“I have heard that in the last two years over 1,500 applications were put up by officers for voluntary retirement to the army headquarters,” says Captain Ranjeet Ranade, a short service officer, who after finishing his mandatory five years of service in artillery, quit the forces to join as executive manager at Cummins India, Pune.

“For me it were the frequent separations from the family and the lure of a salary that was five times more than what I was getting in the army that made up my mind,” said Ranade who added that a large number of his batch mates are thinking of following suit.

What’s more worrying is that they are no longer choosing to remain silent about the move either. “Let’s face it .The bottom line is that today I am earning twice of what the Chief of Army Staff is getting,” said a colonel candidly, who opted out of the forces in December 2006 at 45 years of age and is currently at a middle-executive level post at a leading corporate office in Pune.

“I had two main reasons for leaving - financial and what I call the ‘Mandalisation’ of the army, whereby after 2001 it was not merit but quota system in each arm of the services that decided higher courses and consequently promotions in the forces. Also I thought it’s better that I leave now rather than when I am 50,” he said.

Lt Col (retd) Arnab Bannerji who took VRS from the army in 2004 and is now with an IT company, said: “Just like there is a Siachen allowance, there should also be compensation for frequent postings.” said Bannerji adding, “By the time I had retired, my son had seen eight schools.”

He had had enough. Add to that the attractive pay package and a more exciting corporate lifestyle and it’s easy to see why Bannerji bit the bait.

Brig Vinod Ahuja who retired as the Deputy Director General, Recruiting (Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa), on the day of the budget pointed out that the attrition rates have increased by six-to-eight times over the years. “Graduates don’t prefer to opt for army jobs which involve high risks yet offer salaries in the Rs 8000-10,000 range,” said Ahuja “The current pay scales would make anyone wonder whether its’ worth it to face the enemy bullets,” he added.

If the situation is bad now, it could get worse post sixth Pay Commission, on which lots of hopes and decisions are hinged. “It’s been a decade since the fifth Pay Commission, and every army personnel is keen to know if there is a pay hike in store for him,” said an official from the Southern Command.