Mangaluru: Training camp to encourage youth to join Army

In order to encourage the youth to enlist as soldiers, the district administration is organising a training camp and awareness programme here. The Indian Army will hold a recruitment rally for five categories of soldiers at Sainik School in Vijayapura from May 12 to 18. In 2015, 64 candidates applied for the soldier posts and only three got selected. However, in 2016, only 18 candidates applied and none were selected. Priyanka Mary Francis, Deputy Commissioner, said that the administration plans to organise a training camp for youth from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, who had passed SSLC and PUC, for joining the army. The physical training would begin from April 3 at the respective taluk headquarters in the district. Training would be given for 20 days by the respective block education officers. A week’s training would also be given for the written test. Prashanth Petkar, Director, Army Recruitment Office, Mangaluru, said the rally would be held for five categories of soliders in Vijayapura. These are: soldier (general duty), soldier (technical), soldier (nursing assistant), soldier (clerk/store keeper technical) and soldier (tradesmen). The age criterion was seventeen-and-a-half year to 21 years. The minimum qualification was SSLC for soldier (general duty) and soldier (tradesmen), while for the rest of the three categories, it was 10+2/PUC. Only male unmarried candidates from 11 districts: Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Davangere, Gadag, Haveri, Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga, were eligible. Candidates were required to register online at www.joinindianarmy.nic.in from March 12 to April 25.

The recruitment process would take place in three phases: physical fitness tests and physical measurement test, medical examination, and then a written examination in Mangaluru.