10 Tips for better running and fast recovering

How many times have you gone out for a run and felt like your legs were made of concrete, or worse? Surprisingly, they might not feel so bad from something that you did as from something that you didn’t do. Treat your legs well between runs to gain more enjoyment from your workouts, increase performance, and speed up recovery time.

Before Running:

1. If you eat a large meal before a run, wait at least three hours before you head out. Almost nothing you eat immediately before a run will digest enough to give you energy during your run. If you do have to eat, choose something your system can easily absorb, such as a banana, a few spoonfuls of peanut butter or honey, or a handful of dried fruit.

2. Drink at least 8 oz. of water a half hour before heading out to prevent dehydration. If you’re going for longer than a 10K, you might consider taking a water bottle or planning a route that has a water stop along the way. Staying hydrated will keep your legs from cramping, especially in hot weather.

3. You may be tempted to do intense stretching to get warmed up, but try Chi Running Body Looseners instead. Ankle rolls, hip rotations, and knee circles are a few gentle exercises you can do to get your body loose and relaxed without straining cold muscles and joints. See the Chi Running book or DVD for a detailed explanation.

4. Begin your runs with a very relaxed and easy stride – not too fast. Increase your pace slowly until you’re running at your desired level. If you start off too fast, you risk running out of gas early in your run, and you’ll feel more soreness in your legs afterwards.

5. Track the mileage on your shoes. At about 500 miles, mid-soles can become too compressed to return to their original shape between runs, and your feet and legs will begin to notice. Be sure to replace your shoes regularly.

After Running:

6. After a three to five minute cool down jog, stretch thoroughly. Don’t just jump back into your car and head off to your next event, or you could be walking around with tight legs for the rest of the day. Doing a cool down and stretching period allows the lactic acid (the byproduct created by your muscles) to be flushed out into your bloodstream and eliminated from your body.

7. Take a hot bath or relax in a hot tub after your workout if you can. Soaking your legs warms your muscles and relaxes them back into their normal shapes. A shower doesn’t work as well, unfortunately, but it’s still good for your legs if a bath is out of the question.

8. Do “leg drains” by lying on your back with your legs extended vertically and feet propped against a wall for three to four minutes. This drains the blood out of your legs so fresh, clean blood can be pumped back into them when you stand up. You can do leg drains either immediately after stretching or after your bath. Either way, you’ll notice a markedly different pair of legs under you when you get up.

9. If you’ve just done a strenuous workout, one of your next two meals should be a solid protein meal, which helps your muscles rebuild themselves. Add a hearty green salad and fresh vegetables to replenish your system with valuable minerals.

10. Whether or not you’re a regular runner, you should be drinking water all day long. Eight to 10 glasses of water spread throughout the day will replenish the fluid lost to exercise. Don’t drink your water all at once; just keep an even flow going.

Physical Standard : Indian Airforce

Physical fitness is one of the most important prerequisites for joining the Air Force. Irrespective of the branch you are applying for, you must fulfil some basic physical standards. Listed below are some guidelines that identify the general physical requirements that are common for all candidates.
• You must be in good physical and mental health and free from any disease/ disability, which is likely to interfere with efficient performance of duties. There should be no evidence of weak constitution or bodily defects.

DURATION OF TRAINING AND FITNESS

(a) The duration of training will be 74 weeks for flying and technical branch and 52 weeks in case of Non-Tech branches. However, this period is subject to variations.

(b) The training at AFA demands a very high level of physical fitness. Outdoor activities are given equal importance as academics. Failure to achieve the desired standards in outdoor training and academics will result in termination of your training. Therefore, it is in your interest that you are physically and mentally prepared to undergo the rigours of training. You will be required to participate in athletics, cross country and games, so you should keep yourself fit to undertake physical exercise like sit ups, push-ups, short and long distance running etc. If you have any sportswear/ equipment like football boots, tennis racquet or golf sets, please bring them along with you. The minimum standards expected at AFA are given below:-

(i) Men
           

Event AgeBracketMinimum Standard1.6 KMUpto 25 years of age07.06-08.00 min1.6 KM26-30 years08.06-09.00 min100 mtrUpto 35 years of age16 SecPush-Up & Sit-Up (in 01 min)Upto 35 years of age20Chin-UpUpto 40 years of age03Swimming- 25 Mtr free style-Own timeJump (swimming)-7.5 Mtr

