Indian Navy took historic decision over the selection of the two Women officers in the helicopter stream of the Indian Navy. The two women officers who will create history in the Indian Navy are Sub Lieutenant Kumudini Tyagi and Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh.
For the first-ever time in Indian history, Women officers selected to join as “Observers” (Airborne Tacticians) in the helicopter stream of the Indian Navy.
The entry of women in the Indian Navy was restricted to the fixed-wing aircraft that took off and landed ashore. Thus, the two women officers will be the first set of women airborne combatants who would be operating from warships.
“The two officers are a part of a group of 17 officers of the Indian Navy, including four women officers and three officers of the Indian Coast Guard who were awarded “Wings” on graduating as “Observers” at a ceremony held on September 21, 2020 at INS Garuda, Kochi.”
The group comprised 13 officers of Regular batch and four woman officers of Short Service Commission batch.
Major Highlights of Ceremony:
- - The graduation ceremony was presided over by Rear Admiral Antony George NM, VSM, Chief Staff Officer (Training) who presented the awards and coveted wings to the graduating officers.
- - The Chief Guest also awarded the ‘Instructor Badge’ to six other officers, including five from the Indian Navy including a woman officer and another from the Indian Coast Guard who had successfully graduated as Qualified Navigation Instructors (QNI) on the occasion.
- - The Rear Admiral Antony highlighted the fact that it was a landmark occasion wherein for the first-time women are going to be trained in helicopter operations which would ultimately pave way for the deployment of women in frontline warships of Indian Navy.
- - The officers of the 91st Regular course and 22nd SSC Observer course underwent training in air navigation, tactics employed in air warfare, flying procedures, anti-submarine warfare and exploitation of airborne avionic systems.
- - These graduating officers would now serve on-board Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.
Sub Lieutenant Kumudini Tyagi and Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh laid the foundation stone for Indian Navy over the selection of the two Women officers in the helicopter stream of the Indian Navy. Equal opportunity and equal status in Indian Armed Forces up grades the Empowerment of Women in India and encourages younger females to opt for the career in the Indian Armed Forces.
