By choosing INDIAN NAVY, you are choosing more than just a job. We offer a unique way of exploring your life and provide ample opportunities to exploit your potential in every sphere of life. We provide a level of security and comfort that is almost unheard of in civilian life.
For many people, the greatest attraction of a career in the Indian Navy is the variety or opportunities to make you career challenging. You can face the challenges and develop methods to exploit the full potential in you. A job in the Navy offers you a chance to exploit your true potential as a professional – by learning new skills, acquiring unrivalled experience in the process of applying those skills, and making the most of Navy advancement.
In the Indian Navy, you’ll find there’s much more to be gained than a regular salary. In fact, the experience that you gain in the Navy can help you shape your future through outstanding financial benefits, unparalleled career potential, and the lifestyle of freedom and personal growth that you’ve been waiting for.
Think about it. As long as you have the drive to make a difference in the world – and in your own life – there will be a place for you in the Indian Navy. You can gain valuable sills and build a secure future.
If you are starting your career with zero professional experience or seeking to enhance your current skill set and education, the Navy is a sure way to take your career to the next level.
In the Navy where you can build a career that thrives. Here your individual thoughts, ideas and skills are given an opportunity to shine. Whether you’re looking to build your leadership attributes, learn a skilled trade or rise to the top of your field, the Navy will help you do it.
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While it’s common for girls to give up their passions and engage in homemaking in most Indian parts, Maj Deepika Rathore took the road less travelled by to chase her dreams. She had the courage to pursue her dreams and that made Maj Deepika Rathore the only lady from Indian Armed Forces to have conquered Mt. Everest twice.
Maj Deepika is an ex-NCC cadet from Rajasthan. She had been a part of Republic Day Parade in 2002 and had represented India in Singapore in the Youth Exchange Programme. Apart from this, she had won a national level silver medal in guess what? Dancing! So yeah, the word ‘multi-talented’ will surely define her best.
But wait, that’s not it. She had developed mountaineering as her hobby since her NCC days when she was first rejected for the Basic Mountaineering Course at Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) in Uttarkashi for being underweight. But she, however, convinced the doctor and signed an undertaking to overrule her medical hurdles, clearing her basic and later, advanced mountaineering course with flying colours.
Deepika later joined the army in 2011 in the Army Ordnance Corps through then WES (Women Entry Scheme). When she was posted in the Leh-Ladakh sector,she went on an All Army Everest Expedition, climbing Everest with pride.
The then Captain, Deepika Rathore (Standing, first from right) with the Everest summit team. Their climb was documented by Discovery channel.
After this, as her luck and will would have it, she was approached to lead an NCC girls expedition to Mt Everest in May 2016. She accepted the offer under the command of Col Gaurav Karki with pride and they created a world record of ‘Largest number of women climbing Everest from a single organisation’.
Maj Rathore with May 2016 NCC Girls Everest Expedition
Incidentally, the team left for Everest from Siachen camp just a day before the deadly avalanche in which many Indian soldiers, including Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad, were buried alive. News of the incident served as a reminder of the dangers of their mission. To keep their morale high Rathore told them, “If you feel you are strong, no one can stop you. If you think, you can. Brave soldiers like Hanumanthappa are a constant source of inspiration to us all.”
The team had 2 girls from Leh, 2 from Manipur, 1 from Darjeeling, 2 from Uttarakhand and 1 from Rajasthan and Mizoram each.
I was lucky enough to have a talk with Maj Deepika during the All India Vayu Sainik Camp-2016 and ask the question to her that kept me tickling since the start of her talk – “What motivates you to keep going and achieve new feats, especially when you are a class 1 gazetted officer in the armed forces? You can just sit back and relax.” First things first, this question had offended the other officer standing by but I purely had no intentions of offending anyone. What I meant to ask was, what was her inspiration of risking life and climbing mountains when your life is already going all well.
In her witty reply, she said “You know, kuch logon ko keeda hota hai kuch karte rehne ka. Wo keeda mujh me hai. I like the adventure. And I do it all while earning a handsome salary. So, why to back-off?”
Maj Deepika Rathore Sharing Her Experience And Interacting With Cadets During AIVSC-2016
By her looks, she looked nothing like a mountaineer, just a beautiful lady officer who came to deliver a lecture. But as we listened to her we realise that it was her mental stamina and will to do that helped her achieve this feat. ‘You do not need a muscular body to touch the sky, all you need is a muscular mind’ is what we realised that day.
This was what she said “Yes, you do need physical strength for such expeditions but more than that you need mental strength. It is the test of your indomitable courage and strong willpower to face the challenges and hurdles that come on the way.”