                              
(ii) Women

Event AgeMinimum Standard1.6 KM08.26-09.00 min100 mtr19 SecPush-Up Sit-Up (in 01 min)20Sit-Up (in 01 min)15Chin-Up02Swimming- 25 Mtr free styleOwn timeJump (swimming)5 Mtr

 

• The height and weight standards for men and women differ. Click to view the appropriate standards for each.

     o Men
     o Women

• Your chest should be well developed. The minimum range of expansion after full inspiration should be 5 cm.
• There should be no disease of bones and joints of the body.
• You should be free of any past history of mental breakdown or fits.
• Your hearing should be normal without any evidence of present or past disease of the ear, nose and throat.
• There should be no sign of functional or organic disease of the heart and blood vessels. Your blood pressure should also be normal.
• The muscles of the abdomen should be well developed without any enlargement of the liver or spleen. Any evidence of disease of internal organs of the abdomen can be a cause for rejection.
• An un-operated hernia can make you unfit for selection. If operated, this should have been done at least six months prior to the present examination and healing should be complete without any potential for recurrence.
• There should be no hydrocele, varicocele or piles. If operated for hydrocele and/or varicocele, this should have been done at least six months prior to the present examination and healing should be complete without any recurrence.
• Urine examination will be done and any abnormality, if detected, can be a cause for rejection.
• Any disease of the skin, which is likely to cause disability or disfigurement, will also be a cause for rejection.
• Vision will be tested. You must have good binocular vision. In case you have undergone or are detected to have undergone Radial Keratotomy, or any other procedure to improve the visual acuity, you will be permanently rejected.
• You should have sufficient number of natural and sound teeth. A minimum of 14 dental points will be acceptable. When 32 teeth are present, the total dental points are 22. You should not be suffering from severe pyorrhoea.
• The following are conditions pertaining to women that will entail rejection for all Air Force Duties:
o Acute or chronic pelvic infection
o Severe menorrhagia
o Severe dysmenorrhea
o Complete prolapse of uterus
o Pregnancy/ Amenorrhea
o Any other gynaecological condition, if so considered by the specialist.

Pay and Allowance of Airforce Officers

Even before you are Commissioned as an Air Force Officer you start earning a monthly stipend of Rs. 21,000/- during last one year of your training period at any of the Air Force Training Institutions.

The following Pay / Allowances would be applicable on grant of Commission to Flying Officers:-

Pay in Pay Band ( Common to all Branches ) – Rs 15,600 Per Month ( The officer will be placed in PB 3 – 15600-39100 )

Grade Pay :- Rs 5400 PM

Military Service Pay :- Rs 6000 PM

Dearness Allowance @ 125 percent :- Rs 33750 PM

Kit Maintenance Allowance :- Rs 600 PM

Transport Allowance :- Rs 3200 + DA ( major cities) / 1600 + DA ( Other cities)

In addition the following allowances are admissible to the newly Commissioned Officers in Flying and Technical Branches

Flying Allowance @ Rs 13500 PM to Flying Branch Officers.

Technical Allowance @ Rs 3000 PM to Technical Branch Officers.

 

Gross Monthly Emoluments:The first monthly pay package of Flying Officers in all the branches would be as under (This does not Include other allowances based on place of posting except Transport Allowance of major cities which is included)

 

Flying Branch-    80,250/-
Technical Branch-71,550/-

Ground Duty Branch-68,550/-

Total Emoluments (in Rs)

As you grow in rank and stature in the Air Force, your income and other entitlements also increase in harmony with your enhanced responsibilities.

 
Click to know Rank Structure of Armed Forces

Selection Procedure Airmen Group X Y: Eligibility Criteria, Physical Fitness Test, Medical Exam, Written Exam,

Indian Air Force is conducting recruitment for Airmen in Group X and Y. Indian Air Force Airmen Recruitment 2016-2017 notification was published in second week of September 2016. Recruitment of Airmen in Indian Air Force (IAF) 2016-2017 includes vacancies in Group ‘X’ (Technical) Trades and Group ‘Y’ (Non-Technical) {Except Automobile Technician, GTI, IAF (P), IAF(S) and Musician} Trades. Candidates who are going to participate in the Indian Air Force Airmen Recruitment 2016-2017 can check all the details like application form, admit card, result here.

Quick Links

AdvertisementClick HereApplication FormClick HereAdmit CardClick HereResultClick Here

Indian Air Force Airmen 2017 Selection Group X & Y

Interested candidates can fill their Application form for Indian Air Force Airmen 2017 online. Application form must be filled submit it before the last date. Admit Card for written will be available on candidates email ids. Selection will be based on marks obtained in written test and other processes.

