First women combatants to be inducted by Indian Navy

Kochi (Kerala), Nov.19 (ANI): Indian Navy is once again poised to create history by inducting two women combatants into its combat arm, which is happening for the first time in the Indian Armed Forces.

Sub-Lieutenants Ambica Hooda of Haryana and Seema Rani Sharma of Uttar Pradesh who will be observers, who are airborne tacticians, on the Indian Navy's multi-role Dornier aircraft, used for transportation and aerial surveillance will be awarded wings by the Indian Navy in a passing out ceremony.

Both are part of the four member officers of the First short service commission observer course out of the total ten officers passing out of 70th abintio Observer Course in Kochi base.

According to Indian Navy's press release the passing out parade of the four officers will be held at Southern Naval Command in Kochi on 20th November.

The Passing Out Parade, to be reviewed by Rear Admiral Sudhir Pillai, Flag Officer Naval Aviation.

This would be a special occasion as this is the first time that the Navy is inducting ladies into a combat arm. Observers are airborne tacticians who conduct operations, in a military aircraft.

Hooda and Sharma, both 22-years old, completed a 16 month course at the Naval Academy at Mandovi in Goa and other professional schools of the Indian Navy before landing up at the Observer School at INS Garuda in Kochi. By Juhan Samuel (ANI)