Choosing A Career in Indian Air Force

It is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict.

As an officer in the Indian Air Force, you lead a challenging, adventurous and rewarding life. As you grow in the organisation, you get many opportunities along your way, like a chance for specialized training in India and abroad, option to study further, possibility to get posted in Indian missions abroad, amongst others. You become an integral part of the adventurous and challenging life Air Force offers you.

Commands

The Indian Air Force is divided into five operational and two functional commands. Each Command is headed by an Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief with the rank of Air Marshal.

The commands are:

Operational Commands

1. Central Air Command (CAC), headquartered at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
2. Eastern Air Command (EAC), headquartered at Shillong, Meghalaya
3. Southern Air Command (SAC), headquartered at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
4. South Western Air Command (SWAC), headquartered at Gandhinagar, Gujarat
5. Western Air Command (WAC), headquartered at Subroto Park, New Delhi

Functional Commands

1. Training Command (TC), headquartered at Bangalore, Karnataka
2. Maintenance Command (MC), headquartered at Nagpur, Maharashtra

Career Options in Indian Air Force

Broadly the Air Force has three branches with further sub-streams which give an opportunity to choose a career of one’s own choice:

(a) Flying Branch
      · Fighters
      · Transports
      · Helicopters
(b) Technical Branch
      · Mechanical
      · Electronics
(c) Ground Duty Branch
      · Administration
      · Accounts
      · Logistics
      · Education
      · Meteorology
Entry to Indian Air Force

There are different ways of entry to Air Force:

STEP I
1. For NDA and CDSE:

NDA

Eligibility Criteria

    · Age - 16 ½ to 19 years(at the time of commencement of course)
    · Nationality - Indian
    · Gender - Men only
   · Educational Qualifications - 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics. Appearing final year students can also eligible to apply.

CDSE (COMBINED DEFENCE SERVICES EXAMINATION) (FOR MEN ONLY)

Men can enter through this mode of entry and will get a Permanent Commission.

Eligibility criteria:

    · Age - 19 to 23 years (at the time of commencement of course)
    · Nationality – Indian
    · Marital Status - Single
    · Gender - Men only.

Educational Qualifications
    · Graduate (Three Year Course) in any discipline from a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) / BE / B Tech (Four Year Course).
   · Final Year/semester students are also eligible to apply, provided they produce Degree certificate issued by the University as per the date stipulated in the advertisement.
    · No Percentage Bar for CDSE entry.

Written tests are conducted by UPSC only. For details visit www.upsc.gov.in

2. Technical Branch: Entry into the Technical Branch is through two schemes, both via AFCAT

UNIVERSITY ENTRY SCHEME(UES)

    · For candidates studying in Pre-Final year of B-tech/BE degree course
    · For men only. Grant of Permanent Commission.
    · Educational Qualifications: The candidate must be currently studying in Pre-final year of BE / BTech degree course with choice of subject as mentioned above. There must be No backlog / arrears of papers of previous semesters at the time of SSB Testing.
     · On completion of degree, minimum 60% of marks in aggregate in all papers put together are mandatory.

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING COURSE

    · After completion of Engineering degree or while in your final year/semester of Engineering
    · For both Men and Women. Permanent Commission (for men) / Short Service Commission (For men and women)
    · Marks - Must have scored a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate in all the papers put together in any one of the qualifications listed
     · Final year students are eligible to apply provided they do not have any present backlog at the time of SSB testing and they produce provisional/ original degree issued by the University as per the date stipulated in the advertisement.

AFCAT – Air Force Common Admission Test.
For all entries other than NDA and CDSE and for all branches, candidates have to undergo the AFCAT.
The test is conducted twice a year in February and September. The test is conducted all across India by the Indian Air Force

3. NCC entry

Air Sqn NCC Senior division ‘C’ certificate holders are to apply through DG NCC/ respective NCC Air Squadron. They would then appear for AFCAT

4. GROUND DUTY

General Eligibility Criteria for Ground Duty Branches

    · Age - 20 to 23 Years for Graduates and 20 to 25 years for Post Graduates (at the time of commencement of course). Upper age limit relaxed upto 26 years for Law Graduates (3 Years Course), upto 27 years for CA / ICWA / M Ed / Ph D.
   · Marital Status - Candidates below the age of 25 years must be Unmarried.
   · Nationality - Indian
   · Gender - Both men and women.

As a Graduate/ Post Graduate you can join as an officer in any of the following Ground Duty Branches

ADMINISTRATION BRANCH

Permanent Commission (for Men) / Short Service Commission (for Men & Women)
Responsible for the efficient management of both human and material resources. Some of the officers of the Administration Branch are selected and trained to carry out the following duties also:
    · Air Traffic Controller – Involves maintaining an orderly flow of traffic and airspace management.
    · Fighter Controller – Involves close contact and supervision between the air and radar for effective airspace management.