Important Dates

EventDatesCommencement of Online Registration15 Sep 2016Last date for Registration29 Sep 2016Last date of receipt of printed application by ordinary post at CASB13 Oct 2016Date of issued of Admit card05 Jan 2017Date of Selection TestJan – Feb 2017

Eligibility Criteria

Group ‘X’ (Technical)

Passed Intermediate/10+2/ Equivalent examination with Mathematics,  Physics  and English with minimum 50% marks in aggregate and 50% marks in English. OR

Passed Three years Diploma Course in Engineering in any stream, as shown below, from a Government recognized Polytechnic Institute with 50% marks in overall aggregate, and 50% marks in English in Diploma or in Intermediate/Matriculation, if English is not a subject in Diploma Course.

Group ‘Y’ (Non-Technical) {Except Automobile Technician, GTI, IAF (P), IAF(S) and Musician} Trades

Passed Intermediate / 10+2 / Equivalent Examination in any stream/subjects approved by Central / State Education Boards with minimum 50% marks in aggregate and 50% marks in English.

For Group ‘Y’ (Non-Technical) Medical Assistant Trade

Passed 10+2/ Intermediate / equivalent exam with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate and 50% marks in English.

Groups ‘X&Y’ (Eligible for both Technical and Non-Technical)

Passed Intermediate/10+2/ Equivalent examination with Mathematics, Physics and English with minimum 50% marks in aggregate and 50% marks in English. Candidates will take the examination for Group ‘X’ and Group ‘Y’ subjects in one sitting and can qualify for Group ‘X’ or Group ‘Y’ or both i.e. if candidate passes in English, Physics and Mathematics, he is considered pass in Group ‘X’ and if he passes in English and Reasoning and General Awareness (RAGA) then he will be considered pass in Group ‘Y’. If a candidate clears in all the four subjects, he will be considered pass in Group ‘X’ and Group ‘Y’. Diploma holders are eligible to appear only for Group ‘X’.

Note:

Education Boards recognized/affiliated by Council of Boards for School Education (COBSE) will only be permitted.

Exact aggregate Percentage of marks before decimal as written in the marks sheet of 10+2/ Intermediate/Equivalent/Three years Diploma Course OR calculated as per the rules of concerned Education Board/ Polytechnic Institute will only be considered (For example 49.99% should be taken as 49% and not to be rounded off to 50%).

Age Limit – Candidates born between 07 July 1997 and 20 December 2000 (both days inclusive) are eligible to apply. In case, a candidate clears the Selection Procedure then the upper age limit as on date of enrolment is 21 years.

President, Central Airmen Selection Board reserves the right to shortlist the applications on the basis of available vacancies and number of eligible applicants by applying cut off percentage.

Selection Process

Verification of Eligibility

Printout of online Provisional Admit Card, Original Certificates, Marks Sheets and other required applicable original/duly filled documents like NCC ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’ certificate, Son of serving Air Force personnel certificate (SOAFP)/PPO, Discharge Book, Service Certificate issued from AFRO/DAV for wards of retired/ deceased/discharged Air Force personnel, Discharge Certificate (if discharged from Army /Navy / Government organisation), Consent Form signed by parents if candidate below 18 years of age and passport size colour photographs will be required and scrutinized/verified at the examination venue prior to commencement of Written Test to ascertain the eligibility in prima-facie. Detailed verification will be carried out later in respect of candidates who pass Written Test. Candidature of those who do not meet the laid down educational criteria is liable to be rejected during Initial verification of original certificates & mark sheets prior to conduct of written test and also during detailed verification on clearing the written test.

Candidates should be in possession of the following when appearing for the Selection Test:-

HB Pencil, Eraser, Sharpener, Gum tube, Stapler and Black/Blue Ball Point Pen for writing.

Ten copies of un-attested recent (which has been taken for the online application registration) passport size colour photograph.

Original and four self-attested photocopies of Matriculation Passing Certificate (required for verification of Candidate’s Name, Father’s Name and his Date of Birth).

Original and four self-attested photocopies of Matriculation Marks Sheet (only applicable for three years Diploma Course holders when English is not a subject in Diploma Course).

