INDIAN NAVY - PERSONNEL

Personnel

Executive Branch

The path to Command is through the Executive Branch. Only sea going officers of the Executive Branch can exercise command of ships, submarines and aircraft. Executive officers can specialise in any of the following:-

Navigation and Direction
Communication
Antisubmarine Warfare
Gunnery
Aviation
Submarines
Diving
Hydrography

Law, Air Traffic Control, Naval Armament Inspection and Logistics cadres also form part of the Executive Branch.

Engineering Branch

Modern ships, submarines and aircraft have advanced technology, machinery and propulsion systems. The Engineer Officer is responsible for keeping all these systems serviceable. Opportunities to work in shore jobs in naval dockyards and indigenous production units also exist. In no other career is an engineer exposed to such a wide spectrum of opportunities to keep abreast of modern development. An Engineer Officer's career is interspersed with technical courses upto post-graduation.

Naval Architects specialise in warship construction. The Indian Navy today employs the largest pool of trained Naval Architects in India. A Naval Architect is involved in design, construction, quality control and repair of naval vessels. With the Navy going in for more and more sophisticated warship production within the country, the Naval Architect cadre offers excellent opportunities to keep abreast of the advancement in ship building technology.

Electrical Branch

A warship is fitted with complex missile systems, underwater weapons, radar and radio communication equipment. A majority of these are either computer based or computer aided and incorporate the latest in electronic engineering. In addition, a warship is a mini floating city with an integral power generation and distribution system. For a ship to be able to fight effectively, all this equipment must be kept functioning at peak efficiency. Electrical Officers have this responsibility and other challenging tasks. The Navy also offers excellent opportunities for postgraduate courses.

Education Branch

Education Officers play a major role in the training of a Naval officer/sailor. Education Officers are responsible for scientific and methodical instructions including theoretical aspects of technical subjects of all branches of the Navy and for general education. Additionally, an Education Officer can specialise in oceanography and meteorology and also in some of the specialisations of the Executive Branch.

Training

Training of personnel is the most important peace time activity that goes into making of an effective Navy. The Southern Naval Command headquartered at Kochi is the Navy's Training Command. There are currently 33 training establishments spread over the length and breadth of the country. Prominent amongst them are the following:-

Indian Naval Academy Located at Ezhimala (Kerala), this is the officers basic training institution. All officer cadets (other than NDA entry) undergo their initial naval training here which varies from 6 months to 4 years.
INS Mandovi Located at Goa, houses India Naval Physical Training (INPT) School and Regulating School which caters for training needs of Physical Training and ProvostTraining.

INS Venduruthy Located at Kochi (Kerala), Venduruthy is the premier professional training institution for both, officers and sailors of the Executive/Seaman Branch. The following schools are situated in this establishment which conduct professional training for Executive Officers and higher rank courses for Seaman sailors :-

• Navigation and Direction School

• Signal School

• Anti Submarine Warfare School

• Diving School

• Centre for Leadership and Behavioural Services (CLABS)

• Maritime Warfare Centre (Kochi) MWC (K)

• Naval Institute of Educational and Training Technology (NIETT)

INS Shivaji Located at Lonavla near Pune, INS Shivaji is the premier training institution for officers and sailors of the Engineering Branch. Officers undergo Marine Specialisation upto post graduate level training while sailors undergo artificer, professional and higher rank courses. In addition NBCD courses are conducted here. The following institutions form part of INS Shivaji :-

• Naval College of Engineering
• College of Marine Engineering & Technology
• NBCD School

INS Valsura Located at Jamnagar (Gujarat), INS Valsura is the alma mater for all officers and sailors of the Electrical Branch. Officers undergo Electrical Specialisation course while sailors undergo artificer, professional and higher rank courses.

INS Garuda Located at Kochi (Kerala), INS Garuda conducts basic and specialised training for some officers and sailors of the Aviation Branch. The following schools are situated in this establishment for administrative purpose:-

• Observer School

• Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology (NIAT)

• School of Naval Airmen (SFNA)

• School for Naval Oceanology and Meteorology (SNOM)

INS Hamla Located at Malad, Mumbai, INS Hamla is the premier training establishment for personnel of Logistic cadre.Officers graduate in Long Logistic Management Course while sailors undergo courses related to logistics, administration, catering, stores management and computers.
INS Chilka Located in Orissa, INS Chilka is the initial training establishment for sailors.In this establishment 'ab-initio' training is imparted to sailors of all branches. After recruitment all sailors undergo their basic naval training here before they branch off into various trades for specialised training.
INS Agrani Located at Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), INS Agrani imparts training on Leadership and Management for selected senior sailors.

INS Kunjali Located at Mumbai, INS Kunjali is the training establishment for officers and sailors of Provost Branch.In addition, the Naval School of Music which is the alma mater for Naval Musicians is also located here.

Institute of Naval Medicine Located at Mumbai, it imparts training to personnel in subjects related to medicine. These include courses in nursing, hygiene, under water medicine and radiography etc.

Base Support

For repair and maintenance of ships and submarines, the Indian Navy has two major dockyards located at Mumbai and Visakhapatnam. Smaller ship repair yards function at Kochi and Port Blair. Major aircraft repair and maintenance organisation exist at Kochi and Goa.

Logistics support is provided by a well established network of Weapon Equipment Depots (WEDs), Naval Armament Depots (NADs) and Naval Store Depots (NSDs) located at various places. All base support facilities are largely manned by civilian personnel.