The Army Education Corps (AEC) is one of the corps of the Indian Army, responsible for providing educational and training support to soldiers, officers, and their families. It was formed on 15 September 1945, with the primary objective of fostering education and knowledge among the army personnel.

What is army education corps

The AEC is an integral part of the Indian Army and is responsible for providing educational opportunities to the soldiers and officers of the army. The corps comprises officers and soldiers who are trained in various fields such as education, psychology, and military tactics.

The role of the AEC is to provide educational support to the Indian Army personnel and their families in the form of pre-deployment, in-service, and post-service education. It plays a significant role in providing training and education to the soldiers, which helps them in their professional and personal development.

The AEC conducts various courses and programs to meet the educational requirements of the army personnel. The courses offered by the AEC are designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of the soldiers in their respective fields. The courses include language training, computer courses, military psychology courses, and specialized courses in various other fields.

One of the primary objectives of the AEC is to promote education and knowledge among the soldiers and their families. It conducts various programs to encourage soldiers to pursue higher education and enhance their knowledge. The AEC also provides guidance and counseling to soldiers who wish to continue their education after retirement from the army.

The AEC is also responsible for the establishment and management of educational institutions for the children of army personnel. These institutions include Army Public Schools, Army Institute of Technology, and Army Institute of Management. These institutions provide quality education to the children of the army personnel, and they are recognized as some of the best educational institutions in India.

The AEC also plays a crucial role in the recruitment and selection of candidates for the Indian Army. The corps conducts various tests and interviews to select the best candidates for the army, and it also provides training to the selected candidates before their induction into the army.

The Army Education Corps is an integral part of the Indian Army, and it plays a crucial role in providing educational support to the soldiers and their families. The AEC is committed to promoting education and knowledge among the army personnel and enhancing their professional and personal development. With its extensive range of courses and programs, the AEC continues to support the Indian Army in its mission to protect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

How to join army education corps

To join the Army Education Corps (AEC) of the Indian Army, you need to fulfill certain eligibility criteria and follow a specific recruitment process. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to join the AEC:

1. Eligibility Criteria: The eligibility criteria to join the AEC vary depending on the rank you are applying for. Here are the basic criteria:

• Age: The candidate should be between 23 and 27 years of age.
• Educational Qualification: The candidate should have a master’s degree in any discipline with at least 50% marks.
• Physical Standards: The candidate should be physically and medically fit.

2. Apply Online: The first step is to apply online on the official website of the Indian Army. The website provides all the necessary information regarding the recruitment process and eligibility criteria.
3. Written Examination: The candidates who meet the eligibility criteria will be called for a written examination. The written examination is designed to test the candidate’s knowledge in the relevant subject areas.
4. SSB Interview: The candidates who clear the written examination will be called for an interview. The interview is conducted to assess the candidate’s personality, communication skills, and suitability for the role.
5. Medical Examination: The selected candidates will undergo a medical examination to ensure that they meet the physical and medical standards required for the job.
6. Training: Once the candidate clears all the selection stages, he/she will undergo training at the Army Education Corps Training Centre in Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh.
7. Commission: After completion of the training, the candidate will be commissioned as an officer in the AEC.

Joining the Army Education Corps requires fulfilling certain eligibility criteria and following a specific recruitment process. The process involves online application, a written examination, an interview, a medical examination, training, and commissioning. If you are interested in joining the AEC, you can visit the official website of the Indian Army for more information.

Is AEC Entry Closed by Indian Army?

The Indian Army has discontinued the entry into the Army Education Corps. The last notification for AEC entry was released in 2017, and since 2018, no new entry has been announced. A committee has suggested that the AEC should be shut down as a Corps over the next five years. The existing manpower should be re-oriented and re-skilled to become part of the electronic surveillance and intelligence, cyber warfare, and electronic warfare units, or trained as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle operators.

The Indian Army is eliminating colonial practices such as using horse-drawn carriages during events, conducting pulling out ceremonies upon retirement, and featuring pipe bands during dinner gatherings.

Army Chief General Manoj Pande has initiated the process to end these practices in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s instructions.

The Indian Army has instructed its units to discontinue these practices, according to a formation issued by the army.

According to a report by news agency ANI, the Indian Army is reviewing legacy practices from the colonial and pre-colonial era, such as customs and traditions, uniforms and accoutrements, regulations, laws, rules, policies, unit establishment, and colonial-era institutes.

As part of efforts to eliminate colonial traces, the army is also reviewing the English names of some units and renaming certain buildings, establishments, roads, parks, and institutions like Auchinleck or Kitchener House. The report noted that action has already been taken in many cases.

The Indian Army has a long and complex history that is intertwined with the history of colonialism and the British Empire. The Indian Army as we know it today has its origins in the British East India Company’s army, which was established in the 18th century to protect the company’s interests in India. After the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the British Crown took over control of India and the Indian Army, which became an integral part of the British Empire’s military structure.