Original and four self-attested photocopies of Intermediate/10+2/ Equivalent Examination Passing Certificate and Marks Sheet. OR Original and four self-attested photocopies of Three years Diploma Course Passing Certificate and Marks Sheets of all semesters.

Original and four self-attested photocopies of duly filled Son of Serving Air Force personnel (SOAFP) Certificate (format available on CASB AFNet website) for Sons of serving Air Force personnel (or) Original and four self-attested photocopies of PPO/Discharge Book/Service Certificate issued from AFRO/DAV for Sons of retired/deceased/discharged Air Force personnel.

Candidates discharged from Indian Army/Indian Navy/Any other Government Organisation. Original and four Self-attested photocopies of Discharge Certificate (as issued from Indian Army/Indian Navy/Government Organisation).

Original and four self-attested photocopies of NCC ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’ certificate (if applicable).

Written Test

Eligible candidates will be sent Online Provisional Admit Cards on their respective e-mail IDs during the month of January 2017 (which they will download & take colour printout & will carry the same to the examination centre on the day of test as indicated on their respective Admit Cards) to appear in the Selection Test at the examination centres. Written Test will be objective type and question paper will be bilingual (English & Hindi) except for English paper. Written test for candidates opting for both Group X&Y shall be conducted in one sitting, using the same OMR sheet. Detailed procedure shall be explained before conduct of the examination.

Written Test and Duration of the Test will be as follows: –

Group ‘X’ (Technical) Trades. Duration of the written test will be 60 minutes and will comprise of English, Physics and Mathematics as per 10+2 CBSE syllabus.

Group ‘Y’ (Non-Technical) {Except Automobile Technician, GTI, IAF (P), IAF(S) and Musician} Trades. Duration of the written test will be 45 minutes and will comprise of English as per 10+2 CBSE syllabus and Reasoning And General Awareness (RAGA).

Both Groups ‘X&Y’ Trades. Duration of the written test will be 85 minutes and will comprise of English, Physics, and Mathematics as per 10+2 CBSE syllabus and Reasoning And General Awareness (RAGA).

Adaptability Test 1

Adaptability Test-1 [For both Group ‘ X’ (Technical) Trades & Group ‘Y’ (Non-Technical) {except Automobile Technician, GTI, IAF(P), IAF(S) and Musician} Trades].

All candidates who pass the Written Tests will have to undertake Adaptability Test-1 which is to assess suitability of a candidate for employment in the IAF which involves deployment in varied geographic terrain, weather and operational conditions.

Physical Fitness Test (PFT)

Physical Fitness Test (PFT) [For both Group ‘ X’ (Technical) Trades & Group ‘Y’ (Non-Technical) {except Automobile Technician, GTI, IAF(P), IAF(S) and Musician} Trades]

All candidates who pass Adaptability Test-1 are to undergo Physical Fitness Test (PFT) on the same or the next day. PFT consists of a 1.6 Km run to be completed within 7 minutes. Candidates will also have to complete 10 push-ups, 10 sit-ups and 20 squats within the stipulated time to qualify in the Physical Fitness Test.

Note: Candidates are advised to bring their sports shoes and shorts.

Adaptability Test 2

Adaptability Test-2 [For both Group ‘ X’ (Technical) Trades & Group ‘Y’ (Non-Technical) {except Automobile Technician, GTI, IAF(P), IAF(S) and Musician} Trades].

All candidates who pass PFT will have to undertake Adaptability Test-2 as per policy in vogue. Adaptability Test-2 is to identify suitable candidates with requisite comprehension and communication ability.

Note: Candidates qualifying for Groups ‘X&Y’ will be given the group according to his merit as well as his preference given at the time of filling up of online application. However, President, CASB reserves the right to allocate Group to a candidate as per vacancies available with CASB and the decision of the President, CASB in this respect shall be final and binding upon the candidate.

Medical Examination

Candidates who qualify Adaptability Test-2 will be issued with medical appointment letter at Airmen Selection Centre for their medical examination at designated Medical Board Centre (MBC) on specified date. Medical Examination will be conducted by Air Force Medical Team as per IAF medical standards and policy in vogue on subject issue. Candidates declared Medically Unfit can avail the option for Appeal Medical Board (AMB) against their unfitness by depositing Rs. 40/- in a Government Treasury/RBI/SBI through Military Receivable Order (MRO). The application for AMB along with original copy of MRO, Photocopy of Unfitness Certificate and Postal Stamp worth Rs. 25/- affixed on a self addressed envelope are to be submitted to the respective Medical Board Centres for processing, within three working days from the date of issue of Medical Unfitness Certificate at MBC.

