Ablaze in a Blizzard

The Confidential Reports. The Army assess its officers and other ranks through confidential reports. These reports are initiated by one and reported by seniors in the channel of command. The initiating officer should be in such position to observe the officer's activities on daily basis at least for three months. These confidential reports are the personal assessment of the initiating officer. An incapable officer by virtue of his closeness to initiating officer(IO) may get an outstanding report. But the reporting officer (RO)if he is a gentleman and honest in his service will call the IO and warn him not to over assess officers. On the other hand if he is also soft natured and likes out of rules pleasings he will simply counter sign the IO report.

Ganesan was a Major commanding a Fd unit. Under him there were about 50 NCOs(non commissioned officers). Like officers NCO, and JCOs are also eligible for ACRs(annual confidential reports). An ACR of one NCO returned from records for some technical reason. This ACR was initiated by his predisessor and the NCO was given 2 out of 4. Ganesan had spent anbout 3 months and knows the NCO as a physically tough and well co operative with other soldiers and Radio operator by trade. Why he has been graded as average and given 2/4?could there be personal reason?He called the NCO and interviewed him. The NCO was unknown to the officer as he was with another sub unit. So just for completing the formalities he had copleted the ACR and sent. Fortunetly ther was a technical mistake and hence the ACR was to be re written.

Ganesan wrote a genuine and un biased report and sent to records. After a few days higher promotion cadre started for NCOs at MEG&Centre Bangalore. Since these are on seniority basis those eligible NCOs were already at centre. For some reasons the vacancies were incresed suddenly and eligible NCOs were called by telegramme. In this Ganesan's NCO was also called. But other officers objected to this as this NCO was very junior and in his place other senior NCO should be sent. The CO ruled out this and sent Ganesan'sNCO. This NCO became an asset to the Regiment and went to UN Mission and later became Sub Maj of the Regiment Officers confidential reports are also like that only. Ganesan was an outstanding sports man, physicaly very tough,and was doing very well in all trainings. But he was not soft natured and do not go out of the way to please seniors. This had been his dis advantage. But he was aware of that and fully prepared to face the consquences of his act. Contd...