Indian Army is the fourth largest army of the world. It has proven its mettle in the past — in internal conflicts and external aggressions, peace-keeping missions and relief duties. But strangely, these days people are ignoring this noble profession and opting for alternate careers. Serving in defence is not an employment with extra high salaries, easy life. It has a charm for the uniform and the prestige that it carries.

Besides dignity, defence services offer unparalleled opportunity to command troops and handle hi-tech equipment at a relatively young age.

However, for many at present, an employment in the armed forces is to earn livelihood. Every profession has its own constraints, the difference lies in how you react to them.

“Risk to life” is one of the prominent reasons people give not to join the armed forces. But security to life is in a way more insecure outside the army. Everyday newspaper headlines highlight crime and uncertainty. Safety these days is more in army than civil. Army premises are enclosed and well-guarded, securing you and your family.

And then a soldier is well-trained and equipped to handle military operations. In field also, medical support reaches faster to a soldier than to a roadside accident victim.

The other reason given by today’s youngsters is that there are better career options in civil than defence — it is a myth. Army offers a career which begins after 10+2.

Another feeling is that army people have an isolated family life due to field postings. But then in case of MNC jobs, don’t couples willingly live in different cities for lucrative salary packages? And even if they are in the same house, they seldom have time for each other. Children hardly get see their father: “Sunday wale papa” is a joke in the MNC circle.

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