The
Defence Services Staff College, India is a
prestigious inter-service training institution of
international repute. The institution has a uniquely
distinct culture and ethos, sustained and
progressively enriched by generations of students as
well as instructional and administrative staff. The
Staff Course conducted at the institution ensures
the opportunity to study the nuances of military
profession unhindered by myriad other service
commitments and responsibilities. The environment,
with its invigorating climate is ideal for
professional learning and research work, having an
excellent social milieu and quality of life.
The DSSC is a unique
institution that has a multi-service and
multi-national body of student officers brought
together for joint training.
The mission of the College is
to train Army, Navy and Air Force officers in
command and staff functions, in peace and war, in
each service and for joint services environment. It
also provides broad general education so as to equip
them to hold staff appointments, tenable by Majors
to Colonels in the Army and equivalent ranks in the
Navy and Air Force.
As budding staff officers it
is pertinent to know what is expected of a staff
officer. Centuries ago, Kautilya had enunciated some
of the qualities that a staff officer must possess –
he said “a successful staff officer should be
possessed of the need for application of science;
intelligence; perseverance; dexterity; eloquence;
should be bold; ready witted; energetic and
powerful; able to withstand stress; upright;
friendly; firmly devoted; a man of character,
strength, health and spirit; devoid of stiffness and
fickleness; amiable and not given to creating
animosities”. It is a long and demanding list
indeed, yet pertinent even today. Every student
officer in the hallowed portals of DSSC is
encouraged, to carry out introspection to assess, as
to which of these traits they possess and which they
need to imbibe.
The environment maintained
here is conducive to learning – there is free
exchange of ideas and an ambience, which encourages
professional dissent – dissent within the norms of
service etiquette. Here, every student officer is
encouraged to learn, to question and challenge the
concepts and critically analyse any given situation.
The curriculum is designed to encourage participants
to move away from set piece solutions, think through
a situation and provide viable options.
Besides the curriculum, the
College schedule is structured to facilitate overall
development of an officer and his family – special
emphasis is laid on sports, pastime and cultural
activities with a plethora of planned events. These
activities assist in imbibing the spirit of
camaraderie and spirit of healthy competition. There
are special courses for the ladies, like
Institutionalised Training for Officers’ Wives and
Post Graduate Diploma Programme in Management and
Public Relations to hone their natural skills into a
fine art.
Experience shows that almost
every DSSC graduate granted a boon, would desire to
attend this course again. One misses it years after
bidding adieu to the salubrious surroundings. This
unique institution ensures that student officers
make the best of their stay here, both in terms of
professional stimulation and growth and enjoying the
distinct quality of life that is unique to this
famed Institution.
