tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post3020839022738784458..comments2024-03-28T05:22:10.255-07:00Comments on Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence.: Performance, not ageBroadswordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-90576260237134147832012-01-29T15:58:04.166-08:002012-01-29T15:58:04.166-08:00its unfair to compare Kashmir to Afghanistan,situa...its unfair to compare Kashmir to Afghanistan,situation and env are completelyt different.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-16872173276447325132012-01-29T06:44:00.324-08:002012-01-29T06:44:00.324-08:00Dear Ajai,
Good angreezi written in your article,...Dear Ajai, <br />Good angreezi written in your article, well some recent articles written by you lack maturity,and thaught.It is clearly evident that you have been sponsored for that, If you colud mull over these the following:-<br />1. What performance you are talking about, the reports one earn sitting in five star culture.. well different conditions... different operational requirements... different pressures... then you want to equate them... <br />2. Are selection boards real meausre of a good and bad officer( empanelled vs non empanelled)<br />3. what is a better measure, request suggest...<br />i feel you should think in detail , if feasible take advice before jumping the gun in media.... or you will loose credibility...<br />regardsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-59431514482207070702012-01-25T23:07:00.981-08:002012-01-25T23:07:00.981-08:00The recommendations are very well intentioned. In ...The recommendations are very well intentioned. In India however, such a policy will set the stage for politicization of the Armed Forces. We need to understand the quality of our politicians and their unending hunger for power. The CVC issue should throw enough light on how things may shape with the kind of politics that our politicians play. The Supreme Court judgment in General VK Singh’s case will amply bring out the game and the purpose behind this age row.Brigadier Mahalingamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03359000554637297012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-37912215916936187222012-01-24T08:00:34.318-08:002012-01-24T08:00:34.318-08:00Ajai-ji,
Great piece of writing. The whole age t...Ajai-ji,<br /><br />Great piece of writing. The whole age thing in promotions and retirement has always seemed mindless to me. Technically speaking this can be classified as age discrimination. Age has nothing to do with ability. It's the ability that should count, and not age. Thank you for bring this issue to light.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-87004709325288634162012-01-24T04:57:07.383-08:002012-01-24T04:57:07.383-08:00I agree with both the first @Anonymous (Jan 24 08:...I agree with both the first @Anonymous (Jan 24 08:16) and with Yogi. The Indian army is far, far more diverse than the US army or any of the world's armies. In order for deep selection to not become yet another face of corruption and nepotism (and we all know just how deep the corruption can run - CWG, UTI, defence deals), we need to first come up with a *common definition of merit*. Otherwise all it will take is one George Fernandes or Krishna Menon to destroy a fine institution and leave the borders defenceless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-13472805714190604892012-01-24T02:45:35.774-08:002012-01-24T02:45:35.774-08:00I do not think the quota lower down is the problem...I do not think the quota lower down is the problem - that has been put in for a reason. But rather than be negative let me say few words on this issue.<br /><br />In some Western nations students get priority to those high schools in their neighbourhood. But these schools may not be the best or up to the mark. In order to get a high school of your choice one must earn a scholarship. This scholarship goes to the top 2% in the student community.<br /><br />Now if we try to see how this would work in your case. The various arms would nominate their candidates less 2%. The candidates over and above the quota would be sent to HQ and the most deserving of these from the various arms would fill the remaining vacancies.<br /><br />Well??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-42412852999224470302012-01-24T02:05:39.823-08:002012-01-24T02:05:39.823-08:00Deep Selection indeed the need of the hour. The pr...Deep Selection indeed the need of the hour. The present quantification method taking and weighing the ACR earned in the last rank as the major input is absolutely faulty and wrong. It suddenly makes one virtuous and washes down the drain your past. The last rank environment might have been one of the sour points in ones career that should not make an officer otherwise with proven capabilities to be written off. But that"deep Selection" requires to be carried out within ones conditions and environment and not over the board as many AC and Mech officers would like it to happen. The competitive environment or criteria to determine merit must be equal.<br /><br />I suggest look three down policy as applicable to selection of Lt gens must be applied to all ranks above colonel within so called Mandalised framework. There is no comparison between ethos and conditions of work between mechanized , Arty and Infantry officers. They can not and should not be put together. that is the only way of stemming the rot that had set in in terms of inflated rating and cutting down officer of other Arms under false notions.<br /><br />Proportionality of vacancies is called for so that the organisation has best of the officers at higher level from all Arms and Services and with all kinds of varied experiences and envornment to be representative of the entire spetrunm of the organisation. The organisation has seen domination of tank men when it suffered the most. That is a matter of fact and not prejudicial.<br /><br />Secondly, after selection to higher ranks based on deep selection merits, age should not be the criteria and the govt should grant extension to meritorious candidates based on the recommendations of the board.<br /><br />However govt selecting candidates will bring back Menon and Nehru era which is fraught with grave dangers. The system has been evolved to avoid that but anomalies have cropped in> Let the system do away with anomalies.<br /><br />The intake age for all entries should be similar or less there be no age bars. Let there be no cadres with the cadre.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-32131903647075406982012-01-23T23:25:41.706-08:002012-01-23T23:25:41.706-08:00@Ajay,