Medical examination would also include Baseline Investigation as listed below:-

Blood Haemogram – Hb, TLC, DLC

Urine RE/ME

Biochemistry

Blood Sugar Fasting & PP

Serum Cholesterol

Urea, Uric acid, Creatinine

LFT—Serum Bilurubin, SGOT, SGPT

X- Ray chest (PA view)

ECG (R)

Notes:

Candidate should bring latest prescription (one month validity) and spectacles for corrected vision, if used. The prescription must bear the signature, stamp and registration number of Eye Specialist.

Candidates are advised to get tartar and stains removed from teeth before appearing for the Medical Examination. Ears should be free of wax. Candidates should be prepared to travel/stay for the medical test for four to five days under their own arrangement. No TA/DA will be admissible.

What is EKT in AFCAT Exam

EKT stands for Engineering Knowledge Test. It was started in the year 2014 conducted by Indian Air Force along with AFCAT-II (Air Force Common Admission Test). It aims at testing the basic knowledge of an engineering graduate applying for technical entry through AFCAT. This paper starts immediately after the written AFCAT exam of 2 hours. It contains questions dealing with basic concepts of your discipline of engineering and a thorough understanding of your basics will help you solve this easily. EKT has two parts namely:

Part-A : General Engineering (40 questions)

Part-B : Specialised Paper (35 questions)

General engineering part is based on the topics that are common to multiple branches of engineering. Whereas, specialised part is based on the knowledge of the discipline of the candidate’s degree.  These disciplines are Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electrical and Instrumentation Engineering and Computer Engineering.

How to prepare for EKT:—

EKT stands for Engineering Knowledge Test. It is a simple test to check the basic knowledge related to engineering. This test will be conducted along with the Air Force Common Admission Test itself.

How to Prepare for EKT

1. EKT is not a very difficult test; all it requires is thorough understanding of basics. So brush up and revise your basics nicely. Do not leave any portion untouched. The right time to begin your preparations for EKT is now. The syllabus for EKT is pretty huge and of course you can’t prepare in a day. So the right time to prepare for EKT is now. Don’t waste time and start gathering your resources.
2. Speed is important in EKT so don’t get struck on any particular question for long. With the huge amount of people in the past who have passed AFCAT but failed in EKT, it is understandable that the test can be hard. However, it is trickier than hard. The key to success here is practice. Hence practice every day, without fail.
3. When you are studying for EKT make sure you are referring to a reliable material. Study materials only from authorized and recognized sources. Otherwise, you’ll end up wasting your time, studying things which you don’t need to, and missing those which you need to. 
4. Do topic wise studies, i.e. decide and plan out that which portions you have to cover in a day. Stick to your plan and do complete the portion you have set for that day. In this way you’ll be able to cover maximum of the topics.
5. Do see the previous year’s papers and other model papers to get an idea on the types of questions. This will also help you to practice the maximum of them. Links to previous year question papers.

Posted by Shyam

Selection Procedure for Indian Armed Forces through CDS

UPSC CDS EXAM SELECTION PROCEDURE:  UPSC has released notification of Combined Defence Service (CDS) Examination (II), 2017. UPSC 2017 CDS (Combined Defence Services) Exam is conducted by the UPSC two times in a year for admissions to Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA). UPSC CDS exam selection procedure consists of Written Exam, Interview/ Intelligence Test/ Personality Test, Document Verification, Medical Examination. Here is a detailed UPSC CDS exam selection procedure.

Written Exam 

Written Exam consists of Objective Type questions and time duration 2hrs and maximum marks is 100 for each subject.
ii. For the candidates who are appearing for Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air force Academy written test comprising of English, General Knowledge and Elementary mathematics subjects and for candidates who are appearing for officers training academy the written test comprising of English and General Knowledge.
iii. Candidates who are declared successful in the written exam will be detailed for intelligence and personality test at the Service Selection Board based on their preference, by the respective service HQ.

