The 2^nd Innings

(Published in Air Force Association News March 2017)

 

                                        

On a sunny morning in the waning winter of Delhi, as a concert of classical music ends and I am released from the spell cast by such a maestro as Pt Ulhas Kashalkar; I am struck by the longevity of his career. At well past 60, even at the peak of his career, a veritable mountain of professional opportunities and challenges awaits him. I realise that in contrast to the careers of military men, a musician goes on and on - there is no place for a 2^nd innings. S/he never need stop and look elsewhere. No 'hanging up of the uniform'!

Admittedly, a second career, as military veterans are often forced to consider, is a bane as it is a boon. The needs of military command & control dictate steep promotion ratios for both, officers and men. A large number is also constrained to leave early because of a highly demanding service life giving little time to support family. Therefore, thousands coming out every year at forty have a whole new world to face. After the extraordinary experience of serving in the Indian Air Force and living the fauji life, it is difficult for most of us to come to terms with life outside the Air Force. Once outside however, there is nothing to be gained from dwelling in the past and living in virtual uniforms. The fact that most of us have really no practice with job-hunting, adds to the anxiety in no small measure!

"Can you name a national industry bigger than the Indian Air Force?" I once asked at a student interaction in IIT Roorkee, my alma-mater. I thought someone would name the Indian Railways or HAL, whose chairmen were IIT Roorkee alumni. But, there was only an inquisitive silence. I took the opportunity to tell the audience that there were few national industries that could match the Indian Air Force in sophistication and size.

Many logistics & supply chain management philosophies have originated from the military. Yet the armed forces, because of their unique role vis-a-vis commercial industry, are not commonly perceived to have industrial capability or sophistication. This must change and we, the veterans can change it. Why should aviation companies look to us only for our contacts and knowledge of organisational dynamics within the Air Force? Serving in the Air Force means experience with advanced technology and knowledge of best practices. It means working on operations of scale and precision and most remarkably, the experience of the finest and most dramatic examples of teamwork, camaraderie and service-before-self.

I always recount with pride, my meeting with a former JWO who is now the Chief Administrative officer of a reputed Engineering College. Armed with core engineering and management skills backed by years of experience in the military, an ex-serviceman can contribute handsomely to other industries, academia and social welfare initiatives. To the second innings, a military veteran can bring in fresh perspectives and a strong work ethic. Aviation engineering and administration has been our forte, but let not our strength in aviation constrain the scope of our vision.

Sunil Gavaskar and Amitabh Bachchan are interesting examples of making good of their 2nd innings. You could argue that Gavaskar has not switched to acting, nor has Amitabh taken to cricket commentary. Staying within the specialised fields and skills honed over decades is unfortunately not an option for all military men. But any ex-serviceman with a will to take off on a second career must be able to find opportunities commensurate with seniority and experience. It is a huge loss of human resource and an unfortunate loss of morale when retired officers or airmen cannot leverage their experience to propel their post retirement careers.

There is much that the government and industry can do to leverage this latent potential. With long, active lives post retirement, the onus is on us to support each other in finding ways to integrate with civil society and add value outside the military. The Air Force Association looks after the welfare aspect to keep us assured. I suggest that a group of senior veterans now get together to form an action oriented, non-profit group with three core action verticals. These will provide interface for (i) aviation and (ii) non-aviation industries and (iii) personnel development and promotion. Seniors (in age and experience) who are not seeking jobs for themselves may mentor the younger lot to get suitably placed. Specialised sub-groups may also take up consultancy/ training for the industry, thus building rapport and credibility for ex-air force personnel.

I dream of the day when the industry will queue up to seek air warriors who will transform their organisations. We can make India.

Lage raho Air Warrior!