Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

OLQ aka OFFICER LIKE QUALITIES - Military Jargon or Nebulous Gobbledygook ?

HUMOR IN UNIFORM

OLQ aka OFFICER LIKE QUALITIES

Military Jargon or Nebulous Gobbledygook?

Incoherent Ramblings of a Retired Mind

VIKRAM KARVE

OLQ – Military Jargon or Nebulous Gobbledygook ?

If you join the defence services, the army, navy or air force, as an officer, you will hear a term of Military Jargon being bandied about freely – OLQ – which is the acronym for OFFICER LIKE QUALITIES

OLQ is a most nebulous term.

In my long naval service I asked many officers to precisely define OLQ.

Most gave generic answers but no one was able to precisely define OLQ or clearly specify what exactly constituted OFFICER LIKE QUALITIES

Everyone had his own subjective concept of OLQ.

To me, OLQ seems a bit of gobbledygook.

OLQ means OFFICER LIKE QUALITIES.

So, by its very definition, OLQ pertains only to OFFICERS.

This means that Personnel Below Officers Rank (PBOR) like Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen are not supposed to have OLQ.

Maybe they are supposed to have SLQ (Soldier Like Qualities or Sailor Like Qualities) or ALQ (Airmen Like Qualities) et al

Does this mean that if you are an Officer you automatically have OLQ or is it vice versa?

It is all very confusing.

So, let us delve a bit deeper.

WHAT IS OLQ

What is OLQ?

What are the “Officer Like Qualities” required in a Naval Officer?

Do you want to know the answer to this question?

It’s simple.

Click the url link below and go to the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page of the Indian Navy Career and Opportunity Recruitment Website:

http://nausena-bharti.nic.in/faq.php

Have a look at Question No. 3

What kind of “Officer like Qualities” are required for commission in the Navy?

Now click on the Question and read the answer provided:

The candidates who successfully pass the competitive examination conducted by the UPSC, are interviewed by the Services Selection Boards. Officer Like Qualities of a candidate are assessed during these interviews, which last for about 3 to 4 days. In broad terms, the ability of an individual to withstand physical and mental stress, leadership qualities, determination, fighting spirit, clarity of thought, expression, resolve and overall suitability is assessed during the course of the interview.

I am paraphrasing below the relevant extract of the above answer which defines OLQ or Officer Like Qualities:

In broad terms…Officer Like Qualities or OLQ…is the ability of an individual to withstand physical and mental stress, leadership qualities, determination, fighting spirit, clarity of thought, expression, resolve…

(Please note that even here OLQ is not defined precisely but is explained in “broad terms”)

Does OLQ focus more on PERSONALITY rather than CHARACTER ?

From the definition of OLQ given above, it appears that the focus is on “personality” rather than “character”.

It is surprising that core value-based inner qualities like truthfulness, trustworthiness, honesty, forthrightness and integrity are not considered “Officer Like Qualities”

What about Character Traits like Ethics, Moral Values, Honesty and Integrity?

Are these positive character traits not considered OLQ?

Are these not being assessed by Services Selection Boards?

Is it okay for an officer to have a good “personality” but be morally corrupt?

It is no wonder that so many scams and scandals are taking place in the defence services.

Should OLQ include “ETHICAL FITNESS” ?

Do you not feel that sound immaculate character attributes and unblemished ethical qualities are an essential part of OLQ?

Are these moral qualities of character not more important than the personality traits mentioned in the definition of OLQ given in the Navy Recruitment Website?

What is your view?

Please tell us.

Do you feel that Ethics, Moral Values, Honesty and Integrity are not essential “Officer Like Qualities”?

Do you think that an officer need not be truthful, trustworthy, honest and forthright under all circumstances?

Do you feel that concepts like “code of conduct” and “honour code” are outdated ideas of the past and have no relevance in the current environment?

Or are you of the view that, in today’s modern world, to succeed in the navy, an officer needs to be “street smart” rather than straightforward?

Does OLQ mean “STREET SMARTNESS” ?

Does OLQ mean “street smartness” ?

“Street Smartness” is the shrewd ability of how to survive or succeed in any situation using any means.

