Career in the Indian Air Force
The Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of India, which includes three main arms of uniformed military services: The Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.
The Indian Air Force is created to protect the Indian airspace and looks after strategic aerial defense and warfare in times of armed conflict. The Air Force includes a variety of jobs specializing in different fields. Only the most brilliant and dedicated minds get the chance to join the Air Force, as it is one of the most prestigious, sought-after and rewarding jobs of the country.
India ranks fourth in the world when it comes to the aircraft assets and complement of personnel.It offers a challenging but attractive career for Indian youth, both men and women. One needs to go under special training to ensure that the individual is fully capable of handling difficult and complex situations.
In this article we will looking how can one start a career in the Indian Air Force. The guidance shared in this article is based on a live session conducted by the Shashi Dream Foundation on “Career in Indian Air force as an Air Warrior”. The speaker for this session is GP Captain Puneet Sharma.
Expert Guide
Shashi Dream Foundation was privileged to have GP Captain Puneet Sharma as the guest speaker for this session. He has done his Bachelor’s in ECE from NIT, Kurukshetra. He has held many important operational portfolios in Indian Air force as an Aeronautical Engineer. He is an Ex-Assessor and has been involved in Officers Cadre selection in IAF for a decade. In this article we will looking at how one can start a career in the Indian Air Force. The guidance shared in this article is based on a live session conducted by the Shashi Dream Foundation on “Career in Indian Air force as an Air Warrior”.
The complete session is available on SDF’s Instagram page. Check out the full session of our Instagram now👇
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CBa0BVmn4gf/?igshid=ju56etpenhmg
and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZM0X28f6uQ
STRUCTURE OF THE INDIA AIR FORCE
There are seven commands in the Indian Air Force. Five of these are operational and two are functional. The operational commands look after the military operations of the aircraft whereas the functional commands look after the combat readiness — in terms of training or maintenance.
Within each operational command there are nine to sixteen bases or stations. There are three main branches in the IAF:
1. The Flying Branch –This consists of fighter pilots, helicopter pilots and transport pilots. Both men and women can become pilots.
2. The Technical Branch — Includes engineering, for maintenance and development of aircraft and equipment.
3. The Ground Branch — It is a non-technical branch that includes services like logistics, administration, and meteorological accounts, medical and dental, education.
There are different eligibility criteria for different branches, posts and level of entry. One can join the IAF through a number of exams, namely NDA, AFCAT, CDS examinations.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The IAF provides with many ways in which one can join the IAF on various levels — after 10th and 12th, after graduation and post-graduation across the different branches.
After 12th: One can directly apply for the NDA (National Defense Academy) exams.
- Age limit: 16 ½ to 19 ½ years (when the course commences)
- Nationality: Indian
- For men only
- Unmarried
- Education qualification: 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics necessary.
- Physical requirements of height, weight, chest, visibility criteria also exist.
After graduation: Criteria for different branches is different.
1. Flying Branch
One can apply for entry to the IAF through two exams — AFCAT, CDS — or NCC Special Entry.
Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT)
- Open to both men and women; unmarried.
- Age limit for Flying Branch: 20 to 24 or 26 years old for those that hold a valid Commercial Pilot License issued by the DGCA
- Age limit for Ground and Technical Branch: 20 to 24 years old.
- Educational qualification:
a. Minimum 60 percent in 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics.
b. Graduation (in any discipline) from a recognized university with minimum 60 percent, or
c. Cleared section A and B exam of the Associate Membership of Institute Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India with minimum of 60 percent marks from a recognized university.
d. Final year graduation students can also apply.
Combined Defense Services Examination (CDS)
- Nationality: Indian
- Graduates/Engineers only or in final year of graduation
- Age: 20 to 24
- Only open to men for IAF
- Women can only apply to Officers’ Training Academy
- Unmarried and not divorced/ widowed
- Education qualification:
a. 10+2 with physics and mathematics
b. Graduate in any discipline or engineering from a recognized university
c. No percentage bar
- Physical eligibility criteria exists as well.
