What Do You Have To Go Through To Become A Soldier In The Indian Army?

Training is light and lack of training is darkness. A trained man is worth three untrained; that’s too little, say six; six is too little, say ten to one…

– Alexander Suvorov

Every one of our soldiers is worth 10 of the enemy’s. Because our soldiers are extremely well trained – to lead, to perform, to deliver in the most hostile environments. Our cadets are ground through 3 years of continuous training – both physical and academic and by the time they are done graduation, they are efficient peacekeepers staying vigilant on our borders.

Let us take a look at the kind of training our cadets receive –

1. As soon as the first candidates come in to begin their course, they are put in one of the 18 squadrons

They rise with their squadrons, train with their squadrons and sleep in the same dormitory with their squadrons. And this is why they have such a camaraderie with their squadron mates. This is why they are ready to die for their brother-in-arms because you spend three years of your life learning to protect your country with your brothers.

 

2. They recite their honor code daily in the morning

Reciting an honor code every day for years reminds them what they are doing for the country. They are reminded why they are going through all the hardship and the difficult training for.

 

3. They have their early morning drills and a session of physical training on the parade grounds before breakfast

The drills are mentally and physically exhausting and are taught by expert Ustads(NCOs). After these drills, they are sent for physical fitness exercises, where they are taught pull-ups, rope climbing, etc.

It is only after almost 2 hours of grueling physical exercises, they are sent to the cadet’s mess to have breakfast.

 

4. They are also trained immaculately in politeness, table manners and courtesies when they dine in Asia’s largest mess

Asking for permission before sitting down to eat, eating with a spoon and a fork, and finishing the food fast are taught to make the cadets well-rounded gentlemen. Eating with your fellow cadets also increases the feeling of brotherhood.

 

5. Then comes academic lessons in classrooms where the cadets learn arts and sciences and also foreign languages

Being a soldier is not just about physical fitness. It is also about becoming subject experts. And because the soldiers are going to go on foreign assignments, they have to be well versed in at least one foreign language, and the NDA teaches them a variety of them – Mandarin, Arabic, and French.

This skill is very important since they train with foreign armies and hence can interact and learn from them easily during these training exercises.

 

6. They are also given theoretical knowledge about warfare before practical training. They are also taught how to write formally in the army way, talking and corresponding with senior officers and organizational structure.

So that when they actually become officers, they know exactly what to do.

 

7. In the evening, they also have “Prerna” lessons where senior cadets inspire the juniors to do better and train harder.

This teaching is very intimate and very motivational for the junior cadets.

 

8. They are also given uniform and dress inspections where not even one thread should be put out of place

Squadron commanders then inspect them minutely and assign each squadron marks on their neatness. If you screw up, your squadron loses.

 

9. Inside every squadron, there are squadron leaders and the Academy Cadet Captain looks over 2100 cadets in the whole academy

They are taught leadership right from the start. junior cadets report to their squadron leaders and the squadron leaders report to the ACC. This is how they keep it a well-oiled machine.

 

10. They are encouraged to take part in individual and team sports so that they are physically robust and get team spirit inside them

Horse riding, shooting, boxing, football, basketball – you name it, they have it.

 

11. In every term, all the 2100 cadets take part in the cross country run where they run for their battalion’s izzat

This run is not for individual glory, but for their squadron’s and battalion’s glory, and hence, they give more than their 100%.

 

12. During the last terms, they are taught specialist subjects.

Navigation, seamanship and communication for Naval cadets.
Aerodynamics, flight training and aviation and avionics for Air Force cadets.
Tactical training, weapons management, map reading, and radio telephony for Army.

 

13. At the end of the course in NDA, the cadets partake in the legendary JOSH run, where they run for 40 kilometers with a 15 kg backpack

Yes, the run is timed, and we must remember that these young men are just 19 years old, and are not professional soldiers and not just energetic young men.

They are transformed into gentlemen warriors who are well versed in the military concepts and are more than well-deserved to take the responsibility to protect our nation, in war and in peace.

A salute to these young gentlemen.

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