“Street Smartness” requires you to “Morally Pliable”, or to use an euphemism, have “Tact”.

So, does OLQ boil down to outwardly having an “Officer-like personality” and inwardly being “Street Smart” ?

Is this how the armed forces (army, navy, air force) wants its officers to be?

Do “Character Attributes” like Ethics, Moral Values, Honesty and Integrity have no place in OLQ?

Do we want “tactful street-smart officers” who shine outside but are hollow inside?

DO SERVICES SELECTION BOARDS (SSB) ASSESS “ETHICAL FITNESS” ?

If one goes by the answer given in the Navy Recruitment Website which lists the “Officer Like Qualities” which are assessed during the Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview, it seems that officer candidates are not being assessed for “ethical fitness”.

You assess intellectual fitness (UPSC Exam).

You assess physical fitness (SSB).

You assess “psychological” fitness (SSB).

You assess medical fitness (Military Hospital).

But do you assess Ethical Fitness?

Why does OLQ not include “Character Attributes” like Ethics, Moral Values, Honesty and Integrity?

Why is “Ethical Fitness” not being assessed by SSBs ?

Is “Ethical Fitness” not a part of OLQ ?

Do we want military officers who are “ethically unfit” ?

It all depends on the moot question:

What is OLQ ?

I hope some veteran will enlighten us on this moot point: What is OLQ ?

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.

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.

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.

The above post is an updated version of my post WHAT IS OLQ - THE DEFINITION OF OFFICER LIKE QUALITIES posted by me on this blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal on Saturday, July 6, 2013 Posted by Vikram Karve at 7/06/2013 01:03:00 PM at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/07/what-is-olq-definition-of-officer-like.html

Monday, February 24, 2014

OLQ and PANI PURI - Humor in Uniform

HUMOUR IN UNIFORM

OLQ and PANI PURI

An Apocryphal Story

VIKRAM KARVE

Disclaimer:

1. Please read this apocryphal story only if you have a sense of humor. This yarn is a spoof, 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. This story is a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story 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.

Copyright Notice:

OLQ and PANI PURI – An Apocryphal Story By VIKRAM KARVE

Way back in the 1970s, when we were trainees, we had a Colonel Blimp type Training Officer.

Though he was only a few years senior to us, he was a pompous snob with rather outmoded ultraconservative views – this officer was truly a relic of the Raj.

A Military School and ex-NDA type, we thought that he was better suited for the Army than the Navy.

Yes, he was more of a spit and polish prim and proper Pongo than a carefree happy-go-lucky Sailor.

He would have been better off wearing Army Olive Green (OG) rather than donning Navy Whites.

His favourite pastime was to give us moral lectures on OLQ (Officer Like Qualities) and pontificate about service etiquette and how we must conduct ourselves as officers.

One thing was sure – he practiced what he preached.

His turn-out and bearing was always perfect, his officer-like conduct was unblemished and he always put service before self.

But for us young happy-go-lucky youngsters who wanted to enjoy life, this “Colonel Blimp” was a big pain in the neck.

One evening while on liberty (shore leave) we were enjoying eating delicious Pani Puri (Gol Gappa) at a roadside stall.

“Colonel Blimp” who was driving by on his scooter saw us. He looked totally shocked and appalled.

But he did not say anything there but just drove by.

Next morning he lined us up and gave us what in Naval parlance is called a “bottle” – a very severe reprimand and scolding which I remember even today.

“How can officers behave like this?” he said looking aghast, “you uncivilized buggers were eating Pani Puri at a roadside stall?

It is just not done!

You must have class. You are no longer college students. As officers you must dine in good decent restaurants.

Remember that your conduct is being watched at all times.

As Officers you are expected to conduct yourselves with proper dignity.

Officers are not expected to hang out like hooligans in the open and eat junk food at roadside stalls.”

Then he admonished us, “you bloody riff-raff are not fit to go ashore so I am stopping your liberty as a punishment.”

So, as punishment for our foodie escapades “Colonel Blimp” stopped our liberty and we could no longer go out and enjoy the delights the city had to offer.

