Integrated JCO & OR Cadre for the Army

Introduction

Junior Commissioned Officers and Other Rank (JCO & OR) make up more than 94 per cent of the Army and belong to a distinct functional area arranged in a hierarchical order with different ranks representing different grades or levels of resp. They possess an intimate knowledge of the particular area or the function or the skill concerned. For example an Infantry soldier is expert at Close Quarter Combat in its multiple dimensions. Combat Support Arms like Artillery are the specialists in delivery of accurate long range fire with complex gun systems. Similarly the services are meant to provide logistics and technical support to the Combat Arms and Combat Support Arms. 

They retire young due to severely restricted growth opportunities with a low pension. Consequently soldiering today has become last option amongst the eligible and only reason recruitment quotas are still being met is high levels of unemployment.

Main cause - Lack of Promotion Avenues. Sad fact is that career of 65 per cent entrants ends as Sepoys within 17 years at young age of 36 years and even for those who become Naik can at the most hope to become Havildars and retire at the age of 42 years, that is, 16 years earlier than their counterparts from other government departments including constables from Border Security Force and Central Reserve Police Force.

Compounding factor – Multiplicity of Cadres within the Army. The problem is further compounded due to the present practice of letting respective arms and services manage the careers of their JCOs and OR. This has resulted in creation of plethora of stand-alone cadres. Ostensible reason for this separation is `specialisation of the task’ resulting in creation of a distinct entry scheme, albeit with same civil education qualification, that is, matric. But this logic does not apply to the officers who form single cadre. Similarly medical officers in Army Medical Corps despite there being separate specialities form one cadre.

The present system of every arm and service having separate cadre of JCO & OR blocks intra-Army movement of deserving soldiers between various corps/ services and thereby reduces promotion chances of soldiers who join combat arms. This system has also resulted in creation of redundant training facilities as each arm or service duplicates similar training facilities.

Lateral Transfer – A Non-starter. Army has been making strenuous efforts to open the route of `lateral transfer to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). But these efforts have been stymied by vested interests and certain legal provisions like reservations applicable to recruitment in CAPF.

                                               Integrated JCO & OR Cadre for the Army

Aim and Objectives

Aim. Last cadre review of JCO & OR was undertaken in the year 1984 and time has come for creation of an Integrated JCOs and OR Cadre in the Army which complies with organisational needs and also ensures a rewarding career to deserving JCOs and OR.

Quick Facts about Integrated JCOs & OR Cadre.   

·                     Reinforces distinct position and status for the JCOs and Havildars in Combat Arms and Combat Support Arms less Corps of Signals ranks corresponding to grade or level of hierarchy. Consequently existing ratios between JCOs, Havildars and OR is maintained.

·                     Recognises the necessity of coalescing JCO and Havildar ranks in the technical arms like Corps of Signals, Services, Minor Corps and Clerks with higher degree of technical prowess or inventory management and supervisory functions by improving existing Corps Roster system of promotion wherein the rank is not tied in with appointment. Consequently these organisations will have larger number of Naiks, Havildars and JCOs vis-à-vis Sepoys.

·                     Youthful profile at unit level is most critical for combat arms, is desirable in combat support arm and of peripheral value for Corps of Signals and Services. This has been achieved by introducing mid-career re-training and re-deployment from Combat Arms and Combat Support Arms to Corps of Signals, Services, Minor Corps and Clerks in forming Integrated JCO & OR Cadre.

·                     Proposed Cadre structure substantially reduces age profile of Section Commander equivalent in Comabt and Combaqt Support Arms.

·                     Provides opportunity to every individual to aspire for at least four promotions during his/ her career spanning 33 years of colour service.

·                     Proposed Integrated JCO & OR Cadre induces healthy competition amongst peers as retention and promotion are based on Annual Performance Report.

Desirable composition of Integrated JCOs & OR Cadre. The ranks for the JCOs & OR and size of each rank tabulated below in Table 1 have been validated by comparison with major contemporary armies.

Rank	Proposed	Percentage	Equal UK Rank	Percentage	Equal US Rank	Percentage
Sepoy	308437	26.6	Private 4,3,2 & 1	28.2	Private E 1 & 2	14.2
Lance Nk			Lance Corporal	14.1	Private E 3	14.1
Nk	357865	30.9	Corporal	17.7	Corporal E 4	26.8
Lance Hav
Hav	283229	24.4	Sargent	27.8	Sargent E 5	18.1
Hav Maj			Colour Sargent		Staff Sargent E 6	14.2
Nb Sub	87623	7.6	Sargent 1st Cl	6.5	Sargent 1st Cl E 7	9.2
Sub	87623	7.6	WO Cl 2	4.9	Master Sargent E 8	2.6
SM	12000	1	WO Cl 1	1.8	Sargent Major E 9	0.8
Total	1160000

Table 1

Proposed Rank Profile of Arms and Services. The army-wide rank ratios indicated in Table 1 above will have to be distributed in combat arms and other as per Table 2 below to meet the terms of reference listed below.

