CAREER IN DEFENCE SERVICES

CAREER PROSPECTS :
A career in Armed Forces offers a rare blend of adventure, good career prospects, honour and high social standing. Several special concessions are offered by the Armed Forces to its officers which are not available in any other services. This includes provisions of free rations, facility from Departmental canteen stores where goods of day-to-day use are available at concessional rates, free first class railway warrant once in every year up to the home town to avail the leave, concessional railway warrants for subsequent journeys, two months annual leave, concessional furnished family accommodation, furnished bachelor accommodation in the officers’ mess at every station and free medical services through its various Military Hospitals and Regimental Medical Inspection Rooms. These special benefits are in addition to normal admissible benefits like the casual leave. Army Group Insurance Scheme. Provident Fund etc. Defence personnel after retirement from service are never out of opportunities for placements in industry administration, security services, etc.
SELECTION :
The advertisement for recruitment to the various branches appears from time to time as per requirement normally twice every year in most of the national and important regional newspapers and also in the Employment News. The format of application is usually given in the advertisement. After short-listing of eligible candidates, short-listed candidates are then required to appear in the written examination conducted by the U.P.S.C. Women candidates are exempted from written examination they then appear before the Service Selection Board (SSB). Such candidates are allowed second class to and fro railway fare for the first time only. The selected candidates are then required to undergo a medical examination which is usually done by a special Medical Board at the nearest Military Hospital. The aspiring candidates must therefore ensure that they are in good physical and mental health and free from any disability which is likely to interfere with the efficient performance of their official duties. The Broad indications of medical standards are that the height and weight would not be less than 36 Kgs. and 142 Cms. respectively for women candidates. Corrected distance vision should be at least 6/6 for better eye and 6/18 for the worse eye and myopia of not more than minus 5.5 D including estigmatism.
ELIGIBILITY & SELECTION :
The candidates must either be citizen of India or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan or of Tibetan Origin but of Indian Domicile, whose parents entered India as refugee prior to 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India. Any person of Indian origin who migrated from the countries like Pakistan, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malwai, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam, with the intention of permanently settling in India is also eligible. However, all the candidates who are not the citizens of India but are otherwise eligible under any of the above mentioned categories, must obtain and attach certificate of eligibility along with her application which is issued by the Government of India.
While the age limit for ASC, AEC and JAG is 21 to 27 years, this age limit is 19 to 25 years for all other branches including AOC, Engrs. Int. Corps. EME and Sigs. Minimum qualification, however varies from service to service.
The advertisement for recruitment of lady Officers under the WSES (O) appears from time to time as per requirement, normally twice every year in most of the national and important regional newspapers. The candidates are required to apply to the Additional Directorate General of Recruitment (Women Entry Section), West Block-III, R.K.Puram, New Delhi-110066.
SSB INTERVIEW :
SSB interview is a comprehensive test of one’s personality which is the basis of selection to the Armed Forces. Even for selecting the Lady Officers under the WSES(O) the candidates have to qualify the SSB interview. While the basic design of the interview remains the same, the standards of physical fitness however are relaxed for the women candidates. As usual, the SSB interview lasts for 5 days in which the candidates are examined thoroughly by the psychologist. Group Testing Officer (GTO) and the Interviewing Officer.
SSB interview is a scientifically designed system of personality test in which physical fitness, mental robustness, leadership qualities, psychology and intelligence of a candidate are tested by conducting several tests. Tests are divided into two parts viz. Stage-I and Stage-II. Stage-I consists of Verbal Intelligence, Social Psychology, Picture-Story Writing and Group Discussion. Therefore tests are evaluated on the spot by three Examiners. The result of Stage-I is announced after two hours . Candidates who qualify Stage-I, are given Stage-II , either the same day or the next day. Stage-II has a screening test which contains 100 questions of verbal and non-verbal.
Psychology test contains four parts namely Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test(WAT), Situation Reaction Test(SRT) and Self-Description(SD). VIVA is one of the major tests, wherein each candidate has to face an interview lasting 40 minutes to an hour.
The GTO Test commonly called group test has nine parts such as Group Discussion, Group Planning, Progressive Group Task, Group Obstacle Race, Half group Task, Lecturette, Individual Obstacle Test, Command Test and Full Group Task. After conclusion of 19 Tests both in Stage-I and Stage-II, in four days, each candidates is seen by the entire board. On fifth day, the Conferences’ treated as a mini interview and each candidate has to appear before 10-member board which marks the end of SSB tests. After Conference, the result is announced and finally selected candidates go for medical examination which takes about 3-4 days.
Selected candidates, after successfully qualifying the medical examination, are then required to wait for a call to join the Officers Training Academy (OTA) Chennai for 9 months training. On successful completion of the training the candidates are granted commission in the rank of Leiutenant.
COMMISSIONS FOR WOMEN IN THE ARMY (SHORT SERVICE)
Branch
Age require-ments
Educational Qualification
Selection
For application contact
Army Service
Corps (ASC)
(Food scientists)
21-27
M.Sc. in Origanic Chemistry/Biochem/ Micro Biology/Biochem of foods.
Initial short listing of application is done at Additional Directorate General Recruiting Army HQ. Short listed candidates will be tested at Service Selection Board by Psychologist Group testing officer and interviewing Officer.
