Life in Army,Navy and Airforce

Major Gupta, who like Major Aiery had trained at the OTA, was an event management executive before she joined the Army. "I would interact with an eclectic mix of people, from IAS officers to upcoming models." But being the daughter of an Army officer, she couldn't resist the Forces. 'There's an aura to the Forces, and just wearing the uniform lifts my spirits, no matter how stressed I might be."When she had gone for her 5-day SSB interview she wasn't nervous at all. "But I was," says Major Aiery. It was his only chance as he was close to the age limit barrier. "But the officers make you so comfortable that you don't realise you are being judged at all," points out Major Gupta. Lt Thakur's suggestion for the SSB is that candidates should familiarise themselves with SBB structure but should not 'rehearse the answers'."But the kind of bonding that develops in just five days is enough to shake the world," says Lt Thakur who had expected the training at the NDA to be quite rigorous. "But it was a lot of fun!"

"Life is tough in the armed forces and the training toughens you and improves your mental stamina," says Major Aiery. Major Gupta had a stress fracture in the first week of her training at the OTA, "but the support from the group helps you move on," she says. She even broke her back while learning skiing in Gulmarg, Kashmir. She's part of the first women officers skiing team. Major Aiery recommends the Ghatak/commando training he underwent to everyone. "You will be surprised your mind is capable of so much."

But getting those stars at the passing out parade (PoP) is an indescribable feeling. "I cried!" says Major Aiery. Major Gupta's parents failed to spot their daughter. "The uniform is a great leveller, everyone looks the same," says Lt Thakur.
 

 Surely the Sixth Pay Commission has brought them cheer. "I joined before the Commission, and my commitment to the Army is just the same," saysLt Thakur. "We are not working here for the money," says Major Gupta,"but for the satisfaction of it!" adds Major Aiery.

 

Guardians of the Sea
Like any teenager, Lieutenant Rashmi of the Logistics branch, wanted to be everything, "but I had an adventure streak in me," says the national level swimmer. In her final year of BA Economics, when many of her friends were deciding their future, Lt Rashmi applied to the Navy.Though Lt Rashmi is from 'fauji' background; both her father and brother are from the Army, her heart was set on the Indian Navy. "The postings are fantastic! Goa, Cochin, Mumbai, all are happening places!" Commander Deepak Singhal, Directorate, Naval Operations, couldn't agree more. "Indian Navy offers a very cosmopolitan lifestyle; the postings are at the best of the places, rarely in remote places, and this gives us a huge exposure to civilian lifestyle."Not just that, there are many trips abroad for naval courses and there's an active interaction with foreign navies says Cdr Singhal. But when Cdr Singhal sat for the Naval Academy examinations, it was for the lure of the uniform. "It looks royal," he says and "grand," adds Lt Rashmi.She went unprepared for the SSB. "The SSB officers, dressed in civilian clothes, at once make you feel at ease." Cdr Singhal says that the SSB is a very scientific process devised by scientists at the Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR). "In fact, it is considered one the best interview formats in the world." Lt Rashmi thinks that even if one doesn't get through the SSB, the experience itself is life-changing.Lt Rashmi is the second batch of SSC women officers to have passed out from the new Naval Academy at Ezhimala, Kerala. "The moment I stepped into the academy, I felt we were all equal." And no doubt, the place is beautiful she says. "There are mountains, beaches, rivers, and of course, the sea. I played a lot of beach volleyball!" And she's done sky-diving, too. "Besides adventure sports, there are plenty of courses to do, as well!" She did diploma in Logistics Management from Symbiosis Institute of Management during her one year training at INS Hamla.

It was during the training that Lt Rashmi learnt much more about the Indian Navy. "It was an eye-opener. You can work at sea on the ship, under the sea in submarines or in the air as pilot and within these there are so many specialisations!" As part of the training, she spent two weeks on the ship. "But I am sure soon women will become a part of the ship crew."For Cdr Singhal, training at the NA was a process of self-discovery. "I thought I could never run. Now, I am a marathon runner." He had participated in the Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon when he was posted there. But the greatest challenge is commanding a unit of young men at an early stage. 'It is a bit unnerving but also a matter of great pride!"Cdr Singhal has served at INS Viraat, flagship of the Indian Navy. "It is a city floating on the waters." Just the distance between his cabin and the operation room was 200 metres. And yes, he would jog two kilometres everyday in the mornings on the ship. The sun setting against the Viraat was phenomenal he recalls and on some days when a few whales leaped out from the blue waters, "it seemed I was in another world!"

Angels in the Sky
The first thing an Indian Air Force officer tells you is that the Air Force 'looks after you very well'. "It's true!" says Flying Officer Neville Vaz. "Even now my senior officers call to see if I am doing fine." "And there are co-locations," says a sprightly Squadron Leader Asha Vashisht, "where if both the partners are serving in the Air Force usually they get posted together."Even working hours are flexible says Squadron Leader Vashisht who's been married for seven years now. "If my four-year-old daughter is unwell, I am home within minutes or just ask a colleague to look after my child if I cannot come." Vashisth jogs three kilometres every day and swims for at least an hour in the evenings. "There are deer, peacocks, and open spaces for children to play. "And it's very safe," she says as she walks through the verdant, Air Force station at Hindon.It is from the same station Flying Officer Vaz flies his aircraft. He's a transport pilot. "It's a 24-hour job, but we get a lot of time to ourselves." His colleague Flying Officer Nitin Raj whole-heartedly agrees. Before joining the Air Force, Flying Officer Vaz reviewed gadgets on Hindi news channel, CNBC Awaaz.He was keen on a TV journalism career and did Media Studies at St Xavier's Mumbai. As no one in his family was in the armed forces, he had never thought of joining the Forces until the mother of a student he taught to support his studies encouraged him to apply. At the time he was preparing for CAT and it helped him clear the CDSE entrance. When he got called for the SSB, he had just got a job at CNBC Awaaz.But Squadron Leader Vashisht was determined to become a pilot. "Well, I wanted to prove a point to the male community!" she laughs. She was so keen on flying that at 5: 30 in the morning she would cycle to the civilian airport in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa to fly and then reach college by 11 a.m. for her classes. She was studying microbiology. "I would sleep in class!" Despite that she stood 3rd in class.
 

Much against her father's resistance, she applied to the Air Force and cleared the PABT test. But she failed the medical test. 'I was short by 2 centimetres.' But that did not dampen her spirits. She joined the Administration branch. "Well, I still have the chance to serve my country!" These past several years have been a rollercoaster ride for Squadron Leader Vashisht. "I love to sky-dive." Well, she broke her ankle while landing, and yet with the same foot she has done several demo jumps at melas, promoting the Air Force to young men and women.For Flying Officer Vaz the PABT test was fun, though he noticed many candidates overdoing it. "One should be just chilled out." But when he cleared the medical exam he was suddenly confused about joining the IAF as he was to have his own show on the channel. "But my boss at CNBC supported my decision." "To be honest, life in the Air Force is incomparable."