Second careers for ex-officers
For officers retiring or released from the Army, Navy and Air Force, including Short Service Commission officers. Here is the official help DGR gives officers and how to use it alongside private-sector job search.
Facts checked against official sources on 4 Nov 2026
Register with DGR
Retired officers, including those on re-employment, register online with DGR. You get an acknowledgement number, a board reviews your application, and you are then empanelled. Keep your release order, PPO and veteran ID ready to upload.
Source: DGR, Online registration (officers), checked 4 Nov 2026
DGR job fairs and job assistance
DGR shares job vacancies for officers and holds job fairs, with separate registration for officers. Its 2026-27 list shows tentative fairs at Pangode, Thiruvananthapuram (6 November 2026), Gurugram (20 November 2026) and Prayagraj (27 November 2026). Check DGR's page for confirmed dates and links.
Source: DGR, Job fairs; DGR, Job assistance, checked 4 Nov 2026
DGR courses for officers
- You can do a DGR course in your last 2 years of service, or within 3 years of release (up to age 60, whichever comes first).
- Officers pay 40% of the course fee.
- Short Service Commission officers become eligible after 10 or 14 years of service, or once the result of their board for permanent commission is declared (DGR's 2015 norms; confirm the current rule).
Source: DGR, About DGR; DESW, Norms and eligibility for officers (2015 PDF), checked 4 Nov 2026
DGR schemes open to officers
- Management of CNG stations: retired officers from Major to Brigadier, under 60, registered with DGR.
- Company-owned, company-operated fuel outlets: officers and JCOs aged 60 or under, sponsored by DGR.
- Coal loading and transportation: a company formed by 5 ex-servicemen officers with JCO and OR truck owners.
- Security agencies run by ex-servicemen, empanelled by DGR.
Source: DGR, Management of CNG stations; DGR, Company-owned company-operated retail outlets; DGR, Coal loading and transportation scheme; DGR, Security agency scheme, checked 4 Nov 2026
Corporate roles
Employers hire ex-officers for what they did, not for rank. Describe the size of the team you led, the budget or assets you handled and the results, in terms a civilian recruiter can compare. Short Service Commission officers usually leave younger, so start the search well before your release date.
Frequently asked questions
How do retired officers register with DGR?
Online on dgrindia.gov.in. You upload your release order, PPO and veteran ID, get an acknowledgement number, and a board reviews your application before you are empanelled.
Can Short Service Commission officers do a DGR course?
DGR's 2015 norms say SSC officers become eligible after 10 or 14 years of service, or once their permanent commission board result is declared. Confirm the current rule with DGR or your service headquarters.
Does DGR hold job fairs for officers?
Yes. DGR lists its job fairs with separate registration for officers and for JCOs and ORs. Check dgrindia.gov.in for confirmed dates.
Meet the recruiters looking for officers
Create a free VetNet account to apply for jobs, let recruiters who want to hire veterans find you, and connect with officers who have already made the move.