Educational Qualifications

Graduation degree in any discipline with a minimum 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together
OR
Post Graduation degree / equivalent diploma in any discipline with a minimum 50% marks in aggregate in all papers put together.

ACCOUNTS BRANCH

    · Permanent Commission (for Men) / Short Service Commission (for Men & Women)
   · Responsible for efficient financial management of funds. You will also act as internal auditor to ensure a zero-defect audit from outside agencies.

Educational Qualifications

Graduate Degree in Commerce (B Com) with a minimum 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together
OR
Post Graduate Degree in Commerce (M Com) / CA / ICWA with a minimum 50% marks in aggregate in all papers put together.

LOGISTICS BRANCH

     · Permanent Commission (for Men) / Short Service Commission (for Men & Women)
    · Responsible for materials management of all Air Force resources. You would ensure efficient supervision of inventories, and involve in procurement processes of various ranges of equipment.

Educational Qualifications

Graduation degree in any discipline with a minimum 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together
OR
Post Graduation Degree/ equivalent diploma in any discipline with a minimum 50% marks in aggregate in all papers put together.

As a Postgraduate you can join in the following Ground Duty Branches.

EDUCATION BRANCH

Educational Qualifications - Post Graduate Degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate in all papers put together.

METEOROLOGY BRANCH

As a Meteorology Branch Officer you would be involved handling the latest satellite imagery and state- of-the-art monitoring equipment, you would render specific advice to the operators on all aspects of weather.

Educational Qualifications

Post Graduate Degree in any Science Stream / Mathematics / Statistics / Geography / Computer
Applications / Environmental Science / Applied Physics / Oceanography / Agricultural Meteorology / Ecology & Environment / Geo- physics / Environmental Biology. All candidates should have scored a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate in all papers of Post Graduation put together and should have studied Maths and Physics in Graduation with minimum of 55% marks in both subjects.

STEP 2 - SSB (Services Selection Board) TESTING

For those who have successfully cleared Step 1, you will receive a Call letter to report to any one of the Air Force Selection Boards located at Dehradun, Varanasi, Gandhinagar and Mysore.

At the Air Force Selection Board (AFSB), you undergo following tests in order to ascertain your suitability and gauge your potential as an Officer in the Indian Air Force.

    · Officer Intelligence rating Test
    · Picture perception and Discussion Test
    · Psychological Tests are written tests that are conducted by a Psychologist.
  · Group Tests are interactive indoor and outdoor activities that are a combination of mental and physical work.
    · Interview involves a personal conversation with an Interviewing Officer.

Career Advancement

Once recruited the candidates grow through the following stages with excellent perks and an adventurous, fulfilling, disciplined lifestyle.

Commissioned Officers

    · Flying Officer
    · Flight Lieutenant
    · Squadron Leader
    · Wing Commander
    · Group Captain
    · Air Commodore
    · Air Vice Marshal
    · Air Marshal
    · Air Chief Marshal
    · Marshal of the Air Force- honorary rank
    · Junior Commissioned Officers
    · Junior Warrant Officer
    · Master Warrant Officer
    · Warrant Officer

Non-Commissioned Officers

    · Airman
    · Leading
    · Aircraftman
    · Corporal
    · Sergeant

How to Help Distracted Children with Studies?

Today many parents are worried over casual approach of their children towards studies, especially in primary and middle school. Scoring marks is not much of a problem for these children. Thus they believe that regular and long hours of studies are not essential. Eventually, most of them find it very difficult to focus for a long time when they reach the higher classes and thus lose interest in studies and the process of studies.

Parents are right to worry. Children with above average intelligence make it very easily through today’s primary and middle school systems especially because of the easy and sort exams and repetitive nature of school studies. But many of them end up in mess in high school and later because they may either be not very good with their basics or may end up hating to sit for long hours as per the demands of the senior classes. Hatred or laziness for writing practice is another cause of worry.

In addition they have too many attractions and distractions that they do not believe in doing anything for the sake of their parents or teachers or because they are afraid of the authorities. Usually when parents insist on regular studies, they are faced with strong resistance and at times even violent reactions.

Most of these children do not even respond to suggestions from a counselor or a teacher, timetables or schedules for more than a day or two. Majorly, because though they would want to do better at studies they do not have the discipline or willpower to sustain on their own for long.

The best option for such children is to get them a home tutor. The idea behind this is - children develop the habit for regular studies throughout the year for an hour or two. This habit will take them a long way.

