CAREER IN AIR FORCE

Indian Armed Forces have a reputation of being one of the finest in the world and offer a very challenging and Attractive career for Indian youth (both men and women). Indian armed forces, after induction, impart required training to ensure that individual becomes fully capable of handling difficult and complex situation arising in operational and administrative spheres. The services environment offers:-

• A very healthy work culture. It offers challenging and result-oriented environment and is best suited for honest and upright person to serve and as such holds the promise of bringing high social standing and honor to an individual joining the same.
• Individual becomes true nationalist and stops distinguishing individuals based on religion, cast and regional basis. It is the only career which demands and teaches supreme sacrifice for the country.
• Armed forces is a major setup, which provide reasonably good and fast career growth. Career growth in armed forces depends on performance and your skill. Certain courses entitle you to additional pay and allowances.
• Life in armed forces is regimented and it takes priority over normal life and builds up Esprit-de-Corps.
• Indian armed forces render invaluable service to the nation, both in times of war and peace. Though there prime task is defending our nation against external aggression, many times it is called to restore internal strife and help in natural calamities. Working in the Air Force is about being in the middle of supersonic jets, state-of-the-art technology and best of the people. You are where the action is. Air Force provides you with the most modern facilities gives you an unparalleled way of life and creates an environment, where the best in you comes out.

The Job

The Indian Air Force is responsible for the air defence of the country, ensuring both offensive and defensive roles. It is also responsible for the air defence of vital installations of strategic importance to country. The Air force is divided into three main branches .

The Flying branch –

• includes fighter pilots who fly combat or fighter planes carrying ammunition and missiles;
• transport pilots who fly planes which carry men and materials,
• helicopter pilots who provide air support to a moving army, or are used for para-dropping men and supplies.

The technical branch –

• which includes engineering sections and is responsible for the engineering equipment and weapons systems of the air force.

The Administrative Branch –

• includes all the departments that provide logistical, meteorological, educational and administrative support to the flying and technical branches.

Personality Traits

• Good communication skills - officers need to deal with soldiers
• Love for one's country
• Commitment
• Dedication
• Perception
• The will to fight and face hardships in order to protect the nation
• An alert mindIntegrity
  
• Flavour for discipline and adventure.
• Ability to keep situations under control in crisis

Career Progression

As an officer in the Indian Air Force, the sky is the limit for you. You start your career as a Flying Officer and can rise up to the rank of Air Marshal. The chosen one from the Flying Branch becomes the head of the family i.e. The Chief of Air Staff. To know the exact rank structure for commissioned officers read below.
Junior Level Officers

Flying Officer (Fg Offr): First rank an officer wears after successful completion of the training. The officer is posted as a Squadron Pilot, or an Adjutant, or a Security Officer, or a Welfare Officer in any of the small Air Force stations and given charge of men and affairs.

Flight lieutenant (Flt Lt): Next rung. Equivalent to a Captain in Army and Lieutenant in Navy, a Flight Lieutenant takes on junior level supervisory responsibilities and is posted as a Pilot, or an Adjutant, or a Security Officer in any of the medium level Air Force Stations.

Executive Level Officers

Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr): Operational in-charge. He is a senior level supervisor and takes responsibilities as a Flight Commander, or a Senior Administrative Officer in medium level Air Force Stations, or an Asst. Provost Marshal, or a Commanding Officer of Airmen Selection Centres.

Wing Commander (Wg Cdr): Posted as a Commanding Officer of Flying Squadrons, or Chief Administrative Officer of medium to large AF stations, or Commanding Officer of Liaison Units, or Staff Appointment at Air HQs/Command HQs
Group Captain: Group Captain heads large Air Force Stations. Equivalent to Colonel in Army and Captain in Navy, he may command a medium-sized Air Force Station, or be Chief Operations Officer or a Chief Engineering Officer of a large Air Force Station or hold key Staff Appointments at the Air HQs/Command HQs.

