Review of the officer cadre in the army

Col Mahesh Chadha (retd)

As if the Ajay Vikram Singh Committee (AVSC) is not without its snags, it has now become the rule of thumb for the Indian Army to resolve its problems — the first being the promotion system widely known as the cadre review and the latest is the change in the ratio of permanent and short service commissioned officers. While the cadre review, on the one hand benefited a large number of officers who by virtue of their competence would have retired as Majors or Lt Colonels risen to higher ranks, some even becoming Generals, the upgradation of the appointments crushed the charm and elan of a Brigade Major (BM) at the Brigade, of the Colonel General Staff (Col GS) at the Division and of Brigadiers at the Corps and Command levels. The creation of more vacancies caused managerial embarrassment when a desk which was the responsibility of one was now to be shared by more, requiring a higher ranking moderator or a coordinator to be dealt by the Commander — the bane of advice — one point vis-a-vis multi-point. It bloated the middle rung without much benefit to the Army.

The proposal and its drawbacks 

The MoD seems to have overlooked the negative ramification of the proposed reversal of the ratio between permanent and short service commissioned officers from the present 4:1 to 1:1.1 and increase in service from 5-10 years to 10-14 years. 

Having been a short service commissioned officer myself, I can vouch for my fraternity that commissioned only for five years with a promise of a permanent commission made us not only compete with the regular officers but to outdo them at all levels — the courses of instruction, in performing regimental duties, manning picquets on the borders, leading long range patrols in inhospitable terrains, carrying out anti-insurgency operations at their height in the North-East against the Nagas and Mizos and leading our subunits during the 1971 and later war and operations. We had also to face the SSB a second time to be thought worthy of being a permanent commissioned officer, qualify the Defence Services Staff College and Senior Command course before being found fit to command our unit. The whole life we were kept on our toes so as to be saved of an ignominy to be lower in any way than a permanent officer. Most of us participated in the 1971 war, Sri Lanka operations, 1999 Kargil war, won gallantry medals and achieved higher ranks before hanging our boots with pride.

On the contrary, it is feared that by making short service commission as lucrative as it appears to be, a golden handshake would make them crorepatis overnight and all other benefits would put them in a privileged class of ex-serviceman better than a veteran who would have spent 30 or more years as a permanent officer, damaging his knees climbing up and down the hills under raining enemy bullets. This would also create heartburn amongst permanent commissioned officers who do not get empanelled for higher ranks and are made to rust at unimportant appointments in the later years of their career. It also negates the very proposal of the women to be granted permanent commission in the near future. 

Some important issues

Human nature what it is, such officers with assured conditions of service are likely to fall in one of the two categories; some are likely to pass their time in the Army — be non-performer, even to the extent of being arrogant and indisciplined, be mediocre, do not do well on courses of instruction, even not passing the promotion exams, become low medical category to seek soft postings on one pretext or the other, yet rising to the 'assured career progression' time scale rank of a Major or a Lt Colonel and finally take one or two years of study leave and think of better avenues outside; it is this lot that would be a pain for the Commanding Officer, and instead of being at the cutting edge, would be preferred out of the unit or in the rear areas during operations and war. 

The second lot would be well meaning, hard working, doing well on courses- some even qualifying the Defence Services Staff College and Senior Command course deemed fit to command units and even higher formations would incur a great loss to the Army when they leave and every CO and commander would miss them. The management of such bright officers would pose a problem for the Military Secretary (MS) for either or not giving them deserving postings on staff, instructional and command — at the cost of permanent officers, thus losing on their expertise for the betterment of the Army. 

Another important issue is the future of the National Defence and the Indian Military Academies, whose intake shall have to be reduced, thereby rendering redundant most of the infrastructure and training facilities created over long years of research and analysis, unless they are converted into Short Service Commissioned Academies. History and traditions would not only be at stake but also become victim. The Army shall have to shelve its proposal for the entry of women into the NDA and IMA as well. The very charm of the uniform amongst the youth of the country will be subdued, for despite greener pastures outside, some still prefer to don the olive greens either as a family tradition or for the love of the country. 

Thus, the MoD should have taken these aspects into account as well before making the above recommendation to the Finance Ministry showing only the financial benefits on account of pension etc —which also seems somewhat misconstrued due to the golden handshake itself running into crores every six months or one year and later benefits given like an ex-serviceman.

The solution

Once the MoD has made up its mind, it is difficult to make it change, especially when in its reckoning it means savings to the exchequer — may be a few crores every year. But the question remains: is it the services only that are a burden for the country or other employees paid out of defence budget or a number of chief secretaries, financial commissioners and DGPs? And what about the institutions that would lose their prestige not only in the eyes of the nation but also the world, where conscription is compulsory, but ranges between two and four years only? In contrast, our proposal is for 10 and 14 years, with golden terminal benefits!