Associate NCC Officer
Dr. Vishnu Sankar,
Army Wing

ABOUT NCC

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) stands as the world’s largest uniformed youth organization under the Armed Forces. Operating with the motto ‘Unity and Discipline,’ the NCC aims to unite and instill discipline in the youth from diverse regions, nurturing them into unified, secular, and disciplined citizens of the nation. Established on April 16, 1948, in India through the NCC Act of 1948, the NCC amalgamated several preceding cadet corps. Headed by a Director-General holding the rank of Lieutenant General, the NCC's headquarters resides in New Delhi. With 17 directorates located in state capitals, each is governed by an Additional Director General, an officer of the rank of Major General. Kerala falls under the Kerala & Lakshadweep (K and L) directorate, with its headquarters in Trivandrum. Group Headquarters further divides the directorates to exercise command and control within the state, accommodating up to 14 groups depending on state size and NCC growth. Each group, led by an officer of the rank of brigadier or equivalent, known as the group commander, oversees 5–7 units or battalions commanded by a Colonel/Lt. Col. or equivalent. The Ernakulam Group serves as the group headquarters of the NCC Unit of our college.

NCC cadets engage in activities associated with the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings, with separate units for boys and girls, referred to as the Senior Division (SD) and Senior Wing (SW) respectively. Actively participating in various community service projects such as blood drives, cleanup campaigns, tree planting, and disaster relief work, the youth cultivate a sense of citizenship and responsibility. Additionally, cadets integrate NCC activities into their academic program alongside regular coursework.
Training encompasses basic military drills, classroom instruction, physical training, weapon training, map reading and navigation, leadership development, adventure training, camps, community service, and specialized training, contributing comprehensively to the overall development of the youth.

Notably, many Indian Armed Forces officers were former NCC cadets, highlighting the NCC's role in producing disciplined and trained individuals who may opt to join the defense services, thus serving as a valuable pipeline for the armed forces.

MOTTO

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) motto is "Unity and Discipline". The essential ideas and concepts that the NCC seeks to inculcate in its cadets are encapsulated in this motto.

1. Unity: - The NCC's emphasis on "Unity" reflects its dedication to building a sense of solidarity and unity among the country's diverse youth. The group wants to unite young people from various communities, areas, and backgrounds so they can collaborate peacefully.


2. Discipline: emphasizes how crucial self-control, obedience, and order are to a cadet's life. The NCC strongly believes that discipline is a fundamental value and emphasizes its importance in leadership development, personal growth, and enhancing societal well-being.

The guiding concepts of "Unity and Discipline" work together to mold the perspectives, conduct, and actions of NCC cadets. The organization's goal to develop law-abiding, well-behaved, cohesive citizens who are ready to make meaningful contributions to their country is reflected in the motto.

 

SELECTION:

The commanding officer of the 22 Kerala Battalion selects candidates for the 56 open positions in the RSET NCC unit. The Cadets will train for at least five hours every week, and in their second and third years, they will participate in an annual training camp that lasts for ten days. At the end of their second and third training years, cadets who have maintained the necessary attendance records and demonstrated adequate progress may sit for the B and C Certificate Examinations, which are administered by the Indian government's Ministry of Defence. Although cadets have no obligation to serve in the military on an active basis, those cadets who have passed the B and C certificate exams will have priority when it comes to enlisting.

CERTIFICATE:

Several certificates are awarded to cadets by the National Cadet Corps (NCC) according to their participation, training, and skill levels. The following are a few well-known certificates that the NCC grants:
‘A’ Certificate:
The first level of proficiency is the 'A' certificate. The 'A' certificate is awarded to cadets who have completed a minimum of two years of training, attended at least one camp (Basic Leadership Camp or Annual Training Camp), and taken part in NCC activities. Higher-level certificates require this certificate as a prerequisite.
'B' Certificate:
The second level of proficiency is the 'B' certificate. The 'B' certificate is awarded to cadets who have successfully finished their three years of training, participated in at least two camps, and earned the 'A' certificate. A candidate needs to attend NCC training in the senior wing 75% of the time to get a 'B' certificate. To continue in the NCC Senior Division/Wing, this certificate is required.
'C' Certificate:
The 'C' certificate, which represents the pinnacle of NCC proficiency, is a highly esteemed accomplishment. The 'C' certificate is awarded to cadets who have successfully finished their three years in the Senior Division/Wing, attended at least two camps, received the 'B' certificate, and met additional requirements. He or she needs to have participated in at least 75% of the training parade. To be eligible for certain benefits when joining the armed forces, this certificate is required.
Certificates of Participation:
NCC cadets who participate in various NCC events, camps, or activities can earn participation certificates in addition to proficiency certificates. These certifications attest to their enthusiastic participation and dedication to particular initiatives.
Certificates of Specialization:
For cadets who excel in particular areas, like shooting, adventure activities, and skill development, NCC offers specialized certificates. These awards honor the exceptional accomplishments and proficiencies that cadets have gained through specialized training.
Certificates of Service:
Certificates attesting to the cadet’s social contributions may be awarded to those who actively engage in environmental projects, social welfare programs, and community service.
It is crucial to remember that each certificate may have different qualifying standards and requirements, and cadets must meet the requirements to be eligible for the appropriate certificate. The aforementioned certificates hold great importance in the holistic growth of NCC cadets and could potentially impact their future academic and professional endeavors, particularly in the defence field.

