CAREER OR DO VALUES SUCH AS SERVING THE NATION ALSO COUNT FOR SOMETHING?

IS MONEY THE BE-ALL AND END-ALL OF A CAREER OR DO VALUES SUCH AS SERVING THE NATION ALSO COUNT FOR SOMETHING? FLIGHT CADET TANMAYA NAIK AND CALL CENTRE ASSOCIATE GIRISH BABLANI INDULGE IN A WAR OF WORDS

Flight Cadet Tanmaya Naik is a Thane resident. She is currently undergoing training at Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad.

POINT:
I believe that choosing the career you want is your right and working towards it is a challenge. As a kid, I always dreamt of soaring in the skies but during my formative years, there was no awareness about opportunities. Back then, I was almost about to forgo my dream and 'go with the flow'. However, in college, I made some friends who were in the NCC Air Wing.Through them, I came to know of this option and I realised - I can turn my dream into reality!

Whenever the topic of a career came up among my friend-circle, the options discussed would always be conventional ones such as engineering,business,law,etc.I concede it was tough to break away and pursue something completely different,yet which I loved very much. But it's only the will to make a difference that can get you through.

My parents were totally supportive of my decision to join the Indian Air Force (IAF) and backed me throughout.Truly speaking, there is nothing unconventional about the IAF. It has been home to thousands of air warriors since 1932. A career in the IAF is like any other challenging profession. If you have the grit in you and are prepared to dedicate your life to the forces, if you dream of a career full of challenges and adventure and want to lead a disciplined and healthy life, then I must say that IAF is the right place to be.

To get in, you must qualify the Service Selection Board (SSB) examination as also meet other required criteria like medical, educational qualifications and age. IAF offers you a vast spectrum of career options either in the 'Ground Duties Branch'or the 'Flying Branch'. In the ground duties, we have logistics, accounts, education, administration, meteorology and aeronautical engineering. In the flying branch can be a pilot or a navigator. Irrespective of any branch, the Air Force Academy (AFA) is the Alma Mater of all the air warriors.

Since I am in the flying branch, I will focus on that. People in the flying branch, after successful completion of the rigorous training imparted at AFA for a year, are trifurcated into 'Transport','Choppers' and 'Fighters'branches for further training at Bangalore and Hyderabad.They then get commissioned as 'Flying Officers'in the IAF. Here, everyone is given an equal opportunity to prove himself or herself without any bias.You get to see different places in India and it teaches you to adjust and accommodate to different cultures and people. Apart from giving you a sense of satisfaction and achievement every single day, the 'job'comes with many perquisites for you and your family. Like they say,'The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war'. Of course, being a pilot comes with a risk factor attached which is eliminated if you are good at your skills.

Just as I was leaving for training at AFA, a friend said to me,"You could have led a relaxed life had you taken up a conventional job with a fat pay packet."I asked him,"Will that fat pay packet be enough to buy the pride of serving the nation as well as the satisfaction of realising my dream?"

Girish Bablani is a Mumbai-based Call Centre Associate.

COUNTERPOINT:
I'm an English-speaking graduate.I don't wear a uniform.Thousands of people have the same designation as I,and it is easily gotten.I'm a Call Centre Associate.I don't have the traditional social life as I work nights and rotating shifts.Why? Survival.I could go on acquiring qualifications with no rewarding employment in sight.At least this job pays.And let's get real; we live in a materialistic world.Ideals sound good in speeches and look good on paper.That's it.I need money.And money is what this job gives me.If the money is good,what else matters?

You're told about great people who didn't make it to the IAF and other defense forces:President Kalam, Amitabh Bachchan,Rahul Dravid...But have you heard of any great people rejected from call centres?

In a civilian job, you're giving a certain number of hours for your salary. In the armed forces, you're giving your life.You can't claim your Fundamental Rights.There's a separate set of laws for you.

Compared to the defense services,civilian jobs do have fatter pay packages.What they don't have are the perks.For defense personnel,CSD canteens provide subsidised rations.Military hospitals have some of the best doctors.Children of army-men get preferential quotas in reputed government schools.Officers indulge in expensive pursuits like polo,paragliding, etc as compared to plain old hiking and river-rafting in the civil arena.In a civilian job,you may get the odd foreign junket,but compare this to lucrative postings for army officers as Presidential Escorts or even,postings abroad.What gets more respect - a well-earned uniform,or an easily-available executive suit?

In spite of the obvious answer,I made my choice.I prefer my freedom in the call centre,the freedom of being able to chuck this job if I don't like it.I'm not into adventure sports anyway.And what's the point of subsidised rations when I can afford the best foreign brands? I prefer pleasant air-conditioned environs to chilly mountains and blazing deserts and lonely jungles.No armed forces for me.I'm happy right here.

Lastly, I have the freedom to chart my own success. Learning on the job, gaining process knowledge, perfecting the easy procedures, I can grow to the managerial level before I'm 30.Which other job gives you that kind of growth? I can work out at gyms that my employer has tie-ups with. Every quarter, we have our 'Rewards and Recognition' programmes.The company pays for us to have fun, celebrate achievements. If I perform really well, I may be posted abroad. I can pursue higher education at subsidised rates within office premises. So what am I missing? Nothing. I work in pleasant environs and earn well. My life rocks! What about yours?