While chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan has spoken of the need for a "culture of jointness," army, navy and air forces offices have to understand that their administrative structures have major differences. And only after there is a realisation about how different some structures are can integration happen more effectively. As part of the effort to do so, the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington is working towards "a greater understanding of HR related issues through special courses that lay out what current growth charts are."
Speaking about the vast differences in "organisational culture," an official said that markers for growth in the three services were different. In the army, for instance, an instructor at the staff college, had a future while in the navy, the "resolution of who is going up" is based on what ship/vessel you command. Anyone who has commanded an aircraft carrier or a nuclear-powered submarine, for example, has a better future. In the army, there are boards to promote an officer from colonel to brigadier to major general. In the navy, the movement from captain to commodore is more direct.
Even the way officers are marked in the services vary. A certain "number" is considered essential for promotion in the army. It could be a different number in the navy and air force. These are things people should understand, especially for an officer from one service grading officers of the other two. Also, vis-a-vis postings, officers can apply for certain posts in one service while officers in another service may not have any options. For example, being an instructor in the army gets weightage when it comes to promotion, it may not be so important in the other services. Even the process of joining the staff college is different– IAF officers were nominated; army and navy officers had to go through entrance examinations.
There are cultural differences as well, sources said. "Once service, for example, is less involved on Saturday. So, to ensure officers learn more about other services, there will be special classes for 44 officers and gradually, the numbers learning about jointness will gradually go up.”