Do You Want to Join the Defence Services – Part 2 – Holistic Orientation – The Most Important OLQ (Officer Like Quality)

Do You Want to Join the Defence Services – Part 1 – LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP 

CAREER IN DEFENCE SERVICES 

HOLISTIC ORIENTATION – SINE QUA NON OF MILITARY WAY OF LIFE 

Musings of a Retired Navy Veteran

By

VIKRAM KARVE

HOLISTIC ORIENTATION – The Most Important OLQ (Officer Like Quality)

Let me repeat this cliché ad nauseam to drive this truism right into your head:

The Navy is not a job.

The Navy is a way of life.

I feel that the same holds true for all aspects of Military Life in the Defence Services, in all the 3 Armed Forces (Army Navy and Air Force).

The Military is not a Job – The Military is a Way of Life.

In most civilian jobs, the connection between the employer and the employee  involves mainly those activities connected with the completion of a specific job.

This is true of the industry, especially the IT industry, where organizations practice an HR Policy of “partial inclusion”.

The Military has a Holistic Orientation and practice an HR Attitude of “Total Inclusion”.

There are three aspects in every person’s life:

1. Work Life

2. Social Life

3. Personal Life

In the Military – the Army, the Navy and the Air Force – all three aspects of a person’s life – “Work Life” – “Social Life” – and – “Personal Life” – all these three aspects are integrated into a single whole.  

Most civilian organisations and industries officially follow the precept:

“Personal feelings have no place at work”.

In the Civilian World:

Relationships between organization and employees are limited to work life alone.

Yes, in some cases, there may be a bit of “socializing” but an employee’s personal life is considered his or her private matter and it is not considered legitimate and appropriate for the organisation to formally meddle into personal affairs or interfere with the personal life of an employee.

In the Military, relationships are not restricted to work life alone. 

In the Defence Services, relationships transcend the work space and encompass your social and personal life as well.

In the Military: 

“Personal feelings do have a place at work”.

As I had said earlier – the Military has a Holistic Attitude of “Total Inclusion”. 

This means that you are on duty 24/7 in the Military.

Yes, you are on the job at all times, 24/7, round the year on every day of your service life, whether you are on-duty or off-duty. 

Once you are a Military Officer, you have no other identity – you are an Army Officer, a Naval Officer or an Air Force Officer.

Till you are in service you have no other identity.

In many cases this may hold true after retirement as well – since it is only in the Military that you are allowed to prefix your rank before your name even after retirement.

As I said earlier, in the Military, all the three aspects of your life (“Work Life”, “Social Life” and “Personal Life”) are integrated into a single whole. 

In contrast to a job in the civilian world – where – “personal feelings have no place at work” – in the Military – “Personal feelings do have a vital and significant place at work”.

This holistic relationship fosters a sense of intimacy between individuals, nurtures team-spirit and develops lifelong bonds of trust and understanding. 

This unique intimate relationship is imperative for war-fighting.

The concept of “Total Inclusion” cultivates a unique intimate relationship which covers the entire gamut of work related and non-work related issues.

Not only you, but even your wife, your children and your family will be subject to the “total inclusion” culture prevalent in the defence services.

For example – your wife’s status will depend on your Rank and Position.

This is because – a Military Wife “carries” her husband’s rank – and her very identity is determined by her husband’s position in the Hierarchy.

Yes – it is the husband’s rank that determines the status of the wife in the closed military society.

In the military – the dictum “RANK HAS ITS PRIVILEGES” (RHIP) extends to your family life as well.

Will this extension of “pecking order” to your family life be acceptable to you...?

Will you like some senior officer’s wife “lording” over your wife despite the fact that your wife is more accomplished...?

And, God Forbid, if you miss your promotion, are you and your family prepared to suffer the “Rank Has Its Privileges” (RHIP) ignominy and humiliation in all three aspects of your life (work, social and personal life)?

(Girls who are thinking of marrying military officers also need to consider whether they will be okay with all these ramifications of “Holistic Orientation” which may affect their personal life)

On the positive side – “total inclusion” will ensure that you and your family will be well looked after by the military fraternity – by the service establishment – and by women’s welfare organizations like AWWA, NWWA and AFWWA.

