'1

SOME "DON'TS'' AND 6'DOS''

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YOUNG OFFICERS

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6'DON'TS''
Don't

be too dressy, but bc smart

Don't trlk in a loud voice

It

in

your turn out at all times.

is bad form to do so.

Doa't ever contradict your senior Offcers. ll you disagree with their views
merely say "I hope you won't thiok I am coutradicting you, I feel
etc., etc."

,
iI
l,
Y
I

Don't

be snobbish or corceitcd
it is bad manners and it does NOT do you
- mercly
you will
any good in life
- in ,hc station. bccome unpopular with your brotber
Olficers 8nd others

Don't

brag of what you can do at games and at your work

out for themselve wbat you are really worth.

let tb others find

Don't

ever sign any document, official or otherwlse, without fitst reading it

You might bo badly let down by yorr clerks if
you don't read it.

from top to bottom.

Don't

grouse that you have too much work to do in your unit. Grousing
sure sign of alackness and SLACKERS are NOf wanted itr the srmy.

Don't

ever make a statement unless

is

you are sure of facts and figures.

Don't givc your opinion unless it is ASKED for.

Don't for

goodncss sake

talk "SHOP" in rbe Mcss or at private parties,

..

Don't bring in officirl matter! to interfere with privatc affairs.

Don't be too flashy
Don't
Don't

about your work. Go about

it quietly and

uoassumingly.

pleasc don't, sulk if you get told oflby your senior Offlccrs
mislakes you may make It is very bad form for an Officer to
leads to bad discipline in your unit.

for any
ulk-it

get iDto tbc MOS't DESPICABLE habit of discussing your brother Officers amongst yourselves. lt has led to in thc past atrd ALWAYS leads
to more trouble and unhappiness ln your unit thao you can dream of.

Don't cver criticize other units or

brag about your own.

Don't
Doo't

fall at your fect

you. you must go half way

sit- tiph-t a-rd cxccpt people in the Statioo to come and

to

and makc lricnds witb you or

to do your bit

cotertain

keep on saying that you cannot sfford to do this or that or don,t talk too
much of the fleet of cErs or strings of horses you may havc at your home.

Don't be too scnsitive or too imagioative-by thir is meatrt doo't take offoncc
where Do offence is iotcndcd.

Don't

be insinuating or sarcastic. Being sarcastic to your subordinates is likc

hitting a man wbo cannot hit you back.

Don't make

personal

jokes-lomo take them well but a lot takc them ill.

Don't try to purchasc

popularity of cheap kitrd by cxcestivc conviviality.

Don't draw public atteotior by cccentric behaviour or by a regular display of

wealth if you are blesscd with it.
Don't

Doo't

be

too

free with the Other.Rank

to know them wcll

and you

will

io your unit ncr too steudoflish. Get

get

a'.lot

out of thcm,,,

take part io low jokes in the vernacular with tbc Othcr Ranks.

Don't tell "tales out of school" with

Officcrs lt
tales"

the hope of gainiog favour of your senior

of ao officer to indulge in .,carrling

is MOST unbeconring

int_o {1b! and if you do, own up about it to your Commanding Offi
cer and tell him All tbe debts owed.-

Don't run

Don't refer to your unit Commander

manding Officer"

-it

as

"C.O."

is more respectfull.

Don't discuss Politics and religion in the

but refer

to

him

as "Com-

Mess.

Don't GET MARRIED UNTIL AT LEAST, YOU ARE A CAPTAIN

AND YOU HAVE DONE ALL THE OBLIGATORY COUNSES
OF INSTRUCTION.

'6DOS"
Do make your motto "DO IT NOW,' and stick to it at all times,
Do everything you do, thoroughly.
Do bc vcry punctilious about saluting and salute smar y AT ALL timcs,
Do 'Sir' Politrcal and Civil Officers of the INDIAN Services wirh over
yearc Service.

15

Do be 'straight'and call -a,spade a spade'. lf you bear of anyonc baving

spokcn
of nuriing hearsavs and thereby ietting thingl
-ill of you-instead
get unpleasant
- go straight to the person concerned and bave it thrash;d
Do
Do
Do
Do
:- , .,'-

out with him then and there and then forget all about it.
rcspect everytbing that_ is Regimental. See that no unauthorised person
nses your RegimeDtal note paper or wears your tie or make use of any
sucb other. Regimental thiog.kcep- your "family", i.e. Regimental, troubles to yourselves, For Heaven,g

sake DOVT wasb DIRTY LINEN lN pUBLtC.

own up your mistake before you are found out.

lo your Commanding Officer or to your Adjutant when you are in

trouble of any description. and tell them all about it. They will savi
you matry an embarrassment in life if you dc it at the very fiist instance.
Do remember that tbe duties of your profession which rcquire vou to keen
yolr. bodies strong do not in ariy way involvc the feeping oi y;ui
go.

minds weak

Do

see. that y-o-u .Dever waste an instaDt,s time, The sin of idleness is a
th-ousaa-dfold greater inyou than inother youths,*for,. the fate of tbose

will one day be under your command in tbe battlefield hancs

upon your knowledge-lost mom-nts now will be lost lrves then_aid
overy instant. wbich you carelessly take for play you buy wirh blood. --Do realise tbat as Officers and Gentlcmen you belons to a class wbose word
is trusted- it is a beritage you sbould b6 proud of.
Do take an active part in games, cspecially in tbose which the men of your
unit play.
Do stick to the customs of thc Servicc and ofyour orvn unit no matter how
trivisl _such customs may appear to yor. They h{lp ro maintain the
esprrt
so essential to keep up tbe good !arr1e; the tradition and
tbe e ^de-corps
lcleocy ol your unit,
wDo

Staff College Quetta,

December 19J3.

Later, Commander in Cbief)

K.M.Cariappa
Captain,

Indian Army from

t949-t953