National Cadet Corps (NCC) Special Entry
- Age: 20 to 24 years old at the commencement of course
- Age relaxation: 26 years old if holding a valid Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India)
- Nationality: Indian
- Unmarried
- Open to both men and women
- Educational qualification:
a. 10+2 with physics and mathematics (minimum 50 percent)
b. Graduate in any discipline or engineer from a recognized university with a minimum of 60 percent.
c. Final year students in graduation can apply as well.
d. NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate with two years validity before applying.
2. Technical Branch
Through AFCAT
- Age limit — 20 to 26 years at the time of commencement of the course
- Indian nationality
- Candidates below should not be married/ divorced/ widowed
- Entry through two schemes:
a. Aeronautical engineering: graduate in engineering or in final year with minimum 60 percent marks.
b. Sub branches
3. Ground/ Non-Technical Branch
- Age: 20 to 26 at commencement of the course
- Indian nationality
- Unmarried
- Both men and women can apply
- As a graduate, one can apply to the following non technical branches:
After post-graduation:
- Age limit: 20 to 26 for graduates
- Below the age of 25 should be unmarried/ divorced/ widowed
- Open for both men and women
- Indian nationality
- As a post-graduate one can apply to the following non-technical or ground branches:
SELECTION PROCESS
- NATIONAL DEFENSE ACADEMY (NDA)
- The NDA exam is conducted by the UPSC two times — generally January and June — a year at various centers in India.
- There are two stages: written exam and SSB interview.
- An individual who will perform well in the exam will be called for SSB interview which lasts for three to four days.
- Candidates can take Indian Air Force Aptitude Test which once failed, can never be taken again.
- All candidates need to undergo extensive psychological examinations and meet exhaustive physical parameters to be on the merit list.
- Selection is open for all branches of IAF — technical, flying and ground duty.
- COMBINED DEFENSE SERVICES (CDS) EXAM
- The exam is conducted by the UPSC to join the Flying branch of the Indian Air Force. There is a written test and an interview.
- The interview is a five-day process.
- Both the test and the interview should be cleared.
- This gives permanent commission in the IAF.
- NATIONAL CADET CORPS (NCC)
- As a senior division ‘C’ certificate holder of the NCC, you can apply to the flying branch of the Indian Air Force.
- Women can also participate and it is through the Short Service Commission.
- Permanent and short commission for men.
- AIR FORCE COMMON ADMISSION TEST (AFCAT)
- Entries that come from other than NDA and CDS. This is an additional merit.
- You will have to appear for a written exam, an AFSB interview and a group discussion.
- Can clear for all the three branches — technical, flying and ground.
- Short service commission for flying branch (14 years and no extension)
SKILLS REQUIRED
There are a variety of skills that are required to enter the Indian Air Forces as well as succeed in it as a career.
TRAINING INSTITUTES
After one is selected for the IAF, they are sent to specific training institutes of the IAF and the training begins. There are the following institutes or stations that train for IAF:
SALARY
· Before one even becomes an air force officer through AFCAT, they get paid a stipend of Rs. 56,100/- in the last one year of the training period at any of the Air Force Training Institutions.
· On commission as a Flying officer, the following alliances and pay are given :
a. Pay in Pay Band: Rs 56,100 per month (all branches)
b. Military Service Pay: Rs 15,500 per month
c. Other allowances
· In addition to the above allowances, there are allowances like:
a. Flying Allowance to Flying Branch Officers: Rs. 25,000 per month
b. Technical Allowance to Technical Branch Officers
· Salary for IAF Officers goes from 56,100 per month to 2,50,000 at the highest rank. This is just basic pay; the salary includes other 9 to 10 allowances as well.
To be an air warrior in Indian Air Force is a dream come true. The journey is adventurous and challenging but the craze for serving your nation is different. If you have the dedication, physical and psychological strength, then go for it.
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