A CAREER IN THE DEFENCE SERVICES (Army Navy Air Force)
Part 1
SOME UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES OF A MILITARY CAREER IN THE ARMED FORCES
Career Guidance Tips
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Disclaimer:
1. These tips are based on my own experience and represent my own personal views which may not be universal in nature and may not apply to you. You must make your own career decisions with 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.
3. 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)
SOME UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES OF A MILITARY CAREER IN THE ARMED FORCES
A career in the defence services or armed forces like the Army Navy and Air Force is different from most other civilian careers.
The unique attributes of a military career entail a distinctive “way of life” that makes a career in the armed forces totally different as compared to a career in the civilian world.
Many young persons join the defence services without fully understanding the unique aspects of a military career and then they feel out of place, mismatched, frustrated and regretful.
During my naval career I have seen so many officers who realised that they were misfits in the navy and wasted many frustrated years of their lives in misery trying to get out of the navy.
Please do not let that happen to you.
Do join the army, navy and air force - but do so with due diligence, with your eyes open and with full awareness.
It may prove foolhardy to join on a sudden impulse or in a wave of jingoism.
You must be realistic about it because your career is probably the most important part of your life.
In this series of blog posts on career guidance tips, I will try to bring out some salient aspects of military life, especially in the navy, based on my personal experience.
To start with, let me list the 12 Unique Attributes that characterize a Military Career in the Armed Forces (Army Navy or Air Force):
1. HOLISTIC ORIENTATION
2. LIFETIME EMPLOYMENT
3. REGIMENTATION
4. TOUGH DANGEROUS CHALLENGING WORK
3. REGIMENTATION
4. TOUGH DANGEROUS CHALLENGING WORK
5. MODERATE COMPENSATION PACKAGE
6. MODEST CAREER PROSPECTS
6. MODEST CAREER PROSPECTS
7. NON-SPECIALISED CAREER PATH
8. CONFORMIST ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE
9. RIGID RANK BASED HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE
10. INFLEXIBLE HR POLICIES
11. UNSTABLE FAMILY LIFE
9. RIGID RANK BASED HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE
10. INFLEXIBLE HR POLICIES
11. UNSTABLE FAMILY LIFE
12. EARLY RETIREMENT AGE
If you planning to join the defence services you must ask yourself whether you have the right attitude to match all these attributes?
Did I use the word ATTITUDE?
You may have the requisite APTITUDE to be a military officer.
But do you have the right ATTITUDE which is in harmony with the 12 ATTRIBUTES listed above?
If you want to enjoy a military career you must remember that Attitude matters more than Aptitude
IN THE MILITARY - ATTITUDE MATTERS MORE THAN APTITUDE
If you have the right attitude then a military career is very satisfying and fulfilling.
But if your attitude in not in sync with the military way of life then you may get frustrated and your life may become miserable.
That is why, before you join the defence services, make sure you have the right attitude suitable for a career in the armed forces.
You may ask me: “What do you mean by the term ATTITUDE?”
Let me tell you in a nutshell the meaning of the term ATTITUDE – and also elucidate the difference between ATTITUDE and APTITUDE
THE MEANING OF ATTITUDE
Your attitude is your way of thinking (based on your values and beliefs) which influences your behaviour and determines the manner in which you approach life.
Attitude determines your mindset.
On the other hand, your aptitude is your ability to do something.
Aptitude comprises talent, skills, qualifications, proficiency, competence, capability and capacity to do your job well.
Your attitude or mindset is value-based and hence is universal in nature.
ATTITUDE versus APTITUDE
Attitude is value based.
In contrast, aptitude is job specific.
For example, you may have a rigid attitude towards honesty or you may have a flexible attitude towards honesty (situational ethics).
Your ethical attitude will depend on your moral and ethical values.
And you will exercise this attitude in all jobs you do and in all aspects of your life.
You may have a dogmatic attitude towards religion or, in contrast, you may have a tolerant attitude towards diverse religious views and practices.
You may have a democratic mind-set or you may have an authoritarian leadership attitude.
Whatever your attitude, you will exercise it wherever you are and in whichever job you do, because you cannot compromise your attitude since attitude is your nature.
Remember this:
It is very difficult to change your attitude since attitude is your inherent nature.
On the other hand, by learning and training, you can develop the appropriate aptitude for a specific job or career.
That is why you must:
1. select a career in harmony with your ATTITUDE
and then
2. develop the APTITUDE required to succeed in that career
Induction Training as a Cadet and junior officer will enable you to develop the appropriate aptitude for your job in the army navy or air force.
In contrast, no amount of training can change your inherent attitude and if there is mismatch then you will be a misfit in the military forces, which is not good for you and neither is it good for the service.
DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE FOR THE DEFENCE SERVICES?
Before you decide to join the army navy or air force, you must ask yourself:
“Do I have the appropriate attitude for a career as an officer in the armed forces?”
Go through all the 12 attributes of military service one by one and introspect whether you have the attitude to deal with each one of them.
This will give you a clue as to whether you have the right attitude in congruence with these unique attributes which will enable you to have a harmonious naval career.
To recap, I will list the 12 unique characteristics that govern your career in the defence services:
1. HOLISTIC ORIENTATION
2. LIFETIME EMPLOYMENT
3. REGIMENTATION
4. TOUGH DANGEROUS CHALLENGING WORK
3. REGIMENTATION
4. TOUGH DANGEROUS CHALLENGING WORK
5. MODERATE COMPENSATION PACKAGE
6. MODEST CAREER PROSPECTS
6. MODEST CAREER PROSPECTS
7. NON-SPECIALISED CAREER PATH
8. CONFORMIST ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE
9. RIGID RANK BASED HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE
10. INFLEXIBLE HR POLICIES
11. UNSTABLE FAMILY LIFE
9. RIGID RANK BASED HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE
10. INFLEXIBLE HR POLICIES
11. UNSTABLE FAMILY LIFE
12. EARLY RETIREMENT AGE
In future blog posts in this career guidance series, I shall elaborate on each one of these attributes in detail.
To be continued...
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., all rights reserved.
Disclaimer:
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.
NB:
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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About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
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Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@hotmail.com
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925
Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@hotmail.com
Twitter: @vikramwkarve
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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