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To choose the Indian Armed Forces as a career is different from other career alternatives. It is not an easy job. The majority of people that enrol in the Indian Armed Forces do that due to a certain view of nationalism and thinking about the initiative of the Nation. No matter if the person is a soldier, a clerk, a technical assistant, a cartographer, or even a tradesman in the Indian Armed Forces; the majority of them join this with the sense of nationalism.
The Armed Forces include the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force. All these three wings have their individual methods of admission and different structures.
The Indian Army is in charge of defending the land, honour of the nation against all the external aggression as well as internal disturbances. During the war, the army is liable to protect the country against external violence, whereas, in the peacetime, it offers help to the national authorities in case of natural calamities, and also helps in maintaining law & order when necessary.
The Indian Air Force is liable for country’s Air Defense, playing both defensive and offensive roles.
Work Nature
The Indian Army is primarily divided into the Combat Arms and other Services.
The Combat Arms include the Artillery, the Infantry, and the Armored Corps and they are responsible for the real combat.
The services include Army Ordnance Corps, Army Service Corps, Army Medical Corps, Army Postal services, Intelligence Corps, and Army Education Corps. These services are responsible to make sure continuous stream of essential supplies and ordnance, including food for animal and men, Fuel for the vehicles, ammunition, and tanks.
Different branches of the Indian Air Force include Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Administrative), and Technical Branch. Postgraduates that enter into the Air Force are ineligible for the Flying Branch, however, can work in the Ground Duty Branch and the Technical Branch.
The Flying branch consists of Fighter Pilots that fly fighter planes or combat carrying missiles and ammunition; Transport Pilots that fly planes carrying men or materials and the Helicopter Pilots that offer air assistance to the moving Army.
The Technical Branch consists of engineering sections and it is liable for the weapons systems and engineering equipment in the Air Force.
The Administrative (Ground Duty) Branch consists of all the departments which offer Logistical, Educational, Meteorological, and Administrative help in the technical and flying branches.
Personality
A career being an officer or a soldier needs a special kind of character. The screening tests which the Indian Army organizes are mainly designed for checking a candidate's character. More importance is given to the candidate's character than his physical abilities.
The SSB (Services Selection Board) tries and find out if the candidate is having the ability to handle physical and mental pressure. As the life of an officer or a soldier involves war and the cruel realism of it, very few people can handle the physical and mental pressure. These tests, which the SSB organizes, are not physically demanding, but they are meant for evaluating the candidate's psychological character.
A successful applicant needs to survive the mental and physical pressure. The courses of the NDA (National Defense Academy) or the IMA (Indian Military Academy) test candidate's ability to handle the pressure to the extreme. Punishments (that are the only type of ragging permitted in these institutions) are validated by including them as part of their training. They are intended to construct a future officer or soldier's capability to survive and not surrender under extreme physical or mental pressure.
There are Multiple Ways through which One may enter the IMA.
There is a Direct Entry system where one needs to apply to the advertisements in the March/April or October/November for the admissions in January or July correspondingly. One needs to have an age limit between 19 to 24 years in January/July (depends on the semester or term which you are applying for). One needs to have a degree from a recognized university (minimum Bachelor's degree) at the admission time (January/July). Then one needs to appear in the CDSE (Combined Defense Services Exam) and then go for the UPSC along with SSB interview.
There is a university entrance system for the engineering students also. One needs to apply against the July advertisements for the admissions of subsequent July. The system is relevant for the pre-final year and final year engineering students. One has to be between the age limit of 19-25 years at the admission time if somebody is in the final year and between the age limit of 18-24 years if somebody is in the pre-final year. One needs to appear for the SSB interview and campus interview for this type of entry. The applicant isn’t required to sit in the written test.
One may also apply whereas in the school, however rather than enrolling for the NDA, one may join in the IMA. It is only valid for the students having Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry in the 12th class and needs a minimum of 70% total for applying. One needs to reply to the advertisements in May/November for the admissions in January/July correspondingly and one should have an age between 16.5- 19.5 years in January/July. One needs to apply straight to the Recruitment Directorate.
The SSC (Short Services Commission) permits the candidates to provide a time duration of five years. When this tenure is ended, one may go to the Permanent Commission. Instead, one may also go for the 5-year expansion and may select to give resignation from the post during that period.
The Air Force focuses completely on the aerial missions, including flying fighter aircraft or offering aerial support to the land-based troops. Though, Air Force officials could also be associated with the launch of rockets and satellites into space for intelligence objectives. Enrolled Air Force persons are normally assigned practical roles like information technology or weapons maintenance services. Both the enrolled persons and officers have to be mathematically expert and technical-minded, despite the positions they assume.
The Army offers possibly the widest range of roles in all the military branches. Officers could take a profession path as infantry, armour, artillery commanders, or aviators. Enrolled troops will have similar roles, even though they won't take flight unless they step forward to warrant the official status. Having the right credentials and education, you may also become the Army physician or attorney counselling commanders and protecting soldiers at the courts-martial. Majority of Army roles are on the battlefield, taking the direct fight with the enemy to secure vital strategic locations.
Special Operations
The Air Force provides "Army-like" positions with special operations like a ‘Tactical Air Patrol Party Specialist’. These experts work on the grounds, entrenched with the Army or Marine forces. Their main role is communicating precise information and coordinates so that pilots can offer precise air support to the ground troops. The Air Force Para Rescue Jumpers are sent to the unfavourable territory to find downed airmen, with the help of battling skills to take everybody home safely. The special troops of the Army include the Special Forces. These units can get assignments, anything from arresting enemy places like an airport or assassinating higher value targets.
Promotion and Advancement
With both branches, getting promotions involves the exhibition of leadership and competence to commanders and supervisors. You are suggested for promotion after passing through the preliminary enlisted ranks, whereas the majority of promotions are automated. Officers have to display adequate leadership and control capabilities to keep progress. In all the military branches, getting passed more than twice for the advancement is the signal that you wouldn’t be considered for higher rankings any further. The Air Force and the Army employ panels for the non-commissioned officers, and their achievements are assessed to decide advancement opportunities.
Remunerations
The remuneration with other reimbursements available to the officers may be seen in the Army Pay and Benefits and Allowances. As you can see the compensation is significant both with cash salaries and also additional benefits.
Conclusion
The Army and the Air Force both are gratifying career paths. The Army and the Air Force are having both differences and similarities and a few of them might not be clearly evident. For instance, even though you could think about the Air Force like a military division, which focuses only on aviation, you may also associate with the land-based special operations. If you compare career path alternatives, educational requirements, and average "day in the life," then you can take a more well-versed decision about which is a better career choice for you.
