Career in Armed Forces

 

The most difficult stage in a teenager's life comes when it is time to contemplate professional goals or chalk out a career path. Many teenagers, out of high school and college, are confused and aimless about what they want to do in life. Children come in social contact with doctors or teachers often, so that they may subconsciously think of these professions as obvious career options. But, away from such mainstream professions, there are as many off-beat professions today as there are ideas floating around. At such times, as parents of a teenager, you have to be aware of the various career options yourselves so that you can guide your son or daughter well.

Here, we will dwell over one such career option - the Armed Forces. It is a matter of honour and pride to join the Armed Forces as these personnel are looked upon as saviours or defenders of nations and its people. It is one of the few noble professions left today.

The Armed Forces comprise three arms or services, that of the Army, Navy and Air Force. Apart from defending the borders from external threats, the Armed Forces are often involved in humanitarian missions like the UN Peacekeeping forces and in disaster management. In the event of earthquakes, floods or avalanches, the Army, Navy and Air Force are the first to reach the disaster-prone areas for search and rescue missions. In the recent tsunami disaster, the Indian Navy did yeomen service in sending its ships and its men with food and medicines to Sri Lanka for relief operations.

The Indian Military Academy's Chetwood Hall bears an inscription, which reads: "The safety, honour and welfare of your country comes first, always and every time. The honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command, come next. Your own ease, comfort and safety comes last, always and every time." That truly epitomizes what a solider stands for and what he should be. Selfless service for the nation and its people is a soldier's brief, which he is trained to follow unfailingly.

But, apart from that, the military also offers a great opportunity for growth and a good life. Today, even women are welcome in the Armed Forces in education, logistics, air traffic control and legal branches. Let us see what you stand to gain by joining the Armed Forces.

1) Head start

In the Armed Forces, you get to begin your career early in life. Candidates begin their career and training when they are anywhere between 15 - 20 years of age, of course, eligibility varies from country to country. Some countries have conscription or compulsory enrolment, but most modern democracies do not have such a provision.

The training period can be anywhere from one to three years, again depending on your nationality. Aspirants can join as officers or in non-officer cadres as ratings, but both follow different career patterns. The officers, of course, are entitled to greater privileges and perks. An advantage of this early head start in career is that after 10 -15 years of service, you are still young enough to choose a career outside the Armed Forces, if you so desire. Moreover, the military training and service, by its very nature highly equips you for other jobs, say in managerial positions. Naval personnel can make a smooth transition to Merchant Navy and Air Force pilots can shift to commercial airlines without much ado.

2) Training

Training and education in most defence academies is free or, at least, highly subsidized. Considering the prohibitive costs of education in other streams, this is quite a scream. Academies around the world have tie-ups with university programs and along with military training you stand to get a graduate degree or a diploma.

Military training lays great emphasis on physical fitness and discipline. In India's National Defence Academy, every cadet's study table has Rudyard Kipling's inspirational poem, 'If' framed. That singularly epitomizes what the academy training seeks to achieve.

As part of the training, you will get to indulge in a wide variety of sports - from sailing and mountaineering to horse-riding and rifle shooting. Later, into the service you can continue with the adventure sports either as a hobby or take it up seriously as a profession. The silver medalist in shooting in Olympics 2003, Major Raghvendra Singh Rathore is a professional archer apart from being an Army officer. Indeed, it was his Army training and coaching which has been instrumental in his success.

3) Leadership skills

Soldiering is all about facing situations whether it is waging wars, encountering militants or going on humanitarian missions. Soldiers have to rise up to difficult challenges, offer succour and battle with life and death - all this amidst great expectations from people. If you relish challenges and like to live on the edge of life, then this is the job for you.

Life in the Armed Forces also gears you to rise above individual aspirations, forget differences and work as a team towards a common aim. It calls for great leadership skills and fosters the spirit of camaraderie which shall stand in good stead in any walk of life.