BENEFITS:

Cadets who join the NCC are more likely to be hired by Indian defense services.

The Indian Army
# The Indian Military Academy (IMA) reserves 32 seats for NCC candidates with a "C" certification for each of its regular courses. However, all candidates must be deemed successful by the Services Selection Board to become members of IMA.
# Cadets who receive a "C" certificate are exempted from the UPSC-conducted CDS exam. But for this, the cadet needs a "C" certificate with an"A" or "B" grade.
# The NCC "C" certification gives you a bonus of 10–15 points when applying for paramilitary forces, such as the CISF, BSF, and CRPF.
#For the position of Soldier GD, a written exam will not be required if you possess NCC "C" certificates.

The Indian Navy
• Up to nine positions in the navy are reserved for NCC "C" certified candidates; NCC "C" certified candidates receive six bonus marks for sailor jobs and fifteen bonus marks for Artificer Apprentice jobs in the Indian Navy. To be considered for these positions, candidates must have completed their B.Sc. in math or physics. Candidates with a B.E. are also qualified for these positions. The candidate must be between the ages of 19 and 24. He or she must have passed the SSB exam to be exempt from the UPSC CDS exam.

The Indian Air Force
• NCC "C" certified candidates in the Air Force receive an additional 5 points during the recruitment process.
• A total of 10% of spots in the pilot course are set aside for NCC cadets.

Public Sector
Several public sector companies, including Indian Airlines, Pawan Hans Ltd., The National Small Industries Corp. Ltd., and many more, offer benefits to cadets who have earned a "C" certification.
In addition, a lot of private sector businesses view the NCC certificates as a benefit. Mentioning on your resume that you are NCC certified or that you earned the NCC"C" certificate reveals something about your character. Therefore, we advise students to enlist in the NCC to develop their discipline as well as to join the Indian Armed Forces.

Activities of NCC Cadets during the Academic Year:

>> The month of August or September will mark the start of the new academic year and the commencement of all NCC activities.
>> Without interfering with or disturbing the cadet’s academic commitments, an aggregate of 20 parades would be conducted on working Saturdays and other general holidays.
>> NCC activities include weapon training, drills, parades, and other theory classes on military subject matters.
In addition to receiving regular military training, NCC cadets participate in a variety of exciting activities such as trekking expeditions, CATC, National Integration Camp, Basic Leadership Camp, and other camp-related events to demonstrate their resilience and adaptability.
The narrative of excellence persists with the accomplishments of NCC cadets in cultural domains like music and dance within the camps.
To maintain a positive attitude and motivate the cadets to enhance their performance, NCC RSET hosts frequent seminars featuring distinguished speakers from a range of fields, including the military and civil services.
NCC Cadets serve an instrumental part in college events of nationally significant holidays like INDEPENDENCE DAY and REPUBLIC DAY. They also provide excellent guard of honor duties during significant college ceremonies.
The NCC instills in its cadets a strong sense of duty to their countrymen, which is demonstrated in their activities.

CAMPS AND TRAINING:

TRAINING
Senior Wing (SW) and Senior Division (SD) training takes place over three years. Throughout the training year—aside from college vacation periods—every Senior Division cadet must complete service training for a minimum of four hours each week. Every cadet is also required to finish at least 75% of the total training hours during the yearly college session. In addition, every cadet participates in a yearly 10-day training camp called the National Combined Annual Training Camp. The camp may run for up to 30 days for SD/SW. Cadets obtain a certificate upon finishing the camp training successfully.

CAMPS
The NCC offers a wide variety of camp-attending opportunities that are intended to improve each person's personality in all facets. Among these camps are a few of them:
- Republic Day Camp (RDC)
- National Integration Camp (NIC)
- Basic Leadership Camp (BLC)
- Advanced Leadership Camp (ALC)
- Army Attachment Camp
- Combined Annual Training Camps (CATC)
- Hiking and Trekking Camps
- Thal Sainik Camp (TSC)
- Rock Climbing Camps (RCC)
- Youth Exchange Programme (YEP)

PLEDGE
WE THE CADET OF THE NATIONAL CADET CORPS, DO SOLEMNLY PLEDGE THAT WE SHALL ALWAYS UPHOLD THE UNITY OF INDIA. WE RESOLVE TO BE DISCIPLINED AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS OF OUR NATION.WE SHALL UNDERTAKE POSITIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE IN THE SPIRIT OF SELFLESSNESS AND CONCERN FOR OUR FELLOW BEINGS.