I dont know whether this is the right category of the forum to put this question on, but…
My husband is thinking of joining the Pakistani Army to work in their factory that produces stuff like tanks etc
If he gets accepted, he will have to undergo training for 18 months, whilst he is staying at an Army hostel and then after that, he will have a six year contract which is irrevocable. He has to stick to six years in the Pakistan Army and then after this, he will be free to work in any country in the world - whereever he will get work.
I dont know anything about the Pakistan Army system, apart from the fact that my grandfather was in it, but now is passed away. My mother in law asked me yesterday if I would ‘allow’ my husband to make an application and i told her that as long as he wont be fighting in a war, then its OK. I know in the British Army and I think in the US Military, employees who dont work on the front are reserved in case they dont have enough candidates for the front. With the current situation in the world and with the slight possibility that US may invade Pakistan for terrorism reasons after the election - i am scared that if my husband does join the Pak. Army, he will be called to front. Whats the liklihood of this happening? Does anyone have any info on Pak. Army whatsoever that could be valuable for me? Prospects seem good, such as government providing us accomodation, schooling for our future kids and free healthcare etc… but i dont want my husband dying in a war, he is all i have!!! Please mind my ignorance! Oh yeah, it would also mean me living in Pakistan for six years! My mother in law said that my grandfather was never called to the front whilst he was in the Army (my husband is also my first cousin) and i dont have to worry about that.
You’re definitely in the right forum bunnyhoney and glad you shared your concern here.
We’d be better able to assess your husband’s status as a prospective applicant if you could share some details about his previous qualifications/experience and which city/country he is now in? If he’s below 28 and a graduate or post graduate in any engineering discipline he can get commissioned into the EME i.e Electrical & Mechanical Enginners Corps of the Army. Most of the work done at the Heavy Industries Taxila i.e. HIT where tanks etc are produced is done by EME engineer officers.
However, once commissioned as an EME officer into the Pakistan Army aftre proper year long or 6 month training at military academy there is no sticking to the HIT factory/office jobs. An officer is a soldier and can be sent to any loaction be it the frontlines or anywhere at all by the Army. Many engineers from EME take active part in war and are much needed at the frontlines, so they are soldiers basically. Once one joins the Army there is no guarantee one would never be sent to the front. In fact no man would join the Army if he didnt have the will to serve on the front at some point. If your husband is considering applying he must be prepared in his mind to be ready to go to war if needed.
Even is US anr UK military it’s the same. Reservists are different in the sense that they are called when reqd. ANd still, any branch even if its not manily a figting branch, is a supporting branch for the figting brances and could be involved in damgerous frontline war opersations in various roles. Dont worry about any of this, there are thoudsands of soldiers at war all over the world and not all of them end up in a bad way.
As for Pakistan Army it’s a great institustion. However the benefits and the satsifaction can be relative. Depending case to case.
If you guys hold a US passport, you’ll have to abandon it. Live in Pakistan and serve till the contract lasts. Which I think for regular EME commsission would be 10 yrs.
On the other hand, if yoiur husband is plannint to apply as an engineer to the HIT as a civilian emplyee, it’s all different. He would be on a civilian contract with the Army and not as an Army man or soldier or officer. He would just be working at an Army industry. If this is the case, Im not very sure what the process or prospects are but the he sure will not be sent to any frontline.
Hey Haris (I love that name!!) Thank you for your information. My husband is 22 years old and he has Pakistan METRIC education and some college where he studied computer science. You are right about Taxila... thats where they are recruiting, but if he is selected, he will be training in Wah. I am not sure whether he will be employed as civilan or soldier, but all i know is that after the 18 month training, he will auto go onto a six year contract to work in the factory to make weapons, located in Wah, near Taxila. After that he can go anywhere in the world to work. Thats all I know. He is going tommorrow to submit his papers for application.
My husband is Pakistani citizen and I have a British passport. Would I have to give that up also? I am dual American.
I see bunnyhoney,
I dont think you as his wife will have to abandon your passports. From your info I think this is some special program initiated by HIT and sinc ethey will be offering some high quality specialized training for 18 mths and bearing the costs for this professional course, they would require signing of the 6 yr contract as you mention.
Witht this setup it seems he's being recruited as a civilain.
When you get more details abt the program and the selection process/stream etc do pls share with us.
Best luck to your husband and you!
Thank you so much for your information and I will of course share with you any progress of my husband joining the army.
I see bunnyhoney,
I dont think you as his wife will have to abandon your passports. From your info I think this is some special program initiated by HIT and sinc ethey will be offering some high quality specialized training for 18 mths and bearing the costs for this professional course, they would require signing of the 6 yr contract as you mention.
Witht this setup it seems he's being recruited as a civilain.
When you get more details abt the program and the selection process/stream etc do pls share with us.
Best luck to your husband and you!
i am scared that if my husband does join the Pak. Army, he will be called to front. Prospects seem good, such as government providing us accomodation, schooling for our future kids and free healthcare etc.... but i dont want my husband dying in a war, he is all i have!!!
An officer is a soldier and can be sent to any loaction be it the frontlines or anywhere at all by the Army. Many engineers from EME take active part in war and are much needed at the frontlines, so they are soldiers basically. Once one joins the Army there is no guarantee one would never be sent to the front. *In fact no man would join the Army if he didnt have the will to serve on the front at some point. If your husband is considering applying he must be prepared in his mind to be ready to go to war if needed. *
I will go a step further and say: If you dont have the will and courage to serve in the battlefront, do not join the army. We dont need an army of cowards and selfish individuals who join just so they can reap the benefits that come with being in the army forfeit serving in the battlefront when the nation calls upon them.
In short, do not join the army if you cant take a bullet for your country. Being in the army is not a job, its a responsibility. If your hubby justs wants the experience and training and later wants to leave and work in another country, ask him to join the Wah factory as a civilian.
My father who was an electrical engineer when he joined the army in the EME corps. In war time, and also in peace time, a soldier follows orders since you are a soldier first and tech officer second. In the 1965 war his assigned duties were that of a tech officer but due to the dynamic nature of the war he was on the frontlines in Chawinda, Sialkot and Barki sectors. After the war my fathers Brigade Commander and Divisional Commanders where hauled to GHQ and ordered to explain why a tech officer like my dad was risked for doing OP/Gunner's job : )
I agree with Amour. At 22 years of age, with matriculation to his credit, I dont think hes 'young enough' to go for commission.
This is a civilian job, served as a deputation with the army. He will complete a 1.5 year diploma with HIT, after which, he will sign a 6 year contract to work solely in the HIT, taxilla. He probably wont even be wearing a uniform, and wont be stationed anywhere else. After his 6 year contract is over, he will be offered another contract (or offered a permanent job) with HIT, where he can decide whether he wants to make a career out of working at HIT, or wants to try his luck elsewhere.
No chance of him being in the fighting forces, or on the front lines.
Don't worry bunny.. there won't be any war. Reasons -
1) US don't want India-Pak to fight
2) pakistan is already near bankruptcy
So they will handover few fugutives to India which were demanded (anyway few of them are Indian national like Dawood)...
If there is war - No one is safe, most of the times civilians are killed in bombing etc And there are more chances of getting hit by Car on road than getting killed by a bullet..
**3) Pakistan has its nukes targeted at all major cities of India and India will not, even in their dreams, dare think of something of this sort, even if Mumbai is attacked a million times over. **
You got that right! So be careful out there on the road!
**