But, “What About Studies?” Was the Question on Fire:
Lastly, one question asked to her was the question in mind of each and every cadet listening to her. Recalling that she have had been to RDC and YEP, it was asked: “how did you manage your studies along with all this?” Her response was, “You need to manage it anyhow. That defines the officer in you.” At the same time, do not sacrifice studies for anything else as, at the end, it is what will save your day.
At the end, she said “Truly, life in the services provides one with many different opportunities. I love mountaineering and thanks to the army I have had the privilege of scaling the Mount Everest, not once but twice”.
It is not uncommon for individuals who aspire to join the military or law enforcement to hold a deep respect and admiration for those who have served before them, particularly their own family members who have served in similar roles. The image of an officer saluting their father or grandfather who has served in the military is a powerful symbol of respect and honor.
For many aspiring military or law enforcement personnel, the desire to follow in their family member’s footsteps is a strong motivating factor in their decision to pursue a career in these fields. The sense of pride and tradition that comes with serving in these roles can be deeply ingrained in family culture and can be a source of inspiration and motivation for generations.
However, it’s important to note that joining the military or law enforcement should be a personal decision based on an individual’s own values, interests, and goals. While the desire to honor family members who have served before can be a powerful factor in this decision, it’s important for individuals to also consider their own motivations and aspirations for pursuing such a career.
SSB is the interviewing process that accesses the personality of the candidate deep into his soul. The process selects the fit for the service. The process is based on judging the qualities of candidates by comparing their performance in three techniques, depending on what the candidate speaks, thinks, and performs.
The candidate is always instructed to perform as per his normal behavior. But some candidates try to bluff the SSB system by following some myths. Like faces, personalities are also identical. So don’t hide it or try to change it. Below are some of the myths that are commonly followed by candidates, especially repeaters.
Speaking More Will Show Your Qualities – It happens mostly with repeaters. They try to speak more to show their qualities, which is not a way to present their personality. Well, overspeaking always spoil the game. Give chance to other candidates and speak about what is relevant and necessary. Don’t display your qualities by yourself. Let the accessory grasp them.
Writing Tremendous Quality Rich Stories Will Raise Your Chances Of Selection – It is generally seen among candidates that writing a story full of all kinds of qualities is accepted and praised in the SSB. Psychology is not a story-writing competition. They always instruct the candidates to perform in their natural fluency, rather than trying to make a facade in front of it.
Bluffing In Interview Can Hide Your Shortcomings – Some candidates perceive practicing for the interview as preparing to bluff the Interviewing Officer. IO is trained to observe the personality of the candidate by his words. If the access-er finds any contradiction in what you speak and what you write or do, then it will take you down. It is better to accept your shortcomings and mistakes rather than hide or justify them with fake excuses.
Cramping Things Will Ease You in Your Selection – There are several books and institutes that provide written data for practicing for the SSB. But some candidates cramp the stories, sentences, and SRT responses to avoid making efforts and copy the material made to give directions. Be yourself and don’t make your personality more complex by the amalgamation of qualities that you don’t possess.
Following The Selected Candidates Ensures Recommendation – Performing like the recommended candidates can never ensure recommendation. The activities performed by the recommended candidates would have suited their personalities, but it is not compulsory that those would suit you. Try to reveal your own personality without any mix-up and stay genuine.
Conclusion – The myths mentioned above can be easily phased out by the SSB panel. Don’t follow what others say or copy other people or material given in the books. The more you try to hide your personality, the more you will reduce your chances of selection. Try to stay genuine and true to the panel. It is not bad to prepare and practice. So, introspect your mistakes and shortcomings and work hard to eradicate them.
On 21st October 2016 The Indian Coast Guard Ships Aryaman and Atulya were commissioned at Kochi by Financial Advisor to Defence Services Shri Sunil Kumar Kohli. The ceremony was attended by Inspector General VS Pathania Commander Coast Guard Region (West) and flag/senior officers of Indian Navy and dignitaries from Armed Forces, Central and State Govt.
Here are 8 points about ICGS Aryaman and ICGS Atulya:
Aryaman’ and ‘Atulya’ are designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited. These are the eighteenth and nineteenth in the series of twenty Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs).
Equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry, advanced communication, and navigational equipment, the ships are ideal for undertaking multifarious missions such as surveillance, search and rescue and interdiction.
‘Aryaman’ and ‘Atulya’ are capable of achieving a maximum speed of 33 nautical miles.
The special features of the ships include an Integrated Bridge Management System (IBMS) and Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS).
