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A historic first for women

Staff Reporter

— Photo: Vipin Chandran

Sub-Lieutenants Seema Rani Sharma and Ambica Hooda after the passing-out parade at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi on Friday.

Kochi: History was created at the Southern Naval Command here on Friday when the first two women combatants of the Navy were awarded with the ‘wings’ at an impressive passing-out ceremony.

Rear Admiral Sudhir Pillai, Flag Officer Naval Aviation striped the ‘wings’ on six officers of the 70th observer course and four officers, including Sub-Lieutenants Ambica Hooda and Seema Rani Sharma, at INS Garuda at the Naval Base.

Hari Gopal Sharma, Sub Lt. Seema’s father, who retired from the Navy as an honorary Sub-Lieutenant, watched with pride as his ward marked a historic first at the ceremony held the Aeronautical Engineering Department (AED) hangar, where he worked before retirement in 2002. Sub Lt. Ambica, who was adjudged the ‘best trainee in flying’ of the first short service commission observer course, however, had no family members present on the occasion “as there was a wedding taking place back home in Haryana.”

Addressing the parade, Rear Admiral Pillai welcomed the young observers into the world of aviation and said the country was acquiring state-of-the art airborne platforms, advanced weapons and the best of sensors for the Navy and that it was for the aviators to use them in the best possible way. He also reminded them that ‘attitude’ and professional acumen alone would steer them ahead in their careers.

Welcoming the Navy’s first lady combatant officers into the air arm, Rear Admiral Pillai urged them to set high benchmarks in personal and professional conduct.

Lt. Abhishek Pathak of the 70th ab initio observer course and Sub Lt. Ajay Rajpurohit of the first short service commission observer course were adjudged the best all-round observers in their respective courses. Lt. Mohammed Wahidullah was the best in ‘ground training’ in the 70th ab initio observer course.

All the graduated officers will now join different squadrons of the Navy where they will fly Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and helicopters. The parade was conducted by Captain Vijesh Kumar Garg, Commanding Officer of INS Garuda.

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