The Hindu Business Line : IIM-A: Most Defence personnel get placement in cos

Most of the defence personnel, with experience ranging from 5-30 years, have got placement in India Inc after undertaking a six-month course at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A). Depending on junior and senior positions, they were offered pay packages between Rs 8-10 lakh and between Rs 20-25 lakh per annum, respectively.

The residential course, called the Armed Forces Officers’ Management Programme and Certificate in Business Administration, has so far been attended by 60 and 66 officers in the first and second batches. “All of those in the first batch and most in the second batch have been placed”, Professor Pradyumna Khokle, Coordinator for the Programme, told reporters here on Tuesday. The current programme fee of Rs 1.25 lakh (including lodging and boarding) is shared in the 60:40 ratio by the Ministry of Defence and the candidate respectively. The programme covers areas of management and educating the students on the similarities and differences between the corporate and the defence world.

Low attrition

The course enhanced their career profile in a new business environment, said a participant from the Indian Air Force (IAF), working in a human resources development division. Of late, corporate houses are focussing on recruiting ex-defence personnel in key positions because they tend to stay longer de-risking the possibility of attrition, another participant said.

The participants are selected by the Defence Ministry’s Directorate-General of Resettlement. Except in the case of the IAF, they are those either retiring or ready to leave the armed forces to pursue another career. For the next (fourth) batch, 400 applicants have been shortlisted for 66 seats at the IIM-A. They include 50 per cent from the Indian Army and 25 per cent each from the Air Force and the Navy. “We also facilitate their campus placements,” said Prof Khokle. The third batch, which started on October 5, 2007, included 12 women officers. IIMs at Calcutta, Bangalore, Lucknow and Indore have also conducted similar courses.

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