Army Officer

In this career guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the army as a career, from roles and responsibilities, to work environment and roadmap to becoming an Army Officer.

Who's an Army Officer?

The tricolour, the crisp uniforms, the power and the respect – as children, we’ve all been awed soldiers and want to be one. But, only a few go ahead and pursue it.

It’s a calling. A calling only the bravest, most adventurous and selfless individuals pay heed to. If somewhere down the line you’ve felt a pull towards it, felt the urge to serve your nation and protect its people, then this is the path for you!

As an army officer, you will guard our country against internal and external threats. You will work on rescue missions and help your country’s citizens in times of disaster and calamities.

Make no mistake, this is no easy feat. You will undergo rigorous training and live a life led by discipline and order, starting from the young age of 18 right to the end of your career. However, the path is just as rewarding as it is dangerous. Bringing you prestige, and honour, it is one of the most respectable jobs. Want to learn more about army officer? Read on!

What will you do?

Safeguarding the nation

One of the primary responsibilities of an Indian Army Officer is to safeguard the nation. This means you will have to be ready to serve the country and protect and defend it from external and internal threats.

Example: If there is an emergency in the country or if the country is at war with any nation, you should be able to effectively protect the country and its citizens.

Conducting operations

You will also conduct offensive and defensive operations during your service. These operations can consist of attacks on enemy lines, protecting the territory, conducting rescue operations, etc.

Example: In the case of a natural disaster, the army is called upon to help rescue citizens and minimise loss of human life. One example of this is the rescue operation conducted in Uttarakhand in 2013 during the floods.

Training soldiers

As you complete more years of service and gain experience, you will have to train the younger officers who enrol with the army.

Example: You will train young officers on war rescue techniques and how to use various weapons and equipment.

Guarding specific areas

You will have to guard cantonments, and areas of importance like the Parliament, the Supreme Court of India, and also stand guard in areas of unrest.

Example: During the Hindu-Muslim riots, the military was deployed to specifc Hindu/Muslim-dominated areas to maintain curfew and protect the civilians.

Undergoing training

As an officer, you will continually undergo training and learn to use new equipment and stay in top physical condition.

Example: You may have to learn how to fly an aircraft, climb rocky mountains or survive in extreme conditions as you serve in the army.

Take the Mentoria career assessment, to find out how well-suited you are as an Army Officer.

Where will you work?

Battle Ground

Most army officers are stationed on the border or are on call for duty. You protect your teritory and ensure no intruders sneak into the country. Even if your country is not under threat, if they are a part of the UN, you may be sent in to serve with the peace corps in countries that are facing crisis. 

Cantonments

You could also be working at military camps and headquartes where you will either stand guard or serve as a trainer, medic, etc., to the other army officers and personnel. 

Within the Borders

Army personnel also work within the border in areas of unrest or those under military protection or law. For instance, the army stationed in Jammu and Kashmir. You could also be working as guard at important sites like the Parliament and other areas of national importance. 

How do you get there?

STEP 1: Class XI-XII/Junior College

Arts: If you’re interested in subjects like political science, history, etc., choose arts in junior college. With a background in arts, you can pursue a law specialisation with the army.

STEP 2: Entrance Exams

You will need to appear for the NDA/NA exam. Once you have completed Class 12, you will be eligible for this exam. It is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year. This test will be conducted offline and will be followed by a Service Selection Board (SSB) interview. The exam covers English and General Knowledge.

Alternatively, join the Indian Army through the Indian Military Academy. In the final year of graduation, you will have to pass the Combined Defence Service Exam, clear the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview and qualify as medically fit to join the IMA.

STEP 3: Graduation

NDA: After Class 12, register with the National Defence Academy, Pune. They have a three-year course you can get into. This course is certified by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Post these three years, you will undergo a one-year training programme based on the specialisation you choose.

Alternatively, you can register with the NDA and pursue a graduation course of your choice. Once you graduate, you can come back and take the one-year-training programme. At the NDA, you will be given professional training and can choose from 31 extracurricular activities including golf, gliding, wind-surfing and others.

 

Indian Military Academy: Another way to get into the Indian Army is through the Indian Military Academy. In the final year of graduation, you will have to pass the Combined Defence Service Exam, clear the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview and qualify as medically fit to join the IMA.

After Class 12, you can join the IMA through

1. The (10+2 tech) technical entry – a one and a half year IMA (Direct Entry) programme.

2. The five-year entry scheme (IMA ES), where you spend one year at IMA and four years at the Cadet Training Wings and another year after commissioning.

3. One year for the usual entry.

The SSB procedure consists of two exams i.e. stage 1 and stage 2. Only those candidates who have cleared the stage 1 exams are eligible to appear for the Stage 2 exams.