Interview/ Personality Test

The candidates who are selected in written test are called for interview. The SSB procedure consists of two stage selection process-Stage I and Stage II. Only those candidates who clear the stage I are permitted to appear for Stage II.
a. Stage I comprises of Officers Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests are Picture Perception Description Test (P&DT). The candidates will be shortlisted based on combination of performance in QIR Test and PP and DT.
b. Stage II comprises of Interview, Group Testing Officers Tasks, Psychology Tests and the conference. These tests are conducted over 4 days.
The personality of candidate is assessed by three different assessor’s viz. the interviewing Officer (IO), Group Testing Officer (GTO) and the Psychologist. There are no separate weightage for each test. The marks are allotted by assessors only after taking into consideration the performance of the candidate holistically in the entire test.
Document Verification

Document Verification will be conducted only after the candidate has qualified for Interview/Personality Test.

Medical Examination

A Candidate recommended by the Services Selection Board for CDS Exam Selection will undergo a medical examination by a Board of Service Medical Officers. Women candidates will undergo Medical Examination by a Medical Board comprising male/ female doctors/ specialists/ Gynaecologist. There will be a Lady Medical Officer as member of Board. Only those candidates will be admitted to the Academy who are declared fit by the Medical Board.

Tags: Upsc, CDS, selection procedure, ssb, how to select in armed forces, Officer selection

Posted by Shyam

AFCAT Selection Procedure

AFCAT Selection Process, Exam Pattern and Syllabus – EKT/AFCAT: Like the tagline goes there will certainly never be a boring day in your service life. Working is Indian Air force is an honor for an Indian. Serving our mother nation in form of an Aircraftsman, Warrant officer, Ground Officer, Short Service Commission in Technical and Ground Duty Branches, Flying Branch, Junior commissioned officer or any other post would bring you pride along with maximum job satisfaction.

If you have decided to take this challenging career on then you must first crack entrance examination convincingly in order get through this prestigious concern. To prepare at the best one must have the clear knowledge of AFCAT selection procedure along with Exam Pattern and Syllabus. 

In order to get through the Air Force Common Admission commonly know as AFCAT test and EKT candidates are requested to go through the below selection procedure extremely carefully to fully understand the method of selection. Here in this post we have explained in detail for any other clarification do check the official website at http://www.careerairforce.nic.in/

AFCAT Selection Process:

First and foremost condition which has to be filled without failure is to submit your application form as prescribed by the authority. Check the eligibility criteria for respective posts and filled out the online application form accordingly. Upon successful submission of online application, candidates will have to go through this steps:

A)Initial AFCAT Written Test: 

Regardless of whatever category or post, you applied fo every candidate have to appear in Air force common admission test (AFCAT).Candidates who opted for technical branch have to attend another set of examination called Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) in any of the allocated examination centers.

Candidates appearing in AFCAT examination will be given hours to complete the question paper which will contain multiple choice questions on verbal ability, numerical ability, reasoning, general awareness and military aptitude.

45 Minutes Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) will follow right after AFCAT examination same day at the same venue.

Candidates need to secure minimum qualifying marks (Prescribed by the Indian Air Force Authority) and get through these selection rounds (AFCAT and EKT) applicable for Ground Duty (technical). 

Candidates who will successfully clear AFCAT and EKT ( where applicable) will be called for next round of testing at one of the Air Force Selection Boards (AFSBs) at Dehradun, Mysore, Gandhinagar or Varanasi.

B) Air Force Selection Boards (AFSBs) round:

Candidates who will successfully clear the initial screening procedure i.e AFCAT and EKT will be presented in front of one of the AFSBs. In order to attend this screening process, candidates must collect admit card from the official Indian Air force site. To collect Admit card Candidates will be required to login to their candidate login accounts regularly for information on AFCAT, EKT (if applicable) and AFSB testing. In this screening process, Candidates have to undergo 2 or 3 different stages (where applicable):

Stage I) Selection round– Intelligence Test:

This stage of the selection process will be qualifying in nature. On the very first day, candidates will be tested on Intelligence along with other tests will be conducted. All Stage-I qualified candidates will have to produce necessary documents for checking to ascertain their eligibility for the branches applied for. Candidates who will not meet the verification round or will not be able to clear the tests will be sent back very first day itself.

Stage-II)- Psychological test:

Candidates will have to undergo Psychological test, Group Tests and Interview will be conducted on subsequent days (Five Days)

Stage III) For Flying Branch (Only): 

Eligible candidates will undergo Pilot Aptitude Battery Test (PABT).

C) – Medical Examinations:

Candidates successfully clearing all the above-mentioned test will then be tested on the medical ground. Medical Examination will be conducted at AFCME, New Delhi or IAM Bengaluru based on the recommendations at AFSB. Candidates failing to report at the medical examination center on allotted dates will lead to application cancellation. So it is advised to be right on time at the examination center.

