Soldiers learn to lead civilian life
Air Commodore Ashminder Singh Bahal, Deputy Commandant, College of Air Warfare here, will retire soon. Having served the Indian Air Force for more than three decades, he is beginning to develop certain anxieties on coping with the “civilian” world, as people in the forces call the outside world.
“Everything is governed by discipline, performance and rules in the forces, he said. “But in the civil or corporate world, the person sitting on the top dictates things.” Little wonder, then, he feels “survival instincts” have to be particularly sharpened to thrive post-retirement.
And this is where the Army Welfare Placement Organisation comes in, helping in a smooth transition of Army veterans and preparing them for the world outside. In a word, de-militarise. In fact, the writing board at the Army Placement Node in Secunderabad has a list of ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’, scribbled by Col. V. Udameeshi (retd), director of the cell’s AP operations. A peep into a classroom full of retired soldiers showed they were being groomed to change or cast off the years of imprinting that were a ‘way of life’ in the armed forces.
“They are two different worlds, and the missing link is ‘discipline’,” Col. Udameeshi said. “Without proper grooming, many of these former army personnel get into depression and despite being qualified, trained, experienced and capable, many do not land good jobs. They end up leading a ‘retired life’. “Many values and routines inculcated in the army have to be shed off to carve a niche in the civilian world.”
According to Col. Udameeshi, these defence personnel are first made to change their attitude and given lessons on how to market themselves or excel in personal branding. De-militarisation is the key to acclimatisation in new working atmospheres, as more ex-army personnel find it difficult to psychologically adjust and get accepted in the wider society after military service, Col. Udameeshi said.
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