Recently – I met a Defence Officer who was very upset that he had been “passed over” for promotion – in military parlance – he had been “superseded”.
Only an officer who has been “superseded” knows the pain of “supersession”.
I wanted to console the officer – but – I remembered this story from my Navy Days...
Humour in Uniform
This story happened many years ago – in the mid-1980’s – much before the 2006 AVS Cadre Review Bonanza.
Those days – in the Navy – there was a selection board for promotion from Lieutenant Commander to Commander rank after around 15/16/17 years of service (Ranks till Lieutenant Commander were based on years of service and seniority gained on performance in Training)
Now – things are much better – and every Naval Officer automatically becomes a Commander in 13 years service – and – the agony of “supersession” is delayed by one rank.
But – earlier or later – “supersession” is an inevitable part of Military Life.
So – if you want to join the Defence Services – you should be prepared for “Supersession Shock”.
Here is a story on the subject...
SUPERSESSION SHOCK
A Fictional Spoof
By
VIKRAM KARVE
PART 1 – Lieutenant Commander “X”
Lieutenant Commander “X” was passed over for promotion to the rank of Commander.
This happened in the 1980’s – much before the AVS Cadre Review 2006 – when – in the Navy – Commander was a Select List Rank – and only a selected few became Commanders.
Now – after AVS Cadre Review 2006 – 100% Officers are promoted to the rank of Commander (Lt Col/Wg Cdr) after 13 years of Service.
Now – a similiar situation of supersession can arise for promotion to the rank of Captain (Colonel/Group Captain) – and the agony of “passover” is delayed by one rank.
So – to come back to our story – the promotion board results were out – the Navy Promotion IG Signal was released – and the name of Lieutenant Commander “X” was missing from the “select list”.
Lieutenant Commander “X” was passed over for promotion to the rank of Commander.
“X” was devastated.
“X” was a typical service-minded officer.
“X” was an ex Sainik School
And since he had joined the Navy after NDA – the Navy was the “be-all and end-all” of his life.
As far as “X” was concerned – getting superseded for promotion was the “end of the world”.
It was extremely cruel for a devoted service-minded officer like “X” to be told at the age of 35 that he was “useless” – and – that it was the “end of the road” as far as his naval career was concerned.
Observing how badly supersession had affected “X” – the Captain called all officers to the wardroom – and in our presence – the Captain gave an inspirational “pep talk” to “X”.
“Come on, cheer up.
What is there in a promotion?
The Navy is not everything.
Your career is not the “be-all and end-all” of your life.
There are so many other aspects to life.
Your career is just one small part of your life.
And just because you are superseded does not mean you are not a good officer.
There are just not enough vacancies to promote officers so even good officers get left out.
You must take it in your stride in the right spirit and keep working with full josh.
Even as a superseded officer you can contribute…
…blah blah blah…
…you can take up a second innings in the civvy street too – so many ex-navy officers have succeeded in their civilian careers
…you must put the past behind you and move on…
…blah blah blah…”
the Captain went on and on with his platitudinous sermon – trying to console Lieutenant Commander “X” who seemed heartbroken and inconsolable.
“X” wanted to put up a representation against his supersession – but the Captain said to him:
“There is no point fighting the system. You must accept your destiny with grace – …blah blah blah… ”
The Captain continued to pontificate – uttering the usual platitudes of consolation and rhetoric of motivation.
But “X” was so heartbroken – that he was not convinced by the Captain’s comforting words.
“X” wanted to quit the Navy immediately – there and then – because he did not want to suffer the ignominy of serving under his juniors.
However – his friends and his wife convinced him to hang on for at least 5 years more till he completed the minimum 20 years required for getting a pension.
“X” stuck on for 5 more years in the navy – serving in insignificant appointments specifically meant for those officers who had “fallen by the wayside” and were considered to be “superseded deadwood”.
The moment “X” completed 20 years of service – he quit the Navy.
Meanwhile – the Captain did well in service – and – in due course he was promoted to the Flag Rank of Rear Admiral.
Yes – the Captain got promoted to Admiral.
But – it was strange and ironic – that hardly any officer from his ship got promoted.
Even his Heads of Department – the XO, EO and LO – were passed over for promotion.
Yes – everyone on the ship had missed their promotions – but the Captain had become a Rear Admiral.
PART 2 – The Captain Who Became a Rear Admiral
After a few years – one morning – I suddenly met “X” in the INCS Canteen in Mumbai.
As I had told you earlier – “X” had taken pre-mature retirement (PMR) from the Navy the moment he completed 20 years of service.
I took him over to the club – and we sat down for a glass of beer and talked of old times.
“X” told me that he had got a good job in the corporate sector.
“X” said that was happy he had quit the Navy and he was doing well in civilian life.
