The requirement of the Indian Army in terms of manpower is colossal. It is the Branch Recruiting Offices (BROs) which are the main feeder arteries that sustain the Army and ensure that the country has a young, physically fit and mentally tough rank and file to thwart any external aggression or to combat internal strife or natural calamities.

The BRO is a small organisation. Some BROs are located in cantonments, but most are located in non-military stations. The BROs are commanded by Cols/Lt Cols and have an RMO (Major/Captain), an ARO (Subedar/Major), an AARO (Naib Subedar/Subedar clerk), four Havildar Clerks and a driver MT. The BROs also have a sprinkling of civilian grade III/IV employees.

The BRO functions under the recruiting zone which in turn functions under the Directorate General of Recruiting at Army Headquartes. There are a total of 12 recruiting zones.

There are 71 BROs spread over the length and breadth of the country. Not a single village, town or tehsil is left out. Recruiting rallies are held covering the entire country. In these rallies, volunteers are put through a series of physical tests, physical measurements, thorough medical examination and written tests to check their fitness. Thereafter, only the best, fittest and the toughest are selected.

Recruitment rallies are conducted by each BRO three to four times each year or more, depending upon the need for recruitment. The programme of recruitment rallies is issued by the recruiting zones six months in advance. The BROs, in turn, publicise the conduct of recruitment rallies in all the national and local dailies including vernacular newspapers. In addition, aggressive publicity is carried out through announcements in All India Radio, Cable TV networks and issue of leaflets. The preparation for the rally commences in right earnest, six to eight weeks in advance.

The selection of the rally site is extremely important. The rally site has to be such that it can accommodate all the aspirants who come to attend the rally. In addition, it should be spacious for a standard 400 mtr track to be prepared. It should also have enough space for the other tests to be conducted.

The Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police of the district have to be incorporated to ensure smooth conduct of the rally, which is normally spread over a week. The nearest Army formation has to be requested to provide administrative cover for the week-long rally.

There are various tests that aspiring candidates have to undergo. These are physical tests, physical measurements, medical examination and the written test. Candidates have to run 1.6 km against laid down timings. Marks are allotted as per the timings. The test is intended to check the `physical stamina' of the candidates. The candidates are required to hang on the beam and pull themselves up a minimum of six times and a maximum of ten times. Marks are allotted accordingly. This test is designed to check the `physical strength' of the candidates.

The candidates are required to jump over a 9 ft ditch. No marks are allotted for this test. However, the candidates have to qualify. This test brings out the `dash' and `determination' in candidates. The candidate is required to balance himself and walk over a raised zig-zag beam. This is to test the `agility' of candidates. No marks are allotted but the candidates have to qualify.

The candidates who successfully qualify in the physical tests are put through physical measurements of height, weight and chest. Once the candidates successfully clear the physical tests and measurements, they undergo a thorough medical examination at the rally site itself. Any candidates found medically `unfit' can go for an appeal to the affiliated Military Hospital to be again screened by a specialist for the disability for which the candidate was declared `unfit'. All candidates who are declared medically `fit' qualify to take the written test. This test is held on the last Sunday of the month in which the rally was conducted.

The final list of successful candidates who make it to the merit list based on vacancies, is announced in the following month. Within a month of the results being announced, the new batch of budding and enthusiastic recruits are enrolled and sent to various Regimental Training Centres. Thus, a new batch of fresh and young blood is injected into the being of the Indian Army.