35 year-old Pilot, an MP from Ajmer in Rajasthan, will be commissioned into 124 TA Battalion of the Sikh Regiment as a Lieutenant and will be pipped by Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh in his office.
"Pilot cleared the Preliminary Interview Board (PIB) at Western Command, Chandimandir and the Services Selection Board (SSB) at Bangalore along with his medical examination for joining the TA recently," Army spokesperson Colonel Jagdeep Dahiya said.
Pilot's first introduction with the TA took place around two years ago during an orientation program organised by the Defence Ministry for young Parliamentarians.
Soon after, the Minister expressed his desire to be a part of the organisation and started preparing for it. He followed a rigorous schedule to clear the written examination, interview and physical tests, one of Pilot's close aide told PTI.
The Minister of State for Communications and IT will be joining as a regular officer and will have to proceed for mandatory training at TA Academy at Devlali in Maharashtra and IMA, officials said here.
Unlike celebrities like cricketers Kapil Dev, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and actor Mohan Lal, who joined the force as Honorary Lieutenant Colonels, Pilot will be joining TA as a regular officer and will get prescribed salary and incentives for the period of his service, they added.
The Minister hails from a services background. His father Squadron Leader Rajesh Pilot was a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF) and his grandfather served the Indian Army as a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). (More)
