After Lt General's 3-star boat ride, Army says don't flaunt rank

NEW DELHI: The armed forces have always been extremely rank-conscious. But the propensity of generals, admirals and air marshals to increasingly flaunt their rank and status at all times, whether playing golf or driving personal cars, has the three Service headquarters worried due to growing social opprobrium.

The last Army commanders' conference, in fact, discussed the “numerous“ instances of “blatant display“ of stars and flags associated with rank in the force. “The next commanders' conference from October 12 to 16 may also review the matter.The message, meanwhile, is being conveyed to different formations that unbecoming display of rank and status should be avoided at all costs,“ said a senior officer.

A tipping point for this was the photograph of a Lt-General and his wife going to immerse the ashes of a parent in a boat garishly adorned with an official flag and three stars, which went viral on social media and attracted scathing criticism earlier this year.

Though the blame for the episode was laid on “over-en thusiastic“ junior officers out to please the VIP guest without his knowledge, such things have been the norm for long in the armed forces. It's customary , for instance, to arrange mules adorned with the “requisite number of stars“ for a senior officer when he visits a forward area inaccessible by road. “But with smartphones now available, such pictures can go viral all over the country within minutes. This has promoted a re-think among the brass,“ said another officer. It does take a lot to achieve the “star ranks“ in the steeply-pyramidal promotional structure of the armed forces, where just two to three officers out of every 100 make it to the Major General or two-star rank. Conversely , the overwhelming majority of IAS officers make it to the equivalent rank of joint secretary at a much faster pace.

But, while the star ranks in the military may be wellearned in most cases, their flagrant display by some is giving “a bad name“ to the armed forces, admit officers. There have been, for instance, many cases of the “stars“ being displayed by senior officers on even caps and carts while teeing off on golf courses.

“Even the caddies accompanying the senior officers are sometimes made to wear T-shirts or jackets with the requisite number of stars on them. One should remember such behaviour can be captured and transmitted in social media,“ said another officer.

Lecterns in conferences being adorned with stars or personal cars bearing rank plates and flags are common too.