29

Surya wrote:I think SF positions are normally not a great career booster.

Most armies have issues with their SF guys and you will see very few SF personnel climb the ladder beyond Col\Brig.

Also many SF guys do not want to deal with the BS of regular army ticket punching and tend to leave early also.

My SF friend says "The SF is like the underworld. You have a limited timespan. In that you do the job as professionaly as possible"

It is not correct to feel that Parachute Regiment officers do not become Generals.

They have had many Generals from this Regiment, the last Vice Chief was one. Hardy Hardev Lidder is a Lt Gen.

In fact, they are a smaller Regiment than mine and they have and have had a greater number of Generals. So, the facts prove otherwise.

It is also not fair to feel that others do not do their job as professionally as possible. What exactly is a limited timespan?

ASPuar · Post by **ASPuar** » 29 Oct 2008 19:33

I thought he was a Sapper?

RayC · Post by **RayC** » 29 Oct 2008 19:36

Yes, he is a Sapper, but a Paratrooper.

He still does para jumps.

In fact, I forget the name of the General (he is a South Indian and is over 75 years of age) and he too does para jumps.

Then there is PC Katoch. He should be serving right now.

Off hand, I can't remember how many are there.

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 29 Oct 2008 22:44

RayC

I said SF - not Para.

RayC · Post by **RayC** » 30 Oct 2008 10:11

PC Katoch and Hardy Lidder are SF.

Gurinder · Post by **Gurinder** » 30 Oct 2008 19:51

ASPuar wrote:Appearing for Territorial Army test and Preliminary Interview Board, end of the month. Any tips, etc? Anyone?

Hi ASPuar,

I also want to go for Territorial Army interview. Please tell me when will the advertisement for TA comes in news paper and I am working in a pvt firm so what documents I require to apply for TA. And I read about their training procedure too but unable to understand? If you clarify these , I shall be very thankful.

And thanks prouge for starting this thread.

sonam_kapadia · Post by **sonam_kapadia** » 30 Oct 2008 22:13

Hi,

I manage a web-memorial for my brother Lt. Nawang Kapadia, who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation while fighting terrorist in Kashmir, at www.nawang.com. Of late, I have been getting a number of queries from fine men wanting more information on how to join the army.

Unfortunately, I don't know much about it and all I can do is direct them to the Army and BR site.

Does anyone on this forum know more about this and willing to help them, I can forward those mails to him. This would really help them and I guess the army recruitment too.

Thanks for all the help

Raman · Post by **Raman** » 30 Oct 2008 22:45

Sonam,

Please accept my salute to both Nawang and your family for having given so much to the nation.

I have been proudly wearing the 'Khukri of Honour' daily since I received it seven months ago, and have had the opportunity to educate many colleagues here in the U.S. about Nawang's sacrifice.

sonam_kapadia · Post by **sonam_kapadia** » 31 Oct 2008 06:51

Thanks Raman. This is very kind of you. The Khukri of Honour, is symbol honouring the valour and braver of the Gorkha soldiers, and for our soldiers who are fighting terrorists in Kashmir.

Really appreciate you wearing it and spreading the word

rocky · Post by **rocky** » 01 Nov 2008 02:21

Sonam, welcome to BRF. Although I don't know much about your deceased brother other than his valiant sacrifice for the country, I do remember your father's exemplary dedication and service to the country. I follow his writings and own each and every piece of literature that has flowed from your father's pen. My regards to all of the Kapadia family!

sonam_kapadia · Post by **sonam_kapadia** » 01 Nov 2008 19:57

Thanks Rocky. I will let my father know...he will be really thrilled about your kind words.

ParGha · Post by **ParGha** » 01 Nov 2008 21:30

ASPuar wrote:Dyou have any theories as to why Armies have problems with SF, and also why so few reach higher ranks?

Rahul M wrote:is that true for other armies too or just IA ?

