More Officers Quitting Armed Forces

More Officers Quitting Armed Forces

New Delhi: The trend among armed forces officers and defence scientists seeking voluntary retirement is on the rise, the Lok Sabha was told on Thursday. Over the years, more personnel are being discharged from service on account of mental disorders, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in written responses to queties.

As many as 1,275 officers from the Army, the Air Force and the Navy wanted to quit the services last year against 996 in 2005 and 435 in 2004. The trend had been steadily raising in the Army and the Navy while it had shown a dip last year in the case of the Air Force.

In the Army, the largest service, 811, officers sought to quit the uniform last year and more than half of them were allowed to leave.

While most naval officers were permitted to quit the service last year, the Air Force denied permission to 127 of the 207 officers to do so.

Over 1,000 Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) scientists quit in the past five years. The attrition rate was “marginally higher” compared to the private sector and there was no completion of DRDO projects, the Government said, explaining the exist of 1,007 scientist between 2002 and 2006

The DRDO submitted the proposal to the Government to arrest the exodus of scientists and cast the net wider for fresh recruits by conducting campus interview and undertaking an image-building exercise.

The number of personnel discharged due to mental disorders, including cases of psychosis, neurosis, alcohol dependence and depression was also increasing.

Last year 558 personnel were told to quit the armed forces on these grounds compared to 451 in 2005 and 406 in 2004

The Army, being involved in high-tension, counter-insurgency operations, had the most number personnel board out on ground of mental illness followed by the Air Force and the Navy.

Main Reasons:

The main reasons for the officers seeking premature retirement were supersession, being placed in a permanently lower medical category, taking care of family and increase in job opportunities in the civilian sector. The Government had responded by allowing time-bound promotions to the rank of Colonel, undertaking a massive marriage accommodation project and arranging professional courses for superannuating officer, Mr. Antony said.

More Officers Quitting Armed Forces

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