As a result of this history, it is true that the Indian Army has been influenced by colonial practices in various ways. For example, the Army’s organizational structure, uniforms, and training methods have all been shaped by British military traditions. The Army also continues to use many of the same rank designations and terminology that were used during the colonial era.

However, it is important to note that the Indian Army has also evolved and adapted over time, and has developed its own distinct identity and practices. Today, the Indian Army is one of the largest and most modern militaries in the world, and it has developed its own unique operational doctrine and training programs that reflect India’s strategic priorities and security challenges.

In recent years, there have been efforts to modernize and reform the Indian Army, including initiatives to reduce bureaucracy, improve training and equipment, and promote greater integration between different branches of the military. While the Army’s history and traditions are an important part of its identity, it is also focused on meeting the needs of modern India and ensuring that it is able to defend the country’s interests in the 21st century.

The Buddy or Sahayak system in the Indian Army refers to a practice where each officer or Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) is assigned a personal assistant or buddy who is usually a soldier from a lower rank.

The buddy or sahayak is responsible for performing various administrative and domestic duties for the officer, such as cleaning the officer’s living quarters, polishing shoes, running errands, and helping with other personal tasks.

The buddy or sahayak is also expected to assist the officer in the field during exercises or operations, carrying equipment, setting up tents, and performing other tasks as directed. While the buddy or sahayak is not required to accompany the officer into combat, they may do so voluntarily.

The Buddy or Sahayak system has been a long-standing tradition in the Indian Army, but it has also been the subject of controversy and criticism.

Some argue that the system perpetuates a class-based hierarchy and can be a form of exploitation of lower-ranking soldiers, while others defend the system as an important aspect of military culture and camaraderie. In recent years, there have been efforts to reduce the reliance on the Buddy or Sahayak system and to provide more professional training and support for soldiers in administrative and other roles.

The Indian Military operates a comprehensive Air Defence System (ADS) to safeguard the country’s airspace from any airborne threat. The ADS is a network of advanced sensors, radars, missiles, and command and control systems, working in tandem to detect, track, and intercept incoming threats. It is an integral part of India’s military defence strategy and plays a vital role in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty.

Components of Air Defence System

The ADS is composed of various elements that work in harmony to provide comprehensive air defence coverage. These include:

1. Sensors and Radars: The primary function of sensors and radars is to detect and track incoming threats. The Indian Air Force (IAF) operates a variety of radars, including early warning radars, surveillance radars, and ground-based air defence (GBAD) radars. These radars have different ranges and capabilities, with some having the ability to detect incoming threats from a distance of up to 400 km.
2. Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs): SAMs are used to intercept and destroy incoming threats, including enemy aircraft, missiles, and drones. India has developed and deployed a range of SAM systems, including the Akash, Barak-8, and the advanced S-400 Triumf system from Russia. These systems provide both short-range and long-range air defence capabilities.
3. Fighter Aircraft: The IAF’s fleet of fighter aircraft, including the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and the MiG-29, play a crucial role in air defence. These aircraft can engage enemy aircraft and support ground-based air defence systems by providing additional targeting information.
4. Command and Control Systems: The ADS is supported by a network of command and control systems that provide real-time information on incoming threats, track the location of friendly aircraft, and facilitate the deployment of air defence assets.

Indian Air Defence System Capabilities

The ADS has a range of capabilities that make it one of the most sophisticated air defence systems in the world. Some of the key capabilities include:

1. Integrated Air Defence: The ADS is an integrated system that combines sensors, radars, SAMs, and fighter aircraft to provide comprehensive air defence coverage. This integration allows for a coordinated response to incoming threats, with the different elements of the system working in tandem to detect and neutralize any airborne threat.
2. Multi-Layered Defence: The ADS is designed to provide a multi-layered defence against incoming threats. This means that the system has multiple layers of sensors, radars, and SAMs, with each layer providing a different level of defence. This multi-layered approach ensures that any incoming threat is detected and intercepted before it can reach its target.
3. Mobility and Flexibility: The ADS is a mobile and flexible system that can be deployed to different locations based on the threat level. This mobility allows for rapid deployment of air defence assets to any part of the country, making it difficult for an adversary to plan an attack.
4. Electronic Warfare Capabilities: The ADS has advanced electronic warfare capabilities that can disrupt and neutralize enemy radar and communications systems. This allows the system to gain a tactical advantage over the enemy and prevent them from carrying out their mission.

Challenges and Future Plans

Despite its advanced capabilities, the ADS faces a number of challenges. These include the need for modernization and upgrading of existing systems, the threat posed by emerging technologies such as stealth aircraft and drones, and the need to improve the coordination and interoperability of different air defence assets.

To address these challenges, India has initiated a number of modernization and upgradation programmes, including the procurement of advanced SAM systems such as the S-400 Triumf from Russia, and the development of indigenous SAM systems such as the Akash NG. India is also investing in emerging technologies such as directed energy weapons.