CAREER CHOICE - MILITARY versus BUSINESS and INDUSTRY
DEFENCE SERVICES – A GOOD CAREER CHOICE IF YOU LIKE A
LIFE OF MEDIOCRITY AND OBSCURITY
Muddled Ramblings of a “Retired” Mind
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Disclaimer:
These are my personal views, muddled ramblings of a “retired” mind, to be taken lightly, and these personal musings do not constitute career guidance advice. Please choose your career after carrying out your own due diligence.
Copyright Notice:
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)
a SOFTWARE CEO and an AIR FORCE CHIEF
For the last few days the media is going all
gaga over the appointment of an American (of Indian Origin) as the CEO of a Software Giant.
Recently, a new Indian Air Force Chief was
appointed.
This event was ignored by the media and I did
not see the new Air Chief being featured or interviewed on any prime news
channel.
There was just a brief mention of the
appointment of the Air Chief during the news and a small news item in the
newspapers.
On the other hand, the appointment of the
Software CEO was headline news in the print media and is being discussed widely on many
features pages in newspapers and magazines and on all TV Channels.
The Software CEO is an American.
He left the shores of India, his country of birth, and
migrated to the USA to seek a “better” future and realize his “American Dream”,
and we, back at home, celebrate his success.
The Air Chief is an Indian who remained in
India to serve the nation.
We entrust him to guard our skies.
But it is the Software CEO who is in the
limelight and no one seems to be taking any notice of the new Air Chief – in
fact, most Indians who are celebrating the success of the American CEO may not
even be aware of who is the Air Chief of their own nation.
A day may even come when the American CEO may
be awarded an Indian Civilian “Padma” Award, like so many Foreigner “Indians”
(NRI and PIO) have been given in “recognition” of their achievements abroad,
whereas many deserving resident Indians, who spend their entire lives serving
the nation, may be ignored.
Today’s youngsters admire successful business
icons and achiever entrepreneurs much more than the obscure soldier who quietly
performs his hazardous and tough job in some remote place, on the ground, on the
seas, or in the air – and some people will even insensitively remark that the soldier
is “paid to die for his country”.
You may like it, or you may not like it, but
these are today’s modern priorities.
There was a time (in the pre-liberalization
days) when defence services were considered a good career option.
Liberalization, Globalization and the
Software Boom has changed all that.
Values and Aspirations have changed owing to
the opening up of opportunities.
In the world of business and industry,
especially if you migrate abroad to the developed world, there are great
opportunities to achieve power, wealth and fame, if you have merit and are prepared
to work hard.
A MILITARY CAREER
Let’s come back to the successful newly
appointed CEO of the Software Giant.
The 46 year old CEO graduated in Engineering
in 1988 obtaining a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Electronics and Communication
Engineering.
Just imagine – suppose he had chosen a Military Career, and joined the
Army, or Navy, or Air Force, after his Engineering Degree.
Where would he have been today?
Even if he had got all his promotions, most
likely he would be serving in obscurity as a Colonel, Captain or Group Captain
in the “Technical” Branches.
By the way, Technical Officers are considered “second rung” in the
defence services and have limited career opportunities vis-à-vis generalists.
In the military, at least for most technical officers, opportunities for power, wealth and fame are limited.
So, no matter how brilliant or mediocre he was, he would have been trudging along in the professional straitjacket of military anonymity.
Like in most government jobs, seniority matters
more than merit, career progress is slow and time-dependent, you will be put in
the queue and both the meritorious and the mediocre will be promoted when their
turn comes.
And even as far as career prospects go, the government
civil services (IAS, IPS etc) are much more attractive than the armed forces.
CAREER CHOICE
If you are youngster on the verge of choosing
a career, the choice is yours.
Do you believe in merit?
Are you ambitious?
Do you yearn for material success and have a hungry
desire for power, wealth and fame?
Are you prepared to work your ass off to
achieve your dreams?
Then, the world of business,
entrepreneurship, finance and industry beckons you, and I am sure you know what
to do, and, maybe you are already doing it.
On the other hand, if you want a steady job
with “lifetime employment”, and if you are content to live a parsimonious life
of mediocrity and obscurity, then the defence services may be a good career option.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Disclaimer:
1. These are my personal views, muddled ramblings of a “retired” mind, to be taken lightly, and these personal musings do not constitute career guidance advice. Please choose your career after carrying out your own due diligence.
2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Copyright Notice
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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