Directorial Level Officers

Air Commodore: The chosen few make it to this position. An Air Commodore is equivalent to Brigadier and Commodore in Navy and is posted as an Air Officer commanding large AF Stations, or Staff Appointments (senior level) at Air HQs/Command HQs.
Air Vice Marshal: Only the daring few can climb this high in the Air Force Hierarchy. An Air Vice Marshal is equivalent to Major General in Army and Rear Admiral in Navy. He is responsible for taking strategic decisions and is posted as the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) at Command HQs or as Assistant Chief of Air Staff at Air HQ.

Air Marshal: Just one step below the top of the ladder, the Air Marshal commands a lot of power. He is equivalent to Lt. Gen. in Army and Vice Admiral in Navy. He is posted as the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) at Command HQs, or as the PSO at Air HQs or Command HQs.

Chief

Air Chief Marshal: The top of the rung is for the best of the best from the flying branch. The Air Chief Marshal heads the Air Force family and is responsible for all strategic and tactical decisions, regarding the Indian Air Force in the times of peace and war.


Salaries

The Air Force also takes care of all your needs including basic accommodation, health care, recreational areas, education facilities for your children etc. The following is the pay you get according to your rank and branch chosen:

Gross Annual Income* (approx.)
RANK                                       Flying Branch                        Technical Branch                          Ground Duty Branches
Permanent Commission           Rupees 2.17 Lakhs                 Rupees 1.75 lakhs                         Rupees 1.63 lakhs
Flight Lieutenant                      Rupees 2.60 lakhs                  Rupees 2.06 lakhs                         Rupees 1.94 lakhs
Squadron Leader                     Rupees 3.26 lakhs                  Rupees 2.60 lakhs                         Rupees 2.42 lakhs
Wing Commander                    Rupees 3.67 lakhs                  Rupees 3.00 lakhs                         Rupees 2.83 lakhs
Group Captain                         Rupees 4.02 lakhs                  Rupees 3.36 lakhs                         Rupees 3.18 lakhs
Air Commodore                        Rupees 4.16 lakhs                  Rupees 3.71 lakhs                         Rupees 3.53 lakhs

*This includes the basic pay & allowances currently admissible. These are subject to revision & also linked to years of Service and place at posting and do not include other perks such as accommodation, insurance, medical etc..

Study Routes / Entry

Calss XII with Sciences (PCM).

After class XII, there are number of types of entries in the Armed Forces in India. Basic Entry for all the three forces is through National Defence Academy (NDA). Entries are at 10+2 Level, after graduation and after professional courses (graduate /post graduate level).

There are following entries to armed Forces :-

• Entry through NDA in all three wings, permanent commission, after 10+2 level through prescribed competitive examination known as National defence Academy / naval Academy Examination.
• Entry after graduation through Combined Defence Services Examination, through Indian Military Academy (IMA) Dehradun for Army, the Naval Academy, Goa for Indian Navy and the Air Force Academy, Hyderabad for Air Force as permanent Commission officer. Through Officers Training School as Short Service Commission officer.
• All three services can be joined after completion of technical education i.e. Engineering Degree, requirement of each service is different.
• Army Medical Corps, which serves all three services can be joined after completion of MBBS degree, either through Armed Forces Medical college or from any other medical College.

LEVEL 1 of Entry – 10+2

Eligibility:

General eligibility conditions for the Air Force include –

• A citizen of India
• 161/2 to 19 years of age
• You should have passed your 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics.
• Candidates must be physically fit in accordance with the prescribed physical standards
• Unmarried males (Females are only admitted as Pilots – helicopters and cargo, navigators, technical and ground officers).

Selection Process for the National Defence Academy

• You can write the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam which is meant for entry into the National Defence Academy (NDA). The exam is held every six months at various centers in India.
• Individual faring well in this exam you be called in for a Services Selection Board (SSB) interview which lasts for three to four days. In this interview they conduct medical & written tests, outdoor activity contests, personal interviews, etc.
• Candidates, who want to join the Indian Air Force, have to take a Pilot Aptitude Test which once failed, can never be taken again.
• All candidates have to undergo extensive psychological examinations and meet exhaustive physical parameters to appear on the SSB merit list, from which 300 join the NDA as cadets for three years.
• NDA takes in new cadets every January & June. There are no fees to join NDA, but an individual wish to opt out, as a small percentage do, it is very expensive. An NDA drop-out has to pay the government, costs incurred in training, which are calculated by the number of weeks that have been spent at NDA.
• The three years in the NDA are divided into 6 semesters. Five are general semesters, which every candidate has to take and in the sixth and final semester, each candidate specialises for either the Army, Navy or Air Force.
• After three years in the NDA, Army cadets join the Indian Military Academy at Dehra Dun, Navy cadets join the INS Tir or INS Krishna at Cochin and Air Force cadets move on to the Air Force Training Academy at Hyderabad. These courses are of 18 months duration after which, individual gets a commissioned rank.

