Options for science students in the Armed Forces
Introduction
Armed Forces - the Army, Navy and the Airforce have lured the adventure loving, physically robust committed young people year after year. Recently though the lure of Information Technology and the high pay packets which multi nationals have to offer has influenced professional choice and detracted young people nevertheless it is the commitment to the defence of the mother land which has been enduring in attracting the seriously motivated.
Students from all subject streams can be inducted into the three services in its various branches. This article provides the necessary details for students of physical and mathematical sciences.
The Army
Army constitutes of the Infantry, Armoured Tanks, Artillery, Engineers, Communication troops and other support troops who look after clothing, food, transportation, repair of equipments and give medical help.
The Navy
Navy inducts cadets to train them for the executive and technical branches.
Executive branch
Executive branch has three arms of the branch:
- General Service
General Service officers command and manage the ship. - Technical branch
The Engineering Branch is responsible for the serviceability of ships, submarines and aircrafts. They work in shore jobs in naval dockyards, laboratories and indigenous production units.
Naval architects - These officers specialise in warship construction.
Electrical branch- An Electrical Officer deals with computer based or computer-aided weapon systems, missile systems, underwater weapons, radars and raid communication equipment.
Education branch - Education Officers teach technical subjects as part of inservice upgrading of knowledge. They may be specialists in Oceanography and Meteorology and also in any of the specialisations of the General Service, Executive Branch.The AirForce
Pilot is the key person in the Airforce while the Ground Duty Branch has the Technical Branch,Air Traffic Control, Meteorology Branch, Fighter Controller and Medical Branch which inducts students with a science backgroundFlying branch- Pilots specialise as Fighter pilots ,Transport or Helicopter pilots. The navigators fly in the transport and bomber aircrafts only. They assist the Pilots in navigation.
Technical branch- Aeronautical Engineers work in Mechanical Branch or the Electronic Branch. They install, maintain, operate defence radar systems ; electronic gadgets, sophisticated computers, ground defence electronics equipments.Administrative branch- An Administrative branch officer is responsible for personnel management and administration of the Air Force bases . An admin branch officer is also required to function as an Air Traffic Control Officer to provide control and advisory services in order to enable the pilots of military and civil aircrafts to conduct their flights with total safety in all weather conditions. Adminstrative Branch Officer may be required to operate as a Fighter Controller to counter enemy threats from the air by using modern electronic counter-offensive equipment.
Education branch The Education Branch teach a variety of subjects like Science, Computer Technology, Military Science, etc. As an Education Officer at a station, he is responsible for guiding the personnel in furthering their academic qualifications.
Meteorology branch Meteorology Branch officers are involved in weather forecasting using the latest state-of-art technology.
Medical and Dental branch Officers from Army Medical Corps are seconded to Air Force. Air Force runs some hospitals and clinics where even Army and Navy personnel are entitled for treatment and vice versa.
Entry in Army Navy and Air Force After 10+2 (PhysicsChemistryMaths)
There are several way of entering the 3 arms of defence services. In this section entry into defence services have been detailed.Naval Engineering College
Navy directly selects candidates for their Engineering College at Lonawala. Male candidates between the age of 16 1/2 and 19 years who have passed XII with Maths, Physics and Chemistry and have secured more than 70% marks in PCM and minimum 50% marks in English are eligible to apply. The Naval Engineering College trains the cadets so selected in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering and Electrical Engineering. The course starts in December, advertisement and details about this selection are published in leading newspapers and Employment news in the month of May/June. Cadets go through an initial 6 months orientation at Naval Academy in Goa. B. Tech degree is awarded on completion of the course from Jawaharlal Nehru University of Delhi
Army Technical Branch Entry
Cadets are recruited for being trained with the Army after 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Maths (minimum 70%). There are two inductions annually of male candidates in the 16½ to 19½ age group. The courses begin in January and July each year. The training of cadets for a four year six months period entitles them for permanent commission in the Army in Technical Branches i.e. EME, Signals, Engineers.
