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Rules for Central Government/ PSU Employees While Joining Territorial Army

There are special provisions for the employees of Central Government/ PSUs for joining the Territorial Army. These are governed under the Department of Public Enterprise, Government of India; and to view them, readers may open the following link:

http://dpe.nic.in/ 

Keep clicking in following fashion:

DPE Guidelines/ Chapter II/ Service Matters/ Para 14.

For direct access, kindly click:

http://dpe.nic.in/newgl/glch02d15.htm

(Published by the team of TERRITORIALS)

How to Join the Territorial Army

Captain Rajpal Singh, TA Officer/ Additional Director, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)

Becoming a Commissioned officer in the Indian Territorial Army is a two step process. The first step involves PIB (Preliminary Interview Board) and  step two involves the SSB (Services Selection Board). To be more specific:

Basic Eligibility

• Graduate in any subject.
• 18-42 years of age.
• Only gainfully employed whether private or government or self employed. Members of police forces (Including CPOs) are not eligible.
• Indian Citizens.

Application Process

• Advertisement published in all major newspapers.
• Download application from Indian Army website. 
• Apply to respective commands as mentioned in advertisement.
• You will receive call-up for PIB only on the correctness of application.

Step One  PIB comprises a written examination of two papers. Papers one of English language (subjective: essay and comprehension) and paper two of general studies (multiple choice, may also include reasoning ability questions). Both the papers are of UPSC standard and aspiring candidates should study the basic fundamentals of all subjects. Candidates should aim at minimum 50 percent to qualify; there is no negative marking as yet. Successful candidates of both the written papers are required to appear before an interview board (with two military officers and a psychologist). Positive attitude, good communication skills, body language, truthfulness and convincing ability are the key to success. The panel would generally ask questions based on your background information and suitability for Officer's Like Qualities, which are:

• Effective Intelligence - Head
• Reasoning Ability - Head
• Organizational Ability - Head
• Power of Expression - Head
• Social Adaptability - Heart
• Cooperation - Heart
• Sense of Responsibility - Heart
• Initiative - Guts
• Self Confidence - Guts
• Speed of Decision - Guts
• Ability to Influence Group - Heart
• Liveliness - Heart
• Determination - Physical & Mental
• Courage - Physical & Mental
• Stamina - Physical & Mental

Result of written is declared within two to three days and successful candidates are required for interview in next two days. Final result of successful candidates after interview would be declared in a span of 15-20 days  though intimation letters. 

Note: All candidates appearing for PIB should carry along with them, all their certificates in original and copies duly attested by a commissioned officer, medical certificate, domicile certificate, PAN card, No-Objection certificate from employer/ affidavit in case of self employed, income certificate and pass port size photographs.

Step Two Successful candidates of PIB would receive their call-up letter for SSBs within two to four months after PIB and would be tested along with candidates of regular commission in the armed forces. There is virtually no difference in the testing procedures for TA Commission. Successful candidates of SSB would be retained for medical examination thereafter. Candidates who are declared recommended in the SSB will have to wait for another three to four months before they are being allotted an infantry battalion in respective zones. Candidates become officer, the day they join and that is the seniority date as well.

Training  All training activities are post commission in nature:

• 30 days of Basic Military Training at unit itself.
• 90 days of Advance Military Training at TA Training Center, Deolali.
• 90 days of training at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradoon.
• Military courses based on willingness of candidates and suitability of service.
• 90 days of cross-military attachment with the regular army battalion based on willingness of candidates and suitability of service.

Service Conditions

• Minimum 30 days to a maximum 60 days Annual Training Camp every year at battalion. Waiver for two years can be granted by competent authorities based on willingness of candidates and suitability of service.
• Voluntary training attachments for military courses based on willingness of candidates and suitability of service. No duration specified.
• Compulsory military service during declared national emergencies.
• Secondment to regular army battalions for a period of five years based on willingness of candidates and suitability of service.
• TA officers with two years of regular service and if below 25 years of age; have an option of converting their TA Commission into regular Short Service Commission.
• TA officers can be placed on Special Unattached List for a maximum period of six years. Only 14 days every year is mandatory in that case. Strictly based on willingness of candidates and suitability of service.
• Seniority of TA officers is not affected on full time or part-time nature of service.
• Promotion: Captain in four years; Major in eight years; Lieutenant Colonel in 15 years; Colonel and beyond is based on selection. TA Officer can rise up to Major General as per books.
• No difference in pay and perks during service or training. Pay begins from Pay Band 3 of the Central Sixth Pay Commission.
• Commission is conferred by the President of India. Status of class one commissioned officer Group A.
• A TA officer can also apply for civil services examination while being in service and can serve in both the services together. A great opportunity which is never offered to regular officers.

