By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, June 15: Eastern Air Command (EAC) Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Air Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik said the armed forces would benefit from the new recruitment scheme –Agnipath since they are going to get younger, fitter and probably more tech-savvy recruits.
“From the technical point of view, we are looking forward to recruiting people who are already qualified in skills required for the Indian Army. We will be looking to recruit youth who are in the ITIs and polytechnics as the requirement for training would be drastically reduced,” Patnaik told reporters on Wednesday.
Stating that the first recruitment rally will take place in three months from now, he said the first of the recruits will be in the training centres in about six months.
The AOC-in-C said the first of the Agniveers will be in the battalions in about a year.
“We are looking to retain about 25% of the people who, we think, have the attitude and aptitude to stay in the Army at the end of 4 years,” Patnaik said.
He said these recruits will be selected pan-India and they will serve for three and a half years.
“The Agniveers will receive an attractive monthly package with risk & hardship allowances as applicable in the three Services, one-time ‘Seva Nidhi’ package of Rs 11 lakh to be paid to Agniveers upon completion of engagement period of four years,” he explained.
Patnaik said the scheme will also help enhance the youth profile of the armed forces and provide a fresh lease of “Josh” and “Jazba”. At the same time, he said it will bring about a transformation shift towards more tech-savvy armed forces.
Patnaik said the nation stands to immensely benefit through the infusion of the highly-inspired youth with deeper understanding of self-discipline and diligence. According to him, the dividends of a short military service are immense.
This includes inculcation of patriotism, teamwork, enhancement of physical fitness, ingrained loyalty for the country and availability of trained personnel to boost national security in times of external threats, internal threats and natural disasters. “This is a major defence policy reform introduced by the government to usher in a new era in the human resource policy of the three services. The policy, which comes into immediate effect, will hereafter govern the enrollment for the three services,” the AOC-in-C added.
He said the Agniveers will be imparted with various military skills and experience, discipline, physical fitness, leadership qualities, courage and patriotism.
It is a win for the armed forces, the cadet and the country, he said.