Indian military's officer crisis- RESEARCH

[Indo-guy]

It is clearly a HR issue. Recruitments have dropped off in the past few decades as the private sector in India has offered more lucrative alternatives to the brightest Indians/traditional Indian military recruitment pool.

Once military job was attractive and more than that honorable profession ....today values of our society have changed ....

Patriotism has been degraded to mere celebration of victory in cricket matches ....

Today's youth is no longer interested in military beyond verbal tributes !

 

[Screambowl]

yes because if every one wants to be an engineer in IT, earn more, why will one even try into military, plus the selection criteria of military is very tough. seems like percentage quality youth is going down.

 

[jaibi]

It is clearly a HR issue. Recruitments have dropped off in the past few decades as the private sector in India has offered more lucrative alternatives to the brightest Indians/traditional Indian military recruitment pool.

That is a factor, I would not disagree; however, Abingdonboy, in the South Asian culture the military service is deemed as the highest of honours and thus this is not the major issue. As far as recruitment pool is concerned it is more likely that it has shifted, at least that's what's happened in Pakistan. Previously, tradition more than social mobility attracted a military life and now it is a more confused time. Secondly, the cultural connotations of the military, in my view, have drastically changed. I believe that needs to be addressed.

Last time I read wad that Indian Army has already taken steps to fill the Gap and has increased seats in Academies as it was very less compare to the demand.

Kaykay, I would suggest you read the article, the problem seems at a more deeper level than to be fixed by a training module or strategy.

 

[kaykay]

Once military job was attractive and more than that honorable profession ....today values of our society have changed ....

Patriotism has been degraded to mere celebration of victory in cricket matches ....

Today's youth is no longer interested in military beyond verbal tributes !

This is utter wrong. Earlier there was hardly any private sector Job and people were more inclined towards Govt jobs say Police, Army and other govt Jobs but now a days we have lots of choices in private jobs as well as Govt jobs and I guess as the graph shows, officer shortage is a problem from 1951 so we can't really generalise it with lack of patriotism etc.

 

[Indo-guy]

I was going to say this. But then we don't know the IA's plans for future intake increases. But given the size of the Indian army this extra 50,000 troops (with maybe 1/100th being officers) shouldn't skew things too much.

It's not just about ratio....it also has got to do with resources that these formations are going to drain ...

Add to that current economic climate which will take at least 2 years to settle .... It suddenly changes all equations .

 

[jaibi]

yes because if every one wants to be an engineer in IT, earn more, why will one even try into military, plus the selection criteria of military is very tough. seems like percentage quality youth is going down.

I don't think it is tough when compared to other militaries, Screambowl, it seems that the people who apply are not sufficient.

 

[Indo-guy]

This is utter wrong. Earlier there was hardly any private sector Job and people were more inclined towards Govt jobs say Police, Army and other govt Jobs but now a days we have lots of choices in private jobs as well as Govt jobs and I guess as the graph shows, officer shortage is a problem from 1951 so we can't really generalise it with lack of patriotism etc.

I am not attributing all to lack of patriotism ....but that is certainly an element .

 

[Abingdonboy]

Once military job was attractive and more than that honorable profession ....today values of our society have changed ....

Patriotism has been degraded to mere celebration of victory in cricket matches ....

Today's youth is no longer interested in military beyond verbal tributes !

That is a factor, I would not disagree; however, Abingdonboy, in the South Asian culture the military service is deemed as the highest of honours and thus this is not the major issue. As far as recruitment pool is concerned it is more likely that it has shifted, at least that's what's happened in Pakistan. Previously, tradition more than social mobility attracted a military life and now it is a more confused time. Secondly, the cultural connotations of the military, in my view, have drastically changed. I believe that needs to be addressed.

There's nothing new in this. Developed nations have gone through similar experiences.

It is up to the military to keep up with the the aspirations of the youth.


Look at the US army recruitment- it has changed from "serve your country/ patriotism" to these days advertisement resembling video games and army life being projected as "bad a$$".

 

[NALANDA]

I went to SSB BOARD selection ( army officers) thrice. For every vanacy there is an average 10,000 solid applicants. I am sure this must be the case for other Indian sub continent countries.

Above practice of showing shortage is to seek more perks for Army officers.

 

[Abingdonboy]

This is utter wrong. Earlier there was hardly any private sector Job and people were more inclined towards Govt jobs say Police, Army and other govt Jobs but now a days we have lots of choices in private jobs as well as Govt jobs and I guess as the graph shows, officer shortage is a problem from 1951 so we can't really generalise it with lack of patriotism etc.

THIS.

 

[jaibi]

There's nothing new in this. Developed nations have gone through similar experiences.

It is up to the military to keep up with the the aspirations of the youth.


Look at the US army recruitment- it has changed from "serve your country/ patriotism" to these days advertisement resembling video games and army life being projected as "bad a$$".

I agree however if you read the article, Abin, you'll see how the author compares the situation over in the US to the Indian one. It's too soon and too much.

I went to SSB BOARD selection ( army officers) thrice. For every vanacy there is an average 10,000 solid applicants. I am sure this must be the case for other Indian sub continent countries.

Above practice of showing shortage is to seek more perks for Army officers.

The article highlights the case of 22 engineers applying for nearly 100 job postings in 2009.

 

[Indo-guy]

I am not attributing all to lack of patriotism ....but that is certainly an element .

One needs certain kind of "junoon " to enter ...or even dream to enter military ....everybody can't dare .

I certainly sense that sense of "madness " no longer lurks in majority of today's youth ....People have become quite smart

and Money has become the only currency and language in Life !

How can we deny the fact that changes in society will be ultimately reflected in all spheres of life - and military recruitment can't be immune to those changes in values ?

 

[Abingdonboy]

It's not just about ratio....it also has got to do with resources that these formations are going to drain ...

Add to that current economic climate which will take at least 2 years to settle .... It suddenly changes all equations .

Please, this is a multi-decade long solution so short term economic issues are utterly irrelevant. The policies to address it were put in place before this current economic climate (18 months back) and will long outlive this current economic issue.

I went to SSB BOARD selection ( army officers) thrice. For every vanacy there is an average 10,000 solid applicants. I am sure this must be the case for other Indian sub continent countries.

Above practice of showing shortage is to seek more perks for Army officers.

I think I read somewhere that for every place at IMA there are 200,000+ applicants.

 

[he-man]

The latest I've heard is that the IA/ IAF are taking steps to address this shortfall within the next 7-10 years.

Even doctors are very less in armed forces............don't worry i will come soon

 

[Indo-guy]

I went to SSB BOARD selection ( army officers) thrice. For every vanacy there is an average 10,000 solid applicants. I am sure this must be the case for other Indian sub continent countries.

Above practice of showing shortage is to seek more perks for Army officers.

May be you are correct ...but then 10,000 solid applicants for 1 vacancy sounds rather exaggeration !

Even doctors are very less in armed forces............don't worry i will come soon

I know several doctors who have left AFMC ....despite having had to pay hefty bond penalty ....

Many of them going for greener pastures like US,UK, Australia.....even Singapore .

Even doctors are very less in armed forces............don't worry i will come soon

Are you studying for medicine ?