The career of a commissioned officer in the defense sector is gaining popularity in Chhattisgarh, particularly in the educational hub of Bhilai. Gone are the days when the youth of Chhattisgarh only aspired to become engineers or doctors, dedicating their time and energy solely to secure admission in these fields in pursuit of working at multinational corporations. Previously, very few youngsters from State considered joining the defense forces, and their contributions were relatively unknown. However, with the presence of the Army and Air Force in the state and the efforts of numerous retired defense officers from Chhattisgarh in raising awareness among the youth, the path less taken has begun to garner more attention.

 

A significant role has been played by numerous senior defense officers hailing from Chhattisgarh and serving with COSA, NCC and Rajya Sainik Boards. These officers have effectively showcased the bright and fulfilling aspects of serving the nation in military uniform. As a result, Chhattisgarh, a relatively young and small state, has successfully contributed substantially to the strength of the armed forces. On average, around eight to ten youth graduate from various academies in State every six months. Aman Verma from Bhilai, the son of an Army veteran, has qualified to join the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun, bringing great honour to Chhattisgarh and his parents. Aman successfully cleared the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview in Bhopal, followed by rigorous medical examinations, and achieved a high order of merit, surpassing all obstacles.

 

Growing up in an army environment, Aman’s father, Rohit Kumar Verma, a retired Subedar, has been a major source of inspiration for his two sons, who have always dreamt of commanding their father’s former unit someday. Aman’s younger brother, Himanshu, also cleared his SSB for National Defence Academy in July 2020, but was unable to join due to temporary medical unfitness. He aims to join the defense services immediately after completing his ongoing BTech course. Their mother, Asha Verma, is a homemaker. When contacted, Aman’s parents shared that he has been an exceptional student throughout his academic journey. He cleared UPSC exams in the past and appeared for SSB interviews 16 times before achieving success. Aman never lost hope, and his perseverance and patience remained unwavering. He credits his parents for their unwavering support and patience, as they never pressured him to give up his dream of becoming a defense officer or to settle for any other job to start earning, even after multiple unsuccessful attempts. Aman, a civil engineer by qualification, currently holds a Class 2 Officer position in a Central Government Department.

 

Aman attributes his success in the SSB interview to Commander R K Soni (Retd), who inspired and constantly motivated him to make minor corrections in his future attempts. Commander Soni not only trained Aman for the SSB, but also groomed him to become a good leader. Over the past 15 years, Commander Soni has successfully guided numerous young boys and girls from Chhattisgarh and other states in joining the armed forces. Many of his mentees have already become junior or middle-level commissioned officers. With his passion for training young individuals, Commander Soni aspires to contribute towards seeing a defense officer in every household of Chhattisgarh in the near future.