 

Thinking of a career as an Army Officer? Take the Mentoria assessment & talk to our career counsellors to get personalised step-by-step guidance for your future career path.

STEP 1: Class XI-XII/Junior College

If you enjoy doing accounts and learning about business, take up commerce in junior college. With a background in commerce, you can pursue a law specialisation with the army.

STEP 2: Entrance Exams

You will need to appear for the NDA/NA exam. Once you have completed Class 12, you will be eligible for this exam. It is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year. This test will be conducted offline and will be followed by a Service Selection Board (SSB) interview. The exam covers English and General Knowledge.

Alternatively, join the Indian Army through the Indian Military Academy. In the final year of graduation, you will have to pass the Combined Defence Service Exam, clear the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview and qualify as medically fit to join the IMA.

STEP 3: Graduation

NDA: After Class 12, register with the National Defence Academy, Pune. They have a three-year course you can get into. This course is certified by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Post these three years, you will undergo a one-year training programme based on the specialisation you choose.

Alternatively, you can register with the NDA and pursue a graduation course of your choice. Once you graduate, you can come back and take the one-year-training programme. At the NDA, you will be given professional training and can choose from 31 extracurricular activities including golf, gliding, wind-surfing and others.

 

Indian Military Academy: After Class 12, you can join the IMA through

1. The (10+2 tech) technical entry – a one and a half year IMA (Direct Entry) programme.

2. The five-year entry scheme (IMA ES), where you spend one year at IMA and four years at the Cadet Training Wings and another year after commissioning.

3. One year for the usual entry.

The SSB procedure consists of two exams i.e. stage 1 and stage 2. Only those candidates who have cleared the stage 1 exams are eligible to appear for the Stage 2 exams.

STEP 1: Class XI-XII/Junior College

If subjects like biology, chemistry interest you, science is the way for you to go. With a background in science, you can pursue a medical or engineering specialisation with the army.

STEP 2: Entrance Exams

You will need to appear for the NDA/NA exam. Once you have completed Class 12, you will be eligible for this exam. It is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year. This test will be conducted offline and will be followed by a Service Selection Board (SSB) interview. The exam covers English and General Knowledge.

Alternatively, join the Indian Army through the Indian Military Academy. In the final year of graduation, you will have to pass the Combined Defence Service Exam, clear the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview and qualify as medically fit to join the IMA.

STEP 3: Graduation

NDA: After Class 12, register with the National Defence Academy, Pune. They have a three-year course you can get into. This course is certified by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Post these three years, you will undergo a one-year training programme based on the specialisation you choose.

Alternatively, you can register with the NDA and pursue a graduation course of your choice. Once you graduate, you can come back and take the one-year-training programme. At the NDA, you will be given professional training and can choose from 31 extracurricular activities including golf, gliding, wind-surfing and others.

 

Indian Military Academy: After Class 12, you can join the IMA through

1. The (10+2 tech) technical entry – a one and a half year IMA (Direct Entry) programme.

2. The five-year entry scheme (IMA ES), where you spend one year at IMA and four years at the Cadet Training Wings and another year after commissioning.

3. One year for the usual entry.

The SSB procedure consists of two exams i.e. stage 1 and stage 2. Only those candidates who have cleared the stage 1 exams are eligible to appear for the stage 2 exams.

What skills would you need?

Technical Skills

Technical Skills

As a marketer, you will work on different platforms to communicate with people. If you don’t understand how they work, you won’t be able to come up with the best strategy. You will also use various kinds of software like Google Adwords, MailChimp, SurveyMonkey, etc., during your promotions. You need to know how they work, and how to use them to your advantage.

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Communication Skills

Communication Skills

It’s harder than ever to get people’s attention, what with so much information being thrown at them. But, people cannot resist a good story. Every good marketing campaign has a story to tell their customers and relate to them on an emotional level. Marketers who tell great stories through their marketing campaigns are always in great demand.

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How do you make it to the top ranks?

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Lieutenant

The lowest commissioned officer in the Indian Army is the Lieutenant. At this stage, your tasks are limited to handling administration or managerial related work.

Captain

After two years of reckonable (paid) commissioned service, you can become Captain. This role requires you to oversee the work of the Lieutenants and ensure all commands are executed correctly.

Major

After six years of reckonable commissioned service and the clearance of the Part B exam, you are eligible to be a Major. At this stage, you are responsible for commanding and directing a whole military section (10-12 soldiers).

Lieutenant Colonel

After 13 years of reckonable commissioned service and the clearance of Part D exam, you are promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. By this stage, you are responsible for commanding a platoon (3-4 sections).