Gentlemen, you may find this observation from Field Marshal William Slim to be instructive of regular army's and higher echelons' concerns about special operations forces and their employment:

... the Chindits, gave a splendid examples of courage and hardihood. Yet I came firmly to the conclusion that such formations, trained equipped and mentally adjusted for one kind of operation were wasteful. They did not give, militarily, a worth-while return for the resources in men, material and time that they absorbed. ... [Special forces] were usually formed by attracting the best men ... The result of these methods was undoubtedly to lower the quality of the rest of the Army." He makes several other arguments against special forces, about the danger of ordinary battalions thinking that some tasks could only be performed by special forces, and that special forces can only stay in the field for relatively short periods compared to regular battalions. He sums up that "Anything, whatever the short cuts to victory it may promise, which thus weakens the Army spirit is dangerous." To underline his point he suggests that "This cult of special forces is as sensible as to form a Royal Corps of Tree Climbers and say that no soldier, who does not wear its green hat with a bunch of oak leaves stuck in it should be expected to climb a tree".

ASPuar · Post by **ASPuar** » 01 Nov 2008 21:40

Possibly, he was right too. In his own right, every soldier, from the sepoy to the full general, is special. Every soldier has it in him, to perform acts of superhuman bravery. So perhaps its incorrect to create 'special' forces. The entire military is the nations special forces.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 01 Nov 2008 21:55

ASpuar saab, I agree with your sentiments but for one.

the requirements of SF are that they will be able to carry out jobs that are in some ways the opposite of what a regular army is supposed to, like sabotage, behind the lines ops and so on.

creating an SF to do a beefed up super-infantry's job is nonsense and I suppose that is what FM Slim was referring to. in all 'normal' battlefield conditions infantry should be able to do the job as well as SF.
even then AFAIK IA uses its ghataks as organic SF components.
perhaps the ideas about SF has changed somewhat from his times, when the concept was in its infancy.
since then SF have performed well in many conflicts around the world.

incidentally, the SF concept is not entirely new, arthashastra refers to SF as one of the components of the army. Although the definition was not provided, this was not the same as spies who were mentioned separately.

ParGha · Post by **ParGha** » 02 Nov 2008 00:38

ASPuar wrote:Possibly, he was right too. In his own right, every soldier, from the sepoy to the full general, is special. Every soldier has it in him, to perform acts of superhuman bravery. So perhaps its incorrect to create 'special' forces. The entire military is the nations special forces.

It is the converse fallacy (unless you are being facetious): Not everyone is "special" for the military, so to claim it would be patently false. A support service trooper is not trained to the same specialty as an ordinary infantryman (yes, he too can shoot to 300m when the need arises, but he doesn't have dedicated training to prepare for just that). What FM Slim is stating there is quite different. His observation was that a special forces' specialty is a sum of regular tasks of other existing arms - so he makes the point that combining it all in a small body of men is to the harm of the whole. The whole is important, even if not "special", as it has desirable qualities of its own: mass, endurance, depth, breadth etc.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 02 Nov 2008 00:41

^^
similar to the concept why IAF has no "elite" squadrons.

HariC · Post by **HariC** » 05 Nov 2008 00:49

Rahul M wrote:^^
similar to the concept why IAF has no "elite" squadrons.

atleast not officially.. but unofficially they have their elites. The VIP Squadron at Delhi is the elite for transport and helicopter pilots. Till recent years, No.1 and No.7 were elite fighter squadron because of the Vajras and their sqn' pedigree.

prouge · Post by **prouge** » 05 May 2009 23:59

Hello guys it me again

QUESTIONS
1) Is it true that the minimum years of engagement for SSC candidates was raised from 5 years to 10 years recently (Is it true for air force and navy SSC candidates too).

2) Is there any battalion that informally acts like a feeder to the SF forces in the army.

3) Can some one realistically voluntarily retire from the army after say 7 years of service (if they are serving in the SSC).

4) Is there a minimum aggregate percentage required for applying to SSC(TECH) ARMY for B.E candidates (now this is a big mystery).

5) Can SSC candidates go in for M.E while in the army.

Unfortunately there is very little information to go by and speaking to an defense recruiter offered very little extra information (he came down to our college and I had to compete for attention).

@sonam_kapadia
If you want a new website with designed for free i can help you out. Although given my present commitments I cant give a date for completion. It is the least i can do.

