Officers and Gentlemen go back to school...

Officers and Gentlemen go back to school... With “Business Management Certificate Course for JCOs/ORs of Indian Defence Forces” at WeSchool Management Development Center  

Oct 19th 2013, saw an unusual convocation taking place in the portals of WeSchool. The students were not the usual MBA graduates excited at the prospects of take off to a sparkling career either in a corporate or business, but consisted of soldiers of Indian army and Navy and Air Force. The 24-week Business Management Course for Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and Other Ranks (ORs) of Indian Army, Navy and Air Force was intended to train these officers to transition to post-retirement/post-release civilian careers. Essentially, the course was designed to enable the JCOs/ORs to develop communication, functional and leadership skills to pursue and succeed in their second career in supervisory/managerial positions in the private sector/public/other sectors or, become self-employed as entrepreneurs. Prof. Dr. Uday Salunkhe, Group Director, WeSchool set the tone by offering “Pranams” to the men from services for their contribution towards national security and unity, defending the nation from external aggression and threats, and maintaining peace and security within its borders in the face of insurmountable difficulties . “The world outside is different from the world in services. In services, you follow orders while in private sector you have to lead the team for business results. We have prepared people for resettlement in positions like Security/Safety Officers, Stores/ Warehouse Officers, Facility Managers, Transport managers, Office administrators and other supervisory positions and also to be entrepreneurs. It is necessary for the participants to go with the subject of their choice which you will enjoy doing”. “After being from home for many years, it is also necessary to improve the quality of work life and spend some good time with your families “He added. He concluded by saying that WeSchool salutes men in uniform across all ranks and reiterated its mission to serve those who let us live in peace and harmony despite all the tensions around. While delivering the valedictory address ,Capt. K. V. Radhakrishnan, Indian Navy said “Discipline, integrity and ethical values that are built in while in Services are of paramount importance in civil life. You should remain with it.” He wished all of them well in their civilian life. Military officers have highly demanding physical and mental requirements to not only serve well in their occupational specialties, but to lead others in their roles as well. Military officers bring admirable skills to civilian life after they transition from military service, sought after by employers who understand what types of people they would need and the role that the men in iniforms can play in fulfilling the same.

WeSchool was selected and appointed by The Directorate General Resettlement (DGR), Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (Ministry of Defence) to conduct the course at the Mumbai Campus. 40 participants were nominated by DGR for the program starting 6-May-2013.

The program was very well received by the participants, who, acknowledged and commended the unstinted efforts of DGR, WeSchool MDC, faculty and staff in making the program valuable and memorable for them.