For Ex Armed Forces Officers

• Age: 18-45 years.
• Apply through normal advertisement; no written exam; no SSB; interview at the army headquarters; medical test; verification of previous military service.
• Ex officers can get the ante-date seniority of previous military service, provided they refund the gratuity.

Note: Remember TA is a part-time military concept and do not offer any employment. One should be careful of this and it should never be considered as a back door entry for the regular army. 
Total time taken from filling the application and  joining is eight to ten months only. A very fair selection procedure, no recommendations whatsoever and no reservations for any caste or community. 

Some Important Links:

Indian Army Website: Territorial Army

http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTemp1PLT3C.aspx?MnId=r33D6bLT6Nc=&ParentID=PN872GmDUDM=&flag=p

To prepare for PIB written exam:

http://www.civilserviceindia.com/

To know more about SSB:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Services_Selection_Board

History of TA:

http://territorials.blogspot.com/2011/04/origin-of-indias-territorial-forces.html

All information compiled from open sources. The blog do not guarantee for correctness, however a great care has been taken in verifying the data.

(Published by the team of TERRITORIALS)

Widow of Territorial Army Officer Gets Military Pension After 34 Years of Retirement

It is quite an irony that the Territorial Army still remains to be treated as a second grade institution by our own military establishments. In fact, there are even thoughts prevailing; that it is not even a military organization?

What would you call this? 

Lack of application of mind?

A poor sense of knowledge of our own military history?

Or, Superiority complex among the regulars?

Bottom line... A disgrace for the entire nation.

Kindly click the link to read full story:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Widow-gets-military-pension-after-34-years-of-retirement/articleshow/9378317.cms

Source: Times of India

(Published by the team of TERRITORIALS)

Reasons for Joining Part-Time Military: A Historical Prospective

" They had joined because they liked riding and racing. Military activities were limited to an evening parade once a week - and often drinks at the bar constituted this parade. These civilians were asked to volunteer for a task no-one else could undertake - at their own risk and expense. If they failed, then the whole episode could be written off as a regrettable drunken prank that misfired."  

James Leaser while explaining about Operation Creek  undertaken by the part-time units of Indian army during World war II. This operation went on to become one of the finest operations of war in the entire eastern theater which completely changed the battle outcome for allied forces.

Prior to independence, many of the members of part-time military units believed that military activities should take second place to social and sporting interests. Everyone was expected to attend fortnight's annual summer camp, and a certain number of evening parades throughout the year. These were loosely defined. An evening in the clubhouse bar could often be dignified in the Regimental ledger as parade.

Young British civilians arriving in India joined for several reasons. One of them was to have a cheap entry into clubhouses and more importantly to get introduced to far more congenial people of their age and outlook than they could usually hope to meet in as many years back home. A reason for this the Victorian system of calling to leave cards which was more in fashion among Europeans living in India than in England. A new entry into India would have visiting cards engraved with his name and address and his company. This to be used as an introduction for interacting within the social circuit and also for possible marriage alliances.

Another inducement was the offer of subsidized riding. Take for example the case of Calcutta where riders would race across the countryside in the early morning. Gymkhanas where riders rode race horses which appeared solemnly in the regimental records as "Charger, Military, Trooper for the use of". Many races were run at Tollygunge, a private course, near the golf course of the Tollygunge Club. This club was so exclusive that at one time it had a waiting list of more than five years for membership. Also to encourage good riders for army enrollment before the war was not fully mechanized - the Government of India allowed each Light Horse member 32 Rupees a month towards the upkeep of his horse. This money provided for the animal's fodder and to some extend towards paying the wages of its groom.

Perhaps the greatest attractions of the part-time military were friendship and fun. The Auxiliary Force (India) units were totally democratic. There was no direct Officer entry, in fact everyone joined as a Trooper and all promotions were from this rank only, by popular vote. An extremely rich merchant might remain a Trooper for years, while a more enthusiastic but less successful accountant could be promoted Sergeant or even Officer within a matter of months.

(Published by the team of TERRITORIALS)

Territorial Army: Disaster Management Units (Departmental)

India is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world. Its unique geo-physical characteristics make it more vulnerable to various disasters. It is worth mentioning that almost 65 per cent of the land in India is estimated to be Earthquake prone and vulnerable. Similarly above 70 per cent of land under cultivation is estimated to be drought prone, 12 per cent to floods and eight per cent to Cyclone. Our government, aid agencies and other non-government and voluntary organizations spend lot of resources, time, energy and money which may amount to huge or colossal amounts.

