I HAVE read with keen interest the letters of all the learned and experienced officers on the subject of educators in the armed forces. Having served in all the three forces, I would like to share my observations on the subject.

At the entry level the educators are academically highly qualified. They hold at least a master’s degree in their relevant subject whereas in the other wings/branches, the required qualifications are lower than that.

In the back of their minds this intellectual edge always keeps on nagging.

The promotion policy is also different. The officers in the flying branch are the core cadre and thus they get rapid promotions as compared to other support/administration staff.

I have heard people from the air defence branch complaining that officers belonging to flying branch and junior to them avoid eye contact with them so that they do not have to salute.

The base commanders and their administration assistants are also academically less qualified than the educators, doctors and engineers. Thus a graduate in liberal arts and agriculture writes the annual confidential reports of a much more qualified person. This point also remains a thorny issue.

However, those who join the armed forces are aware of all that before joining the service and their moaning does not make any sense.

KARAM A. SIDDIQUI
Karachi