4) Broadening of horizons (Lateral education)

Armed Force personnel get posted in a variety of places - islands, forests, mountains and even deserts. They come in contact with varied flora and fauna, heritage, cuisines, people and culture - which is like lateral education for their children and families. They get to dine with the kings and sup with the commoners, so to say. Such kind of living makes them truly cosmopolitan. After a while, the distinction of race, caste and creed disappears and they assume truly homogenous identities.

In a country like India, with its diversities, inter-caste marriages in the Armed Forces are rampant and you get to see national integration at its best, here.

5) Travel

While they get posted in interesting and remote places, the personnel also get great opportunities to travel. The Indian Navy's motto has been: "Join the navy and see the world". But that holds true of all the three services of the Armed Forces. Today, as the world is shrinking, there is a lot of interaction and as such the military personnel are constantly touring foreign countries for expositions or exercises, whether it is air shows, fleet reviews or peacekeeping missions. Many go on diplomatic postings or are sent for undergoing certain formal courses.

6) Pay and perks

The pay scales in the Armed Forces are fairly competitive and in most cases, the perks include accommodation. The living quarters - the cantonment areas or the designated townships - invariably have good surroundings and are ordered. The officers are the cream of society, and they have an unmistakably enhanced quality of life.

Contrary to some notions, the Armed Force personnel are not war-mongers; they are simply conscientious soldiers carrying out the duty of defending their nation against external threats. But there are facets to their work which many of us do not know. A career in the Armed Forces makes for a wholesome personality, and indeed, a wholesome life.

source: India Parenting   For Career counselling in Ranchi call 9709534303 or visit  us at Psychographic Society centre club Road, Ranchi For Regular Exam and Result update log on to: http://www.psychographicsociety.com/index.html

The MMS Incident : New Age Parenting

 

The incident of a DPS student filming a sexually explicit video clip of his classmate and forwarding the clip via MMS to his friends has shocked the entire nation. What's happening to our values?

The MMS incident in Delhi has shocked the entire nation. A DPS (Delhi Public School) student filmed a sexually explicit video clip of his classmate in a compromising position on his cell phone, forwarded the video via MMS to his friends. Before long, the video was circulated to almost everyone in school, and to their friends. The principal got wind of it and expelled the two students in the video.

The two children were from respectable, well off families, and that they decided to take part in an act such as this came as a shock to all parents. After all, if your child's friends were having sex in school, you may suddenly feel that it is very possible your child is having sex as well.

A teenager cannot easily tell right from wrong. If most of your child's friends are indulging in some form of sexual behaviour while still in high school, your child may not think it is such a wrong thing to do. At this age it is also easy to get carried away by the entire illicitness of the act and make the grave mistake of filming it, like these students did.

Who is to blame? Is it the institution, the parents, peer pressure, or the erosion of our value system?

Parents are pointing fingers at the school, saying that the school's complete lack of discipline is to blame, while the school says the problem lies with the upbringing of the children and the lack of family values.

Clearly the answer is not so easy. The school has taken a firm step by banning the use of mobile phones with cameras in school. Here's what you as a parent can do.

 

1. If you would like your child to carry a mobile phone, ensure that it is a basic one. Don't give him a mobile phone with a camera.
   
   

2. Software that blocks internet access to adult sites has been available in the market for a long time now. Make sure you get the software and install it on your computer at home. Easy access to illicit information is also a major cause of the trouble. Even if your child surfs the web regularly and doesn't try to get on to porn sites, often one stumbles across such sites by mistake.
   
   

3. Similarly your child's friend may forward adult links or adult clips to your child. To prevent this, install software that prevents your child from downloading anything from the web. If your child just needs the computer to browse for information and check his mail, there is really no need for him to download anything. However, if your child is more computer savvy and would like to download music and programmes, you should not discourage such activity.
   
   

4. Remember that you can only prevent your child from doing something to a certain extent. If your child is determined to do it anyway, he will find a way. The best thing that you as a parent can do is to show complete disapproval of a particular activity, so that if your child does something behind your back, he knows that you will not approve. If he feels you will not mind, it becomes easier for him to do it.
   