D) – Merit List:

Afte successfully clearing medical testing round if you think you are right on the money, we would like to inform you that, your overall performance in AFCAT, EKT and AFSB and subject to medical clearance will be considered in making the all India based merit list keeping the total number of vacancy in mind. If you able to secure higher position in the merit list you will be called to serve the most prestigious concern in India.

Posted by Shyam

Pay and allowances of the IAF officers of the Ground Duty Branches

The following are the pay and allowances of the officers of the ground duty branches in the IAF:

• A stipend of Rs.21,000 is given to every trainee cadet officer during the period of training.




• After the successful training the ground duty branch officers are commissioned as Flying Officers. A Flying officer will be placed in a Pay Band 3 i.e. Rs.15600 – 39100 per month. He will get a monthly Grade Pay Rs.5400, Military Service Pay of Rs.6000 per month, DA per month @ 58% equal to Rs.15660, Kit Maintenance Allowance of Rs.500 per month and a transport allowance will be Rs.3200+DA in major cities and Rs.1600+DA in other cities. The total gross monthly emoluments of a flying officer of the ground duty branch will be about Rs. 48216 including transport allowances for major cities.




• As the officers grow in ranks and stature, their salaries keeps on increasing keeping in with their enhanced status and responsibilities.




• The gross monthly emoluments for a Flight Lieutenant will be Rs. 49738. The emoluments will increase to Rs.58,713 for a Squadron Leader, Rs.86,768 for a Wing Commander, Rs.99,345 for a Group Captain and Rs.1,04,443 for an Air Commodore.




• In addition to the above, there are special allowances like the special compensatory (hill area) allowance, field area allowance, high altitude allowance, siachen allowance, special force allowance, Island special duty allowance, hard area allowance and remote locality allowance depending upon the area of the posting of an officer.




• The Indian Air Force also looks after the accommodation, health care, recreational facilities of the officers and their families. The education needs of the children are also looked after.




• Besides salaries, there are many other privileges which the officers of the Indian Air Force enjoy. These include accommodation, insurance cover, leave, leave travel concession, loans, medical facilities, ration, recreational facilities, canteen facilities, opportunities for higher learning and post retirement benefits the details of which are available at the official website of the IAF.

Posted by Shyam

Life of NDA Cadet : Gointermediate.com

The National Defence Academy (located at Khadakwasla near Pune, Maharashtra) is the Joint Services academy of the Indian Armed Forces, where cadets of Army, Navy and Air Force train together for three years.

Every year about 4 to 5 lakh aspirants appear for the NDA exam, out of which ten thousand candidates clear. Next, they face SSB, i.e. Service Selection Board. About 320,000 applicants sit for each written exam. Typically, about 9,000 of these are invited to interview and finally around 300-350 cadets are accepted to the academy each term.

The academic year is divided into two terms i.e. Spring (Jan. to May) and Autumn (July to Dec.) A cadet must undergo training for a total of six terms (three years) before graduating from the NDA. On successful completion of the three-year course, Cadets are sent to their respective training academies for one year of training before granting of commission. Army cadets proceed to the Indian Military Academy (Dehradun), Naval cadets to Indian Naval Academy (Ezhimala) and Air Force cadets to the Air Force Academy (Dundigal, Hyderabad).

After 3 years of training all the cadets are given graduation in BA/BSc or BCs (Computer Science) degree of Jawaharlal Nehru University. Apart from academic training they are also trained in outdoor skills, like Drill, Physical Training, Sports and games. The emphasis in NDA is on character building, esprit-de-corps, mental and physical robustness, leadership and a sense of keen observation.

Life at NDA

The first thing every candidate experiences is the haircut which becomes his identity to the outer world. All cadets are allotted with a bicycle, an academy number and a Squadron which is basically becomes his home for the duration of his training. Each cadet is given a room of his own. The cabins can be inspected anytime and so keeping things in order becomes second nature for the cadet.

There are 18 Squadrons which are named as Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hunter, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Panther, Quebec and Romeo. Battalion No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 Battalions have four squadrons each (in alphabetical order) and No. 5 Battalion has two squadrons. Each Squadron has approximately 100 to 120 cadets divided almost equally in 6 terms.

All the squadrons compete for the Inter Squadron championships awarded to the best squadron epitomizes the pinnacle of teamwork and team spirit. The champion squadron has the privilege of possession of the Champion banner for one term, which is carried during the parade and other sports meets.

