Air Force Officer, Ground Duty vs Army Officer, Short Service Commission
Side by side on pay, work, transfers and growth — so you can rank your preferences with confidence.
Pay level
Level 10 + MSPLevel 10 + MSP
Starting in-hand
₹1,15,000 pay + allowances₹1,15,000 pay + allowances
Group
Group A (Gazetted)Group A (Gazetted)
Exam
AFCATUPSC CDS
Qualification
GraduateGraduate
Age limit
20–2619–25
Field work
mediumhigh
Stress (1–5)
34
Transfers
all indiaall india
First promotion
Flight Lieutenant (2 years, time-scale)Captain (2 years, time-scale)
Choose Air Force Officer, Ground Duty if…
- ✓ Officer career for engineers and graduates without pilot medical standards
- ✓ Open to women in all ground branches
- ✓ Higher age limit (26) than most officer entries
Choose Army Officer, Short Service Commission if…
- ✓ Shorter training and no mathematics paper in the exam
- ✓ Open to women graduates
- ✓ Officer experience that is valued in civilian careers afterwards