Disasters which fall in the area of manmade disasters are on the increase in a big way like accidents, violence, epidemics, pollution and explosions. They require priority attention. Deaths, injury and other problems are more serious as the situation of India is complicated and the country lacks an effective administrative apparatus to handle disasters. Disaster responses are required right from the time a warning commences. Immediate action at all levels as planned earlier should be taken after the disaster has taken place.

Essential services to function in national emergencies cannot be ruled out. Civilian employees may absent themselves, either due to strike or perhaps due to fear of any subversive action. Maintenance of these essential services therefore, is of paramount importance, if at all we want our national objectives to be fulfilled.

The civilian disaster management system in India appears to be unprofessional and completely dependent on the armed forces which was evidently visible in all recent disasters. In fact, it wont be incorrect to say that our disaster management machinery in fully dependent on armed forces which in a way burdens the forces and diverts their attention from the prime role of defending India against external aggression. However, a middle way can be achieved by raising departmental part-time units on the concept of territorial army. A pool of specialists disaster management units comprising our government machinery should be raised in this regard.

An Archaeological Task Force should also be raised out of the existing infrastructure and the expertise of the Archeological Survey of India. It should be tasked to preserve and maintain the selected monuments assigned by the Government of India. The force will have great relevance in our country as many of our important monuments with great heritage value are in ruins. Most of them have a military history behind. These historic structures are spread out all over the country and some even in inhospitable terrain. At places, few of these are still occupied by the army like the Allahabad Fort (built by the great Akbar; an Ashoka Pillar dating back to the Maurya Dynasty also stands within its walls as a testimony to India’s greatest historical turnarounds) and the Chingas Fort (Where Mughal Emperor Jahangir died while returning from Kashmir with his beautiful wife Noor Jahan) at Rajouri. Some other great monuments like those of the war memorials and cemeteries are located in close proximity with and within the military cantonments. Therefore, there are many reasons for the army to step in.

Raising of these departmental units out of the existing government machinery would be aptly cost effective and would not put much of a burden on the exchequer. The specialist manpower including both men and women can be drawn from the concerned organizations, whereas, the nucleus for command and control from the territorial army. The National Disaster Management Authority can also become partner in this endeavor of territorial army.


(Published by the team of TERRITORIALS)

Rules of FIRST BENGAL VOLUNTEER RIFLES (VOLUNTEER FORCE OF INDIA)

Immediately after the famous mutiny of 1857 part-time forces in India were completely reorganized and renamed as the Volunteer Force of India. Apart from the existing units, many more new units were raised. The objective of the new force was primarily to give strength to the British and European society living in India and also reinforce the regular forces.

Decisions regarding these new units were taken at the military department meetings on various occasions. An insight into the proceedings of military department will reflect how part-time forces operated and how they were so relevant to the overall schemes of Indian armed forces.

Following are the excerpts from the Proceedings of  March 1862, Military Department, Government of India regarding the Rules of First Bengal Volunteer Rifles (Volunteer Force of India):-

1. The Corps be called the Ist Bengal Volunteer Rifles, and consist of the main body a Howrah, with Sections at any Stations situated on the Railway below Rajmehal and Raneegunge that may wish to join.
2. A Captain, Lieutenant, and the Ensign to be appointed for every Company of fifty men, with one Serjeant and one Corporal for each Section of twenty men. The Commanding Officers to be selected by their Companies, the Non-Commissioned by their Captains.
3. A general parade of the entire strength of the Corps to take place every three months at one of the stations furnishing I Volunteers - due notice be given to each Member thereof.
4. Admission and expulsion of Members to be managed by a Committee of all the Commissioned Officers, to any of whom, subject to the future approval of the Committee, an application for enrolment may be made.
5. No Member to retire without giving one month's previous notice, except in special cases of sickness and change of residence, nor until he has made over his Arms, &c., to his immediate superior Officer.
6. All Members to attend parade at least twice a week.
7. Absence from parade and other breaches of discipline to be punishable by fine determined by Court composed of the Non-Commissioned Officers, presided over by a Commissioned Officer.
8. The Proceedings of this Court to be laid before the Commanding Officer for his award.
9. No Member of the Corps to appear on parade except in uniform.
10. Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates, when on parade or duty, to salute their Officers.
11. Each individual Member to be responsible for the good state and thorough repair of the Arms, &c., committed to his charge.
12. Members leaving the Corps, or the neighbourhood of any Section of the Corps, to make over their arms, &c., to their immediate superior Officer.
13. The senior Officer at any station to be responsible to the Commandant for observance of these rules.
14. For ordinary expenses each Member to pay a monthly subscription of one Rupee, which may be raised, subject to the expressed approval of the majority of the Corps.
15. Copy of the foregoing rules to be forwarded to each Member.

