Hello warriors! I know that you are an NDA aspirant or were an NDA aspirant, or want somebody you know to get into NDA that is why you have started reading this. So NDA as the title says could be the best thing that can happen to a 17-18 year old boy. Of course I don’t mean to criticize or comment on any other career aspiration or profession, but NDA is special in its own way. As they say, it makes men out of boys! I am not going to compare NDA to any other career aspiration but only strike on the good things you get if you are lucky enough to join the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla.
First of all let us know what NDA is National Defence Academy or NDA is tri service academy of India, located in Khadakwasla, pune. It is a feeder institution for the Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy. It trains the boys to before they go for their pre-commissioning training in the respective academies of Army, Navy and Air Force. It is the first tri-service academy of the world and as they say they train ‘India’s Pride’, the future officers of the Armed Forces. Only the boys can join NDA, after they complete 10+2, for more details you can refer to the eligibility criteria of NDA exam, which is a written exam conducted by UPSC and followed by Service Selection Board Interview for the written qualified candidates.
So coming back to the core.
It is a dream for many to be a part of the armed forces and live a life of adventure, excitement and serve the motherland. For some it is a job, but trust me if you get into NDA or any academy for that matter of fact, it’ll not remain a job and turn into passion and your way of life. When a candidate joins NDA, he is placed in one of the 18 squadrons which become his home for the next three years. The Squadrons are named as Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hunter, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Panther, Quebec and Romeo. There are five battalions, No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 Battalions have four squadrons each while No. 5 has 2 squadrons. Each squadron has approximately 100 to 120 cadets drawn from senior as well as junior courses under training in the Academy. And then begins a life which changes and transforms the personality of the boys. After three years of training you get into the academy of your choice, i.e. either IMA, NA or AFA. There you get specialized training in the service of your choice.
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While your classmates from school are busy having a fun life of college, friends, outings, dating etc., you are busy with ragda, endurance and learning to fight with sleep and then sleep with open eyes. Your friends outside study hard at the time of exams, you are working hard practically every day! You learn to become tough, you learn to survive in the harshest of conditions. You are taught everything, not only related to the degree you’ll get in BA/B.Sc. from Jawaharlal Nehru University, but also related to how you dress up, how you eat. You are trained in different outdoor skills like games, PT and Drills. You get to play games so extensively that only others can think of. There are number of indoor and outdoor clubs, offering numerous activities. Your personality is evolved thoroughly and wonderfully! Of course the training is not a cakewalk but it is more about mind than body.
Hard Work pays! So before your friends outside can get a decent placement, you are already commissioned and are working with government of India in the most prestigious institution. The best part of being in NDA is that you get a chance to play, study, develop your personality together. The bond you make with your course mates, the friendship you share is a lifetime affair. So indeed NDA is the best thing that could happen to you, isn’t it?
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Tashi Mishra, Editorial Team
She is a defense aspirant from Varanasi completed her BCA. She has attended SSB Interview at 1 AFSB Dehradoon and has more SSB coming up. She is confident about joining Defence Forces one day. Here, she is sharing her views and experience.
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