AFVOA Newletters of Year 2007

Page 45 of 68 of Command, Staff, Instructional and Planning functions gave us a broad coverage touching down from present day Visions for the future vis a vis the forthcoming era of opportunities and challenges for which today’s players have to be equipped to come out trumps. Current initiatives related to the concept of an Integrated Services HQ in the Ministry of Defence and steps towards reorganisation in the Army with appropriate levels of staff for effective management. In today’s context of the impact of Technologies affecting all aspects of human life, the sector of Defence can be no exception and infact technological superiority whether in the weaponry, the role of Communication and Information Technologies, information warfare, human-machine interactions for achieving the edge in command and control functions would all need to be constantly updated. The evolution of Network-centric concepts and implementation of technological solutions to respond to the diversity of threat perceptions in today’s battlefield were touched upon. With regard to human resources utilisation aspects relating to operational mobilisation (Project Parakram) and the impact of technologies increasing scope for Integrated Interservice responses to many current threat situations were highlighted. The Pay Commission, resettlement facilitators such as ‘B’ School and other courses for the Retirees to enable absorption in the National Workforce were some fruitful initiatives. One area of skills to be nurtured possibly through technological enablers is to harness the diversity in language skills for speedy and secure information transfers. Lt Gen Pattabhiraman had kindly agreed to elaborate on aspects he could only cursorily gloss over in the talk, due to the curtailed time factor. He would however welcome any personal felt need from the veterans for more specific information that he can share. The GOC had personally, at the end of his address, welcomed ANY VETERAN who needed to seek a remedy or some follow up initiative on any matter of concern to meet with him in his office. Many of our Veterans have responded to the call and have personally met with the GOC and made suggestions of common interest to Veterans on aspects relating to Retreat for Ex Servicemen circumstantially living in solitude, ECHS, DSOI for Chennai and so on. Members have also been intimated over email by your Secretary, the minutes of discussions of the AFVOA Committee with the GOC on 30 October 2007. I duly acknowledge the courtesies and prompt remedies extended by the GOC and the Staff Officers at the HQ in the cause of the Veteran Fraternity. May I request all members to respond to our request for submission of Data Sheets updating your addresses, telephone numbers, E-mail addresses, special skill sets and interests including cultural in the family (including your own!) which you will be happy to share with the AFVOA fraternity. This would help your committee to update our “Hello Veterans” beyond 2004 as well as establishing effective CORE GROUPS (A project conceived by our earlier Committees) covering the geography of Chennai. This would facilitate speedier response in times of need and also extending scope of support and sharing of cultural and professional skills as may be available from within AFVOA!. It’s not the hours you put in your work that counts, it’s the work you put in the hours. Sam Ewing DO TAKE PART IN THE FLOWER ARRANGEMENT COMPETITION TO BE HELD DURING OUR NEXT BI-MONTHLY MEET Meeting Gone By– A resume