National Defence Academy
Union Public Service Commission holds a competitive examination twice in a year, for a 3 year training course commencing in January and July. Candidate taking the examination has to give preference for service he desires to join, however, option also depends on the rank in merit list. Before indicating their preferences for different courses, the candidates should first decide their preference for the two Academies, viz., National Defence Academy and Naval Academy (Executive Branch). If a candidate opts for National Defence Academy as his first choice, he must first indicate his preference for different wings of National Defence Academy viz Army, Navy and Air Force followed by his preference for Naval Academy (Executive Branch). Alternatively if a candidate opts for Naval Academy (Executive Branch) as his first choice, he must first indicate his preference for Naval Academy (Executive Branch) as his first choice, followed by his preferences for different wings of National Defence Academy.
Conditions of eligibility
Age limits, sex and marital status - Only unmarried male candidates age between 16 1/2 and 19 years are eligible.
Educational qualifications - These are as follows .
For Army Wing of National Defence Academy - 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for the 10+2 (Executive Branch) course at the Naval Academy - 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern or School Education or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics conducted by a State Education Board or a University. Candidates who are appearing in the 12th Class under the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination can also apply. Scheme of the Examination - The subjects of the written examination, the time allowed and the maximum marks allotted to each subject are as follows:
| Subject | Duration Marks | Max |
| Mathematics | 2-2 1/2 hours | 300 |
| General Ability Test | 2-2 1/2 hours | 600 |
| Total | 900 | |
The papers in all the subjects consist of objective type questions only. The question papers (test Booklets) are set in English only.
Graduates and Post Graduates Entry into Armed forces
Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE)Union Public Service Commission through its notification in leading newspapers and Employment news, in the months of April and October, conducts an entrance examination for entry into the officer cader of Army, Navy and Air Force. Candidates qualifying in written examination have to appear before a service selection board (SSB) for interview. Those opting for Air Force have to undergo Pilot Aptitude test. Those who come in the merit list undergo medical examination and after selection are sent to following training establishments according to choice given by the candidates and their merit list ranking.
- Indian Military Academy, Dehradun (IMA)
- Naval Academy, Goa
- Air Force Academy, Begumpet, Hyderabad
- Officers Training Academy, Madra
Incentives to NCC Cadets
The following are the incentive to the NCC cadets :
Army - 50 vacancies in every regular course of IMA are reserved for National Cadet Corps B grade holders of 'C' certificate with a minimum of 2 academic years in the senior division of NCC who have passed UPSC Examination and have also been declared successful by the Service Selection Board.
Short Service Commission (Non-Technical) - OTS, Chennai Graduates with 50% marks, NCC 'C' Certificate with 'B' grade and serving for 2 years from the receipt of application can appear directly for SSB interview for SSC at OTS, Chennai. On selection cadets undergo 9 months training at OTS after which they are granted commission in the rank of Lt.Navy - 6 vacancies per course for grant of commission in the Navy are reserved for selection of National Cadet Corps cadets as Special Entry Cadets, provided they are in possession of 'C' certificate of Naval Wing and are declared fit by the Naval Selection Board. Such cadets are exempted from appearing in the UPSC examination.
Air Force - 10 vacancies per course are reserved for national Cadet Corps Air Wing cadets holding NCC 'C' certificate of Air wing. Two courses are held every year. The cadets for Pre-Flying Course do not have to undergo UPSC Examination.
Other Branches of Air Force - 10 vacancies per course are reserved for National Cadet Corps Air wing cadets holding NCC 'C' certificate of Air Wing for commission into various branches of the IAF (except Flying Branch Pilot). They have, however, to clear the UPSC examination and Service Selection Board as in the case of general candidates.
To be eligible to compete for reserved vacancies the candidates should have served for not less than 2 academic years in the Senior Division Army Wing and 3 academic years in the Senior Division Air wing/Naval Wing of National Cadet Corps and should not have been discharged from the NCC for more than 24 months for IMA/Naval Academy/Air Force Academy Courses on the last date of receipt of applications in the Commission's Office.
Age limits, sex and marital status - These are listed below:
For IMA - Unmarried male candidates in between the age of 18 and 23 years
For Naval Academy - Unmarried male candidates in between the age of 18 and 22 years
For Air Force Academy - Unmarried male candidates in between the age of 18 and 21 years
For Officers' Training - Academy male candidates (married or unmarried) in between the age of 18 and 24 years
Educational qualifications
For IMA and Officers' Training Academy - Degree of a recognised university or equivalent.
