Soldier - How to become a Soldier

A Soldier is the primary fighting force of all the armies in the world. Also known as Ground Troop or Sepoy or Rifle Man in the Indian army, a soldier is the one who takes the enemy head-on. A soldier's courage and valor determine the outcome of a war.

Going by this fact one may think that there will not be any taker of this responsibility. But the reality is contrary to the belief and is proved by long lines of young Indians (and sometimes even younger than the required) in Open recruitment rallies throughout the country. The country is full of young energetic youths who are ready to serve the country in this capacity. 

Like in any other profession competition is really hard to join the Indian Army as a soldier too. Those who are mad to wear olive green know that what they are going to do can not be done by others. They know that they are the only ones that are not known as Hindu, Sikhs, Muslims, etc. They are known as Soldiers of The Indian Army. And there is no dearth of such young ones. This makes The Indian Army one of the few volunteer Armies, unlike many other so-called superpowers that have to maintain a compulsory army service.

The passion among the young ones made the competition all the tougher. So one has really to be the best and the fittest to join the Indian Army as a Soldier. And to be the best one is required to be full of confidence, courage, determination, and grit to uphold the aspirations of the country. If you think that you have these basic requirements then you are most welcome to join the Indian Army.

Indian Army Soldier Eligibility

Educational Qualification and Age

Essential Qualification and Age for becoming a soldier in the army varies from Non-metric to Metric with some time asking for math, science, and English as main subjects. It depends upon the type of job being assigned to the Soldier.

Nationality

Indian

Gender

Only male candidates can join the services through NDA

Physical Standards according to Region

General physical requirements common for all candidates

• You must be in good physical and mental health and free from any disease/ disability, which is likely to interfere with the efficient performance of duties. There should be no evidence of weak constitution, bodily defects, or overweight.
• Your chest should be well developed. The minimum range of expansion after full inspiration should be 5 cm.
• There should be no disease of bones and joints of the body.
• You should be free of any past history of mental breakdown or fits.
• Your hearing should be normal without any evidence of present or past disease of the ear, nose, and throat.
• There should be no sign of functional or organic disease of the heart and blood vessels. Your blood pressure should also be normal.
• The muscles of the abdomen should be well developed without any enlargement of the liver or spleen. Any evidence of disease of internal organs of the abdomen can be a cause for rejection.
• An un-operated hernia can make you unfit for selection. If operated, this should have been done at least six months prior to the present examination and healing should be complete without any potential for recurrence.
• There should be no hydrocele, varicocele or piles. If operated for hydromel and/or varicocele, this should have been done at least six months prior to the present examination and healing should be complete without any recurrence.
• Urine examination will be done and any abnormality, if detected, can be a cause for rejection.
• Any disease of the skin, which is likely to cause disability or disfigurement, will also be a cause for rejection.
• Vision will be tested. You must have good binocular vision. In case you have undergone or are detected to have undergone Radial Keratotomy, or any other procedure to improve the visual acuity, you will be permanently rejected.
• You should have a sufficient number of natural and sound teeth. A minimum of 14 dental points will be acceptable. When 32 teeth are present, the total dental points are 22. You should not be suffering from severe pyorrhea.

How to become a Soldier/Sepoy in the Army?

Step 1
As all the recruitments are done through rallies so the first step towards joining is to contact the nearest Branch recruiting Office/Zonal Recruiting Office and get the details of Rally schedule and report to rally site on the dates announced on Notice Board along with your Educational Certificate, Birth Certificate (in original) domicile certificate, character certificate and six passport size photographs.
Step 2
One has to go for the Physical Fitness Tests (PFT) carrying following events of 100 marks in all.

•   1 Mile Run
•   Pull Ups
•   Balance
•   9 Feet Ditch

Details of the marks awarded in each test individually.

One Mile Run

• 5.40 Mins and below - 60 Mks
• 5.41 Mins to 5.50 - 48 Mks
• 5.51 Mins to 6.00 - 36 Mks
• 6.01 Mins to 6.20 - 24 Mks

Pull Ups

•   10 and above - 40 Mks
•   9 - 32 Mks
•   8 - 28 Mks
•   7 - 21 Mks
•   6 - 16 Mks

Balance & 9 Feet Ditch
These are qualifying tests hence no marks are awarded.

Step 3
Those who qualify in the physical test are subject to put for a written test with the following description.

Written Examination
Common Entrance Examination (CEE) is conducted on last Sundays of each month for recruitment of Soldiers which consists of two papers:-

Paper-I - Compulsory for all soldier categories.
It generally comprises of questions on IQ/Numerical ability general knowledge and current affairs.

• Duration - 60 minutes.
• Total marks - 100
• Pass Marks - 32.

Paper-II - For Sol. Technical, Sol. CLK (GD/SKT) and Sol. Nursing Candidates

1. Sol Tech - It generally comprises of Physics, Chemistry and Maths.
2. Sol CLK/SKT -It generally comprises of Maths & English (Language Proficiency)
3. Sol Nursing Assistant - It generally comprises of Chemistry, Botany & Biology,

All the above paper consists of:

• Duration - 30minutes
• Total Marks - 50
• Pass marks - 16

Note: In addition to paper I, a Sol Tech, Sol Clk/SKT and Sol Nursing Assistant has to qualify in his respective paper NCC "C" Certificate holders seeking enrollment for Sol (GD) are exempted from appearing in written examination but have to fulfil other laid down criteria.
Step 4
Conducting of Medical Examinations. Final selection will be on Merit.

Army Soldier Salary/ Pay Scale

Initial Pay of an Army soldier is about Rs.25,000 to Rs.30,000 depending upon the category to which he belongs. Beside this, a regular Indian army soldier enjoys other benefits like free ration, clothing, accommodation and allied services, medical treatment for self and family, group-housing scheme benefits, building loan facilities, canteen facilities, etc.

Army Soldier Career Prospects

A soldier can become a Commissioned Officer subject to certain conditions. Numerous NCO/JCO posts have been created to improve career prospects and pensionary benefits.