Tag: Lady Army Officers

‘Col Sofiya & Wg Cdr Vyomika Are New Role Models For Indian Girls’

By LokMarg

Aanya Rao, a 12th pass-out from Noida, says the lady officers who briefed the world about Operation Sindoor have inspired Indian girls to don uniform. Her views:

The day I saw the images of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh flashing across every Indian news channel, something inside me changed. I had always admired the uniform, the discipline, and the courage it represented — but until that moment, the dream of joining the Indian Armed Forces felt distant. That morning, however, my dream found a face, and a future.

As a 17-year-old girl from Noida, I’ve grown up in a fast-paced city full of ambition, but when it came to career choices for girls, most people still leaned towards medicine, engineering, or business. The Army? That was usually “too tough” or “meant only for boys.” But when I saw Col Sofiya leading a multinational medical team and Wg Cdr Vyomika commanding the skies, something clicked inside me. These weren’t just stories of success — they were milestones for every Indian girl with a fire in her heart and service in her soul.

Watching them stand tall in their uniforms, with confidence in their eyes and pride in their voice, I felt a connection. They looked like us — educated, ambitious, Indian women who chose courage over comfort. They didn’t just make headlines; they made history. They proved that women are not only part of the Armed Forces — they can lead, inspire, and protect with unmatched strength.

That morning, I remember sitting at the breakfast table, staring at the TV, my books still open in front of me. My parents noticed my silence. I looked at them and said, “I want to be like her.” At first, they were surprised — not because I had dreams, but because for the first time, they saw me believe in them so strongly. Col Sofiya and Wg Cdr Vyomika weren’t just in the news — they were in my heart, lighting the path I now wanted to walk.

ALSO READ: ‘My Chest Swelled With Pride To See Col Sofiya On Dias’

Since then, I’ve started preparing seriously — jogging every morning in the park near my Sector-62 home, watching videos on SSB interviews, and reading about the life of officers. The NDA route is tough, and being a girl from a civilian background makes it more challenging, but I’m not afraid. If they could do it, so can I — and so can thousands of girls like me from cities like Noida and beyond.

These two women didn’t ask for special treatment. They earned their place with hard work and determination. That’s what makes them my heroes. They wore the uniform not for show, but with purpose. And that’s exactly how I want to wear mine — with pride, duty, and honour.

Yes, I’m just a 12th pass-out girl from Noida. But I’m also someone who saw two fearless women lead from the front — and from that moment on, I knew I wasn’t just chasing a dream anymore.That’s the magic of inspiration — it turns a quiet dream into a plan, and a plan into purpose.

As told to Deepti Sharma

Greater Role for Women in Armed Forces

‘Expansion Of Women Role In Army Will Benefit The Force’

By LokMarg

Kerala-based Lt Col (Retd) Susan John, 62, welcomes the steps to ensure a greater role for women in Armed Forces. However, she says, the move hasn’t come a moment too soon

I joined Indian Army after my Class 12 in 1978 and am very proud to have served the forces. I was with the Military Nursing Service (MNS). Ours was the only Army corps way back then which gave lady officers permanent commission.

It was only after the Supreme Court, in February 2020, upheld the right of serving short service commission (SSC) women officers to be granted permanent commissions just like their male colleagues. And lately the welcome step of female cadets being allowed to enroll in Sainik Schools.

So you can see it took the government and the defence apparatus over three decades to realize what women are capable of when it comes to the uniform services, that too when prodded by the apex court. All I can say is the decision has not come a moment too early. Better late than never.

I see Armed Forces as the best career option for girls with the discipline, culture, respect and security that it gets with it. I felt so secured in my life as a lady Army officer in the army that it cannot be expressed. The Army unit was like a well-knit family and our matrons were our role models. Today when I look back I feel choosing the uniform was the best decision of my life. I have no regrets.

Lt Col (Retd) John says women know how to protect, be their family or nation

The expansion of roles for women in the Army will also benefit the force immensely. The whole notion of branding women as the weaker sex is mere patriarchal propaganda. In whichever roles women officers have served the defence forces, they made exemplary contribution without fear in the past. And now, there is no stopping the girls and women of today.

ALSO READ: ‘Never Faced Sexism In Air Force’

I can say with confidence that women officers in their new roles will smoothly adapt themselves without a challenge. No one would be able to raise a finger on them when they ask for their promotions or higher ranks; such is the capability that women possess. Incapable men who opposed combat roles or higher positions for women can go sulk now that the SC has paved the way.

Even in the medical core we served in filed areas. In fact there are lady officers who are far ahead of men managing certain corps over their male counterparts. Army can reach to great heights in every filed with the support of women, I believe.

A woman knows how to take care of the family and protect it. She carries this conviction be at home or the warfront. Men can never match the mental strength and the skill of a woman, no matter which roles she takes up.

As Told To Mamta Sharma