<p>The defence ministry has proposed better financial package for short service commissioned officers of the Army so that Short Service Commission (SSC) too becomes an attractive career option for the youngsters like the permanent commission.<br /><br />The proposal from the Army with better salary and pension package has been forwarded to the Union finance ministry, which is considering the proposal’s financial implications. <br /><br />“There is a shortfall (in the number of officers) because SSC is not as attractive as the permanent commission,” Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh said earlier this week in his annual media interaction.<br /><br />Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar last month informed Parliament that the Army has a shortage of 7989 officers (as on July 1, 2014) and the government was taking steps to fill the gap. But the shortage of around 8000 officers in the Army ranks is continuing for the last several years.<br /><br />“At present the ratio (between the permanent commissioned and short service commissioned officers, who work for 14 years) is squeezed, undoubtedly. There is a shortfall because SSC is not as attractive as the permanent commission. The ratio currently stands at one SSC officer versus 4.7 permanent commissioned officers while the desirable ratio would be 1:1,” Gen Singh said.<br /><br />This happens because of the pyramidal structure in the Army where a large number of young officers form the base, but then the space narrows towards the top. Close to 50 per cent SSC officers leave after 14 years for the want of vacancy though a section of the SSC officers get permanent commission.<br /><br />“There is a shortage of people volunteering for short service commission. All the vacancies were not being filed up at the Officers Training Academies at Gaya and Chennai. But the National Defence Academy has more cadets (2,070) than its capacity of 1950,” the Army Chief said.<br /><br />The Army has also proposed a cadre review for junior commissioned officers and foot soldiers (other ranks) to speed up their promotions. The Army proposal, which is at the last stage of approval by the government, would lead to 1.45 lakh promotions among the JCOs and other ranks.</p>.<p><br />DH News Service</p>
<p>The defence ministry has proposed better financial package for short service commissioned officers of the Army so that Short Service Commission (SSC) too becomes an attractive career option for the youngsters like the permanent commission.<br /><br />The proposal from the Army with better salary and pension package has been forwarded to the Union finance ministry, which is considering the proposal’s financial implications. <br /><br />“There is a shortfall (in the number of officers) because SSC is not as attractive as the permanent commission,” Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh said earlier this week in his annual media interaction.<br /><br />Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar last month informed Parliament that the Army has a shortage of 7989 officers (as on July 1, 2014) and the government was taking steps to fill the gap. But the shortage of around 8000 officers in the Army ranks is continuing for the last several years.<br /><br />“At present the ratio (between the permanent commissioned and short service commissioned officers, who work for 14 years) is squeezed, undoubtedly. There is a shortfall because SSC is not as attractive as the permanent commission. The ratio currently stands at one SSC officer versus 4.7 permanent commissioned officers while the desirable ratio would be 1:1,” Gen Singh said.<br /><br />This happens because of the pyramidal structure in the Army where a large number of young officers form the base, but then the space narrows towards the top. Close to 50 per cent SSC officers leave after 14 years for the want of vacancy though a section of the SSC officers get permanent commission.<br /><br />“There is a shortage of people volunteering for short service commission. All the vacancies were not being filed up at the Officers Training Academies at Gaya and Chennai. But the National Defence Academy has more cadets (2,070) than its capacity of 1950,” the Army Chief said.<br /><br />The Army has also proposed a cadre review for junior commissioned officers and foot soldiers (other ranks) to speed up their promotions. The Army proposal, which is at the last stage of approval by the government, would lead to 1.45 lakh promotions among the JCOs and other ranks.</p>.<p><br />DH News Service</p>
