Cols in 15 years...and views of members

THE TIMES OF INDIA
Officers to become Col after 15 yrs of service
2 May 2009, 0322 hrs
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Officers-to-become-Col-after-15-yrs-of-service/articleshow/4474093.cms

NEW DELHI: In a major decision impacting the age profile of Army, Navy and Air Force commanding officers, the government on Friday fixed 15 years of commissioned service for substantive promotion to the rank of colonel, instead of the existing 20 years.

‘‘The government today fixed 15 years of commissioned service as the minimum qualifying service for substantive promotion to the rank of colonel in the Army, captain in the Navy and group captain in the Air Force. The decision of the government has been received at the Service headquarters,’’ sources said here.

Until now, lieutenant colonels in the Army, commanders in the Navy and wing commanders in the Air Force had to put in a cumulative qualifying service of 20 years after commissioning for promotion to substantive colonel and equivalent ranks. However, they became unit commanding officers even with just 16 years of service, as per the cadre management policies of the tri-services, but had to wait for another four years to be confirmed as substantive colonels and to receive the salary of a colonel. In effect, it would mean that there would be no more ‘‘acting’’ ranks of colonel, captain and group captain in the services.



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From: Naval Sailors
Subject: Re: Fw: [afakar] Officers to become Col after 15 yrs of service
To: "ramantn sarma"
Date: Saturday, 2 May, 2009, 4:28 PM
dear col

can someone think of our jawans/sailors/airmen who donot even become of havildar/petty office/sergeant even after putting in 15 yrs colour service in our defence forces
and they remove uniforms in pay band 1 only

for NAVAL ASSOCIATION

V A THEVAR
MCMECH(P) Retd
SECRETARY
.............
From: ramantn sarma
To: Core Group
Cc: Vijay Oberoi Lt Gen ; Maj Gen RN Radhakrishanan ; navalassociation@yahoo.com ; afakarYahoogroup ; afvoa chennai ; aiewa_association@rediffmail.com ; Band of Brothers ; Indian ; INEX Gp ; military veterans@ ; Naval Association ; REPORT MY SIGNAL CS Kamboj ; We Gunners @ yahoogroups .com
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 4:41 PM
Subject: [CoreG15] Fw: Re: Fw: [afakar] Officers to become Col after 15 yrs of service

Dear Veterans,

A valid point has been made by the Naval Sailors. When so many perks could be achieved for the officers & publicised both by the Govt as well as by us in the net, what the PBOR is requsting is just a pittance. Can we take up this issue on a war footing?

Veteran Raman
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From: raj kadyan rajkadyan@yahoo.com
Subject: [Stg_Comm] Re: FOR "REPORT MY SIGNALS"
To: "Sunil Rao"
Cc:TRUNCATED
Date: Saturday, 2 May, 2009, 3:07 PM

Dear Veteran sunil Rao,
Thank you for your suggestions. These would be discussed by the Core Gp.
This is to inform you that the case of PB4 was pursued by the Service Chiefs and the IESM have not pursued this point. Nor have we ever talked of the income tax exemption. Our focus has been, and continues to be, only OROP.

Best regards,

Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM

Chairman IESM

262, Sector-17A
Gurgaon- 122 001
Tele: 91+124-4015262
91+ 9811226676

--- On Sat, 2/5/09, Sunil Rao wrote:

From: Sunil Rao
Subject: Re: FOR "REPORT MY SIGNALS"
To: rajkadyan@yahoo. com
Cc: TRUNCATED
Date: Saturday, 2 May, 2009, 2:59 PM
Dear Gen Kadyan Sir,

Introducing myself to this panel of distinquished veterans, am Ex-Sgt Sunil Rao. M.R, presently accepted as the Convener of IESM,Mysore.

The points mentioned in these reports by the panel were very informative and suggestions put forth, looked highly debatable.

As a veteran and from PBOR's collective point of view,these suggestions mentioned below could be of immense motivating factor in help building up the IESM at all levels throughout the country.