Hence: 

If you wish to join the Defence Services – you must be prepared for this “holistic” way of life – which entails the intermixing of your work life, your social life and your personal/family life.

DO NOT JOIN THE DEFENCE SERVICES IF YOU ARE NOT SUITED FOR A MILITARY CAREER

In my opinion – you are not suited for a Career in the Armed Forces in the following two cases:

1. If you are a “private person” – who believes that “office” and “home” must be kept separate, 

2. If you feel that your boss, your workplace colleagues and the organisation must keep out of your personal life.

If you feel strongly about any of the above – then you must think seriously and introspect before you decide to join the Armed Forces.

MILITARY WAY OF LIFE 

Like I said earlier:

In the Military you cannot separate your Personal Life from your Work Life. 

In fact, in the Military:

Personal Feelings have a vital and significant impact at work

This is because Military Life requires you to have a mind-set of “Holistic Orientation”.

You will be subjected to “Holistic Orientation” the moment you join the Armed Forces as a Cadet at any of the Military Training Academies - National Defence Academy (NDA), Indian Military Academy (IMA), Naval Academy, Air Force Academy or the Officers Training Academy (OTA), as the case may be, depending on where you join.

So, before you decide on a career in the Armed Forces, in the Army, Navy or Air Force, you must introspect to see whether you have the requisite “Holistic Orientation”.

If you are a “private person” who values your privacy and individual identity, and you do not have a compatible “attitude” towards Holistic Orientation, then I feel that a Military Career, in the Army Navy or Air Force, is definitely not your cup of tea.

CONCLUSION

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 long naval career I have seen so many officers who realized 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.

If you have the right attitude and compatible mindset 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 that your nature is amenable to HOLISTIC ORIENTATION and you have the requisite attributes and attitude suitable for a career in the armed forces.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
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. These are my personal views based on my own experience. These career guidance 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. 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:

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)

Revised and Updated Version of my Article First Posted by me Vikram Karve at 11/26/2013 01:19:00 PM in my blog at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/11/are-you-suited-for-military-career-in.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2014/09/career-in-defence-services-holistic.html

Do You Want to Join the Military (Defence Services)...?

Do You Want to Join the Defence Services...? 

NB: 
1. The generic term “MILITARY” includes all the three Armed Forces – Army, Navy and Air Force
2. The generic word “Fauj” refers to all arms of the Military (Army, Navy, Air Force) and the term “Fauji” or “Soldier” refers to all military personnel in uniform of the Army, Navy and Air Force (Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen)]

CAREER ADVICE – LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP
Story of a Boy who wanted to “Appear to be a Naval Officer”
A Spoof
By
VIKRAM KARVE

PROLOGUE

There is a difference between being a “fauji” and to appear to be a “fauji”.

I am sure the same holds true for civilian professions as well.

Here is the story of one such officer who wanted to “appear to be a Naval Officer” – rather than – “be a true Naval Officer”

STORY OF A BOY WHO WANTED TO “APPEAR TO BE A NAVAL OFFICER”

Long back – around 33 years ago – a young boy – accompanied by his parents came to see me at my home in Pune where I was spending my annual leave.

The boy – 15 years old – was studying in the 11^th Standard (Class).

He wanted to join the Navy.

His parents – who lived nearby – were from a business background.

I talked to the boy.

I talked to his parents.

Then – from what I had learnt the hard way from my own experience – I advised the boy not to join the Navy.

His parents were angry with me – and they said: “Why are you saying so? Is our son not fit to join the Navy? Our son is very good – look at his personality, his physical fitness, his intelligence, his smartness. Don’t you feel that our son has the aptitude to be selected for the Navy?”

“Of course – he has the APTITUDE...” I commented, “but – does he have the right ATTITUDE...?”

At first – the boy and his parents seemed confused at what I had said.

Then – the parents looked at me angrily – and it seemed that they were getting upset.