Another advantage is you can instruct the tutors to test the child for the basics of math, languages and science from time to time and set a system of regular practice for the basics so that senior classes become comfortable.

Thirdly, these tutors can, through your instructions, get full test papers solved from the student prior to exams in exam-like setting keeping the required time check. This will improve the child’s examination skills and give a boost to their confidence.

Even if your child is scoring well and is not willing for a tutor, I suggest you to implement it as a compulsion to inculcate regular study habits in your child. If not anything, on some days the tutor can engage the child in subject related or general debate or encourage creative writing.

I would also suggest that the results can be best if the tutor is not a teacher by profession as those teachers put off the students. In most A and B grade cities you would find tutorial agencies that can send you a verified teacher. These teachers are mostly college students and children feel more comfortable with them.

A word of caution though, if your child is a female do insist on a female tutor for the sake of safety and ensure that there is no door closing during the class time and that you or some other adult be around.

Brand Craze among Teens

Dealing with the craze of brands among kids is a major worry of many parents.

I received many queries in response to my previous article on the same subject.

Let us consider one fairly common concern, see how many of us can connect

with it and try to see a way around it.

“My worry is that youth around 17-18 years have problems like if you wear

something exclusive then only friends acknowledge you or they get closer to you...

We try to explain, that it is all temporary... Your inner things help you a lot, but ,

difficult for him to swallow it... He got lot of acknowledgement being a sportsperson,

good behaved person and equally higher side bright student (not 90, but we r fine)

in the school... We try to explain.. the same.. but.. still not succeed.. we will keep

trying.... But need more light on it”

Well that is what 17 years of age is. It wants to confirm and be accepted and

applauded. Is it bad? No. It just is. That is the age around which we start to

explore ourselves. Before that the sense of self had not developed much.

Individuality is not always appreciated as our education system is all about

conformity - in uniform dress code and behavioral patterns. Now when they

can move around in casual wear they see a chance to see and exhibit

their individuality. Wanting to be different and the best seems to obvious.

So,,, no, they are not wrong. Most youngsters at that age have not been able

to make their mark so again clothes seem to be an easier way to impress.

But even in cases like the one example above, we need to understand that

we have different facets to our personality and even if we are doing good

in some, that doesn’t take away the need to excel or at least be special in

other ways too.  

Your argument as an adult is also right that “It is what is inside that really

matters”, but please consider their age. Think of ourselves at that age.

Most of us did not have access to money and brands while growing up so

we could not indulge, but didn’t we indulge in whatever way was possible?

We wanted to be special too. We would borrow sarees and shirts from friends

and family to look our best wherever possible. The only difference is that

they are surrounded by options from across the globe on just one click.

If we have expressed our ability to pay for expensive things around

them then they cannot understand why not to indulge in the best.

So firstly, we need to understand that they are just teenagers

and it is not their age to understand philosophy. Then what should be

our approach?

I believe moderation is the way. According to your affordability indulge
them sometimes and refuse the other. Especially if the children are internally
motivated and responsible towards their duty and students, we can definitely
indulge them once in a while. But what if they want it every time?

Children develop the habit of pressurizing and emotionally blackmailing the
parents when they learn that parents always say ‘no’ to everything to begin
with but turn around after they throw some tantrums. Also when there is
a lot of display of money around them they believe that they can and should easily have
what they demand. Here is when the role of parenting comes in.

1. Husband and wife should always decide what they are going to agree on and what not.

Once one parent has said ‘no’ the other should not overrule it.
2. Once you have said a reasonable ‘no’, stick to it.

3. If later you feel that you wish to change your ‘no’ to a ‘yes’ don’t do it immediately.

Wait for an opportunity where the child can be told that as a reward for his hard work in

studies or anything else, they can have the branded ware they were asking for.

4. If there are financial problems in the family, share them with children occasionally.

They need to know. Many parents do not want to share such details with the children

because they don’t want to ‘burden’ them. Eventually when the unsuspecting children

put forth their demands these same parents blame the child for not being understanding.

5. Also get in to the habit of offering genuine praise whenever your children are dressed to

go out, especially when they wear something non- branded but elegant and fitting. Occasionally

when they wear the brand also let them know that they make the brands look better because

of their personality. Of course all this has to be genuine and not obvious or frequent enough for

the child to suspect foul play.

6. Let them know they are unique at every possible occasion.

Remember, children are not ready for philosophy of life. They may actually detest it.
We have to do it their way. Understand that a lot of branded high end stuff is really good.
Our aim is not to stop our children from dreaming of and wanting to be seen in brands only,
the aim is that they can value money and value brands for their quality and not just the
brand logo.