Thus we had no choice to spend the rest of our training period drowning our sorrows in the bar.

A few years later, on a winter evening in Delhi, my wife and I walked down from our flat in the Curzon Road Apartments on Kasturba Gandhi Marg to Bengali Market for our customary evening “tiffin” snacking when I suddenly spotted “Colonel Blimp” at the famous Chaat Stall in Bengali Market.

Standing next to him was a beautiful woman who was eating Pani Puri.

“Colonel Blimp” was looking at the gorgeous lady in a rather cold and disapproving way, but this did not seem to bother the ravishing beauty who was thoroughly enjoying herself downing pani puri after pani puri.

I could not miss this opportunity, so I walked up to “Colonel Blimp” and introduced my wife.

“Colonel Blimp” in turn introduced the gorgeous woman as his fiancée.

“Care for some Pani Puri ?” the lovely lady asked us.

This was an offer I could not refuse so I said “Sure, we’d love it,” and then we all relished plate after plate of lip-smacking pani puri and chaat

Yes, we gorged on pani puri and all types of delicious chaat

We all ate, except “Colonel Blimp”.

He looked on with discomfiture, staunchly refusing our repeated invitations to join us in eating the delicious mouthwatering Pani Puri and chaat.

While leaving, “Colonel Blimp” gave me a tough look.

I knew he was itching to deliver a moral lecture on “OLQ”.

But then, in his rule-book, “it was just not done” to bullshit juniors in front of ladies. So I was spared the agony of a scolding.

On our way back, I told my wife the story of “Colonel Blimp”.

My wife was was sure that the killjoy OLQ obsessed “Colonel Blimp” would dump his fun-loving “unofficerlike” fiancée as they seemed most incompatible.

But to our surprise we soon got an invitation for their wedding.

Of course, his wedding reception was held in the service institute and everything was done in a most “officer like manner” - it was an extremely decorous and most formal occasion, as if it were an official party.

His newly wedded wife was conducting herself in a very prim and proper manner and we were convinced that “Colonel Blimp” had taken charge of his wife and indoctrinated her on the finer aspects of “OLQ” social graces and ettiquette and drilled into her as to what was expected of her as a typical Naval Officer's wife.

It looked like the fun loving vivacious young girl had been converted into a quintessential NWWA type Naval Wife.

A few days later, one evening, while we were walking down from Kota House towards India Gate on Shahjahan Road, we suddenly saw “Colonel Blimp” eating Pani Puri at the famous UPSC Chaat Wala Stall.

I could not believe my eyes.

Yes, “Colonel Blimp” was actually relishing Pani Puri on a roadside stall.

The moment he saw us, he waved to us and invited us over for some Chaat and Pani Puri

I was stunned.

This was an invitation we could not refuse.

It was great to see him standing on the roadside, smiling and laughing with abandon, thoroughly enjoying himself, digging into chaat and then popping pani puris into his mouth, eating gol gappa after gol gappa, in a very carefree manner, totally oblivious of the surroundings.

The vivacious girl had succeeded in transforming the spit and polish, prim and proper, OLQ obsessed killjoy “Colonel Blimp” Pongo into a carefree happy-go-lucky Sailor.

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.

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.

Copyright Notice:

YOU CAN BE HAPPY IF YOU KEEP YOUR PLEASURES MILD

HAPPINESS MADE SIMPLE
IT IS EASY TO BE HAPPY IF YOU KEEP YOUR PLEASURES MILD
Self Help Musings
By
VIKRAM KARVE

HAPPINESS - a Philosophical Approach

The primary aim of philosophy and spirituality is to help ordinary people live a life of happiness, fulfillment, inner peace and tranquility.

Every day you ask yourself:

How do I live a happy life?

Is it simple to be happy?

What is the art of happiness?

PLEASURE and HAPPINESS

Let us see what the Taoist philosopher Mingliaotse has to say:

“The art of attaining happiness consists in keeping your pleasures mild”

You know that whenever pleasure is present you are happy - this is a fact that cannot be denied.