·         The Combat Arms have to have a pyramidal structure even amongst the JCOs and OR because it is a functional requirement. However certain amount of flattening is possible at Sepoy to Naik level even in Infantry and Armoured Corps.

·         In case of Combat Support Arms this flattening is possible up to Havildar level.

·         The Services, which make up 25 per cent of the Army, have a Corps Roster system of promotion and rank is not tied in with appointment. Consequently these can have equal number of Naiks, Havildars and JCOs.

·         Youthful profile at unit level is most critical for combat arms, is desirable in combat support arm and of peripheral value for services.

Age and Service Profile of JCOs & OR in proposed Cadre. Consequent to application of above mentioned rank ratios the age and service profile of JCO & OR Cadres obtaining in various arms and services of the Army will be as shown in Table 2 below.

Cadre	JCO		Havildar		Naik		Sepoy
	Age	Service	Age	Service	Age	Service	Age	Service
Combat Arms	41 – 48	23 – 29@	34-40	16 – 22	27-33	9 -15	19-26	0 - 8
Combat Support	44 – 51	26 - 33	36 – 43	18 – 25	28 - 35	10 – 17	20-27	0 – 9
Services	44 – 51	28 – 33	36 – 43	20 – 28	27 – 35	11 – 19	20 – 27	0 – 10
Minor Corps & Clerks	44 – 51	28 – 33	36 – 43	20 – 28	27 – 35	11 – 19		0 – 10
Combatised Tradesmen	44 - 51	26 – 33	36 – 43	18 – 25	27 – 35	10 – 17	20 – 27	1 – 9

@ JCO of Combat Arm will get nine year tenure in NCC after mandatory period in Parent Arm.

Table 2

 Methodology of Implementation

Army Strength.   Periodic media reports put Indian Army strength at 1.2 million. For the purpose of illustration let us distribute these numbers into four categories of arms and services as given in Table 3 below. It is pertinent to note that change in numbers will not impact viability of proposed JCO & OR Cadre because proportionate numbers of various arms and services are unlikely to change.

Category	UK Army	US Army	Best Average	Rank wise Numbers (if average applied to Indian Army)
				Total	Sepoy	Naik	Havildar	JCO
Combat Arms	34	38	40	444584	177834	177834	57795	31121
Combat Support Arm	16.3	15	17.85	196403	75547	75546	28862	16448
Corps of Engineer	9	8	8	88000	35819	35818	11673	4690
Corps of Signals	8	7	6	65656	412	4112	36666	24466
Services	28	27	24	264000	825	44454	131233	87488
Minor Corps & Clerks	4.7	5	3.75	41357		2600	23223	15534
Total				1100000
Combatised Tradesmen	Proportionately distributed to all Arms and Services.			60000	18000	17500	17000	7500
Officers				40000 Accounted for separately
Grand Total	100	100	100	1200000	308437	357865	283229	187247

Table 3

Qualifications for Recruitment.   All soldiers will be recruited in X Grade. Minimum education qualification for enrolment will be 10 + 2. Physical parameters and Recruit-able Male Population (RMP) ratios will remain as hither-to-fore.

First Review.  All Sepoys of Combat Arms will be screened for first transfer on completion of seven years colour service in parent unit. Those from Combat Support Arms will be screened on completion of eight years in parent unit.

Reconciling Rank and Seniority on Transfer. Those selected for transfer will undergo conversion training in new Corps and then posted to services units. Those transferred from Combat Units will serve for one year in the rank of Sepoy and then be promoted to the rank of Naik. Those transferred from Combat Arms (Less Engineers) to Signals and Minor Corps will be absorbed in the rank of Naik immediately on completion of conversion training.

Assured Efficient Service. All entrants will be assured 33 years of services provided they maintain desired efficiency levels. Recruits will initially sign up for 15 year colour service under the Open Engagement (OE) which will allow them to retire with pension on completion of OE period. This 15 year period will commence the day recruit is accepted at Training Centre and will include entire  training  period as also post attestation period. Formal Annual Efficiency Reviews will be held to judge the soldier’s continued suitability for continuation.

Promotions. Combat Arms will enjoy distinct edge in promotions as seen in Table 3 above, wherein promotion in Combat Arm will be at an interval of seven years, eight years in Combat Support Arms and nine years in Signals, Services and Minor Corps .

