As India celebrates its Independence Day, the spirit of service and leadership embodied by the nation's armed forces continues to resonate beyond military boundaries. At Amazon India, veterans from different branches of the Indian military are applying their unique skill sets and experiences to drive excellence across the organisation.
They bring with them a wealth of experience—from operations and team leadership to crisis management and rapid problem-solving. Recognising the significance of supporting and empowering military veterans during their transition to the corporate world, the Warriors@Amazon, an employee-led group, acts as a platform for collaboration, networking, and providing support.
Amazon has also forged strategic partnerships with the offices of the Director General of Resettlement (DGR), the Indian Naval Placement Agency (INPA), the Indian Air Force Placement Agency (IAFPA), the Army Welfare Placement Organization (AWPO), and the Indian Coast Guard to ensure that those leaving military service are aware of the meaningful work opportunities at Amazon throughout the country. These collaborations allow Amazon to tap into the talent pool within the armed forces, expanding the company's engagement in hiring veterans with exceptional skills and expertise.
Read on to know how these military veterans raise the bar at Amazon through their remarkable contributions.
Tariq Islam: From military aviation to corporate compliance
Tariq Islam was commissioned into the Indian Army's Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) in May 2000, serving for 21.5 years before joining Amazon. His military career took him across the country's most challenging environments—from the extreme cold of the Siachen Glacier at -50°C to the scorching heat of Pokharan at +50°C.
"I specialised in helicopter and drone technologies, a domain that positioned me at the forefront of aviation maintenance, unmanned systems, and operational support," Tariq says. "Throughout my service, I was actively involved in multiple operations, contributing both in frontline deployments and in strategic technical roles that ensured mission success."
Now serving as a Compliance Operations Manager in the RISC (Regulatory Intelligence, Safety, and Compliance) Operations function at Amazon, Islam leads a team of 180 people. "The core of this function is to ensure that all products being sold on the Amazon platform are compliant with applicable policies, regulations, and safety standards," he explains.
While transitioning from military to corporate life, Islam found his ability to adapt—a skill honed during his military service—particularly valuable. "The military operates in a structured environment with rapid, hierarchical decision-making and mission-focused execution. The corporate world functions through matrix relationships, collaborative decision-making, and adaptive processes," he says.
Islam draws striking parallels between Amazon's leadership culture and military principles. "Amazon's leadership culture aligns closely with many of the principles I practiced during my military career," he observes. "Deliver Results, Bias for Action, Dive Deep, and Hire and Develop the Best—these principles feel familiar and natural to me because they are grounded in accountability, operational excellence, and people development, values that have been central to my professional journey from the battlefield to the corporate boardroom."
His military experience has proven invaluable in complex situations at Amazon. Islam recalls when his team faced an issue with product listings following a significant regulatory update: "Drawing from my military experience, I approached the problem with a structured operation-style plan." By implementing rapid situation assessment, task force formation, clear communication channels, and contingency planning—all military principles—his team achieved 100% compliance ahead of the deadline.
Jyoti Bisht: From high-altitude military logistics to Amazon operations
Captain Jyoti Bisht's journey from managing logistics in the world's highest battlefield to leading Amazon's operations exemplifies the value military experience brings to the corporate world.
During her Army career, Bisht was posted in the challenging Kargil sector, where she managed supply chain logistics for Siachen, Drass, and Kargil. As the only woman among a thousand troops at age 23, she commanded a sub-depot with 350 personnel and over 70,000 inventory items, developing crucial skills in leadership and decision-making under extreme conditions.
After transitioning to the corporate sector nearly a decade ago, Bisht held leadership roles across various industries before joining Amazon 1.5 years ago. "I find strong parallels between military life and Amazon's high-ownership culture—especially in leadership, team building, and delivering under pressure," says Jyoti, who now serves as Operations Head – East Cluster (Sort Centre Operations), leading six sites across the region.
Starting with a single site, she quickly scaled to manage a team of Area Managers and hundreds of associates, driving safety, quality, customer satisfaction, and performance metrics. Her military background has proven invaluable in embodying Amazon's Leadership Principles, particularly Bias for Action and Deliver Results.
Beyond work, Jyoti remains connected to her military roots through trekking and as as an honorary board member of the ‘Warriors at Amazon’ employee led group, helping fellow veterans transition to civilian careers. She holds a Certificate in Business Management from IIM Ahmedabad and completed a specialised course in Supply Chain Analytics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Centre for Transportation & Logistics.
Vijay Subramanian: Taking logistics leadership global
Vijay Subramanian served in the Indian Navy for 10 years before retiring as a Lieutenant Commander in 2014. During his service, he led a 72-hour non-stop rescue mission to recover a grounded naval ship off the coast of Kakinada, earning a Commander-in-Chief Commendation. He was also involved in improving living conditions on warships, a project that eventually scaled across the Navy.
After leaving the Navy, Subramanian began his corporate journey with Amazon - his first and only corporate employer - as Manager Fulfilment Centre Operations in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
"The interview process was intense—think of it as a well-structured mission debriefing—but what struck me was how Amazon's Leadership Principles aligned with what we live by in the military: ownership, speed, and delivering results," says Vijay. Seven years later, he has taken on a global role, leading Logistics for EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) based out of Luxembourg.
His military experience continues to benefit him in his Amazon role. "Whether it's staying calm in challenging situations. planning under uncertainty, or leading diverse teams—the military prepared me well," he says. "During a major logistics disruption, my background helped me manage the situation quickly and calmly while aligning multiple stakeholders."
Vijay has also benefited from Amazon's learning and development programmes. "I've been part of multiple L&D programmes at various levels," he says. His opportunity to move to Luxembourg came through Amazon's internal mobility programs, allowing him to take on more responsibility in a global context.
Arpit Mehrotra: Engineering resilience in a new environment
Arpit Mehrotra was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers and served in the Army for 11 years before joining Amazon. His transition to corporate life presented several challenges, including adjusting to different leadership styles, adapting specialised military knowledge to civilian contexts, and navigating unfamiliar industries and job roles.
Despite these challenges, Arpit found that his military background provided valuable skills for his corporate role. Mehrotra notes striking similarities between Amazon's culture and his military experience. "Amazon's leadership culture is very close to the Army's way of working—mission focus (both prioritise clear objectives and mission success), leadership development (both value continuous growth and development), and delivering results (both expect full accountability)."
When faced with challenges in his new role at Amazon, Mehrotra relied on the resilience he developed in the military. "One of the best skills developed by the Army is the never give up attitude, which has always helped me sustain in the organisation," he explains.
For veterans considering a career at Amazon India, Arpit emphasises that "Amazon values the unique perspective and skills that veterans bring to the workplace. With proper preparation and the right mindset, one can successfully translate military experience into a rewarding career at Amazon India."
