{ INFORMATIVE MATERIAL } Three intriguing careers in Defence

Contrary to popular opinion, the defence force is not always out in the open with guns, firing away at the enemy.

Three intriguing careers in Defence

Just like any corporate, there are front-office personnel [Army, Navy & Air Force] and there are support personnel at the back end, handling intelligence, espionage, health support systems and devising strategies.

India is concerned about neighbouring countries breaching the borders. We also need to have constant vigilance on the terrorist and naxalite activity within the country, and protect politicians and public places. In the high seas, we need to stop piracy and smuggling. All this calls for a breed of trained professional men and women who dedicate their life to safeguarding the nation. Let us get a glimpse of the potential careers in this field.

1. Armed Forces [Frontline personnel]

This elite group of soldiers form the backbone of the national security. They could be in different modes - active combat, defence or training. In the case of peaceful relations with neighbouring countries, they are in training/developmental activities. In the midst of strife such as the Kargil war, or the Indo-Pak war, they are pressed into service, defending the nation against attacks. In the case of rioting and political turmoil such as the Bombay blasts, they are again in the thick of action.

Process & Eligibility

- A student with a pass in Class XII can enter through Technical Entry Scheme, without any qualifying exam. Focus is on meeting the stringent medical tests and physical fitness exams

- A student with a pass in Class XII can write UPSC and join the NDA [National Defence Academy], Pune to obtain a graduate degree

- A graduate can join through the Combined Defence Service Examination as a Regular/Short Service Commissioned officer. In the case of SSC officer, he/she can choose to resign at the end of 5 years or seek extension.

- Engineering graduates can join after graduation through the university entry scheme, without any written exam. Here they appear before the Service Selection Board.

2. Intelligence Experts

For someone exposed to western spy fiction, names such as Mossad, KGB, CIA, and FBI are quite familiar. In fact, western movies tend to portray the work of detectives and intelligence agents as glamorous professions. In India, few have heard of RAW [Research and Analysis Wing]. This was formed in the year 1968. It has many objectives - three key ones among them are -

1. Monitoring the political and military landscape of neighbouring countries and alerting the government about covert offensive operations.

2. Influencing foreign policy decisions and their implications

3. Influencing the global public opinion with the active assistance of Indians who travel abroad, NRIs and others.

A typical boardroom meet could begin with the chief outlining the sensitive border areas prone to infiltration by militants. He would point to the screen and discuss defence strategies to effectively block out militant movement. So, how should one aspire to be a part of this elite team?

Process & Eligibility

Being a classified agency, RAW does not advertise positions. They hire directly from defence forces (could be Army, Navy, Air Force or Police Force), or in select cases, they approach candidates in universities directly. There is a selective open recruitment forum also. This is the Staff Selection Commission, which organizes an exam called Deputy Field Officers under the Cabinet Secretary.

Training commences with case studies, lectures and motivational speeches. Moving on to advanced training, the recruits are exposed to actual spy operations in difficult terrains; they are also trained fully in armed and unarmed combat. Besides, they are effectively trained in social etiquette so that they can take up bureaucratic positions in foreign embassies.

3. Health Support Systems

A large army in the front requires a larger army of health professionals at the back end. These professionals are typically doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff who work for the defence forces. This dedicated team works in Army hospitals and other dedicated health institutes, which serve the needs of the defence forces.

Process & Eligibility

A specialized institute, which offers a dedicated pool of professionals to the defence force, is Armed Forces Medical College, Pune. Selection is by a nationwide entrance exam followed by a personal interview. The unique feature here is that the Government takes care of all the expenses of the students. You need to have passed Class XII, preferably with high marks in science subjects.