In A First, 30 Women Take Over Command Roles In Army: More Vacancies To Open?

The expectancy to see women commanders in Army is now a reality as the Indian Armed Forces have recruited over thirty women officers across distinctive arms units making them eligible for command roles in the Indian army.

The women officers who have now acquired command roles in the Indian army will also be considered for promotions to higher ranks going forward.

Women Commanders In Army

According to the latest update coming in from the Army headquarters, the first list involving thirty women officers was cleared by all concerned departments including the Corps of Engineers, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Signals and Ordinance.

The departments are expected to clear more lists as and when more officers are selected for command positions. This news comes after Captain Shiva Chauhan was deployed in Siachen Glacier in a historic decision as it was the first time that a woman officer was posted in such an operation at the world’s highest battlefield.

Women officers getting equal opportunities

At the beginning of the year, the Indian Army made its decision to commission women into the artillery regiments as well, and a proposal for the same has been sent to the Union government.

The women officers being given command roles belong to batches from 1992 to 2005. As per the Army spokespersons, "the process is a part of the Army holding promotion boards for 108 vacancies for ranks for women with respect to Colonel ranks."

The Army taking the initiative to increase the footfall of female officers in the forces sets a new course of direction for young women who aspire to enter the armed forces. The Agnipath scheme recently employed its first batch of over a hundred women who will join their training starting March 2023.

As per the update, a total of 108 women officers have been declared fit for consideration for several assignments as commanders. The first posting at this level will be announced by January last week.

Suggested reading: Who Is Captain Shiva Chauhan? First Woman Officer Deployed In Siachen

The deployment of female officers in joint army exercises alongside foreign countries and the United Nations peacekeeping missions is certainly a way forward in the approach of attaining equality with respect to possibilities.

Coming Republic Day, the nation will get to observe women's power in all its form as the parade will embark on the true essence of 'Naari Shakti'. The theme for the parade was recently locked down as women empowerment.

While women officers are finally being offered an equal platform, there is still a long way to go with respect to more recruitment and deployments across the armed forces. This being said, seeing women exercising their role as commanders in the Indian Army imbibes hope for the future and the coming generation of young women who aspire to serve their country.