   

5. Don't have unrealistic expectations from your child. If you are very strict, your child will feel that you do not understand him anyway and will not have much faith in your judgement. If you are understanding to a certain extent, your child will value your opinion much more.

 

 

 

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Helping your Teenager Overcome Depression : New Age Parenting

 

• The first thing to do is to help your teenager set realistic short-term goals. Ask him for suggestions on how he would like to improve his life. Then help him identify some simple steps he can take to achieve these goals. Remember not to set goals, which are unattainable, as this will just reinforce his belief that he is a failure. On the other hand, do not aim for things that are easily attainable. The whole idea is that your teenager must feel that he has been equal to the challenge.

• Make sure that you encourage him at every step and help him in every way possible without actually doing his work for him. For instance, if he wants to audition for a play, help him rehearse and boost his confidence without giving him false hope.

• If he fails to reach his set goals, do not try to sweep it under the carpet and smooth it over with inanities like "you'll do better next time." Acknowledge his failure and discuss why it happened. Maybe he gave up too easily or didn't study hard enough or had a panic attack. It's important to get this out in the open so that you know what your teenager attributes his failure to and correct any misconceptions that he may have.

• Do not compare your teenager to his peers and find him wanting. Don't say things like "why can't you be like that?" You will just be reinforcing his belief that he's not good enough the way he is, even for you. You have to teach him that he can admire others without necessarily envying them. If he comments in an envious tone about another teenager's attributes, admit that the other child is good, but point out something that your teenager is good at.

• Depressed teenagers tend to vacillate over every decision. This is because they don't trust their own judgement and need to be constantly reassured that they are doing the 'right thing.' You have to help your teenager make decisions in a way that he will learn to trust his own judgement. It is also important that you insist that once he has made a choice, he must go through with it and cope with the consequences, whatever they are.

• Short-term measures like buying your teenager tickets to a concert or taking him for a holiday are not going to alleviate his depression. You are going to have to sit down and talk to him about what exactly it is that bothers him and how he can overcome it. You have to take steps to make him feel empowered so that he feels that he can effectively accomplish the things he sets out to do.

Source : India parenting

For Parent Counselling in Ranchi, Call 9709534303 or visit us at: Psychographic Society, City Centre, Club Road, Ranchi

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Love thy Teenager : New Age Parenting

 

Sahil, a 17-year-old school boy, stormed into his house grumpily from school. Flinging his bag at the corner he went to his room. He switched on his stereo system and started to listen to loud music, ignoring the calls of his mother. Finally, his mother walked into the room and paused, "Sahil! How many times have I told you not to play your music so loud at this hour? It disturbs old Mr Rajan and all the neighbours who take their afternoon nap around now. And why did you throw your bag in the living room?" As Sahil's mother droned on, Sahil's only reply was a baleful look.

The teen years are often seen as quite tumultuous by many parents. These are years of intense growth, including physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and moral growth. Children at this age are trying to find their place in the world and it is important for parents to attempt to be caring and loving towards their offspring. With a little guidance, you as a parent can peacefully co-exist with your teenagers during these years as well.

One of the most common hallmarks of teens is said to be their rebellious nature. They are not only seen as individuals who aspire to push the envelope, but also as rebels who often disregard valuable advice from their seniors while doing so. This image is stereotypical and not entirely true. You need to understand how your children are growing and learn how to respond to these changes in behaviour in order to avoid unnecessary conflicts with your teens.

Empathise

In order to understand and love your teenager you need to learn to empathise with him or her. Empathy is all about putting yourself in someone else's shoes. In this case, it is trying to remember how it was for you when you were a teenager and trying to look at their world through their eyes.

Allow for independence

It is important for you to understand that your children are growing into budding adults, and so they require their privacy and independence. This is normal. Yet, as a responsible parent, you do need to have an idea about what your children are up to. It is important for reasons of safety to ensure that parents know where, or with whom, their children are, and what activities they are involved in. At the same time, as a parent you need to respect their space, and understand that you cannot hope to be part of every area in your children's life. It will require a very fine sense of balance to do this juggling act.

