Volunteering Experience at National Cadet Corps, New Delhi by Rashi Gupta

Name, College, and Year of Study of Student Volunteer

Rashi Gupta, Jamia Millia Islamia, 2^nd year

Name of the Organisation

National Cadet Corps, New Delhi

Duration

3 Years (2019-2022)

How did you apply?

As I’m interested in the Indian Army, I got a form from my college unit which I filled up with the required details. Then a date is announced for the physical test, which you need to qualify. There is a 500mtrs race and 5 push-ups, which we need to perform and I performed them well and got the opportunity to volunteer.

About NCC

National Cadet Corps (NCC) is a youth development organisation of the Indian Armed Forces founded in 1948. Its motto is “Unity and Discipline”.

The aim of NCC is to develop character, comradeship, the spirit of adventure, unity, secular outlook, and selfless services among the youth of our Nation.

Volunteering Experience

• 1^st Year

As I was in 11^th grade, so I joined Senior Wing Army Division, the first year is all about the basics. Every Saturday, the drill and theory classes were conducted. The drill classes are to develop your physical ability and your endurance level and the theory classes were to enhance your knowledge.

I attended the Jamia Foundation Day Camp, 2019 in my first year. It was my first camp but I enjoyed and learned a lot. We all 7-8 cadets need to live together for 10 days with basic essential requirements and unity most important. The work is divided among us. The day started at 5:00 am with yoga and ended with campfires at 10:00 pm. The last day of the camp was a memorable day, the valedictory ceremony was held and we presented a patriotic song.

• 2^nd Year

As the COVID 19, started everything shut down, but in many places, many cadets tried to help out the people who were facing food shortages. My experience was not so good. Although theory classes were held online, but there is no alternative for drill classes.

As it was the second year, and to give the B certificate exam, it was mandatory to attend a camp, so the exam was conducted in 2021 and I attended the Combined Annual Training Camp 2021, which was 5 day camp in which I got to know the type of rifles and how to hold them, types of drills and not only this we also volunteered in blood donation campaigns.

Then exams were conducted physical and written and I qualified both with B grades in B certificates.

• 3rd Year

It’s all upon you, whether you want to continue for the last year or not. So I filled up the form for C certificate, but there is no such physical test this time. For C certificate exam two camps are mandatory. But during our time, due to COVID restrictions, it was difficult so if you only attend a single camp, so you can also appear for the exam.

In 2021, when things started to normalize, we were still restricted to our homes. As everything become online, we participated in online campaigns through posters and slogans and also planted many trees in our home.

In the month of December 2021, Pre Republic Day Camp 2022, was held for 7 days. In this, we learned the salute with rifles and tried to perfect our drills, apart from this we got first-hand experience of how to extinguish the fire and basic life-saving skills.

Being a part of NCC, developed various characteristics in me to interact with people of different social and cultural values. But I regret one thing, I can’t get the opportunity to attend the trekking camps.

Good Things

It was overall a good experience and one who is interested in the armed forces can also get an experience of armed people’s life and you also can interact with them.

Bad Things

There were no such bad things, sometimes you feel humiliated at the time of drill classes due to the same commands of your commandments but it is all to develop your patience level.

This post has been submitted by Rashi Gupta, a student at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.