- Brief History & Introduction.
The Short Service Commission (SSC) in the armed forces was first time introduced in the place of Emergency Commission to have young and battle fit officers continuously available, and simultaneously reduce the financial burden on the government. Further, Service ethos required that the structure of the armed forces must remain sharply pyramidal in shape. To maintain this pyramid structure and at the same time reduce dissatisfaction among PC (permanent commission) officers being passed over, Ajay Vikram Singh Committee (AVSC Phase I) recommendations (year 2001) were implemented. As a result, today, Short Service Commission officers (SSC) officers, who are to leave the on expiry of their engagement, form a major chunk of the total intake of officers.
In the beginning, the engagement period of 5 years in army/air force was rightly prescribed for SSC officers. On completion of this tenure, the officer was either made permanent or released with gratuity. In this case, officer was very well under 27 yrs of age and easily got adjusted to next job and civil life.
In haste to increase the intake of SSC officers. Several arbitrary entry schemes have been introduced over the time, wherein, the period of engagement was increased from 5 years to 10 years and then further extended to 14 years or, (10+4) in some cases. While doing this, very little thought was put to revise or formulate a new HRP which would do justice to this increased term of engagement.
Now the situation is that, when the term of engagement ends, a SSC officer who has dedicated very prime of his life to the service, who is now 30-35 years of age, probably married, having kids, is left out on the civil street to fend for himself, without any retiring pension, medical care facilities/ECHS, insurance policy.
Till date, there is no formulated policy pertaining to the release benefits of SSC officers. There, in bargain to reduce dissatisfaction among the officers at the middle layer of the pyramid, these steps have disappointed SSC officers forming the very base of the pyramid.
- You must consider following facts……Before jumping on any conclusion.
Grant of Mess Membership to an Officer. Retired SSC Officers are not allowed to avail mess membership, or membership in any Officers institute/club.
Rank on Retirement. Regulations of the Air Force 1964 mentions who all are permitted to retain the rank on retirement, In this rule SSC officers are clearly deprived of this privilege.
ECHS/ Medical Facilities. Short Service Commissioned officers are not entitled to be an ECHS (Ex- servicemen contributory health scheme ) member, unless you are a battle casualty and drawing disability pension. Where as a permanent commissioned officer and his family can avail medical facilities after retirement.
Conversion to PC. No option to convert in Permanent Commission: As per Hon High Court Judgment of 2010. Officers commissioned after 2006 are not eligible to convert into permanent commission after end of their term of engagement.
Nil Pension for SSC Officers. After serving for 14 years you will not be eligible for pension. Whereas a airmen on serving 15 years is eligible.
No Study leave(paid/unpaid) to undergo M. Tech or MBA which you may avail (paid) if you are a permanent commission officer.
Pre- release Courses. The DGR sponsored courses at premier management institutes of the country, have proved to be the most effective measure towards rehabilitation and welfare of SSC officers. Out of total available seats in these courses a huge proportion of seats is reserved for Officers retiring from Indian Army, then certain percentage seats are reserved for Air Force, where as Navy gets minimum share of total available seats.
The available vacancies for each course are allotted on the basis of the categories and there percentages are as mentioned below :-
CATEGORYSEAT PERCENTAGEBRIGADIER & ABOVE6%COL / LT COL56%MAJ/CAPT/SS OFFICERS26%WSES OFFICERS9%WIDOWS3%
It is evident from preferences that here, SSC officers get 26% share of the total seats available in these institutes, which is not appropriate. PRC has proved to be the most effective way of successfully starting anew career in the civil street, importance of PRC for a SSC officer is paramount and more compared to a officer retiring with pensioners benefits. SSC officers must be kept on priority one while deciding allotmentof PRC seats. Further as intake of SSC officers will increase in the times to come, adequate seats should be made available for the officers being released from the service.
Indian Police Services Limited Competitive Exam. To solve the problem of acute shortage of Indian Police Service Officers in India, Ministry of Home Affairs proposed that Indian Police Service Limited Competitive Examination be conducted by Union Public Service Commission. Where in, Commissioned officers from all three services and para military forces with minimum five years of service will be eligible to appear in the exam. This announcement indeed came as a very promising opportunity, especially for all SSC officers.
IPS Limited Competitive Examination was held for the first time in 2012. Though, UPSC permitted all officers with minimum 5 years of commissioned service to appear in the exam. SSC officers, ONLY in last year of their term of engagement were permitted to appear in the Exam.
80 Candidates from various services including IAF cleared the exam. But, The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has struck down the examination following the challenge by some state cadre police officers. Consequent to the CAT verdict, UPSC has withheld the declaration of final results of 2012 examination. As on date, a very viable solution to the deficient IPS cadre and a promising opportunity for SSC Officers is stuck in legal hassle. With ever increasing delay in resolving the matter, the hope of all the candidates who cleared the exam diminishes and their careers hang in abeyance.
- In the nutshell….
Frankly spe
king, If you are motivated enough to join defense then why not make a career out of it by joining as a permanent commission officer, and if you are not, then why to join it at all and vile away precious 10 years of your life, and start over again. SSC is specially difficult for male candidates, because by the time they retire, they have family responsibilities. However, prevailing trend suggests maximum lady candidates get married to their PC counterparts.
Ones you join services, it is difficult to gain specialization in a particular field (leaving aviation if you join as pilot) which has application in civil world. Jack of all and master of none as they call it. This trait is not very sought after in many jobs. So, you have to prepare yourself again for the big transition, not to forget you’re your family counting on it.