Thanks again for you patience and thank you mods for not deleting this thread.
Good day.

P.S: I want to join the army to serve my motherland. I don't see it as a career, but as my duty. But 10 years of service would take a great professional toll (this is just my opinion).

EDIT:: It would be great if i am allowed to edit the first post, so that i can provide a brief summary of all the solved questions. It could help a lot of people out.

prouge · Post by **prouge** » 07 Jun 2009 23:42

I know I can't demand answers, I am pleading for them. If this was a passing interest I would have not kept coming back. I really need this information because I have to decide within the near future. I don't contribute on BR forums because there is very little for me to say, but I do read from time to time.

May be SF questions were a bit too much to ask (what can I say I am a dreamer) but all others are required. If you guys can't/won't/unable to provide the required information can you just point me to its source (Can I just walk into a base and ask these kind of questions ??).

Hope you help a very probable recruit

Wishing you a great day
prouge

@sonam_kapadia : If you ever feel the need for a redesign of the website, please feel free to contact me, I really want to help people like you out in what ever small way possible. The only thing i cant promise is a due date for completion. <Salutes>

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 07 Jun 2009 23:51

EDIT:: It would be great if i am allowed to edit the first post, so that i can provide a brief summary of all the solved questions. It could help a lot of people out.

(edit time is set by forum SW)

if you can write it up as a post I can edit the first post to add it.
regards.

RayC · Post by **RayC** » 08 Jun 2009 00:36

the requirements of SF are that they will be able to carry out jobs that are in some ways the opposite of what a regular army is supposed to, like sabotage, behind the lines ops and so on.

creating an SF to do a beefed up super-infantry's job is nonsense and I suppose that is what FM Slim was referring to. in all 'normal' battlefield conditions infantry should be able to do the job as well as SF.
even then AFAIK IA uses its ghataks as organic SF components.
perhaps the ideas about SF has changed somewhat from his times, when the concept was in its infancy.
since then SF have performed well in many conflicts around the world.

As an infantry man and having seen SF in combat, I agree with you that the infantry is not too far behind the SF to accomplish difficult tasks.

Yet, I will concede that if the SF, having some singular skills that are better honed than the infantry, is used, then the results will be different.

As a simplistic example, SF would be a force multiplier to the main action. If the infantry is to attack and capture an objective, and the SF takes on the guns and the reinforcements on the way, it will make the task of the infantry easier. Combat ratio and relative strength.

Infantry could do the same thing, but then that would deplete the strength at the objective end.

SF is trained to do the things that would 'sanitise the battlefield' as also 'deplete the enemy's force multipliers'.

prouge · Post by **prouge** » 12 Jun 2009 00:39

Questions that plagued my mind

Code: Select all

Note:: This dosen't answer any questions about monthly salaries,perks,etc. 

1)Should I join the army ---> Check

2)Initial Term of Engagement for short service commission(As of Jun 10 2009) 10 Years

3)Modes Of entry 
(a)------Permanent commission----------- 	
	National Defence Academy
				Month of Commencement of Course each year
				January and July
		
				Age at the time of joining
				161/2-19 years

				Educational Qualification
				Class 12 of the 10+2 system of education, or equivalent

				Mode of selection
				NDA exam by UPSC and SSB interview

		How to Apply
			Apply in response to advertisement in March/April & Oct./Nov.
 

	Indian Military Academy
				Direct Entry
				Month of Commencement of Course each year
				January and July

				Age at the time of joining
				19-24 years

				Educational Qualification
				Degree or equivalent at the time of joining the course

				Mode of selection
				Combined Defence Exam (CDSE) conducted by UPSC and SSB interview
		
		How to Apply
			Apply in response to advertisement in March/April & Oct./Nov.

	Engineering Graduates
				Month of Commencement of Course each year
				January and July

				Age at the time of joining
				20-27 years

				Educational Qualification
				Engineering Degree in notified discipline

				Mode of selection
				Direct SSB interview
		
		How to Apply
			Apply to Addl. Directorate General of Recruiting (TGC), Army HQ, West Block III, RK Puram, New Delhi - 110066 in response to 					advertisement in March/April & Oct./Nov.

