Junior commissioned officer

History

The JCO evolved from the native commissioned officers of the Presidency armies, who held commissions from the Governor General. The native commissioned officers developed into the viceroy's commissioned officers (VCOs), established in the British Indian Army during the British Raj in 1885. Gurkha regiments in British service had also their set of 'native officers' resp. VCOs, although their homeland Nepal was never a British colony.

Under the British, there was a clear colonial context, with the VCOs being the highest ranks an Indian could attain. The full commissioned officers were British, from the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century. However, that changed slowly under the principles of Indianisation. In 1905, a special form of a king’s Commission in His Majesty’s Native Land Forces was instituted. Indians who had qualified through the Imperial Cadet Corps would earn a commission that was limited to having authority over Indian troops only. Its holders could not rise above major. From 1917, in the midst of World War I, Indians 'with good family background' became eligible to study at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and earn a commission as King's Commissioned Indian Officer (KCIO). By the time of independence in 1947, there were many Indian (and Pakistani) officers who had graduated from Sandhurst or the Indian Military Academy. In 1945 the Willcox Committee Report recommended that VCOs be phased out, though this never occurred.

The Indian Army has recruited Gurkha soldiers from Nepal since the 19th century and separate Gurkha regiments were created for them, the Gurkha soldiers got same ranks as other Indian soldiers; the modern Nepal Army officially used the Indian Army rank system for their soldiers in the 1960s through a series of reorganizations and the JCO term has been used by them from then. After the secession of East Pakistan in 1971, the Bangladesh Army inherited the JCO rank system from the Pakistan Army.

Current ranks

Bangladesh

Paramilitary forces

India

The pay scale for Indian Naib Subedar, Subedar and Subedar major rank is pay levels 6, 7 and 8 (Respectively)

Auxiliary forces

Pakistan

Paramilitary forces

Honorary commissions

There is also a custom of giving honorary commissions to deserving JCOs. Every year a list of eligible JCOs is drawn up and honorary commissions awarded to them. This could be at the time of retirement, or when still in service. Honorary commissioned officers may wear the appropriate rank insignia, but they do not become members of the officers' mess. They do, however, receive the pay and pension of their honorary rank. The honorary ranks in the various forces are:

Indian Army:

• Honorary Lieutenant
• Honorary Captain

Indian Navy:

• Honorary Sub Lieutenant
• Honorary Lieutenant

Indian Air Force:

• Honorary Flying Officer
• Honorary Flight Lieutenant

Generally, in official documents the JCO rank held by the person is also added before the Honorary Commission rank.

References

References

1. "Junior Commissioned Officers Are Gazetted Officers, Says Army".
2. Kumar, M. K. Sunil. (16 May 2012). "Rules of the Raj hindering havildars' promotion". [[The New Indian Express]].
3. Rafter. (1855). "Our Indian Army: A Military History of the British Empire in the East". David Bryce.
4. Stevenson, Richard. (2015). "Beatson's Mutiny: The Turbulent Career of a Victorian Soldier". [[I.B. Tauris]].
5. Carman, W. Y.. (1961). "Indian Army Uniforms under the British from the 18th century to 1947: Cavalry". Leonard Hill.
6. Singh, M. P.. (14 December 2019). "How Indians rose up to be Officers". [[The Tribune (India).
7. Gaylor, John. (1992). "Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903-91". Spellmount Ltd..
8. "History of the Nepali Army".
9. (1993). "Nepal and Bhutan: Country studies". Library of Congress.
10. "Ranks & insignia".
11. "Rank Categories".
12. "Service Option".
13. "Rank & Insignia".
14. "Airmen Ranks".
15. "Pada pariciti".
16. "Indian Army Rank Badges". Indian Army.
17. "Ranks & Insignia".
18. (23 August 2011). "Forwarding of nomenclature of rank in navy". Ministry of Defence (Navy).
19. "For Airmen". Indian Air Force.
20. (29 January 2016). "Re-defining of Badges of Rank in Respect of GREF Subordinates".
21. (2004). "Jane's Fighting Ships 2004–2005". Jane's Information Group.
22. (19 July 2018). "Two Hundred Thirteenth Report - Security Situation in the North Eastern States of India". Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs.
23. (19 November 2018). "All ranks inclusive annual governing body meeting". [[Central Industrial Security Force]].
24. (2009). "The Central Industrial Security Force Act, 1968 (50 of 1968): (As Modified Vide Act No.14 of 1983, 20 of 1989, 40 of 1999 and 22 of 2009)". [[Central Industrial Security Force]].
25. (2022). "The Central Industrial Security Force Rank Structure". [[Network18 Group]].
26. (24 February 1955). "The Central Reserve Police Force Rules/Regulations/Scheme,1955.".
27. "Career Prospects".
28. (1 September 1992). "The Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Act, 1992". [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India).
29. (22 September 1986). "The National Security Guard Act, 1986 (47 of 1986)". Government of India.
30. (2009). "Sashastra Seema Bal Rules, 2009". [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India).
31. "Pakistan Army Ranks with Salary and Insignia".
32. "Hierarchy".
33. (1999). "Role of smaller navies: a focus on Pakistan's maritime interests". Directorate of Naval Educational Services, Naval Headquarters.