The transition from military to civilian life is rarely straightforward. After years of structured command, operational discipline, and high-stakes decision-making, veterans often face a steep learning curve when entering the corporate world. For military spouses, the challenge is different but equally demanding: balancing career ambitions with frequent relocations and long-distance periods tied to their partners' service.
Yet the skills honed in military service—leadership under pressure, adaptability, teamwork, and mission-focused execution—are precisely what many organisations need.
At Amazon India, the Military Programme, launched in 2019, creates pathways for both veterans and military spouses through flexible policies, employee-led groups like Warriors@Amazon, and internal mobility opportunities. The programme partners 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 Organisation (AWPO), and the Indian Coast Guard to connect veterans and military families with career opportunities across India.
This Republic Day, we speak to three individuals who've successfully transitioned from military service, or built careers alongside military family life, into diverse roles at Amazon India.
Amandeep Chauhan: From commanding missiles to managing compliance
Amandeep Chauhan joined the Indian Army in 1994 as a soldier in an Infantry Regiment, inspired by television series like Fauji and Param Vir Chakra. He later became a commissioned officer in the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME).
Over a 27-year military career, Amandeep served as a commando, commanded a missile maintenance facility, supported pan-Army operational logistics, and led a UN-backed communication infrastructure project in Israel and Syria. In 2021, he joined Amazon India as Senior Manager, Risk and Compliance in Bengaluru.
"Amazon's dedicated programme for military veterans was instrumental in ensuring my smooth transition into an impactful corporate role," he says. Today, Amandeep oversees the risk and compliance framework for time and attendance solutions used by 1.2 million Amazon employees across 54 countries.
"Managing critical military infrastructure in the Indian Army taught me to operate under high-stakes conditions where non-compliance could have severe consequences. Leading operations for strategic manufacturing bases and IT infrastructure projects in conflict zones required meticulous attention to regulatory frameworks, resource allocation, and risk mitigation—skills directly transferable to managing risk and compliance roles in corporate. My experience developing comprehensive digital risk management systems and conducting operational risk assessments during military service helped me transition seamlessly into a global compliance role at Amazon."
His advice for veterans is practical: translate military experience into business language, emphasising outcomes over jargon. "Veterans possess invaluable skills—leadership under pressure, systematic problem-solving, and mission-focused execution—that translate powerfully to corporate environments, especially in risk management and compliance roles."
Kumar Vikram Singh: Continuing the mission beyond uniform
Kumar Vikram Singh dedicated over 20 years to the Indian Army, retiring as Colonel. In 2022, he joined AWS Support Engineering, bringing leadership skills that aligned naturally with Amazon's culture.
"Many values we lived by in the Army—like ownership, calculated risk-taking, and delivering results—are deeply embedded in Amazon's Leadership Principles," he shares.
One of his biggest adjustments was leading geographically distributed virtual teams after years of on-ground command roles. "Managing teams remotely was my biggest challenge initially," Kumar recalls.
With strong support from leaders and peers, he evolved his leadership style, building trust and fostering collaboration. AWS's flexibility has been transformative for Kumar's family stability after frequent military relocations.
"This flexibility allowed me to spend quality time with my family and support my children's education—something that was difficult earlier," he says.
Beyond his core role, Kumar channels his service mindset through Amazon's inclusion initiatives. He serves on the AWS India Inclusion, Diversity & Equity (ID&E) Steering Council and leads social impact programmes like Amazon Future Engineer.
His commitment earned him the 2024 India Spotlight Winner Award from Warriors@Amazon. "Service extends beyond uniform or specific dates like Republic Day," he reflects. "Amazon's platforms let me continue building the nation through mentoring veterans, inclusive hiring, and community volunteering in meaningful, sustainable ways."
Priyanka Bali: Building a career alongside military family life
Priyanka Bali joined Amazon in 2017 as a Sales Specialist, focusing on seller acquisition and selection expansion. "My focus was helping sellers master pricing strategies, Amazon's tools, and building sustainable businesses on the platform," she explains.
Strong performance led to her promotion as a Business Development Manager. Demonstrating Amazon's culture of internal mobility, Priyanka later shifted to a product role in Amazon Devices, joining the Alexa Smart Home team as a Product Manager.
"The jump from sales to pure product was huge, but Amazon makes those opportunities real—I've lived it myself," she says.
In 2019, Priyanka became a military spouse after marriage, facing frequent relocations and long-distance periods tied to her husband's postings. Post-pandemic, after her promotion to lead the Fire TV product line, her role demanded workplace presence, requiring her to stay away from her spouse. It was during this time that Priyanka discovered Warriors@Amazon and learned about the Remote Work Exception policy for military spouses.
"I decided to have an open conversation with my manager about my situation," Priyanka explains. She found immediate empathy from her leadership team. "There was no doubt about my productivity; they'd seen it firsthand," she notes.
In 2024, when her spouse received a family posting in Dehradun, she seamlessly utilised the policy and relocated while maintaining her role. "Amazon's culture demands candour about your challenges," she emphasises. "Share openly, and you'll find consistent empathy and backing from leadership."
Priyanka acknowledges that her product management role, being largely desk-oriented and collaborative through digital tools, naturally lends itself to remote work arrangements. "For military spouses considering their career paths, it's worth thinking about roles where physical presence isn't critical daily," she advises. "Field-based positions requiring constant leadership presence on-site present different challenges. But there are many paths at Amazon—product, program management, analytics, technical roles—where flexibility is more achievable.
Today, Priyanka thrives as a product leader while actively advocating for military spouse benefits to raise awareness. "The skills military spouses develop—adaptability, problem-solving under pressure, and building community quickly—are exactly what drives innovation at Amazon," she says. "I'm proud to represent both communities and show that with the right support, you don't have to choose between them."