	University Entry Scheme
				Month of Commencement of Course each year
				July

				Age at the time of joining
				19-25 years (final year engineering students )
				18-24 years (prefinal year engineering students )

				Educational Qualification
				Final and pre-final year students of an engineering degree course.

				Mode of selection
				Campus interview and SSB interview
	
		How to Apply
			Apply in response to advertisement in July.

	10+2 PCM (Tech)
				Month of Commencement of Course each year
				January and July

				Age at the time of joining
				161/2-191/2 years

				Educational Qualification
				10+2 Pass with aggregate.

				Mode of selection	
				Apply directly to the Recruitment Directorate
	
		How to Apply
			May and November..

(b)-------Short Service-------------

	Short Service Commission
				Month of Commencement of Course each year
				May and Oct./Nov.

				Age at the time of joining
				19-24 years

				Educational Qualification
				Degree or equivalent at the time of joining the course
	
				Mode of selection
				Combined Defence Exam (CDSE) conducted by UPSC and SSB interview

		How to Apply
			Apply in response to advertisement in March/April & Oct./Nov.


	Short Service Commission (Technical)
					Month of Commencement of Course each year
					May and Oct./Nov.
	
					Age at the time of joining
					20-27 years

					Educational Qualification
					Engineering Degree in notified discipline

					Mode of selection
					Direct SSB interview

			How to Apply
				Apply in response to advertisement in March/April & Oct./Nov.

	Short Service Commission (NCC Special Entry Scheme)
					Month of Commencement of Course each year
					May

					Age at the time of joining
					19-25 years

					Educational Qualification
					Graduate with 50% aggregate marks, two years' service in NCC Senior Div. Army with minimum 'B' Grade in 'C' Certificate Exam

					Mode of selection
					Direct SSB interview

			How to Apply
				Apply in response to advertisement in Oct./Nov.

	Women's Special Entry Scheme (Officers)
					Month of Commencement of Course each year
					March and September

					Age at the time of joining
					19-27 years

					Educational Qualification
					Graduate/Post-Graduate/Engineering Graduate.

					Mode of selection
					Direct SSB interview
		
		How to Apply
			Apply in response to advertisement in June/December.

4)Is there any sort of exit policy  -- None, if you don't know any babus :-). Note: Read that it is extremely hard to "voluntarily retire from the armed forces"

5)How do I sign up for the special forces, what kind of contact would I sign : The only thing I know is special forces contract term is 5 years. I think the same applies for NSG,etc.

6)Are SSC(TECH),SSC folks allowed to go for further post graduation,etc while in active service    -------HAVE NO CLUE ------------------

7)From what I read SSC(TECH)Air force has a minimum percentage for admission into the program, the navy has this too. So what about the army    ------ HAVE NO CLUE---------

8)Can I go speak to an Army/Navy/Air force recruiter : Sure you can, the only point here is can you actually *trust* the information that is given (I personally don't because unlike public forums, the information he tells you isn't up for public review). While there may be extremely competent recruitment officers, if you are unlucky you might get to meet an incompetent one.

9)How do I contact an armed forces recruiter: Use the telephone directory.

10)Got any more questions : Go ask some one related to you in the armed forces and report back.

I Know it is not much but it is a start.

<END>

RayC · Post by **RayC** » 12 Jun 2009 10:26

Sonam,

I had missed the website of yours.

My sincere condolences.

It is the sacrifices like your brother's that make us safe.

Proud of him and proud of your family too.

