WAVES IN ARMY
Dr K Prabhakar Rao
Recently 18 colonel who were selected on merit to undergo Higher Command ( HC) Course expressed unwillingness to undergo the training programme. I t was a shock to the top brass in army. these colonels had to serve five years after the course compulsorily and can not ask for premature retirement. it is believed that course after completion has no additional credit points to the candidate in the promotion criteria.There is no guarantee also that these officers would surely get promoted to Maj Generals rank as per the new rank structure in army that is being introduced.The post of Brigadier will no more be applicable and it is expected that aspirations of the officers would be met who otherwise would be mostly left behind due to non availability of vacancies and pyramid structure in the army. probably the officers concerned are not inclined to get entangled in the five year compulsory service after the training.
secondly We also see that retired army officers are joining political parties and trying to enter the fray instead of wasting their time in uniform and finally coming out as dead wood. opportunities would be lost in the political field too if the person does not grab the opportunity in time. In 2014 former army chief Gen VK Singh joined BJP and he took part in the Anna Hazare agitation too. Gen VK Singh the serving chief attracted attention when he filed a case against the central govt in the Hon supreme court to solve his grievance of date of birth which if was corrected would have given him another year of service as the army chief. but he lost the case and he retired unhappy.After retirement , he was absorbed into BJP. He won as MP in 2014 polls and was given the post of Min of state with indep charge.But there was not much of elevation for him in these five years. he is not seen around much. And heard too.There is another retired Colonel in the cabinet of Modiji playing his cards. the winds are much changing at present. Earlier too we had Lt Gen Sinha and Gen Shakar Roy Chaudhry gen Rao and few more in politics. except Gen Sinha and gen Rao, others made no mark for themselves
There is opposite wind blowing in the army and probably the new promotional carrots thrown at them do not attract to hold the talent. army is highly rank oriented and every year scores of officers get left out at various levels mainly because the system is of Pyramid shape and can not promote even competent officers and cut throat competition and the draconian ACR that exist. Officers thus are vexed up and disillusioned after strenuous service.Only those who are confident of themselves leave uniform prematurely and search for opportunities outside when they are reasonably young not before they turn into dead wood as the final result of existing system.As on to day , the salaries in army are not that bad and those who want to make best use of the secured job with all the perks etc many who missed the boat would hang around and retire after superannuation many acquiring Ts col rank and they also gets higher pension. Some might opt for re employment too.majority prefer this as it is safe and they would milch the cow to the maximum till it is dry and at the limit of oozing blood instead of milk.
Army no doubt is passing through critical moments and unwillingness of the colonels to take up the training came as a surprise and throws a new challenge to the top brass. If the list is remade with another set of second line of officers , all chances are there that many colonels would take a wild chance and go through the course. Never Mind if they do not make it to Maj Gen rank. they will under any case will hang around for another five years or more even and leave unsung and un Heard. Who are at loss ? surely the army and nation as the govt is unable to retain the talented personnel.
Dr K Prabhakar Rao
Recently 18 colonel who were selected on merit to undergo Higher Command ( HC) Course expressed unwillingness to undergo the training programme. I t was a shock to the top brass in army. these colonels had to serve five years after the course compulsorily and can not ask for premature retirement. it is believed that course after completion has no additional credit points to the candidate in the promotion criteria.There is no guarantee also that these officers would surely get promoted to Maj Generals rank as per the new rank structure in army that is being introduced.The post of Brigadier will no more be applicable and it is expected that aspirations of the officers would be met who otherwise would be mostly left behind due to non availability of vacancies and pyramid structure in the army. probably the officers concerned are not inclined to get entangled in the five year compulsory service after the training.
secondly We also see that retired army officers are joining political parties and trying to enter the fray instead of wasting their time in uniform and finally coming out as dead wood. opportunities would be lost in the political field too if the person does not grab the opportunity in time. In 2014 former army chief Gen VK Singh joined BJP and he took part in the Anna Hazare agitation too. Gen VK Singh the serving chief attracted attention when he filed a case against the central govt in the Hon supreme court to solve his grievance of date of birth which if was corrected would have given him another year of service as the army chief. but he lost the case and he retired unhappy.After retirement , he was absorbed into BJP. He won as MP in 2014 polls and was given the post of Min of state with indep charge.But there was not much of elevation for him in these five years. he is not seen around much. And heard too.There is another retired Colonel in the cabinet of Modiji playing his cards. the winds are much changing at present. Earlier too we had Lt Gen Sinha and Gen Shakar Roy Chaudhry gen Rao and few more in politics. except Gen Sinha and gen Rao, others made no mark for themselves
There is opposite wind blowing in the army and probably the new promotional carrots thrown at them do not attract to hold the talent. army is highly rank oriented and every year scores of officers get left out at various levels mainly because the system is of Pyramid shape and can not promote even competent officers and cut throat competition and the draconian ACR that exist. Officers thus are vexed up and disillusioned after strenuous service.Only those who are confident of themselves leave uniform prematurely and search for opportunities outside when they are reasonably young not before they turn into dead wood as the final result of existing system.As on to day , the salaries in army are not that bad and those who want to make best use of the secured job with all the perks etc many who missed the boat would hang around and retire after superannuation many acquiring Ts col rank and they also gets higher pension. Some might opt for re employment too.majority prefer this as it is safe and they would milch the cow to the maximum till it is dry and at the limit of oozing blood instead of milk.
Army no doubt is passing through critical moments and unwillingness of the colonels to take up the training came as a surprise and throws a new challenge to the top brass. If the list is remade with another set of second line of officers , all chances are there that many colonels would take a wild chance and go through the course. Never Mind if they do not make it to Maj Gen rank. they will under any case will hang around for another five years or more even and leave unsung and un Heard. Who are at loss ? surely the army and nation as the govt is unable to retain the talented personnel.
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