LEVEL 2 - Graduate / Direct Entry

As a graduate, you enter the Flying branch through the Air Force Academy. The Air Force Academy is one of the most prestigious training establishments of the Indian Air Force. Here you are trained and prepared for your responsibilities as a pilot.
The following are the three modes of entry for graduates to join the Flying Branch:

• Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE)
• You can take the Combined Defence Services Examination (conducted by UPSC) to join the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force. It is held every 6 months at various centers in India. Again like the NDA process, there will be a SSB interview and a medical examination.
• National Cadet Corps
• As a senior division 'C' Certificate holder of the National Cadet Corps, you can apply to the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force.
• Women (Short Service Commission)

If you are a woman, you are eligible for a Short Service Commission (10 years commission extendable by 5 years or forty whichever is earlier) to the Flying Branch.

Eligibility

• Age - 19 to 23 years*
• Marital Status - Single
• Nationality - Indian
• Gender - This is applicable to both men and women.

Educational Qualifications

• Graduation in any discipline with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level.
• BE(Four years)

Level 3 - Technical Entry

Individuals having an engineering degree, can apply for direct commission. He can directly appear for the SSB interview and medical exam. If cleared them, he will be paid a stipend by the Indian Government during his senior years. After completing the degree, you are straight away enlisted into the Air Force Training Academy in Hyderabad (if you opt for the Air Force), without entering NDA, with a commissioned rank or in Army, i.e., through IMA.

Level 4 – Post Graduate Entry

As a post graduate, you can glide into a challenging and rewarding career in the Air Force by applying for –

• Technical Branch
• Ground Duty Branches

Technical Branch - Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics)
 As an Aeronautical Engineer in the Electronics stream, you will be responsible for the communication and signals required on the Air Force station. You will be in charge of the execution of preventive maintenance and servicing of aircraft. With further in-service training, you could also move to the repair and overhaul divisions of the Indian Air Force.

Eligibility :

• Age - 18 to 28 years*
• Marital Status - Single
• Nationality - Indian
• Gender - This is applicable to both men and women.

Educational Qualifications :

• MCA with Maths, Physics and Electronic at graduation level & M Sc Tech in Electronics and Radio Engineering.
• M Sc Degree in Physics (with Electronics), Electronics computer Science, Computer Application.

Ground Duty Branches –

After completing your post graduation, you can enter any of our Ground Duty Branches. Both men and women can aspire to become a part of the crew that manages the human and material resources of the Indian Air Force.
You can join any of the following branches of the Indian Air Force:

• Administrative Branch
• Accounts Branch
• Education Branch
• Logistics
• Meteorological Branch

Eligibility

• Age - 20 to 25 years*
• Marital Status -Single
• Nationality - Indian
• Gender -This is applicable to both men and women.

Educational Qualifications

• Post Graduate with 60% and above marks & an MBA or Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (Two years full & Three year part time course) from Institutes recognized by All India council for Technical Education with 60% marks.
• Law Graduates (3 years) with 60% and above (the age limit is relaxed up to 26 years).
• B.Com/ B.Com (Hons.) or M.Com with 60% and above marks. For further qualifications of ICWA/ Chartered/ Registered/ Incorporate Accountant together with M.Com/ B. Com Degree.
• MA/ M.Sc. with60% and above marks in English/ Psychology/ Defence Studies/ Mathematics/ Statistics/ Computer Science.
• You may apply if you have scored a minimum of 60% in any of the following subjects:- Physics, Applied Physics, Metrology, Geo Physics with Meteorology and Oceanography, Oceanography with specialization in Meteorology.
• MA/M Sc in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics.

Source: Compass One

Date: 20th Nov., 2009

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