Army proposes 3-year voluntary “period of service”, cites patriotism, unemployment

The Army estimates that the corresponding cost for a three-year service will be Rs 80 lakh-85 lakh.

Citing a “revival of nationalism and patriotism,” and the fact that “unemployment in our country is a reality,” the Indian military has proposed a three-year “internship” for youth, both as officers and soldiers.

According to the proposal, as mentioned in an internal note, the brief and voluntary “duty shift” is for young people who “do not want to make defense services their permanent vocation, but still want to experience the excitement and adventure of military professionalism ” .

“The proposal is a change from the concept of permanent service / work in the Armed Forces, towards the” internship “/ temporary experience for three years. Unemployment in our country is a reality, however, there is a revival of nationalism and the patriotism, “says the note.

However, the entry criteria for such candidates will not be relaxed. Army spokesman Colonel Aman Anand confirmed that such a proposal is being discussed and emphasized that, if accepted, the “period of service” will not be mandatory. The “crucial point”, says the note, lies in making the proposal “attractive to the government, the Armed Forces, companies, and most importantly to the people” who choose it.

For this, it proposes that the person’s earnings for the three-year period can be made tax-free, and preference can be given in public sector jobs, as well as in postgraduate courses.

“The government cannot make ToD (tour of duty) as a mandatory criterion for central / state jobs, however any advantage in terms of qualitative / quantitative / supernumerary criteria will give a boost to the scheme,” he says.

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In listing the benefits of the services, he says it will bring savings in wages and pensions, and “lessen the frustration” of officers who are released after 10-14 years of short service, when they are in their mid-30s.
Noting “immense financial benefits to the organization due to reduced payment and tip payments,” the Army has said that the cost of a three-year service per officer will be a fraction of the cost incurred by the officers of the Commission of Short Service (SSC).

Says the cost incurred by an officer, which leaves after 10 or 14 years, is Rs 5 crore-Rs 6.8 crore, which includes the cost of pre-commission training, pay, allowances, tips, license fees , among others.

The Army estimates that the corresponding cost for a three-year service will be Rs 80 lakh-85 lakh.

He adds that SSC officers have the option to join the service permanently, further increasing the cost incurred, including pension bills.

For soldiers, who generally serve for 17 years, the Army has calculated a lifetime savings of Rs 11.5 crore per person, compared to a three-year service.

Saying that it will help “channel youth energy into positive utilization of their potential,” the note adds that “rigorous military training and instilled habits will lead to healthy citizenship.”

He says the entire nation will benefit from “trained, disciplined, confident, diligent and committed” young men or women who have performed the three-year service, and an “initial survey” has indicated that the corporate sector will prefer to hire such young people in fresh graduate place.

Noting that the proposed scheme will be tested with limited vacancies, the Army has said that “it can be further expanded, if found successful.”

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