The Army today inched closer to its long-awaited makeover, with the Finance Ministry clearing the first phase of the Ajai Vikram Singh Committee report which, when implemented over the next few days, will lower the age profile of the Army by getting more younger officers to command the field.Preparing itself for the consequences of the report’s implementation, with four of 15 proposals made by the committee already cleared, the Army is set to begin a major recruitment drive and enhance the number of vacancies.The Army plans to create 750 additional vacancies at the Colonel level, upgraded from the Lieutenant Colonel rank. The Lieutenant Colonel rank, which has so far been the first selection board rank, will now be time-bound at 13 years and the Colonel rank at 26 years, comprising the first selection board.Promotion to Captain rank will come after two years, instead of four years as is the current practice, and to Major in six years instead of 10 years. In effect, the number of Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels will increase, while the number of Majors and Captains will fall.Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said today, ‘‘The clearance of this report will ensure enhanced career prospects in the Army and reduce the age of the combative forces.’’Defence Secretary A.V. Singh, who chaired the committee which submitted its report in March last year said, ‘‘The cumulative effect of its implementation will be, we hope, a younger force. But this is not the end of the story. There are many more recommendations, which we are taking in groups.’’Army Chief Gen N.C. Vij, who retires at the end of next month, said, ‘‘Our force will be more streamlined now. It will go a long way in ensuring that younger officers are out there in the field holding commanding positions.’’Stating that the implementation would immediately benefit 90 per cent of Army officers, the Army’s DG (Manpower Planning) Lt Gen Rana Kapur said: ‘‘These are not expensive propositions. One of the main implications of this phase is that there will now be no supersession at the Major-Lieutenant Colonel level. Currently only 30-40 per cent become Lieutenant Colonels.’’In the second phase of the report, which will shortly be sent to the Finance Ministry for approval, 11 proposals outline how the Short Service cadre can be made more attractive.
