India Inc Enlists Military Veterans to Lead Crack Teams

As the country celebrated the 75th Republic Day, an enduring image was the parade at Delhi’s Kartavya Path. Besides tableaus showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage, the military might of the country’s armed forces was on full display. And India Inc was paying close attention.
Once retired, personnel from the defence forces, after all, make for ready talent. From cybersecurity to logistics and operations to human resources (HR), companies such as Amazon India, Tata Motors, ONGC, EverEnviro and Vishwa Samudra group are already bolstering their ranks with former army personnel. While numbers are hard to come by, anecdotal evidence suggests that corporate India is enlisting more and more military veterans (MVs).
“Effort is often required to rebrand or contextualise military experience to emphasise the relevance of acquired skills in a manner that resonates with civilian employers,” says Delshad Master, who retired as squadron leader and is now associate vice-president, Careernet Prism, which focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) hiring. Master, who spent a decade with the Indian Air Force training pilots and airmen at forward air bases, says while veterans undergo transition programmes to adapt to civilian life, companies need to sensitise and educate their civilian workforce by addressing biases and misconceptions about veterans.

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