1) Aligning with any political party for the sake of pursuing our vision.

Suggestion:- We feel it is a futile exercise, as we have experienced ourselves in the garb of IESL, in the past decade.

Firstly, a list of our demands could be redrafted in brief without going into full details, and submitted to all political parties(because a voluminous memorandum would never be assimialated nor understood by them),the three service chiefs ( all of whom would be veterans shortly),before the election results are declared,and a goal has to be projected to the them in terms of days or months.This should be implemented in the manifestos of any front which heads the government.

Secondly, after the election results, the government in power has to be pressurised through a collective representation at all levels of IESM, throughout the country. HQ,IESM can draft a common memorandum and circulate to all levels of IESM, a date could be fixed throughout the country, media could be apprised of the event and then the memorandum along with local issues if any, could be handed over to the Deputy commissioners or the local heads of all districts, and most importantly, the elected MP of the constituency BY HAND. Places where IESM is yet to be formed, a copy of the draft could be sent to all District HQ'S and all the 534 MP's by name from HQ,IESM. All MP's, irrespective of political parties, they are affialated to, would then be accountable to this noble cause.

2) PBOR's, with whom I have widely networked with,mostly apolitical ones,throughout the country are a bit dissappointed seeing the names of only officers in the Governing body of IESM.

Suggestions:- Veterans from distinquished PBOR's and Widows could be nominated on the board, so as to give the esteemed IESM, the required representated impetus and motivation. During all these days of its formation and media
appraisal, the PBOR's were feeling a bit used up, in furthering the cause of just PB4 and income tax issues, and OROP was taking a back seat and loosing its priority. There are also a number of issues w.r.t disparity in pension concerning different levels of PBOR's which is totally not highlighted, educated or projected at all.

3) Sainik Boards at all levels are to be revamped and made accountable throughout the country.
Veterans of all ranks are totally disgusted at the bureacratic way of functioning, and the same lame excuses of blaming the higher formations in not responding to any positive suggestions or complaints.

Suggestions: - HQ,IESM could play a major role with the central Government, highlight the present system and revamp the whole structure and organisation of the sainik board, which has now become defunct, w.r.t pursuing the policies laid down. They have to made more accountable at all levels of their organisation.IESM running the organisation could also be thought of as a future vision, on a partnership basis. The root of the problem visible to me is that Veterans are being appointed as sainik board officials, and feel very sorry to say that these same people are trained during service years to only think inside the box and never give any thought to change their attitude of looking outside the box, after coming out of defense services.
As a paradigm shift, maybe the services of educated wives of veterans could possibily be the right anwser to this vexed problem.

Hope this points with suggestions could be an eyeopener in pursuit of IESM being more effective,lest it dilutes itself
after hopefully, OROP is achieved.

Regards,
Sunil Rao.

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From: raj kadyan
To: Sudhir Vombatkere
Cc: Brig C.S.KAMBOJ ; TRUNCATED
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 10:29 PM
Subject: [Stg_Comm] Re: ON VOTING ADVISORY AND MORE


Dear Sudhir,
All officer ESM are thinkers and have their own opinion, which is only expected of us. I generally desist from commenting on views from individual members. But allow me to clarify:

1. We are not aligned with any political party in the sense implied in your mail. We are only aligned with OROP. Any Party that committed itself to giving OROP would have got our support. You may like to read the sitrep dated 8 Feb 2009. The extract: "If the current government sanctions the OROP, we will fully support it during the elections"


2. No IESM funds are being spent on the activity as apprehended by you. I wonder what led you to this inference.


3. I have not addressed the serving pers ever. However, dispassionately speaking, the defence forces are part of the democratic society and if the serving are allowed to vote, it is but natural that vote seekers would try to influence them. We are mixing up between being politically aware and being politicised.


4. You, me and our ilk have always been concerned about the reputation of the Fauz. But it matters much less to the PBOR pensioners who are hardest hit. Should we not also stand for them?


Best regards,

Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM

Chairman IESM