Before the parents could react – I said: 

“Well – I feel that your son does not have the appropriate attitude for the Navy...”

I saw that the furious parents now felt that I was demeaning their son.

They were in no mood to listen to any further explanations – so I kept quiet. 

Their ego was hurt.

I could see that now the boy was even more determined than ever to join the Navy just to prove me wrong – as if it were a prestige issue.

The boy cleared the UPSC Exam.

Then – he sailed through the SSB.

Of course – in the Services Selection Boards (SSBs) – they assess “aptitude” – but I wonder if they evaluate “attitude”.

In due course – the smart young boy joined the academy as a cadet for basic training.

I lost track of the boy as I was busy with my own Navy career. 

10 YEARS LATER

Ten years later – the same boy – looking smart in his spotless white uniform of a Navy Lieutenant – was sitting in my office in Mumbai.

He had come to ask me a favour.

He desperately wanted to get out of the Navy.

And – he was wondering – if I could help him out to get out of the Navy

“But why do you want to quit the Navy...?” I asked him with surprise, “You are just beginning your career in the Navy – and you have such a bright future ahead.”

“I just don’t like it over here – I just can’t tolerate my life being controlled all the time – the bloody rules, regulations – and all the bullshit – I can’t stand it anymore,” he complained bitterly.

“So – you don’t like the regimentation – the Navy way of life...?” I asked.

“Yes. I remember what you said 10 years ago when we had come over to your place in Pune. You said that I did not have the right attitude for the Navy. You were right. I should have listened to you...” he said, quite contrite.

Of course – then he went on to list many reasons why he wanted to quit – family pressures (his father was not keeping well and wanted him to look after their family business) – a matrimonial alliance (the girl did not want to marry a defence officer) – and so many other reasons. 

But – the crux of the issue was the Attitudinal Mismatch problem.

I frankly told him that it would be very difficult for him to leave the Navy since he was a permanent commission cadet entry officer.

I advised him that now that he had joined the Navy – it was best for him to continue serving in the Navy – as he had a bright career ahead.

But – I saw that the young Lieutenant sitting in front of me was in no mood to listen to my platitudinous advice.

He had not listened to my advice when I told him not to join the Navy.

Now – again – he did not listen to me when I told him to continue serving in the navy.

I politely told him that I could not help him out in this matter – and that it was best he continue in the Navy at least till he completed 20 years pensionable service. 

But – the young Lieutenant was adamant on quitting the navy. 

He kept submitting his resignation again and again – giving different pretexts each time – and – he made his own life miserable – and – he made everyone else’s life miserable too.

Later – I learnt that his perseverance to quit the Navy had paid off.

He had finally managed to get out of the Navy after a struggle of nearly 3 years – relentlessly pushing his papers – pulling strings – using connections – begging and pleading his case.

13 years of his productive life were wasted – both to him and to the Navy – and finally – he left the Navy with a feeling of bitterness.

MORAL OF THE STORY

During my long Navy career I have seen many such cases of officers who realised that they were misfits in the Navy – and – sadly – they wasted many frustrated years of their lives in misery trying to get out of the Navy.

I am sure you will find similar examples in other professions as well – but – in the civilian world – it is easy to quit your job – and change over to something else.

That is why – before you take up a career – especially a military career – make sure you have the right attitude suitable for that career – LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP. 

EPILOGUE 

“MILITARY” CAREER IN A NUTSHELL

Many youngsters keep asking me about life and career prospects in the Armed Forces (Defence Services) – Army, Navy and Air Force.

So – here are the salient aspects of a Military Career in a Nutshell.

12 UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES OF A MILITARY CAREER IN THE DEFENCE FORCES
Tips from a Military Veteran
By
VIKRAM KARVE

(The generic term “MILITARY” includes all the three Armed Forces – Army, Navy and Air Force)

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 long 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 choosing your career – whether in the Defence Services or elsewhere – because your career is probably the most important part of your life.

If you have the right attitude and compatible mindset – 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.