Training

A cadet is welcomed in NDA by Joint training team (JTT) through the two months long ‘Orientation Capsule’ during which, he is conditioned to toughen up mentally and physically. Cadets are imparted a blend of outdoor and indoor training. Outdoor training is carried out in the hilly and dense green terrain around the NDA campus. Indoor training includes theoretical and practical training.

In Academics, the common subjects of the three services are covered. These include weapon handling, map reading, military law, history and organization of each service. Analysis of military campaigns and operations are also done. Debates, public speaking competitions, seminars and interactions with civil institutes are regularly organized.

Till fifth term all cadets undergo same training while the sixth term emphasis on service training. The Army cadets study tactics like judging distances, terrain study, indication and recognition of landmarks, camouflage and concealment, trench digging, observation by day and night, stalking, field signals, fire control orders, ambush, patrolling, attack, defence and casualty evacuation in the VI term. Cadets are also trained in handling of firearms, marksmanship and night firing.

Air Force specific training takes place under the Air Force Training Team (AFTT). Flying training commences in the VI semester. Super Dimona twin seat powered sailplane are used to train the cadets to fly.

Naval training is given by the Naval Training Team (NTT) at Watermanship Training Centre (WTC).  Cadets train cadets in yachting, rowing, kayaking, windsurfing and water skiing. A scaled model of a frigate is used as a training ship, which has actual equipment from decommissioned ships to help Navy cadets get a feel of life at sea.

Daily Routine

The schedule of cadet’s training is decided before the term starts and the same schedule is followed till the end. In no way the schedule changes either it rains badly or intense heat is there.

All wake up early in the morning and after attending muster fall-in (morning roll-call) proceed to attend their outdoor training i.e. grueling PT/Drill. After PT/Drill cadets comes back to his squadron, takes bath, changes clothes, goes for breakfast and rushes to attend classes all within minutes. Time is very important and cadets have to reach on time irrespective of whether they have taken breakfast or not and how far the class is.

There is also a games period where you play games like football, hockey,basketball. In army sports play an important role and you have to play games. If you don’t know any game then you will learn there. After dinner seniors escort weak cadets for PT or ask them to do any other work. After lights out no body is supposed to be outside of his cabin.

Similar to other colleges, exams are held at NDA at regular intervals. To improve your endurance various exercises and long run backs with full battle load are held, in which you navigate and compete with other squadrons for a distance of 40-60kms.

NDA is very strict for the discipline and tough punishments are awarded to the defaulters. You will be so busy in your training that you will not get time for yourself. In NDA you will not feel bored as number of events are held at regular intervals such as quiz, debate, x-country, boxing, athletics, etc and in spite of heavy schedule cadets are allowed to watch English and latest Hindi movies.

Cadets are asked to join clubs where you can explore yourself and learn new things. Outdoor clubs include archery, astronomy, golf, automotive, martial arts, aero-modelling, trekking, rock climbing, shooting, sailing, parasailing, paragliding, water skiing, wind surfing, kayaking, rowing, gardening, skating, etc. Indoor clubs include arts, classical music, dramatics, media, western music, literature, yoga, public speaking, artificial intelligence, robotics, and 10m shooting.

Most of a cadet’s training constitutes of events that an average jawan undergoes. This is kept intentionally so that an officer can understand jawan’s mental & physical attributes and at the end of their tenure at academy they are in a position to command them efficiently.

The pace of training at the Academy is fast and intense and the time flies. During his short stay in the academy, a cadet learns to live his life with more passion. Days spent in the academy are golden moments of the life. No two days in academy are the same, and every day throws up a new challenge, a new experience.

Posted by Shyam

Ground Duty Branches for Indian AirForce

Ground duty branches of the Indian Air Force

The ground duty officers are supposed to effectively manage both the men and material of the resources. This includes the accounting of the salaries of the IAF employees and also maintenance of the inventories of the Air Force equipment. These branches can be enumerated as under:

1. Administrative Branch




2. Accounts Branch




3. Logistics Branch




4. Education Branch




5. Meteorology Branch

• The Indian Air Force offers permanent commission for men and short service commission for men and women in all the Ground Duty Branches of the IAF.

• The advertisement schedule for commissioning in the ground duty and other branches of the IAF is scheduled in June and December every year.

• Let us discuss these ground duty branches one by one and various conditions required to join these branches.

Posted by Shyam