  

Management of Implementation

Reconciling All India All Class Recruitment with Fixed Class Recruitment. Intake based on Recruitable Male Population (RMP) ensures that the Army has proportionate representation to all regions of the country. RMP is arrived at using figures from latest Census of India and accordingly vacancies for recruitment allocated to various States of the Union of India. Personnel so selected are allotted to various arms and services. All Combat Support Arms and Services have All India – All Class composition. However certain units or Combat Arms, that is, Infantry and Armoured Corps have fixed class composition, which means those serving in these units are from a particular area or caste.  Overall 76 per cent of Indian Army units are composed on All India - All Class Basis and 26 per cent, which are Infantry or Armoured Corps Regiments, on Fixed Class composition. Thus in effect out of 12434 Sepoys coming up for inter-arm transfer every year from combat arms to the Services 5017 will come from All India - All Class Units and 7417 will come from fixed class Regiments like Sikh and Dogra who have troops from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Jat and Rajput from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and Sikh from Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Nearly 40 per cent of Indian population resides in these states the transferees from Fixed Class units will be easily adjusted within All India – All Class units of Services because overall recruitment remains within the RMP quota of these states.

Combat Arms and Transfer to Services. Initial intake in to Combat Arms will be 27714 per annum. On completion of 14 years’ service in units 15807 Naiks will be transferred to Services. A total of 2500 will be transferred to Defence Security Corps and 9004 will be retained and promoted Havildar in parent arm. Expected discharge/ release rate will be 500 per annum.

·                     Rate of Direct Intake into Services.  15 per cent of total strength of services will be inducted through direct recruitment at a rate of 100 per annum.

·                     Lateral Transfer into Services.  85 per cent of the strength of services will be inducted through lateral transfer with 15807 Sepoys side-stepping into services after 14 years of service in Combat Arms and one years of conversion training.

·                     Transfer into DSC. The DSC will be entirely composed of transferees from Combat Arms, who will be inducted as Naiks at a rate of 2500 per annum after 14 years of service in parent arm. They will get to serve in DSC for next 18 years including three month long conversion course.   

Combat Support Arms (Less Corps of Engineers)  and Transfer to Corps of Signals and Minor Corps.  Initial intake in to Artillery, Army Air Defence and Army Aviation will be 14313 per annum. On completion of 16 years’ service in units 6855 will be transferred to Minor Corps and Clerks per annum. 6535 will be retained and promoted Havildar/ equivalent. Expected discharge/ release rate will be 950 per annum.  

·         Direct Intake into Corps of Signals and Minor Corps. 15 per cent of total strength of Corps of Signals will be inducted through direct recruitment at a rate of 421 per annum. While rate of direct induction into Minor Corps will be 100 per annum.

·         Lateral Transfer into Corps of Signals, Minor Corps and Clerks.  85 per cent of the strength of the following will come from Artillery, Air Defence Artillery and Army Aviation and undergo one year conversion training and be inducted as Havildars:

o   Corps of Signals will get 4035 per annum.

o   Minor Corps will get 1320 per annum.

o   Clerks Cadre will get 1500 per annum.

Management of JCO & OR of Corps of Engineers. Sappers will be inducted into Corps of Engineers at a rate of 4634 per annum. On completion of initial eight years of service in field Engineer units they will be sub-divided and re-deployed with 1592 retained in field units and 2500 transferred to MES and promoted Naik. Those transferred to MES will undergo three years long diploma course and then appointed Junior Engineer. Hence total strength of military component in MES will be 40000 including trainees. Expected discharge/ release rate will be 542 per annum.

Conclusion

Purpose. The purpose of proposal is to sustain the Army’s operational effectiveness. A Cadre Structure is meant to provide the framework to populate each Arm or Service of the Army with soldiers of the correct rank, age, experience and quality. It will also balance the needs of the Army with individual expectations.

Advantages. Major advantages which accrue from implementation of proposal are:

·                     Reduce Financial burden on Exchequer. Will reduce outlay on pension by ensuring 33 years long service to the deserving JCOs & OR.

·                     Improve morale of the Troops. Guarantee of 33 years long service to deserving will  motivate JCOs and OR and attract better talent.

·                     Youthful profile in Combat and Combat Support Arms. Mid-career redeployment will ensure young profile in the Combat Arms and Combat Support Arms.

·                     Improved quality of intake into Services. Initial grounding of soldier in the Combat Arms and Combat Support Arms will broaden his horizon as also make mature, better disciplined and experienced soldiers to services.

·                     Tap in-house talent. Since the vacancies for technical appointments will be filled from in-house transfers, this will act as incentive to OR to keep learning.

·                     Optimal Utlisation of in-house Training Facilities. The Army has created one of the most extensive in-house training network capable of imparting training in almost all fids of human endeavour. This will be fully utilised.

To implement proposed Cadre structures for the JCOs and OR, it is necessary that the implementation be coordinated and monitored by an empowered committee headed by VCOAS.