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NCC facilitates to shape up greater personality- 30-Jul-2010
During the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, NCC cadets played a significant role being the second line of defense.
National Cadet Corps (NCC) is open to school and college students on voluntary basis with its head Quarters at New Delhi.
Recruiting cadets from high schools and colleges all over India, the cadets are given basic military training in small arms and parades. In spite of receiving warfare training they are not liable for active military service but are given preference over normal candidates during selections based on the achievements in the corps.
NCCs Preparation:
Based on NCC's objective, a separate training syllabi was devised for the cadets with two years training for Junior Division Cadets and three years for Senior Division. Except for minor variations, the syllabus is similar for both Boy and Girl cadets. The training schedules planned for the cadets ensure that it benefits the organization.
In a brief chat with Lt. General RK Karwal, Director General, National Cadet Corps, tells, NCC puts on lot of emphasis in character building as the students could be well prepared for lifes challenges. NCC facilitates youngsters to lead a disciplined life. It also provides a situation that prepares them for a better future.
Talking about the advantages an NCC cadet has over others, he tells that the Indian Military Academy (IMA) reserves 64 seats every year for NCC cadets holding a C certificate. Similarly, the Officers Training Academy (OTA) also reserves 100 vacancies every year for NCC cadets of which 20 percent are reserved for girl cadets.
Advantage of being an NCC:
Further more, in the Navy and Air Force too, NCC cadet receives a lot of incentives. In the Navy, every C certificate holder gets age relaxation up to two years. Six vacancies are reserved per course when recruitment takes place.
In the Indian Air Force, including flying training courses, 10 per cent seats are reserved in all courses.
NCC cadets are exempted from written exams conducted by UPSC for short-term commissions.
Preparedness of NCC:
Remarking about the preparedness of NCC to serve in the defence forces, the Director General says, they are well prepared beyond doubt. They are exposed to lot of different things through their rigorous training. NCC training comprises of four parts institutional training, adventure training, youth-exchange programme, and social service and community development.
Institutional training is provided to all cadets and is an elementary form of training that involves drills, physical training and combat training. They also get numerous opportunities to attend national integration camps, which take place 37 times a year.
After three years of rigorous training, if one gets C certificate (which is the minimum criterion to avail incentives while applying for defence jobs).
Why additional privileges?
Reacting to intricate questions on the reasons for the waiver of written test in the selection to armed forces, though cadets are only given physical training, he informs, the written test is waived only for short-service commissions. For permanent service commission, they have to appear for the entrance test just like others. Moreover, we have also started giving them coaching for the preparation of SSB interview. This started around a year-and-a-half ago. There are training centres across India where SSB training is given and officers who train them are the group testing officers who have served in the SSB in the past. This training is completely free of cost (just like other NCC training sessions).