The 50m long indigenous FPVs displace 317 tons of water and can achieve a maximum speed of 33 knots with a range of 1500 nautical miles at an economical speed of 13 knots.
Aryaman literally meaning ‘Possessor of Greatness’ is based at Kochi under the administrative control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (West) and is commanded by Commandant Neeraj Singh
ICGS Atulya, meaning ‘Unrivalled’ is based at Visakhapatnam under the administrative control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (East) and is commanded by Commandant (JG) Shivprasad
The ships have a complement of 05 officers and 33 enrolled personnel each.
The armed forces is a mesmerizing organization. It never fails to seize a conversation every time someone takes up the topic of Indian Armed Forces. But one thing that comes to our mind when we think about the armed forces is their way of disciplined living which includes inventing new life hacks and techniques to make life easier.
The armed forces have given a lot to the world and continue to do so. Here we compile a list of tips and tricks that civilians can learn from military living and be reluctant to say “Damn, that was such easy!”
The Navy Shower: This is not only water-efficient but also a time saver. The trick is to rinse your body using a small amount of water and work the lather on your body. Then use the rest water to clean off the leather. This is efficient in places which have a lesser available fresh water (we’re talking military!). I always do this. Any takers, anyone?
Packing Clothes: When you are in the military, you have to travel, a lot at a moment’s notice. With this, you often need to pack light, keeping your uniforms wrinkle-free. The ‘Ranger Rolling’ technique is the best in terms of efficiency and saves a lot of time too (google it). Even during my last All India Vayu Sainik Camp, this technique has helped me pack my clothes real efficiently saving a lot of luggage space.
Taking initiative: People who take initiative show great leadership qualities, exude positivity and their ‘can do’ approach become inspiring for others to learn from them.
Jet-Lag Diet: How often has it happened that you travel the world across different time zones only to find out that the time is totally different there. And a difference in time means a difference in routines. Jet-Lag often results in a lack of sleep and proper meal as it takes a time to adjust to new time zone. Hence, the 4-day jet-lag diet plan by the military has helped many keep their tasks organized.
Military Diet: Looking forward to shedding some extra fat within a weeks time? The military diet is here. It is a well-formulated diet plan which helps you lose about 2-5 kgs of weight in a week! Read about it here.
Dressing: Proper turn-out in the military is looked upon very seriously. This includes being dressed well from beret to boot polish. Often, tucking in your shirt also involves trick (my trick is to tuck the shirt in the underwear so it doesn’t come out easily during normal tasks). There is nothing like casual wear in the military. It’s either formal or sports turn out.
Maintain A Swiss-Army Knife: Believe me, nothing will come as handy to you as this little tool which includes a bunch of about 10-15 tools ranging from magnifying glass to scissors to cutting pliers. You name it.
Discipline: Finally, the most important thing to learn from the military is discipline and social adaptability. Discipline in your life will take you very far and to great places.
As an Officer, a warrior, in the Air Force, you’re tasked with upholding the constitution and protecting India’s freedom. The responsibility is enormous, but its not only about work… its also about living well. Quality of life is an important attribute of Air Force life and has no parallel in the civil sector.
The life offers you challenge, adventure, excitement, honour, prestige, self respect, content family life, safety and security for self and family and not to forget the social status, respect and esteem of your countrymen.
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As part of the ongoing initiative to enhance interaction and cooperation between India and China, under the provisions of Border Defense Cooperation Agreement, 2013, the Indian and Chinese armies today held the second joint exercise called Sino-India Cooperation 2016. This was a sequel to the first exercise held on February 6, 2016.
This move comes amid hectic diplomatic manoeuvring between the two countries over a host of issues like Nuclear Suppliers Group and designation of Masood Azhar as a terrorist by the United Nations.
This is the first military cooperation of New Delhi and Beijing in J&K. The two nations conduct exercises annually at alternate locations in both countries.
This is the same spot where the two countries fought pitched battles in 1962.
The two countries do not have an earmarked boundary and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) — its alignment is disputed by both.
During the daylong exercise on Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR), a fictitious situation of earthquake striking an Indian Border village was painted. Thereafter, joint teams carried out rescue operation, evacuation and rendering of medical assistance.
Soldiers of Chushul Garrision from India and of Moldo Garrision from China, participated in the day-long exercise.
The Indian team for the exercise was led by Brigadier RS Raman and that of the Chinese was led by Sr Col Fan Jun. The exercise refined the drills to provide succour to the border population in case of natural calamity but has also increased the level of trust and cooperation between the two border guarding forces along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh.