A pleasure is an enjoyable event or delightful emotion which is bound to make you happy, at least for that moment.

Highfalutin philosophers and spiritual gurus may prescribe various impracticable esoteric paths of renunciation, asceticism or sectarian precepts eschewing enjoyment and pleasure as the sine qua non of happiness.

But the fact of the matter is that to the ordinary person happiness and pleasure are inextricably intertwined. Yes, pleasures make you happy and you know it.

Discovering simple enduring pleasures which you can easily and regularly achieve, realize and enjoy in your day-to-day life will produce contentment, fulfillment and happiness.

Pleasure is certainly not a bad thing in itself.

But wanton pursuit of pleasures is counterproductive as it leads to over-indulgence and excesses which bring with them disturbances which are detrimental to our happiness and well-being.

In your search for happiness you tend to indulge in extravagant parties, unrestrained extravagance, conspicuous consumption, compulsive shopping, thoughtless profligacy, limitless spending, expensive entertainments.

You try to enjoy everything at once.

You want instant gratification by over-indulgence in drinking, eating, revelry and sensual pleasures, stretching yourself to the maximum limits possible.

At first you enjoy yourself and feel happy.

Then you come to the point of satiety you begin to feel a sense of repulsion.

And if you overdo yourself, next morning you wake up sick and feeling miserable with a sense of sadness and depression rather than happiness.

You may think that grandiose, ostentatious, lavish, unrestrained and intemperate indulgences will ostensibly make you happy.

In actual fact, these over-indulgences may render you stressed-out, unhappy and cause you harm and misery in the long run.

There is no need to overdo things in order to be happy.

Just keep your pleasures mild.

Enjoying a simple, tasty and healthy meal with your loved ones and friends, or just sitting quietly and leisurely reading a good book, taking a walk enjoying melodious music, enjoying your work, leisure, hobbies are some mild pleasures which will make you happy and keep you healthy too.

THE HAPPINESS LIST

It is simple to be happy.

The first thing you must do is to introspect and list your most pleasurable activities.

Yes, make a HAPPINESS LIST including all the things, activities, places and people that give you true joy, happiness and satisfaction.

Your happiness list must cover all aspects of your life.

Make your “happiness list” as exhaustive as possible.

From this HAPPINESS LIST select those “mild pleasures” that you can enjoy every day or very frequently or very often.

Then incorporate these pleasures in your routine and fit them into your daily life.

See what happens.

Some “pleasures” that you thought would make you happy actually do the opposite, don’t they?

Delete those “pleasures” that you first thought would give you happiness but actually made you feel stressed-out or depressed.

Yes, remove those things that you thought would be satisfying but actually turned out to be unrewarding.

Experiment, make changes, be watchful, be dynamic.

Do not hesitate to add new items to your list.

You can always remove them if they fail to produce the desired results.

Fine tune your HAPPINESS LIST and religiously put into practice your happiness list and experience happiness every day.

This prescription of keeping your pleasures mild will enable you to structure your life in way where your happiness will be in your control and you will find greater joy in your life.

It will be feasible and within your control to ensure that you enjoy these mild pleasures daily or at least fairly regularly.

With only so many hours during the day, these enjoyable events will begin to crowd out the unpleasant activities in your daily life.

This will make you feel fulfilled and happy.

Dear reader, start today, keep your pleasures mild so that you can enjoy these simple pleasures every day and discover the true art of happiness, the art of living.

Discover your mild pleasures that make you truly happy and joyful.

And do let me know your experience – did this simple philosophy of keeping your pleasures mild make you happier?

It is easy to be happy, isn’t it?

Remember: The art of attaining happiness consists in keeping your pleasures mild

So Dear Reader: Take the first step towards becoming Happy and start making your HAPPINESS LIST right now

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.

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.

Did you like this story?

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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
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Twitter: @vikramwkarve

Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

OLQ aka OFFICER LIKE QUALITIES - Military Jargon or Nebulous Gobbledygook ?

Monday, February 24, 2014

OLQ and PANI PURI - Humor in Uniform

YOU CAN BE HAPPY IF YOU KEEP YOUR PLEASURES MILD

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