Are we sure that so-called `deep selection...@Ajay,<br />Are we sure that so-called `deep selection' will be pancea for the ills of poor performance. If that be so let us start even ealrier. 1. As it is Army promotes only half of Lt COls to Col. Why not send non-empanelled home.2. Merit may even be found amongst Other Ranks. So what about starting the deep selection at Sepoy level itself. Jokes apart, what we need is firstly, a common definition of Merit to start with. Second, we need a quantifiable 360 degree appraisal system. Thirdly, we need an efficient and quick in-house vigilance system. Fourthly we need a fair, time-bound and transparent redress system. Fifthly, we need to combatise the Army by shedding many trades and specialities to civilians on contract basis. Example, Specialised fields in Medical, major Repairs, transportation. In other words all such assets beyond Field Force (Corps) level ought to be civilianised. Sixthly we need to empower the commanders by designating Authority and Responsibility Nodes. Long! Cheers!!Yogihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10813642555904398272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-14572736762786723022012-01-23T23:15:38.884-08:002012-01-23T23:15:38.884-08:00Col. Shukla
You have raised the right issues, but...Col. Shukla<br /><br />You have raised the right issues, but you are portraying it incorrectly. Indian military has a organisational set up, which is archaic currently, I certainly agree. But lets not forget that this was made with some reason, to cater to the needs of our country way back in 1970's, or even earlier.<br /><br />The security scenario changed drastically since early 2001 and now we are in the middle of a paradigm shift in our security set-up, needs and expenditure.<br /><br />Hence, what is much more important now for us, is to do a study and ask ourselves how to align our organisational set up which best serves our security needs for the next 30-40 yrs(the average serving tenure of a soldier)or even more!<br /><br />If we are spending hundreds of billions of dollars in buying hardware, we must ensure that our 'Method & Discipline(in Sun Tzu's words)is best organised as per our needs as well. <br /><br />And that is something, which I haven't heard much news about. <br /><br />So I would urge a respected soldier and journalist like yourself to inform us about the same.Almightynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-40257801922546897492012-01-23T22:59:59.724-08:002012-01-23T22:59:59.724-08:00Please refere to following for the data:
[http://j...Please refere to following for the data:<br />[http://joinindianarmy.nic.in/inner.aspx?status=2&menu_id=142&id=1}<br /><br />Various entry schemes to be an officer in the Indian Army are:<br /><br />[u]10+2 TECHNICAL ENTRY SCHEME(10+2 TES)[/u]<br /><br />16 ½ to 19 & 1/2 yrs <br />Last age of commission ; 23 1/2 yeras<br />vacancies 85 per year<br /><br />[u]NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY (NDA)[/u]<br /> 16 ½ to 19 yrs<br />vacancies Army - 390 per year.<br />Last age at Commission : 23 years<br /><br />[u]INDIAN MILITARY ACADEMY DIRECT ENTRY ( NON TECHNICAL MEN )[/u]<br />19 and 24 yrs <br />Vacancies per course :250 (Twice a year) Total 500<br />Last age at commission 25 1/2 years<br /><br /><br />[u]OFFICERS TRAINING ACADEMY ( NON TECHNICAL MEN )[/u]<br />19 and 25 yrs <br />Vacancies 175 (Twice a year) Total 400<br />Last age of Commission 26 1/2<br /><br />[b]Toatl intake per annum : approx 1400[/b]<br />Considering that only 50 per cent of the SSC officers would remain in service after five years of their commission the total batch strenghth of fofficers would be approximately 1200.<br /><br />It may seen from the above data that from the toatl intake percentage of entry in a batch of 1200 is as follows:<br /><br />NDA - 32.5 % last age of commission 23 years<br />DE - 41.66 % last age of commission 25 1/2 years<br />SS - 16.66 % last age of commission 26 1/2 years<br />Tech -07.5 % last age of commission 23 /12 years<br /><br />The figures above state following thing:<br /><br />SSC is the wastage entry. Even after perment commision and being most capable SS entry can forget about age driven higher rank ranks.<br />DE is the filler entry who will fade away as they climb up. Capabilities or no capablities.<br />NDA and TE is elite entry who will be generals even if they do not desrve it by mere virtue of pattern of intake and residual age.<br />The age system is thus a conspiracy by NDA generals / cadre specially coming from institutions like Sainik / Military Schools where age at entry is easily manipulated.<br /><br />This is thus an aristocratic system where the rank is being ditermined by virtue of entry rather than merits solely for advantage of age.<br /><br />Army conducts a serious war of business where such scheming rules and QRS should not be followed or officers would be preditermined based on their age and entry and thus harm the sytem.<br /><br />Gen Hasnain is precisely victim of the above preplanned and well thought conspiracy.<br /><br />Adjust the upper and lower bars of age for all entries and bring them to equal intake level at commission. Why the DE are made to lose six months of extra training at IMA. If NDA is training so is any college !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-2181371976749364512012-01-23T22:16:53.169-08:002012-01-23T22:16:53.169-08:00An excellent writeup. Age overshadows every other ...An excellent writeup. Age overshadows every other criteria in critical appointments in senior military command structure. The argument that, favouritism might creep in is no reason for sticking to the one major objective criteria, the date of birth. It is a different matter that, today, even that has become subjective.colmuralihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02505907127793085628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-55654629120111261492012-01-23T20:30:47.822-08:002012-01-23T20:30:47.822-08:00Gen Bewoor's appointment superceding Prem Bhag...Gen Bewoor's appointment superceding Prem Bhagat is another case worthy of notice.Ashwin Baindurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12472294269065735591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-19010910990514411372012-01-23T18:46:42.282-08:002012-01-23T18:46:42.282-08:00Ajai, you're also ignoring the corruption that...Ajai, you're also ignoring the corruption that will come henceforth. The system that we have is not that of U.S. Here corrupt rules. So it's better the Armed forces is kept away from the corrupt hands of politicians. Otherwise everyone at the top will be corrupt and inefficient in the Armed forces as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com