The joint exercise, compliments the ‘Hand-in-Hand’ series of the India-China joint exercises and the effort of both the nations to enhance cooperation and maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas of India and China.
This year’s edition of ‘Hand in Hand’ is scheduled to be held at Aundh, near Pune in Maharashtra, from November 15 to 27.
Among the military heroes of independent India, Flight Lieutenant M.P. Anil Kumar aka ‘MP’ stands out. His heroism was neither in a battlefield nor was it flying MiG-21 fighters that he mastered as an Air Force officer. MP’s bravery, now celebrated in a just-released book, was as a quadriplegic. Hardly able to move his head, he spent almost half of his 50 years in a wheelchair. MP’s accident did not have anything to do with war or regular duty. Simply put, his is an example that even a quadriplegic, if given a chance to live in a healthy peaceful environment, can be a great inspiration.
MP attributed everything he was able to do in life to his Sainik School education and training at the National Defence Academy. In many ways he exemplified what soldiers can achieve in peace. Modern history is replete with narratives of how nations that do not make enough efforts at peace, so that their soldiers can enjoy a normal lifespan to showcase their unique skills and abilities, will be reduced to chest-thumping jingoists in a land awash with forgotten war widows.
The improbable story
On June 28, 1988, MP was winding up a usual day at his fighter base in Pathankot after flying a couple of sorties as a wingman to senior pilots. Night flying had just been called off because of thundershowers, and MP, then just 24, was returning to the officers’ mess when he met with a freak bike accident. “In one quirky instant 20 years ago, a mishap reduced me to a wreck of a combat pilot. From the fighter cockpit to a wheelchair, from a bird’s eye view to a worm’s eye view of the world… Life was never the same,” he wrote a few years ago.
It was his personal battle against tragedy, almost entirely from the Army’s Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre in Pune until he passed away on May 20, 2014, that makes MP a truly inspirational figure. With a pencil in his mouth, he taught himself to tap letter by letter, every comma and full stop in place, on to a keyboard that was placed in front of him. The specially created workstation helped MP write some of the most powerful and original commentaries on military issues in India for various publications. Many of his readers, enthralled by the lyrical prose and precise numbers, never even figured out that all of it was written from memory and without references.
What really connected MP to the thousands of his admirers were his personal narratives of his own struggle after the accident. He mouth-wrote “Airborne to Chairborne”, an iconic 1994 essay about his accident and how he fought his way back into life, which is now part of textbooks in a few State syllabuses. There is hardly a better piece of writing in modern India that captures what determination can achieve. “Greater the difficulty sweeter the victory,” MP signed off that piece.
Ever since his article emerged in public, hundreds of children dropped in at his Pune home to talk to MP, and thousands more were inspired by him. From his wheelchair, MP counselled many into new careers, to find fresh meaning in life, and to embrace challenges with indomitable human spirit. MP didn’t need any academic examples to illustrate his arguments.
In many ways, Born to Fly, MP’s biography by his course-mate Air Commodore Nitin Sathe that was released on October 25, holds a mirror to the urban elite of India who are yet again in a jingoistic mood. From TV channels to print media, from political platforms to NGO meets, warmongering is the loudest noise emanating. There are jarring whispers of gratitude for soldiers about some imminent martyrdom in the air. War is being sought with such passion that human progress seems like a focussed march into bloody battlefields. As if soldiers are born to die, mere commodities and symbols to prove the dishonest and ill-informed patriotism of the loud- and foul-mouthed.
The real question
The story of MP will actually help us reduce the entire discussion to a single, simple question. Who is a better asset: a dead soldier or a living one?
A dead soldier is a martyr celebrated in public for a short while, when his teary eyed daughter’s war cry at the funeral and widow’s angry outburst against the “enemy” are all great visuals for inspiring short-term passion. After embers of the pyre go out, the martyr becomes the private misery of his family and fodder for occasional rhetoric at public rallies.
Reliable estimates put the number of war widows at around 25,000 in India. A majority of these women were widowed not by wars with external enemies but by insurgencies that have been lingering because of lack of political courage to negotiate peace. Their husbands were killed by the repeated political myopia which repeats the same jingoistic errors with such horrible frequency.
The celebration of military heroism and the evocation of jingoistic nationalism at the drop of a hat are ways in which most of us find a way out of nuanced debates and our dishonest existence as citizens.
If you are still not convinced about the responsibility of a nation to find peace and secure the lives of its soldiers, ask any one of us whose lives were deeply touched by Flying Officer M.P. Anil Kumar.