Understand your teen's anger

The teenage years characteristically induce feelings of insecurity. These are the years where peer pressure peaks and your child transcend from being, just kid to a young adult. There is a lot of uncertainty and confusion for your kids regarding their future and what they want to be.

It is important for you to understand their feelings and their point of view. Try to ascertain the source of their anger and insecurities. Remember that you are trying to help them resolve their issues; do not let the discussions degenerate into shouting matches that have no winners. You need to guide your children to express their anger in acceptable ways. It is also important for parents to continue to be role models for their teens. They are as impressionable as young children and often copy the behaviour of their parents.

Avoid arguments on perception

Try to avoid arguing with your teens about how they see the world. Instead, clarify your position and explain why you feel that way about a certain issue. Do not lecture or preach to your teens, but rather, try to come down to their level and empathise with them. Think out your arguments before you actually present them to your children. Also, while having a discussion with your teen, stick to one issue at a time. This will help ensure that there is no loss of focus and it results in a clear message to your teens. This might also help prevent misinterpretations.

Talk to your teen

As a loving parent, remember to take time out during the day to sit with your teens and talk to them. Learn about how their day was, and what activities they have been involved in during the day. Ensure that your conversation involves them, or it will turn into a monologue, or worse still "another lecture" from their point of view. Towards this end, discourage 'one-word' responses from your children. One way to achieve this is by posing open-ended questions, answers to which will have to be more than a yes or no. Take advantage of spare time available to you, for instance while driving or waiting in queues, to talk with your teens.

Reinforce your relationship

Telling your teens that you love them is not enough at times. You need to express your love in a way that they can appreciate. Try to show your teen that you are confident of their capabilities. Try to recognise their efforts at being independent and acknowledge them for this. Create family rituals—activities that involve getting parents and teens together on a weekly or daily basis.

By trying to put yourself in your teen's shoes and empathising with them you will learn to understand them even more and have a more fruitful experience as they grow. Soon the teen years will be terrific rather than torturous for both of you.

Source: India Parenting

Teenagers and Peer Pressure : New Age Parenting

Vidya Bhagwat was horrified when she caught her teenage son trying to creep into the house in an obviously inebriated condition at three in the morning. She recounts, "I was shocked to see my 14-year-old son reeking of alcohol and barely able to stand on his feet. I could see that there was no point talking to him right then, but I didn't spare him the next day. His excuse was that all his friends were drinking and he didn't want to be a prude. And then to make things worse, he actually began to argue saying that it wasn't a 'big deal' anyway and that he knew I wouldn't understand."

 

 

Sumit Roy found a packet of cigarettes in his 16-year-old son's backpack. He says, "I just didn't know how to react. I confronted Amish and he had the audacity to tell me that I couldn't say anything to him, as I was a smoker myself. Besides, most of his friends smoked. He said it was just a 'social thing' and that they just smoked a few cigarettes at parties. I'm just worried that today it's nicotine, but tomorrow it could be marijuana or something worse. If I tell him that, he just tells me to relax. I can see I'm not getting through to him."

 

These are situations every parent has to face at some point. If it's not drinking, it's smoking or inappropriate dressing or late nights or overspending…the list is endless and so are the arguments. There seems to be no solution as parents and teenagers talk themselves hoarse trying to explain their respective points of view, their arguments apparently falling on deaf ears. 

 

Parents, speaking as adults who have forgotten the angst of their teenage years tend to discount the very real power of peer pressure. For teenagers, desperately trying to fit in, peer pressure is something that they find very difficult to withstand. However, conscientious parents are not going to allow their children to blindly live by the dictates of their peer group if it's not good for them. This is the age when children are trying to find themselves and develop their value systems. At this time, it is their parents and not their peers who will be their best guides. Unfortunately, they can't see that.

 

 

The question is how do parents counteract the effects of peer pressure? Most of them follow the traditional method of criticism and condemnation that increases in frequency with every transgression till it becomes plain nagging. Even as adults we know how effective that is. It isn't. Your teenager will simply tune you out. They will feel that you never have anything good to say so why bother listening. This is definitely not the response you want to get. Here are some tips that should help you become more adept at counteracting the forces of peer pressure.

