Every person who serves the country in uniform, especially those from the Defence Forces lead a nomadic life, cocooned in their cantonments, service culture and ethos. It is a great life full of adventure, mental toughness, physical courage, many times separated from your loved ones…..but it is good as long as you serve the flag of the country. And somewhere in their mid-life many of them have to seek a life outside the Forces when their career growth hits a plateau due to the Defence Forces steep pyramidal structure. This is the point where many of them find themselves literally at sea.
Col Iqbal Singh a Veteran, currently working in a senior role in a large telecom MNC based at New Delhi created an online professional community a decade back. In the 11 years of its existence this Network known as the Forces Network has quietly grown into a very strong global community that helps each other to transition to a civilian life in a friction-less manner. It has informed, educated and engaged its members about life in the corporate world and how to prepare for it. Every commissioned officer from the three defence services, serving or retired can be a member of this elite group but has to be recommended by an existing member. The process is simple and one has to fill out some details by email. There are no costs at all.
While the Network primarily exists to help any Fauji who needs any kind of assistance wherever possible in any place in the world, it regularly conducts seminars and workshops, to educate, to reinvent and to reskill the Faujis who are seeking a second career. Their workshops at DGR sponsored resettlement courses in reputed B Schools are very impactful. In the past Col Iqbal’s Forces Network has conducted immensely popular and well attended seminars in major cities with various themes. Since 2015 they have been conducting seminars at regular intervals. The one conducted at Bangalore in September this year which was titled – “Adapt to Win”. They conducted another successful seminar at New Delhi in Jun 2018 titled ‘Stretch: To Stay Relevant”. Last year it was “Getting Future Ready”. These seminars are addressed by leaders from the industry. It is an honour to hear directly from the giants in the Corporates like Jey Venugopal, CTO, Myntra, Avnish Sabharwal, MD, Accenture Ventures, and many others about their success mantras and how we need to evolve with times.
Faujis are by nature entrepreneurs who work with minimal resources and are adept at juggling the meagre resources be it money, men or material and they are very good at Innovation to ensure success. This streak will further be strengthened by the upcoming seminar by Forces Network titled “A World of Opportunities” on Dec 9, 2018 at Dwarka. Mr. Deep Kalra, Chairman & Group CEO of Makemytrip would be addressing at the seminar along with seven other leading lights of the industry where the focus would be on how to leverage the entrepreneurial strength of the Faujis. It shall also highlight how we could use flexi or remote or freelance working and get into unique professions not thought of before. This would interest the spouses and children of the Faujis too. The seminar is open to all including those not a member of the Network including civilians. To register you have to click on the Registration Link :
This seminar would also give an opportunity to be mentored by experienced leaders. I would strongly recommend all Faujis to utilize this golden opportunity to listen, learn and prepare yourself for the future. May be your spouses and wards too would benefit a lot form the wisdom shared by the industry leaders.
You could share this info with all whom you feel may benefit now and would give them the clarity and vision to plan their life better for their second innings.
Come Get Inspired, Find your Calling and Network.
Really good
I am Col PS Cheema,SM,VSM; serving officer and wish to be part of this Forces Network.
well written sir!!
Sir, A great initiative indeed. I am a prolific writer, a strategic and China expert, expertise in Cyber Security & Information Warfare. Shall like to join the Forces Network. Thanks & Regards. Col Sanjeev Chopra
I would be out of country during this period.
Would like to attend the next seminar
I am located at Chandigarh.
Pl keep me posted
I am Cmde Rajiv Choudhry and would like to be a member of the Forces Network
Wonderful Network to be associated with.
I am Col P C Patnaik, PhD, MBA, MSc, P,, SC, LGSCl. Like to be in this awesome initiative. Away on 09Dec.Will surely attend tbe next seminar /work shop.
Just joined the Forces Network. I introduce myself as Lt Cdr CV Prakash (retd) 63rd NDA
It was indeed a great Privilege to share my thoughts with the Forces Network Seminar held on 30 Jun 2019 at Pune. Excellent Initiative By Col Iqbal and hats off to his spirit.