Katradhu Vaan Alavu - 5

This Episode is dedicated to Mr Shyam


We have seen the different Branches in the ranks of IAF officers. Now let us see the different ranks of the IAF.

(a) Pilot Officer (Plt Offr) - Now this rank is abolished.

(b) Flying Officer (Fg Offr)

(c) Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt)

(d) Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr)

(e) Wing Commander (Wg Cdr)

(f) Group Captain (Gp Capt)

(g) Air Commodore (Air Cmde)

(h) Air Vice Marshal (A V M)

(j) Air Marshal (Air Mshl)

(k) Air Chief Marshal (A C M)

(l) Marshal of the Indian Air Force (MIAF)*

(* - The IAF have had only one MIAF till now and now also he serves)

Though the terms 'Pilot', 'Flying', 'Flight' are used in the ranks but these Plt Offrs, Fg Offrs and Flt Lts need not be the officers of the Flying Branch. They can be from any of the Branches.

When I joined, the uniformed lady officers you can find only in the Medical Branch and that also hardly any. It was only in Mid 90s, the lady officers were inducted in the Armed Forces in different Branches. The Lady Medical Officer (LMO) can and should wear a Saree but other branch officers must wear only the Pant and Shirt like that of their male counterpart. It is only at the time of pregnancy and upto three or four months after the delivery, a lady officer can wear a saree.

As far as the IAF is concerned, No. 13 is an unlucky one. That is why the No. 13 was avoided but in the recent past, we could see the usage of the No. 13. In the same way, in the Service Writing (in the writings of the Defence), the alphabet 'i' is avoided (in order to avoid the confusion with the numberal '1' and that is the reason why I had written 'j' immediately after 'h' (against the Air Mshl rank).

Now I want to say something - First of all - as usual I could not include Lord Ganesh on the Top.
In the last Episode, I wrote about the entry into IAF. One is through NDA and another one is through IAF - I mean it should be through CDS (Combined Defence Services) Examination and on qualifying - one can opt for the Service and subsequently it will be allotted based on the merit.

Hoping to c u all at the earliest.

May God Bless.