How To Become A Territorial Army Officer

The Territorial army is one of the best options for you to join if you have lost your chance to join the Indian army as a regular officer or if you like the Indian army and want to contribute your services without losing your current job or business. The Territorial Army (TA) provides excellent opportunities for employed young men and women to join the Indian army and earn the glorious uniform.

What is Territorial Army?

The Territorial Army in India (TA) is an organization of volunteers who receive military training for a few days in a year so that in case of an emergency they can be mobilized for the defence of the country. It is a second line of defence after the Regular Indian Army; the Indian Territorial Army is not a profession, occupation or a source of employment. It is only meant for those people who are already in mainstay civilian professions, in fact, gainful employment or self-employment in a civil profession is a pre-requisite for joining the Territorial Army.

Territorial Army Eligibility Conditions

Male and Female citizens of India and Ex-service officers who are medically fit.
Age – 18 to 42 years.
Qualification – Graduate from any recognized university.
Employment – Gainfully Employed in Central Govt/Semi Govt /Pvt Firm/ Own business/Self Employed.
Serving Employees of Police/Paramilitary Forces are not eligible.

Territorial Army Training

Infantry training is carried out on urban and provincial systems.

Urban systems of training

Recruit Training: Training is carried out on weekends and holidays. Four hours of training is counted as one day. Thirty-Six days in the first year only including a camp of not less than four days if the trainee volunteers with the written consent of his employer if any.
Annual Training: A minimum of thirty-six days, with extensions up to a maximum of sixty days including a camp for fourteen days.
Post Commission Training: All officers are required to undergo ten weeks of post commission training within two years of their commissioning. Ex-officers from the Regular Army or Short Service Commissioned can be exempted from this training at the sole discretion of the Commanding Officer.
Voluntary training to gain additional military training, provided the trainee volunteers with the written consent of the employer if any.

Provincial systems of training

Recruit Training: For a continuous period of thirty days in the first year only.
Annual Training: For a continuous period of two calendar months in the first and subsequent years.
Post commission Training: Officers receive ten weeks of compulsory post commission training within two years of commissioning.
Voluntary Training to gain additional military training, provided the trainee volunteers with the written consent of his employer if any.

Territorial Army Selection Process

The selection process of the Territorial Army selection process basically three steps

Written Exam –
1. Written test duration : 2 Hours
2. Maximum marks : 100 Marks
3. Part – I of the Question paper consists of the following
- Short Essay: Essay depends on current national and international events.
- English comprehension & Language Sequencing of sentences (04 marks).
- Comprehension passage (06 marks).
- Fill in the blanks. (10 marks)
Part II
- Objective Type Questions
- General Awareness which consist of Economics
- Politics
- Defence
- Sports
- International Events etc.
- Reasoning –verbal/non- verbal
Preliminary Interview Board – PIB
Service Selection Board- SSB

Gainfully employed candidates fulfilling the eligibility criteria can apply in response to advertisements published in leading national newspaper & The Employment News in June – July and December – January each year. Applications are to be sent to the concerned TA Group Headquarters. After processing of applications, the eligible candidates are called for Preliminary Interview Boards held at respective TA Group Headquarters (Pune, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Lucknow). Selected candidates go through the SSB Interview, Medical Board & Police Verification. The successful candidates are granted commission by the President of India.

Ex – Defence service officers may also join the TA. The required to apply directly to Additional Directorate General of Territorial Army and appear before the Board of Officers presided by the Additional Director General of Territorial Army at New Delhi . Selected Officers are to be cleared by the Medical Boards before the officer’s ar granted commission in the TA. All such officers are given the credit of their previous commissioned service on joning the Territorial Army.