“MILITARY” LIFE IN A NUTSHELL

To put “Military” Life in a nutshell – here is a list of 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

5. MODERATE COMPENSATION PACKAGE

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 NOMADIC FAMILY LIFE

12. EARLY RETIREMENT AGE 

If you planning to join the Armed Forces you must ask yourself whether you have the right attitude and compatible mindset to match all these 12 military attributes.

I am sure you understand each of the 12 points mentioned above which are self-explanatory – but – nevertheless – I shall try and elaborate on each point later in my blog. 

In fact – I have already written articles/stories based on most of the above 12 attributes.

Also – it is always a good idea to talk to young officers of your age group to get a first-hand view of life in the respective Defence Service – as serving officers will be more updated and current in this matter.

Remember the Story of the Boy who wanted to “Appear to be a Naval Officer” – and – ask yourself: 

Do you want to be a “fauji” – or – do you want to appear to be a “fauji”...?

All the Best.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
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. These tips are based on my own experience and represent my 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. This story narrated in the blog post is a fictional 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.

3. 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.

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.

This is an abridged extract from a series of career counselling articles written by me Vikram Karve 9 years ago in the year 2010 as a part of my career guidance lectures and I have Earlier Posted this article in my Academic and Creative Writing Blog more than 5 years ago in the year 2013 at urls:  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/07/career-guidance-tips-do-you-want-to.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/08/army-life-in-nutshell.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/07/career-guidance-tips-do-you-want-to_9.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/07/career-guidance-tips-do-you-want-to_4735.html and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/03/fauji-life-in-nutshell-12-attributes-of.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/05/a-military-career-in-navy-attitude.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/11/story-of-boy-who-wanted-to-appear-to-be.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/08/career-adivice-look-before-you-leap.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/03/military-career-in-nutshell.html etc

3 Mistakes the Japanese made at Pearl Harbour

Sharing a Naval Yarn as received on a Veterans Forum.

(Disclaimer: the story may be apocryphal)

3 Mistakes the Japanese made at Pearl Harbour

Sunday, December 7th, 1941 

Admiral Chester Nimitz was attending a concert in Washington, DC. 

He was paged and told there was a phone call for him.

When he answered the phone, it was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the phone.

The President told Admiral Nimitz that he (Nimitz) would now be the Commander of the Pacific Fleet. 

Admiral Nimitz flew to Hawaii to assume command of the Pacific Fleet.

He landed at Pearl Harbor on Christmas Eve, 1941.

There was such a spirit of despair, dejection and defeat - you would have thought the Japanese had already won the war. 

On Christmas Day, 1941, Adm. Nimitz was given a boat tour of the destruction wrought on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. 

Big sunken battleships and navy vessels cluttered the waters everywhere you looked.

As the tour boat returned to dock, the young helmsman of the boat asked Admiral Nimitz:

"Well Admiral - what do you think after seeing all this destruction...?"

Admiral Nimitz's reply shocked everyone within the sound of his voice. 

Admiral Nimitz said:

"The Japanese made three of the biggest mistakes an attack force could ever make..." 

Shocked and surprised, the young helmsman asked the Admiral:

"Sir - what do mean by saying the Japanese made the three biggest mistakes an attack force ever made...?"

Nimitz explained:

Mistake No. 1:

The Japanese attacked on Sunday morning.

Nine out of every ten crewmen of those ships were ashore on leave.

If those same ships had been lured to sea and been sunk - we would have lost 38,000 men instead of 3,800.

Mistake No. 2: 

When the Japanese saw all those battleships lined in a row, they got so carried away sinking those battleships, they never once bombed our dry docks opposite those ships. 

If they had destroyed our dry docks, we would have had to tow every one of those ships to America to be repaired. 

As it is now, the ships are in shallow water and can be raised.

One tug can pull them over to the dry docks, and we can have them repaired and at sea by the time we could have towed them to America . 

And I already have crews ashore anxious to man those ships.

Mistake No. 3: 

Every drop of fuel in the Pacific theater of war is in top of the ground storage tanks five miles away over that hill.

One attack plane could have strafed those tanks and destroyed our fuel supply. 

That's why I say the Japanese made three of the biggest mistakes an attack force could make.