The career opportunity available with Indian Army is enormous. Nowhere else you will get such phenomenal opportunities to constantly upgrade your skills. The army recruits candidates both for its technical and non-technical branches. To become an officer one should clear the NDA entrance examination conducted by the UPSC and then go for professional education and training. NDA cadets are awarded Bachelor's degrees in Arts, Science or Computer Science on completion of training. If you join the technical stream, you will acquire Graduate and Post-Graduate degrees in Engineering.
Selection for the prestigious Defence Services Staff College course results in the award of an M Sc. in Defence and Strategic Studies. What's more, you can also get study leave for two years to further upgrade your professional skills.
These growth opportunities are virtually unlimited. You could even get into Research and Development, if you have the aptitude. From Engineering to Medicine, from administration to Strategy, from Armament Technology to Management, all opportunities will encompass you if you are with Indian Army.
Those candidates who want to join the Army as soldier should fulfill the general eligibility criteria like age, qualification nationality etc. In addition they have to qualify written tests followed by physical fitness test and medical tests. Recruitment in the Army is conducted throughout the year through an open rally system. The recruitment programme is published in local newspaper, two weeks prior to the conduct of the rally.
The army is divided into various divisions. A brief description of the division and nature of duties is listed below:
Infantry: The infantry consists of troops who fight the enemy on foot using equipment including from self loading rifles, automatic rifles, machine guns, grenades, mines, anti tank weapons, shoulder fired missiles and rocket launchers. Infantry troops capture and hold on to enemy positions or defend their own positions. For high mobility, troops make use of transport including personnel carriers and jeeps. Elite commando units and paratroopers are also part of the infantry. Infantry officers and troops have to undergo intensive training in arms handling.
Artillery The artillery uses long range field guns, multi barrel rocket launchers and missile for their maneuvers. The role of the artillery is twofold. In civilian areas the artillery uses weapons such as anti aircraft guns and surface to air missiles to protect sensitive locations such as dams, airfields, oil rigs, power generating stations, ports etc from attack. On the warfront the artillery uses long range field guns, multi barrel rocket launchers and missiles for their attacking and defensive operations.
Armoured Corps
The armoured corps consists of battalions of tanks and other armoured vehicles. The armoured corps can advance swiftly and are used to capture enemy territory along with the infantry. They can also defend positions by engaging enemy tanks in battle. Armoured corps is considered to be one of the most prestigious divisions of the army.
Engineers The primary responsibility of the army engineers is to quickly construct roads, bridges, airfields, helipads etc so the all the three sections of defence forces can advance rapidly. Engineers also destroy enemy bases and cause obstacles for the advancement of enemy troops. Besides these they also lay minefields and clear enemy minefields, defuse explosives and construct other infrastructure for the combat troops.
Signals The officers and men in the signals regiment are responsible for the quick implementation and maintenance of communication links between the army headquarters and the forward positions during war time. Besides this they are also responsible for electronic warfare.
Army Service Corps (ASC) ASC personnel are responsible for the movement of troops, vehicles, rations, petrol/diesel, arms and ammunition etc. The personnel of the ASC use road, train as well as water transportation in the movement. They are also responsible for safe storage of rations, arms and ammunition, clothing and special equipment.
Electrical and Mechanical Engineers The armed forces have a large number of equipment ranging ranging from simple rifles to sophisticated missiles. Electrical and mechanical engineers are responsible for the maintenance of all the equipment of the armed forces and ensure that it is always in peak condition. The officers in this service include engineers from the field of mechanical, aeronautical, electrical, electronics, and communication engineering.
Intelligence Corps The officers of this branch are involved in the collection, analysis and interpretation of information about the enemy troops including their movements and plans. Officers in the intelligence corps specialise in encoding and decoding messages, analysis of pictures taken by aircraft and satellite, data collection and analysis.
Ordinance Corps The ordinance corps is responsible for procurement, storage and maintenance and issue of types of military equipment including ammunition and spares.
Army Medical Corps The army medical corps includes doctors who provide medical care for the families of troops and officers of the armed forces. During a conflict they provide emergency medical care to the wounded officers and troops on the battlefront.
The armed forces train their own doctors and nurses at the Armed Forces Medical College and College of Nursing respectively. They also induct doctors from other medical colleges.
Nursing officers The nursing officers nurse the officers, troops and their families in the hospitals and clinics of the armed forces.
Dental Officers The responsibility of the dental officers is to provide dental care to the personnel of the armed forces and their families.
Education Corps Education officers provide continuing education to the armed forces personnel especially with respect to the latest development in weapon systems, new techniques of warfare, computerization, communication systems etc.
Postal Services The personnel in this service are responsible for looking after the postal requirement of the army. All money orders, personal letters and general mail is handled by the postal services.
Military Police Personnel of the military police are responsible for maintaining discipline and order among the troops of the armed forces.
Judge Advocate General This branch inducts law graduates to provide legal help to the army for handling various civil cases as well as disciplinary action against armed forces personnel.
Veterinary Corps Some regiments of the army use animals such as horses, mules and dogs. The officers of the veterinary corps ensure the well being of these animals.
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