Indian Army, currently suffering from a shortage of about 13,000 officers, is desperately seeking young talents to overcome the shortage in the officer’s cadre. In the endeavor, it has found out a noble way of attracting talents by commissioning Kapil Dev, the Indian star all rounder and the captain of Indian cricket team wining 1983 world cup, as Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Territorial Army.
Territorial army is the wing of the army that comprises civilian professionals, who take time out of their work to serve a stint in the military.
Kapil Dev was piped- meaning conferring the symbols of his rank- by non other than the Chief of the Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor on 24th September’08 at a colourful ceremony at army headquarters in New Delhi. He posed for photographers sporting a green beret and in olive green army gear. He is now a soldier of 150 Territorial Army (infantry) battalion of Punjab Regiment
A visibly satisfied and enjoying the occasion, Kapil Dev smilingly said, “You can probably call this my second innings. In the first innings I served my country in white flannels.” In essence, by conferring him the rank, the army has made him a sort of ‘Brand Ambassador’ to promote ‘army carrier.’
It is mentioned here that a regular army officer, commissioned in regular service, requires about 14 years to reach the rank of Lieutenant Colonel preceded by Lieutenant, Captain and Major ranks.
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