God Bless your family.

rkirankr · Post by **rkirankr** » 12 Jun 2009 10:49

Friends,

Before going to attend the tests please make sure you are medically fit. I have seen and personally experienced the disappointment.
I have attended SSB 3 times , the third time I felt I did very well. One army wallah(he was a nco and had come there to become an officer), told me I had no chance as I had knock knees and would anyway fail. Many others said yes. There were many IAF and IA guys who had come to attend the SSB and none of them had knock knees. I was so disappointed and did not do well on the next day and also on the conference on the last day when I was asked a SRT question by the head of the SSB.
When I came back , I was determined I will try again even if I had to undergo operation. I went to a surgeon whom my sister (who is also a doctor )referred to. He checked my legs and said my knees are ok but the left leg is slightly bent more inwards at the hip. Though this is normal and does not affect day to day activities , it is not ideal for physical activities like the one in defence or athletics. He said it would cost atleast 60,000 (in 1999!).That was beyond my means. Worse, was he said he could not guarantee the success because he would be touching the hip and so I may even end up with a permanent limp.
This was very disappointing and it took me a long time to recover and find another stream.
So please have a proper check up. Do not neglect medical part.

RayC · Post by **RayC** » 12 Jun 2009 12:10

rkirankr

Good advice.

Medical is an important aspect. Eyesight is an equally important thing to check up as also the ear and hearing.

Don't worry about not making it to the Army or whatever was your desire. I am sure you are destined for greater things.

Just like Robert Clive. His family shipped him off and see what he became and did!

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 12 Jun 2009 13:15

sonam_kapadia wrote:Hi,

I manage a web-memorial for my brother Lt. Nawang Kapadia, who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation while fighting terrorist in Kashmir, at http://www.nawang.com. Of late, I have been getting a number of queries from fine men wanting more information on how to join the army.

Unfortunately, I don't know much about it and all I can do is direct them to the Army and BR site.

Does anyone on this forum know more about this and willing to help them, I can forward those mails to him. This would really help them and I guess the army recruitment too.

Thanks for all the help

I must pay salute to Lt. Nawang Kapadia and his family for all sacrifices made for the country.

Website is really masterpiece and worth visiting. Especially experiences your family had dealing with SBI and LIC. Atleast, army men are spared from all beurecracy of govt and semi govt. organisations in India.

VikB · Post by **VikB** » 01 Jul 2009 12:51

@prouge

If you want a balance of career and wanting to be in the Army too, you can try the Territiorial Army route
http://indianarmy.nic.in/ta/index_ta.htm

I spoke to a TA guy recently and the Army seems to be surprisingly flexible in this scheme. You are required to spend minimum 2 months per year in the army and can also opt for say straight one year in the army depending on your own interest. And he mentioned that there is no particular restriction in terms of minimum number of years before you can opt out of the scheme.

@ Sonam Kapadia

Sir, my regards and respects to you and your family and to the departed soul. I have bookmarked your site for some time now and waiting to earn the right to ask you for the Khukri of honour. I hope I will be able to contact you soon for the same.

VB

Baljeet · Post by **Baljeet** » 07 Jul 2009 07:05

RayC wrote:rkirankr

Good advice.

Medical is an important aspect. Eyesight is an equally important thing to check up as also the ear and hearing.

Don't worry about not making it to the Army or whatever was your desire. I am sure you are destined for greater things.

Just like Robert Clive. His family shipped him off and see what he became and did!

I agree with RayC. When I went to SSB, they sit you down in room and this dude keeps walking away from you while whispering numbers and names at you. I was suppose to get all of them, I only got 18 out of 20. My eyesight was eagle sharp. No other issues I had. I was suppose to join IMA in July but destiny had other things planned for me. I left Desh for 'shaap bhatkan ka'.
Most fun part of any SSB is the Group Activity. They test you thoroughly on that, plus the individual leadership test. BTW, my SSB was at Banglore very close to GB Road, I don't know if that hotel at that time owned by Film Actor Sanjeev Kumar is still there or not.

VikB · Post by **VikB** » 08 Jul 2009 11:29

"Last edited by Jagan on 01 Jul 2009 01:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sir, not ma'am "

My apologies.

Thanks Jagan

Jamal K. Malik · Post by **Jamal K. Malik** » 08 Jul 2009 14:09

OT post edited.

Gaur · Post by **Gaur** » 08 Jul 2009 17:00

^^ What is this doing here?

Jamal K. Malik · Post by **Jamal K. Malik** » 18 Jul 2009 01:10

Result of written part of NDA & Naval Academy Exam (I) 2009 announced