Another important duty of the Coast Guard is to provide protection to fishermen and their families and to assist them at sea when in distress. The Coast Guard also takes up various measures for the preservation and protection of the marine environment, and for the prevention and control of pollution in the marine ecology.

There are four major areas of work in the Coast Guard. TheGeneral Duty Branch is the operational branch responsible for exercising command of ships at sea. General Duty officers operate weapons and sensors and are required to have a wide sphere of knowledge of the equipment involved.

Officers of the Pilot/Navigator Branch operate aircraft for the surveillance of coastal areas, and for search and rescue missions at sea. The Engineering Branch deals with the maintenance and repair of the various ships and aircraft on coastal shores. The Electrical Branch is responsible for the effective and efficient functioning of the power generation and distribution systems of the ship, the radio, the communication equipment, the radars and other sensors that are installed on board.

Entry

There are varying entry requirements, according to the different branches of the Coast Guard. For recruitment as Assistant Commandants in the General Duty Branch, candidates need to be 21-25 years of age, have a B Sc degree in maths and physics, and pass the Second Mate's examprescribed by the Ministry of Transport. Those who have passed the intermediate exam and possess a commercial pilot's licence, or have passed B Sc with physics and maths are recruited into the Pilot/Navigator branch. An engineering degree or its equivalent is necessary for entry into the technical branches. Marine engineering graduates, or those with a Certificate of Competency from the Ministry of Surface Transport, or a similar qualification, are also recruited as Assistant Commandants in the technical branch. The age limit here is 21-30 years.

In addition, all candidates are required to have a minimum height of 157 cms and a minimum weight of 45 kgs and eyesight in the range of 6/6 and 6/36 in both eyes.

For non-gazetted posts in the Coast Guard, matriculates within the age group of 17-22 years, are eligible for recruitment as Naviks in the general duty branch, whereas candidates within the age of 22 years, with a diploma in mechanical, electrical electronics, or aeronautical engineering after matriclevel are recruited as Yantriks.

There are, however, no openings as yet for women in the Coast Guard. Recruitment to the Coast Guard is made through their recruitment offices in the four regions of the country: Allahabad, Ambala, Delhi, Lucknow and Varanasi in the northern region; Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Mumbai and Kochi in the western region; Calcutta, Haldia and Patna in the eastern region; Bangalore, Chennai, Chilka and Coimbatore in the southern region; and Port Blair in the Andaman Islands.

Applicants will be called on the basis of their degree marks, for an interview by the Selection Board.

Training

The Coast Guard trains its personnel at training establishments in Chennai, Goa, Mumbai, Kochi, Daman and Diu. Here, the recruits are imparted initial training. Subsequently, training for search and rescue operations, as well as pollution control, is conducted in the US, Japan and Singapore. Often, officers and Naviks are sent abroad for higher training, too, and for courses in management andcomputer training.

Career prospects

As in any government service, officers of the Coast Guard are offered good secure jobs with a number of benefits. These include furnished accommodation, free medical facilities, and free food on board ship.

Moreover, Coast Guard officers are provided with government loans for buying land, house or vehicles and good retirement and pension benefits.

Although the work may involve long journeys out at sea, and considerable risk to life, the Coast Guard's life provides a lot of excitement and adventure. For those who are in good physical health, have a liking for the sea, an alert mind and disciplined lifestyle, there is great scope for advancement in the profession of a Coast Guard.

The writer is the author of The Penguin India Career Guide, Vol I & II. She is also a newsreader on Doordarshan and producer of Hum Honge Kamyaab.