Colonel

After 15 years of reckonable commissioned service, you might be selected to become Colonel. At this stage, you are recognised as the head of a military group.

Brigadier

Brigadiers are selected after 25 years of reckonable commissioned service. As the name suggests, you are responsible for commanding a brigade (3-4 battalions) of soldiers at this post.

Major General

After 32 years of commissioned service, you may be selected to become Major General. Here, you serve as a commander of a division, which may consist of several brigades.

Lieutenant General

Lieutenant Generals are selected after 36 years of commissioned service. At this stage, you act as the Vice Chief of Army Staff or the Army Commander.

General

This is the highest-ranking position in the Army. As the General, you are the Chief of the Army Staff, equivalent to Cabinet Secretary of India (highest civilian post).

Field Marshal

This is the highest attainable rank in the Indian Army, even though it’s not exercised in the Army structure. Only two appointments for this role have been made in Indian history. The first time to Sam Manekshaw, also known as “Sam Bahadur.” The second time to Kodandera Madappa Cariappa – the first to be made Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.

Pursuing your career locally VS abroad

The most common route (for men) to becoming an Army Officer is through the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune. The Officers’ Training Academy in Chennai and the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun are good options too. The application fee is INR 100 for the general category aspirants, while some are exempt from any kind of payment. You need to be between 16 and 19 years of age and meet the physical requirements before enrolment. Once you join the NDA, you can continue studying in college and will be sent to the Indian Military Academy after graduating for a one-year training programme.

The second most common route (applicable to all genders) is through the Combined Defence Services Exam. Candidates must be between 19 and 24 years of age and must have a graduation degree from a recognised institute. Engineering graduates can join the military directly after qualifying in the Service Selection Board Interview. University entry schemes also give engineering graduates the opportunity to apply for the technical branches of the Army.

In order to pursue a career in the Indian Army, you must hold Indian citizenship and live here. However, the Indian Army is known to have sent its officers abroad for training and other purposes. Officers spend a year in third-world nations such as Uganda and Sudan as the UN’s peacekeeping forces. At the senior level, they are sent to countries like the US and Malaysia for promotional exams and better exposure. These training periods are sponsored by the candidate’s academy in India and the cost for living is also covered. However, these opportunities are few and officers are mainly trained within the Indian borders.

How much would you get paid?


What are your career options?

Infantry

The infantry includes soldiers who fight on foot. They capture enemy territories while defending their own from the enemies. As part of the infantry, you would typically carry equipment and weapons like rifles, machine guns, grenades, missiles, mines, anti-tank weapons and more.

Artillery

Officers in the artillery work in both war zones as well as civilian areas. Unlike soldiers in the infantry, you would use long-range field guns, multi-barrel rocket launchers and missiles for your operations. In civilian areas, you would be assigned to protect specific areas.

Armoured Corps

The battalions who operate tanks and other armoured vehicles for the Army make up the armoured corps. You would work along with the infantry. Help them capture enemy territories and defend your own and other captured territories by engaging enemy tanks in battle.

Army Service Corps

War or no war, the army personnel need to be moved from place to place and the army service corps are responsible for this transportation. As an officer of the army service corps, you would transport troops as well as rations, and arms and ammunition to different sites. You would also manage the storage of other important equipment.

Intelligence Corps

Intelligence corps deal with strategy. Here, you would be involved in the collection, analysis and communication of any kind of intelligence received regarding the enemy and their movement or strategy. You would specialise in encoding and decoding messages and looking for clues in pictures captured by satellites.

Ordnance Corps

This is a special branch of the Army. Ordinance corps procure equipment for the troops. You would work closely with the army service corps to maintain and store arms and ammunition used by the troops for war.

Signals

Similar to the runners and messengers of the past, these officers are responsible for quick communication between the different divisions of the Army. You would relay messages from headquarters to the troops on the frontline during the time of war.

Engineering

The army has its own engineers, be it civil, mechanical or electrical. As an engineer, you will be responsible for the building of roads and bridges, laying minefields, defusing explosives, destroying enemy bases, and the building and maintenance of equipment used by the infantry.

Medicine

The Army also has its own special medicine personnel – doctors, nurses, dentists, and even veterinary professionals. Here, you would provide care for the troops and their families and will be required on ground for emergency services at the time of war. To become a medic, you must complete Class 12 and appear for the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune exam. Once you qualify, you can pursue an MBBS course from AFMC, post which you will be commissioned into the Indian Army.

Law

The Army needs law graduates who provide legal counsel and services to the officers. You would handle cases and also take disciplinary action, if needed, against the officers in the Army. You will need a degree in Law in order to apply for this post. Once you graduate, apply for the Short Service Commission with the Judge Advocate General Department. You will have to pass a five-day interview process to get selected.

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