For Naval Academy - B.Sc with Physics & Mathematics or Bachelor of Engineering.
For Air Force Academy - Degree of a recognised university or equivalent with Physics and/or Mathematics as subjects. Candidates who have passed their degree examination with subjects other than Physics and/or Mathematics as subjects are also eligible provided they have passed the Higher Secondary Examination (old pattern) or the 11th/12th Standard Examination under the 10+2 pattern of school education or an equivalent examination with mathematics and Physics as subject of Examination.
Graduates with first choice as Army/Navy/Air Force are to submit proof of graduation provisional certificates within two weeks of completion of SSB interview to Army HQ (Rtg. CDSE Entry)/NHQ (R&R Section)/Air HQ-PO-3(A) respectively.
Candidates who are studying in the final year Degree course and have yet to pass the final year degree examination can also apply but they will be required to submit proof of passing the degree examination.
Scheme of examination - The competitive examination comprises (a) written examination, (b) Interview, intelligence and personality test of such candidates as may be called for the interview at the services selection board centres.
The subjects of the written examination the time allowed and the maximum marks allotted to each subject are as follows:
For the admission to IMA, Naval and Air Force Academy
| Subject | Duration | Marks |
| English | 2 Hrs | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 Hrs | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 2 Hrs | 100 |
For admission to officers training academy
| Subject | Duration | Marks |
| English | 2 Hrs | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 Hrs | 100 |
The maximum marks allotted to the written examination and to the interviews are equal for each course, i.e., maximum marks allotted to the written examination and to the interviews are 300, 300, 300 and 200 each for admission to Military Academy, Air Force, Naval Academy and Officers Training Academy.
For candidates joining the Air Force Academy - There are three modes of entry into Flying (P) Course viz. CDSE/NCC/Airmen. Candidates who apply for Air Force through more than one source will be tested/interviewed at Air force as well as other arms of services. Common candidate who fail in INS-B/(Pilot Aptitude Battery) PAB test as an NCC or Airmen candidate be called again for (Officer Like Quality) OLQ testing for Army/Navy/OTA only, if it is found that he has applied through CDS Exam also.
Service Selection Board (SSB)
After the UPSC written examination for NDA and CDSE or after the scrutiny and short listing of applicants by the respective headquarters all candidates are put through relevant tests before being sent for medical examination. What are these tests? Students often ask. Here is a description of the selection procedure of the Service Selection Board (SSB).
Personality tests - These tests are as follows :
Situation Reaction Test (SRT) - Sixty situations (familiar/unfamiliar) are given and the candidate is required to give reactions on an answer book in 30 minutes.
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) - A set of 12 pictures are shown (each for 30 secs) and the candidate is required to write a story in 3 minute for each picture.
Word Association Test (WAT) - Sixty words are projected and the candidate is required to make a sentence, in 15 seconds for each word.
Group test - Group Test is conducted on batches of 8-10 candidates. The test comprises of indoor and outdoor activities e.g. group planning, group discussion and lectures.
Interview - This is to test the personality of the candidate. This includes general awareness. Finally the selection board interviews the candidate.
Special tests of selection
Pilot aptitude test - Pilots have to undergo a pilot aptitude test which includes Instrument battery tests - This test requires annotation of the correct answers in an answer sheet for each problem which are given in a booklet. Those qualifying in this test have to take the machine test comprising of control velocity and SMA.
Intelligence test - Pilot, Engineers and other ground duty applicants also go through the officers intelligence rating test. This test is designed to find out the basic intelligence level of the candidates. Only those who achieve a minimum acceptable level and grade are required to undergo the Personality Test which is common to all candidates.
Engineering knowledge test - Engineers take the engineering knowledge Test which is a test of basic knowledge in various fields of Engineering. This test has to be cleared before taking the personality test.
Entry After 10+2 (PCB group) into Army Medical Services
Medical Corps after 10+2 (Biology Group)
Armed Forces Medical College is a prestigious medical college run by the Armed Forces for training medical graduates at Pune. 105 boys and 25 girls are selected to serve the armed forces as doctors after their training.
