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Many of us think that fighting the war is the job only of the Armed Forces. No doubt combat is the
primary role of the Armed Forces. But fighting war is not the only role of the Armed Forces contrary to
the common notion. The Armed Forces are obliged to play their role of crisis management irrespective
of the sources and nature of crisis. Indian Armed Forces have saved the country many times in many
ways in the past, in addition to fighting wars.
ARMED FORCES ARE THE HIGHEST CRISIS–MANAGING AGENCIES
Your chest must swell with pride that you have decided to join the highest agency in the crisis
management system of the country. Now, you can think once again whether you are a cut out for this or
not.
Composition of The Armed Forces
Members of Armed forces wear uniform the world over. Can you make out from the uniform of
any member, and his position in the organisation ? If you observe carefully, you will find two categories
of members in the Armed Forces. The first category consists of those people who wear their rank
badges on their shoulders. Second category is of those who wear their rank badges on their sleeves.
What does this signify ?
Those who wear rank badges on the shoulders of their uniform are officers (including Junior
Commissioned Officers–JCOs). The other category of people is referred to as Men or ORs (other
ranks). Like Civil Services, Armed Forces too have a sharp division between officers and men. The
term ‘OFFICER’ refers to commissioned officers and excludes JCOs. Officers are commissioned
whereas ORs are recruited. Junior Commissioned Officers (or their equivalents in the Navy and Air
Force) are initially recruited who later are promoted on merit basis.
The place of rank badges symbolically communicates their role in the organisation. Officers are
‘responsible’ for the assigned tasks or missions. As they ‘shoulder’ responsibilities, they wear their
badges on their shoulders. On the other hand, men are the working force. They carryout orders given
by officers. Men are more involved with their hands and hence they wear the rank badges on their
sleeves.

Lesson 2
The Leader and The Led : Officers and Men

Officers give command to men. They lead their men during accomplishment of assigned tasks.
Leadership is a complex function. Behavioural scientists have adopted different approaches for
leadership to study the complexities involved in leadership behaviour. Sufficient here it would be to say
that in military the leader leads from the front and he is expected to be the best among his troops. He
commands respect by virtue of his position and qualities in equal measures. Secondly his leadership
qualities are best adjudged in the situation of crisis, which does not spare the life and limb of its
handlers. I will cite the true examples of few warriors whose deeds/sacrifies will prove the testimony of
the above fact. The first is Lt. Saurabh Kalia, second is Capt. Manoj Pandey and the third is Capt.
Vikram Batra and so many others.
The military leader does not give command from a safe and well-fortified den but from the
field where he and troops are exposed naked to dangers. Such officer is different from his civilian
counterparts in many ways. He is optimistic, cool headed, more poised; ready to strike, clear in
his priorities, stern to hardships but soft to hearts. He does not mess up during events that shakes
up people ordinarily.
● There is a Sharp Division Between The Officers and Men in The Armed Forces
● Officers Lead-Men are Led
● Officers Command Respect by Virtue of their Position and Qualities in Equal Measures