As Army aspirants across the nation hold their breath for upcoming written exams and ssb interview, the officer deficiency crevice deepens. One often puts self through the wringer and inquires “what does the army ask of me?” Well here is the answer. Being an Army Officer is about the qualities you possess, not only the qualifications you have. It’s about keeping calm, whatever the circumstances, thinking clearly and acting decisively. Being the future officers of this country you’ll need the following as first-hand qualities.

What Does the Army Ask of You?

1. Pride: that is the first quality that goes into the making of an army officer, take pride in doing everything.
2. Moral Courage: For making correct decisions.
3. Compassion: for helping fellow officers and subordinates in time of need.
4. Quick Judgement: for knowing your enemies next move and making quick decisions.
5. Determination: for leading the troops into the battlefield.
6. Responsibility: for being responsible for your men and for what happens on the field.
7. Leadership skills: remember you have to lead battalions of men into war.
8. Patience: in bad times you will need to keep calm and wait for the right moment.
9. Obedience: for taking senior officers word as your responsibility
10. Optimism: when bad times take a toll on life, don’t let it take one on your morale because remember your morale affects your troops drastically.
11. Alacrity: you have to always stay alert to your surroundings.
12. Last but not the least RESPECT because that’s what we all live for.

And always remember “It is a well-established dictum in the military, that there are no bad units, only bad officers make them so.”, so try to be the best person around to be the best officer in the military.

written by Captain Gursimran