THE ADJUTANT IS COMING !
“Flt Lt Aspy Engineer took over command of No.2 Squadron and the highly regarded Flt Lt Habibullah ‘Bulbul’ Khan took over as Adjutant.” That’s the description of June 1941 happenings in his book “The Forgotten Few” by KS Nair. The Adjutant was indeed a very important man in the squadron.
The Indian Air Force has seen gradual changes over many years. The method of naming units prefixed by the word “No.” got changed apparently without a written order. Somewhere after the 80s, we started writing “1 Wing” and “2 Wing” instead of “No. 1 Wing” and “No. 2 Wing”. They later became Air Force Stations Srinagar and Air Force Station Pune respectively.
Over the years, the Sqn Adjutant role has been given to one of the younger pilots in the Sqn. The Flight Commander, as next in seniority to the Squadron Commander, has assumed the most vital role. At the squadron/ unit level, the Adjutant’s vacancy is adjusted within the unit specialist establishment. In flying squadrons, the Adjutant is one of the aircrews, whereas in the other ground units, he is one of the specialist officers.
On the contrary, Wing or Station Adjutants are Admin branch Flt Lt or Sqn Ldr rank officers. Although there are many seniors on the station, the Station Adjutants wield a distinct authority uncommon with the Sqn Adjutants. All administrative functions are under the purview of the CAdmO. And yet, the Stn Adjt has maintained his preeminent position especially in relation to the airmen.
Humour in uniform has been a part of all our service lives. I recall an incident when, as a senior Gp Capt, I got the taste of the Adjutant’s authority. I was posted to Command a joint services unit, the Defence Standardisation Cell Pune, located at Aundh. It was the first time when an Air Force officer was posted there. My posting signal indicated me being care of Air Force Station Pune for admin services. The only two houses built for DS Cell Pune in Aundh were occupied by two Lt Cols already posted there. So, after looking around for MES hired accommodation in town, I found vacant married accommodation in Air Force Station Pune as the best option. Now, I drove out my Maruti-800 a long distance every morning for work and was unknown to the system out there in Lohegaon.
My authorised residential civil telephone would take a few months to get connected. And the station couldn’t find a spare line to give me at home. So, I had to drive out to the local Air Force shopping complex frequently and join the queue to make calls from a telephone STD booth. The booth was run by a civilian contractor.
One evening, after a long wait for my turn, I found my first two dialled numbers engaged. So, I began dialling a third number. It was then that I was interrupted by the booth owner saying, “Please finish, the Adjutant is coming!” The importance of the Station Adjutant was brought home to me instantly.
There was no point telling the booth owner that I was a very senior officer. Anonymity was the most respectful way out for me. I surrendered to the authority of the Adjutant.
Cheers!
You are too much of a Gentleman.
ReplyDeleteSir, the Station Adutant derives his powers from the Station Commnder , as he is considered his Confidential Staff Officer . If the Station commander desires , he cam Curtail the Authority of the Adutant Also, the Station Commanders find it Easy to Surreptitiously use the shoulder of the Adutant to fire their Guns !
ReplyDeleteNo sir, never was I an Adjutant, though from the Admin Branch.Superiors must've noticed my incompetence pretty early.
ReplyDeleteIf one had to learn the art of slapping an Appointment nice and hard with the sweetest of words, one has to read this one.But then one does not learn everything by reading.Some just have it in them - my good sir !
As always playing with a straight bat sir
ReplyDelete‘Adjutant!’….. as a young officer, I used to be in awe of his authority. But, in the same breath, I must say, I never envied one—an adjutant was always loaded with a lot of work, including quite a few thankless jobs.
ReplyDeleteSir, I also tasted Stn Adjt's powers on quite a few occasions. One is worth mentioning. It was good old days in 1992, the Stn Adjt was an Admin offr senior to me in Service number. When my Sqn Ldr rank had come I was on leave. On my return was told about the same by one of my course mate. When I enquired about it, Syn Adjt said he has information. I gave him the Signal number, on check it was found to not received by TP Cabin. I asked one officer going on TD to collect a copy of the signal from that Station. When the signal was handed over to the Stn Adjt, he informed that Passing of Promotion Exam 'C' not annotated in my documents. He asked me to furnish the Routine Order number. Again I contacted my course mates and got the RO number, alas that particular RO number was not available in my Station. Finally after about 10 days the Station Commander enquired why I am not coming to him for putting on rank. When I narrated the story, he asked me to straight way come to his office for rank ceremony.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your story! SHRO
ReplyDeleteGood Evening Sir,
ReplyDeleteWonderful write up and content Par Excellence for the Station Adjutant, has relived our interaction with Adjutants at various places in the Air Force. He being the confidential staff officer of the AOC/CO derives the power being close to apex seat of the Power in the Station.
Respect for the Adjutant in the heart of the telephone booth owner was may be owing to Fear as angry Adjutant may harm him.
- You being such senior officer at that time, the way you have handled the so called EGO, is worthy to emulate.
This reminds me, “Our sage Bhragu hit Lord Hari by Leg, still Lord pardoned him.That is what had been Your personality Sir.I salute you Sir and my CHARAN SPARSH TO BOTH OF YOU.
Regards
Superbly written sir..Really nice to read a v real article...i could relate the good old days ..you always have been a thorough gentleman, sir..lots of guys remembers you with so much of love and care..though never got an opportunity to b stn adjt (adjt means it's only stn adjt, no one else), I was a unit adjt once ..n in unit also the unit adjt has a special place...I remember wen I joined AFA, one appointment v used to get scared was Adjt of AFA...thank you for a good article sir .Jai hind
ReplyDeleteCorrection: # When I enquired about it, Stn Adjt said he has no information.
ReplyDeleteSo well described sir. And your humility has always been inspirational
ReplyDeleteIt is always pleasure reading as it was pleasure listening to your talks sir.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your anecdote Pramod. Your preference for anonymity in the face if adversity was the correct decision. I was the sqn adj in 1 sqn for three years in the late 1960s. Had a great time detailing my friends for duties! Philip Rajkumar.
ReplyDelete