Additional Directorate General of Recruiting (Women Entry Section) West Block-III, R. K. Puram New Delhi-110066
Army Ordinance
19-25
Graduated (min.60%) in any subject with Dip
Same as above
Same as above
Corps (AOC)
in Comp.Sc/Material Management/or with Commerce/Economics Science graduates with any subject with Dip. In Comp. Sc/Material Management/or with Physics/Chemistry.
Army Education Corps (AEC)
21-27
Post Graduate Degree
Same as above
Same as above
Army Engineers (Engrs.
Corps of Signals (Sigs.)
19-25
19-25
B.E.Civil/Electrical/Mechanical/
Architecture
B.E Telecommunication/ Telecommunication and Electronics/Computer Science/ Computer Engg.
Same as above.
Same as above.
Same as above
Same as above
Electrical & Mechanical Engeers Corps.
(EME)
19-25
M.Sc (Computer Science/ MCA / BE/Computer Sc. And Engg.). BE (Electronics/BE(Electronics & Comp. Sc./ BE (Automobile)
Same as above
Same as above
Intelligence Corps
(Linguistic Officer)
19-25
Graduates with Interpretership level qualification in any of the following languages (1) Chinese (2) Sinhala
(3) Burmese (4) Pushto (5)Tibetan
Same as above
Same as above
Judge Adjutant General Bureau (JAG)
21-27
LLB (3 Yrs. Course) after graduation or
5 yrs. composite Course after 10+2 .
Same as above
Same as above
PHYSICAL STANDARDS REQUIRED :
The following are the minimum physical standards :
• Height and Weight- The minimum acceptable height and weight for women is 142 cm and 36 kg. respectively.
• Vision- Visual acruity (min) Distant Vision(Corrected) Better eye 6/6 worse eye 6/18 Myopia of not more than minus 5.5D including astigatism. To be passed if a candidate must be in good physics and mental health and free from any disability likely to interfere with the efficient performance of duty.
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN IN THE AIR FORCE (SHORT SERVICE)
Branch
Age
Educational Eligibility
Selection
Flying Branch (Transport/Helicopter pilots and Navigators) Commission for 10 years.
Technical Branches (Commission for 6 years)
Ground Duty Branch (Administrative Logistics Accounts) Education& Meterology.
19-23 yrs, 25 yrs for CPL* holders (Unmarried or widows of service personnel killed on duty but without any child.)
19-28 yrs. (unmarried or widows of service personnel killed on duty but without any child.)
20-23 yrs. (unmarried)
20-25 yrs. 27 yrs. for higher qualification.
Graduate with Physics and Maths. Upto 10+2 level.
Engineering Degree in notified discipline.
1st Class Graduates Post Graduates 1st/2nd Class.
Applications are directly called for by Air HQ followed by Air Force Service Selection Board Interview. Selection is based on merit in SSB and Interview.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS :
Same as army. For flying branch minimum height 162.5 cms. leg length 99-120 cm. Should not be colour/night blind at wearing glasses.
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN IN NAVY (SHORT SERVICE)
Branch of Entry
Age
Educational Eligibility
For detailed information
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Direct entry Law Cadre
22-27 yrs.
A Degree in Law qualifying for enrolment as an advocate, Act, 1961 with minimum 55% marks
Advertised in newspapers and Employment News twice a year depending on vacancies.
Direct Entry
19½-25 yrs
B.A.(Economics)II Divn. Or B.Com.II Div.or Graduation in any subject with Degree/ Diploma in Material/Financial Management.
Direct Entry ATC
(Air Traffic Control)
19½-25 yrs
B.Sc.II Div. With minimum 50% marks with Physics and Math.
EDUCATION BRANCH
Direct Entry
Logistic Cadre
21-25
A Second Division Master’s Degree
In *Physics (with Maths in B.Sc) or *Maths.(with Physics in B.Sc) or *Chemistry (with Physics & Maths) in B.Sc. *Computer Application/ Computer Science with either physics or Maths. At Graduation level) or *Humanities (English/ Economics/ History/Pol.Sc/or An Engineering Degree in Mechanical/ Electrical/Computer Science/Technology.
Look for advertisement given in Employment News & regional News paper.
PHYSICAL STANDARD :
Height & Weight-Minimum acceptable height 148 cms. weight 38.6 kgs. The correlated weight should not however, vary from the average by more than 10%.
Vision- 6/36, 6/60 correctable to 6/6 (in each eye with glasses)
SELECTION AND TRAINING :
Candidates recommended by Naval Headquarters after short listing are required to appear before the Naval Selection Board at Bangalore and Bhopal and undergo tests in leadership qualities and physical fitness. Initial training is conducted at Naval Academy (NAVAC) situated amidst the scenic beauty of Goa, followed by training at other centres like Bombay, Cochin and Visakhapatnam.
COACHING FACILITY BY GOVERNMENT OF ORISSA :
Each year Director of Employment, Orissa invites applications through press and select eligible women candidates for free coaching . Training is imparted at Kalinga Academy, 4, Ashok Nagar, Bhubaneswar, Tel.No.-532700/471127 and the cost is borne by the Government of Orissa. This Academy conducts training programmes to women candidates for making them eligible to appear before the Service Selection Board for their career in Defence Services.
N.B.: Given dates are subjects to change.