Note: Copyright material; with permission from the National Archives of India, Government of India.

(Published by the team of TERRITORIALS)

Value of Part-Time Forces

Ever since the inception of volunteer system all over the world, there is a feeling that the part-time forces have been commonly misunderstood and many a times badly ignored. Their overall structures have always been controlled by the regular armies and the situation has always been anomalous.

This situation can be solved by giving the part-time forces full control of their internal command and control systems and also providing them with full autonomy. This not only would lead to the betterment of the morale of the amateur soldiers but on a larger prospective would also improve their efficiency. By giving full autonomy to the part-time forces, the regular armies to a great extent would also be in a position to reduce the acute shortage of officers who otherwise are required for manning the part-time forces. These officers so relieved could focus on their prime role of defending  nations against foreign aggression. The classic example of this is the British Armed forces, where part-time officers also command regular formations and where competence and the ability to do a job is the sole criteria for any appointment instead of petty service concerns. There is no doubt this cannot be practiced in India.    

The famous United States General Douglas MacArthur, in his article titled, ‘The Citizen Soldier and His Role in Our National Military Policy’ in the American Legion Magazine, January 1952 had stated that:

“In all our wars, from the Revolutions to Korea, the citizen soldier has met the full shock of battle, has contributed all but a fraction of the dead and maimed and has accepted the responsibility for victory.

Yet despite all this, he has never received either from our political or military leadership full credit for his role in safeguarding the security of the nation, nor the support in peace which would better prepare him to carry his responsibilities in war.

The tendency has existed, as it still now exists to regard him as an auxiliary rather than the main pillar supporting our national military strength.  Only in rare instances have his views been sought or considered in the shaping of high policy governing the conduct of war or plans to secure the peace. Indeed, only in most exceptional cases he has been called to share the authority of higher command or staff administration……

……..A military state…….historically under the control of professional military thinking……….has found in freedom possibly its greatest single impediment…… To avoid this historic pitfall, it is essential that civilian control over the citizen army be extended and intensified. Particularly is this true in the administration of the program of Universal Military Training, if the youth of our land is to avoid being corrupted into a legion of subservience to the so called military mind.

This calls for a reassessment of the role of the citizen soldier now to become the major element of our military establishment during peace as well during war. It calls for a realistic appreciation of the potential in professional competence which the citizen soldier can bring to the fulfillment of our military policy and aims. It calls for the elimination of arbitrary restrictions upon the advance of the citizen soldier in the ranks of military leadership, for which he may be trained or is already reasonably qualified. It calls for a much broadened opportunity for the professional preparation of the citizen soldier to permit his integration into the higher staff duties and planning designed to avert war if possible, to prosecute it to early victory if not.

This requires a basic change in attitudes. It requires recognition of the fact long understood but covertly denied that our Army, as befits a republic, is a citizen army. It requires that leadership from the top down be selected upon merit, carefully avoiding arbitrary class discrimination. It requires that the citizen soldier, if otherwise professionally qualified, have the opportunity to voice his views in the formulation of military and related political policy – recognition that none have any monopoly upon the attributes to military leadership. It requires that we carefully avoid yielding to professional ambition at the expense of the primacy of the national interest

Unless these principles are recognized and adhered to, we shall find that our citizen army lacks the spirit essential to the building of invincible force – that its officers lack the incentive to advance their professional competence – that the people lack faith in the integrity of their military arm.” 

(Published by the team of Territorials)

Part-Time Soldiers During World War I

The performance of Australian non professional officers and generals during  World War I was given high praise by David Lloyd George in his War Memoirs (London 1933-36).  He stated:

“Ought we to have interfered in the realm of strategy? This is one of the most perplexing anxieties of the Government of a nation at war. Civilians have had no instruction, training or experience in the principle of war, and to that extent are complete amateurs in the methods of waging war. It is idle, however, to pretend that intelligent men whose minds are concentrated for years on one task learn nothing about it by daily contact with its difficulties and way to overcome them………But strategy is not entirely a military problem. There is in it a considerable element of high politics….. Generally speaking, the argument of the high commands in the war for their claim to be the sole judges of military policy was put far too high by them and their partisans. War is not an exact science like chemistry or mathematics where it would be presumption on the part of anyone ignorant of its first rudiments to express an opinion contrary to those who had thoroughly mastered its principles. War is an art, proficiency in which depends more on experience than on study, and more on natural aptitude and judgment than on either……”

(Published by the team of TERRITORIALS)