Human Resource Management in the Armed Forces

Human Resource Management (HRM) in the Armed Forces is a vital issue because its strength has always been the soldier. This monograph analyses the challenges of HRM in the Armed Forces with specific focus on transition of soldiers to a second career, as service personal retire at a comparatively young age when their personal responsibilities are at the peak. The monograph first contextualises the key drivers which impact a soldiers’ life while in service, his early exit and the issue of transition. Next, it examines the challenges which impede transition and why absorption in various government departments /PSUs/banks, etc., is not materialising in spite of reservations and agencies to monitor the same. It further analyses veteran affairs in a few foreign armies to identify takeaways suited in the Indian socio-economic environment. Finally, it outlines pragmatic recommendations for transition of soldiers to a suitable second career in the civil domain. The monograph is based on interaction with agencies dealing with ex-servicemen welfare; a survey through a questionnaire for servicing personnel retiring in the next 2-3 years; and various reports of Parliamentary Standing Committees.

About the Author

Brig Pradeep Sofat was a senior fellow at IDSA’s Military Affairs Centre (2015-16). He has extensive command and staff experience spanning over 30 years, including 12 years in counter-insurgency operations in Op Pawan, Assam and Jammu & Kashmir. He has served two tenures in the Integrated HQ of MoD (Army) wherein he dealt with human resource-related issues of Infantry with the Manpower and Recruiting Directorates and Operational Logistics aspects of the Indian Army. He is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and has attended the Higher Defence Management Course at the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad.