Hello warriors! I know that you are an NDA aspirant or were
an NDA aspirant, or want somebody you know to get into NDA that is why you have
started reading this. So NDA as the title says could be the best thing that can
happen to a 17-18 year old boy. Of course I don’t mean to criticize or comment
on any other career aspiration or profession, but NDA is special in its own way.
As they say, it makes men out of boys! I am not going to compare NDA to any
other career aspiration but only strike on the good things you get if you are
lucky enough to join the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla.
First of all let us know what NDA is National Defence
Academy or NDA is tri service academy of India, located in Khadakwasla, pune.
It is a feeder institution for the Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy and
Air Force Academy. It trains the boys to before they go for their
pre-commissioning training in the respective academies of Army, Navy and Air
Force. It is the first tri-service academy of the world and as they say they
train ‘India’s Pride’, the future officers of the Armed Forces. Only the boys
can join NDA, after they complete 10+2, for more details you can refer to the
eligibility criteria of NDA exam, which is a written exam conducted by UPSC and
followed by Service Selection Board Interview for the written qualified
candidates.
So coming back to the core.
It is a dream for many to be a
part of the armed forces and live a life of adventure, excitement and serve the
motherland. For some it is a job, but trust me if you get into NDA or any
academy for that matter of fact, it’ll not remain a job and turn into passion
and your way of life. When a candidate joins NDA, he is placed in one of the 18
squadrons which become his home for the next three years. The Squadrons are
named as Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hunter, India,
Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Panther, Quebec and Romeo. There are
five battalions, No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 Battalions have four squadrons
each while No. 5 has 2 squadrons. Each squadron has approximately 100 to 120
cadets drawn from senior as well as junior courses under training in the
Academy. And then begins a life which changes and transforms the personality of
the boys. After three years of training you get into the academy of your
choice, i.e. either IMA, NA or AFA. There you get specialized training in the
service of your choice.
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While your classmates from school are busy having a fun life
of college, friends, outings, dating etc., you are busy with ragda, endurance
and learning to fight with sleep and then sleep with open eyes. Your friends
outside study hard at the time of exams, you are working hard practically every
day! You learn to become tough, you learn to survive in the harshest of
conditions. You are taught everything, not only related to the degree you’ll
get in BA/B.Sc. from Jawaharlal Nehru University, but also related to how you
dress up, how you eat. You are trained in different outdoor skills like games,
PT and Drills. You get to play games so extensively that only others can think
of. There are number of indoor and outdoor clubs, offering numerous activities.
Your personality is evolved thoroughly and wonderfully! Of course the training
is not a cakewalk but it is more about mind than body.
Hard Work pays! So before your friends outside can get a
decent placement, you are already commissioned and are working with government
of India in the most prestigious institution. The best part of being in NDA is
that you get a chance to play, study, develop your personality together. The
bond you make with your course mates, the friendship you share is a lifetime
affair. So indeed NDA is the best thing that could happen to you, isn’t it?
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Tashi Mishra, Editorial Team
She is a defense aspirant from Varanasi completed her BCA. She has attended SSB Interview at 1 AFSB Dehradoon and has more SSB coming up. She is confident about joining Defence Forces one day. Here, she is sharing her views and experience. Join us now.