For Parent Counselling in Ranchi: log on to http://www.psychographicsociety.com/index.html or call 9709534303
Source: India Parenting

Coping with Your Preteen : New Age Parenting

From : India Parenting

 

Your preteen is just starting to discover her unique identity. Here are some tips to help cope with her newfound independence.

Teenage years can be a difficult time for any family. However, in today's world, children are beginning to assert their independence at a younger age. Your preteen (between the ages of 10 and 12) will now start to place greater emphasis on her friends and social life. At the same time, you are still an important part of her life. You are responsible for guiding her in her decisions, and supporting her when she makes them. She may not always express her needs but she still requires your love and affection. Here are some ways to strengthen the bond with your preteen.

Have Family Meals

During the day, members of your family are busy with their own tasks. It is likely that they do not even meet each other during the day. Make it a point to have a family dinner each day. This provides valuable quality time for you and your preteen. If possible, have your preteen help out in the kitchen or set the table. This will give you an opportunity to speak with your child and ask her about her day.

Dinner need not always be a home-cooked affair. Even if you are too tired to cook a meal, you can order something from a restaurant. However, make sure that the family sits down for dinner together. Switch off the television. This time is for family members talk to one another, which is not always possible at other times.

If your preteen's schedule is such that she cannot be present for a family dinner everyday, try to work around it. For example, you can schedule her free night as special family night. Try to have some games that everyone can join in. This helps to strengthen the bond between your preteen and you.

Stick to a Bedtime Routine

Preteens require a certain amount of sleep to keep them healthy and alert. Many parents make the mistake of not maintaining a bedtime routine for their preteen. As she grows older, she will want to stay up late to watch TV or complete school projects. Alternatively, she may want to go out for a late night party. As a parent, only you can decide a suitable bedtime for your child. While it is okay to allow your child to stay up late occasionally, do not let this become a regular occurrence.

It is a good idea to develop a consistent nightly routine with your preteen, before she goes to sleep. At this age, your child does not want you to tuck her in. However, this does not mean you cannot say goodnight in other ways like a simple hug or kiss. Set aside some time when you and your preteen can speak to her without any outside interruptions. Ask her what her plans are for the following day. If your teen does not want you to kiss her goodnight, you could still pat her on her shoulder or back.

Spend Quality Time with Her

At this stage of her life, your preteen will want to spend all her free time with her friends. To spend some time with her, find a way to include her in daily activities. Invite her to be a part of your daily jog. If you have a dog, ask your preteen to come along when you take the dog for a walk. Other activities include baking a cake, cleaning a room, watching a TV show, etc. Along with using these activities to enjoy each other's company, your preteen is likely to use them as a platform to speak her mind.

Your preteen tends to feel more comfortable in these situations. She may also be more inclined to mention if something is troubling her because she is focussed on another task. This way she does not have to make eye contact with you.

As your child grows, continue to take an active interest in her life. Always keep yourself up-to-date on your preteen's interests and decisions. If you let your child know you are always there for her, she will be encouraged to approach you when she needs help.

List of holidays in 2014 in Ranchi and India

Public Holidays in India
Date	Week Day	Holiday
January - 14	Tuesday	Id-E-Milad
January - 26	Sunday	Republic Day
February - 27	Thursday	Maha Shivratri
March - 17	Monday	Holi
April - 13	Sunday	Mahavir Jayanthi
April - 18	Friday	Good Friday
May - 01	Thursday	May Day
May - 14	Wednesday	Buddha Purnima
July - 29	Tuesday	Id-Ul-Fitr
August - 15	Friday	Independence Day
August - 18	Monday	Krishna Janmastami
August - 29	Friday	Ganesh Chaturthi
October - 02	Thursday	Mahatma Gandhi Jayanthi
October - 03	Friday	Vijaya Dashami
October - 06	Monday	Bakri Id
October - 23	Thursday	Diwali
November - 04	Tuesday	Muharram
November - 06	Thursday	Guru Nanak Jayanthi
December - 25	Thursday	Christmas