Why are “Military Brats” (Children of Armed Forces Officers) Reluctant to take up a Career in the Armed Forces…?
The term MILITARY BRAT is a term of endearment and respect.
The word BRAT is an acronym for “Born, Raised And Trained”
B = Born
R = Raised
A = And
T = Trained
(As per another version – BRAT stands for “British Regiment Attached Traveller”)
“Military Brat” is colloquial slang for the child of a person serving in the Military (derivatives of “Military Brat” are “Army Brat” “Navy Brat” “Air-Force Brat” “Defence Brat” etc)
A “Military Brat” spends his early life in Military Cantonments – the child of a uniformed military person can be deemed to be born, raised and “trained” in military environments.
A Military Brat’s childhood or adolescent life may be immersed in the unique military culture prevalent in the military environments – this “military social culture” may be different from civilian culture outside.
This is particularly true in the case of “Army Brats” since army cantonments are more remote and cut-off from civilian society than navy bases which are located in larger cities.
Another unique feature in the life of a “Military Brat” is a nomadic life due to frequent relocations depending on their father’s postings.
All this makes “Military Brats” versatile, sociable and flexible – and – also develops some unique traits which may or may not be conducive for transition to civilian life.
Earlier – most “Military Brats” (especially children of defence officers) – they would follow their father’s footsteps and join the Armed Forces.
Now – things have changed – as is exemplified in this story…
“MILITARY BRATS” DO NOT WANT TO JOIN THE ARMY ANYMORE
Ramblings of a Retired Mind – A Spoof By Vikram Karve
Link to my original post in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2017/03/military-brats-do-not-want-to-join.html
Why are Children of Armed Forces Officers Reluctant to take up a Career in the Armed Forces…?
Sometime ago – there was an impromptu gathering of veteran officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force Officers.
We were around 30 Retired Defence Officers.
While talking – we realized that all of us were from defence background (our fathers had served in the Armed Forces)
Yes – the father of each and every one of us had served in the Armed Forces – Army, Navy or Air Force.
In many cases – not only the father – but even the grandfather – had been in the Armed Forces.
We talked about our children.
Most children had migrated abroad – mainly to the USA – and settled down there to realise their “American Dream”.
Of those children working in India – the majority were Engineers – mainly “Techies” in the IT Sector – many were MBA’s and worked in the Financial Sector – some had taken up other Civilian Professions like Medicine and Law or joined the Hospitality Industry – while others had become entrepreneurs.
But – no one had joined the Armed Forces.
Yes – not even one child had joined his father’s profession and become a Military Officer.
None of our children had taken up our profession of arms.
We discussed and talked about many our course-mates and batch-mates in the defence services and their children.
It was the same story.
Nobody’s children had joined the Armed Forces.
The changing trend of career choice was evident.
When we were young – most children of Defence Officers opted for a career in the Defence Services.
Today – children of Defence Officers prefer an attractive career in the civilian world.
Children of Defence Officers do not want to join the Defence Services.
This recent phenomenon is quite strange.
Most children like to follow the profession of their parents – especially if they like the job their parents do.
Yes – in the civilian world – in many cases – children take up the same profession as their parents.
This can be seen among Doctors, Lawyers, Businessmen, Entrepreneurs, Industrialists, Agriculturists, Chartered Accountants, Engineers, Builders, Civil Services (IAS, IPS etc), Educationists, Actors, Mariners etc
This trend of children following the profession of their parents is particularly visible among Politicians.
Earlier – this trend was prevalent among the Defence Services as well.
In earlier generations – including mine – most children of Armed Forces Officers were motivated to join the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Generation after generation joined the Armed Forces – mostly the same service as their father’s service – and – in the Army – the same regiment as well.
Now – all this had changed – and children of Defence Officers no longer want to follow the footsteps of their parents.
They do not prefer to opt for a career in the Defence Services.
To put it in a nutshell:
“Military Brats” do not want to join the Military anymore
I wonder why…?
Dear Reader – Can you tell us why…?
VIKRAM KARVE
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Disclaimer:
- This story is a fictional spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.
- All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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Link to my original post in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2017/03/military-brats-do-not-want-to-join.html
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
This is a revised repost of my article posted online earlier at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/05/army-brats-do-not-want-to-join-army.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/10/the-army-brat-does-not-want-to-become.html etc
Vikram Karve 
brats turns into a calm n quiet cat
two kids when i too was a kid where very mischievous, restless in my ord. fy. campus qrs., days. the parents were fed up and failed to keep them tied down. their civilian fathers in the min. of defence sent them for recruitment and both got selected. one is a colonel in the army and the other equivalent in one of the services.
in a recent alumni meet this guy had come on vacation…leave a sikh punjabi .the other was a maharashtrain his neighbour in the qrs., in the same lane sector those days.
i reminded him of an embarassing joke.
the sikh punjabi father…uncle used 2 scold his son….now colonel
sayin –
maadar ch…….
tereko army mein bharti karadoonga. seedhaa ho jayega !
years later….his words have come true….and i learnt from this col that uncle had passed away last year
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Not recent at all. From late 70’s it was clear armed forces was a good & honourable life, but not a good career. There weren’t other good opportunities around.
In 80’s civilian opportunities were more, but not much. Then in 90’s the floodgates opened.
There was only one advantage to armed forces – if you got into NDA, no bother about college & job. In 90’s and later this wasn’t such a great option.
My parents generation, all male realtives were in armed forces, all females married to armed forces officers. (My uncle was in the navy, Shaurya Chakra, Nausena medal. His son dropped out after RIMC.) My generation, no one. We were all actively discouraged by our parents who felt they were given a raw deal.
Now, times have changed again. My dad who was hell bent on my not joining up, want my son to go to NDA. I hope he gets in 🙂
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Yes, I can tell you exactly why, It’s because of the political environment. The military has been used as a social experiment. people like me in my husband, who both served in the military do not want our children serving. They have seen what the military has become and don’t want to serve either.
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Relevant Point – the service culture has changed over the years
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