“X” looked at me and said:
“Our Captain was right – promotion is not everything. There are so many aspects to life. I was unnecessarily so upset that I did not get promoted.”
Suddenly an ex-shipmate from the same ship came into the bar – and the moment he saw us – he joined us.
He had come on Temporary Duty from Delhi .
Our ex-Captain had been posted to Delhi
“So – how is our “Old Man” – our ex-Captain – I heard that he is a Rear Admiral now.”
“He is bad shape...” the officer said.
“He is in bad shape...? What happened to him..?” we asked.
“Don’t you know how desperate he was to get promoted...? He was so ambitious that he even wanted to be the Navy Chief. Unfortunately – he missed his promotion to Vice Admiral – and the shock of being passed over for promotion has driven him crazy...” the officer from Delhi said.
“What...? Has “Supersession Shock” has driven him crazy...?” we asked.
“Yes – the moment he came to know that he had been superseded for promotion – he went berserk – he put up representations, statutory complaints, fought court cases – in fact – he is still fighting the system – and he has become very bitter and depressed...” the officer from Delhi said.
“That is strange. When I missed my promotion to Commander – I remember him consoling me and telling me that an officer must accept supersession with grace – and that there is no point in fighting the system. And now – he is fighting the system – and it looks like – he has not accepted his own supersession with grace...” my friend “X” said.
“No. No...” the officer from Delhi said, “He desperately wanted to get promoted to Vice Admiral – he even thought he would become the Chief. His supersession has affected him so badly that not only has he gone mentally crazy and become extremely depressed and bitter – but even his physical health has been badly affected...”.
“Health...? His health has been affected...?” we asked.
“Yes – he had a severe heart attack a few days ago – and he is still in hospital. Now – with a low medical category – it is certainly the end of the road as far as his Naval Career is concerned...”
Retired Lieutenant Commander “X” looked at us and he said:
“Our ex-Captain is a funny guy – isn’t he...?
When I was passed over for promotion – he gave me such a good “pep talk” – and – I “walked his talk” – and here I am doing well in life.
But – when supersession happened to him – he could not “walk his own talk” – and he has landed up having a heart attack...”
“Yes...” the Officer from Delhi said, “It is easy to “talk” – but difficult to “walk the talk” – especially for these senior officers – who become more and more ambitious – as they climb the promotion ladder...”
EPILOGUE
ASSURED CAREER SUPERSESSION (ACS)
In his candid and controversial autobiography SPYCATCHER Peter Wright tells us about the lesson he learnt after meeting Klop Ustinov (father of actor Peter Ustinov) who was in near penury after retirement:
“...I learned a lesson I never forgot – that MI5 expects its officers to remain loyal unto the grave – without necessarily offering loyalty in return...”
“...I learned a lesson I never forgot – that MI5 expects its officers to remain loyal unto the grave – without necessarily offering loyalty in return...”
When one observes the plight of military veterans and ex-servicemen – it seems the same holds true in our environment too.
In the Navy – I have seen officers giving their dedicated loyalty and devotion to service – but the service does not reward them with loyalty in return once they retire –or worse – when they are superseded for promotion and fall by the wayside.
Maybe – it is the same in the Army and Air Force too.
Career Prospects in the Civil Services are much better than the Defence Services.
If you join the civil services – you get benefits like Assured Career Progression (ACP) and Non-Functional Upgradation (NFU).
Military Officers get no such benefits.
In fact – if you join the Defence Services as an Officer – you must be prepared for Assured Career Supersession (ACS).
Most Military Officers are passed over for promotion much earlier than their Civil Services counterparts.
If you join the military – you must be ready to suffer the ignominy of supersession.
The story narrated above happened many years ago – in the 1980’s – much before the 2006 AVS Cadre Review Bonanza – when there was a selection board for promotion from Lieutenant Commander to Commander rank after around 15-16 years of service.
Now – things are slightly better – and every officer automatically becomes a Commander (Lt Col/Wg Cdr) in 13 years – and supersession takes place at the next rank of Captain (Colonel/Group Captain).
In contrast – Civil Services Officers enjoy the bonanza of ACP/NFU to the Additional Secretary level [equivalent to Vice Admiral (Lt Gen/Air Marshal)].
If you are lucky to be selected for the Civil Services – you can look forward to Assured Career Progression (ACP) and Non-Functional Upgradation (NFU).
But – if you join the Defence Services – you must be ready for Assured Career Supersession (ACS) – and – at least till now – there is no facility of NFU in the Defence Services.
So – Dear Reader – if you want to join the Defence Services:
Are you ready for Assured Career Supersession (ACS)...?
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve
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© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Disclaimer:
1. This story is a fictional spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.
2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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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.
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