Eligibility - Candidates should be medically fit as per laid down standards. All selected candidates have to undergo medical examination before admission to the AFMC. Only unmarried candidates are eligible.
Educational qualifications - Candidate must have passed the XII (10+2) standard/pre-professional (medicine) examination or equivalent examination of any recognised Board/University as a regular student in the first attempt with the subject of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English securing not less than 60 per cent of aggregate marks in the three science subjects taken together. He should secure 50 per cent marks in each science subjects and not less than 45 per cent marks in English. The candidate, must have passed an examination in Mathematics at least of the matriculation standard. Candidates who are to appear for the test provisionally. Candidates who have passed in Domestic Science, Domestic Arithematics, Lower Maths separately or in combination with other subjects like General Science, social Science in High School, Higher Secondary (multi purpose) or equivalent examination are not eligible. Candidates who have passed only pre-university/pre-degree (one year course) or pre-professional in Agriculture/Veterinary/Dental examination are not eligible.
Method of selection - The selection test is held in two parts written test and an interview. General standard of the entrance examination is that of 10+2 standard.
Age - 17 years on 31 December of the year of appearing but must not be the age of 22 years on the date if the academic qualification of candidates is 10+2. A candidate who has passed the B.Sc. examination or will be appearing in final B.Sc. examination must not have attained the age of 24 years on December 31.
Reservation for SC/ST - 10 seats are reserved for SC/ST candidates but they must come within the first 500 in the final combined merit list of boys and girls. Based on the performance in the written test, selected candidates are called for interview in the month of June/July at one of the following Centres: Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, New Delhi and Pune.
Armed Forces Nursing Services
Entry after 10+2
Admission to B.Sc (Nursing) course of four years duration is conducted at College of Nursing, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune-30.
Minimum educational qualifications - The candidates must have passed XII class (10+2) or an equivalent examination of 12 years duration of a recognised Board/University with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (Botany and Zoology) with not less than 40 per cent aggregate marks in all the subjects. Those who have passed the examination as private candidates without attending a College affiliated to any recognised university, are not eligible. The candidates appearing in the qualifying examination (10+2) during March/April of the year of applying may not apply.
Age requirements - Candidates should be between 17-25 years of age.
Candidates are selected (2 seats are reserved for scheduled caste/scheduled tribes and 1 seat for NCC trained girl candidate possessing G-2 certificate in order of merit). Selected candidates are required to execute an agreement/bond to serve in the Military bursing Service for a minimum period of 5 years as Permanent Commissioned Officer after successful completion of studies. In addition to free rations, furnished accomodation, uniform allowance, medical treatment and travel concessions, they are paid a stipend per month during the course. Only unmarried female candidates are eligible. Divorcees or widows or those legally seperated and without encumbrances are also considered. Applicants should be medically fit.
Selection - Written objective type examination are held at 17 centres. Required number of candidates from the merit list are called for interview at selected centres in the month of April/May. Candidates who qualify in the interview have to take the medical examination. A final merit list is drawn on the basis of marks obtained both in written examination and interview. Existing number of vacancies are filled strictly in accordance with the position secured by the candidates in the all India merit list.
Examination Centres are at : Bangalore, Mumbai, Calcutta, Cochin, Dehradun, Delhi, Danapore, Guwahati, Jabalpur, Jammu, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Lucknow, Chennai, Secundarabad, Trivandrum and Vishakapatnam.
Army Dental Corps
From time to time dental surgeons are inducted in the Army Dental Corps and are granted direct Permanent Commission/Short Service Commission.
Short service commission - Short Service commission is granted to Dental sugeons who fulfill the following conditions :-
Age limit - Less than 45 years (relaxable in case of specialists and post-graduates)
Qualification - Graduate in Dental Surgery.
Medically fit in all respects.
Direct permanent commission - Permanent Commission is also granted.
Age limit - Post graduate (MDA) 30 years/Graduate (BDS) 28 years.
Qualification - Postgraduate dental degree or BDS with 60% in final BDS examination.
Medically fit in all respects.
Selection procedure - There is a written (objective) and clinical test followed by an interview. Successful candidates at the written and clinical test are required to appear before the selection board for interview.
Lady candidates are also inducted in the Army Dental Corps.
