First woman pilot, 3 woman officers pass out from Naval Academy

KANNUR

: Thus they created history in Indian Navy, by becoming the first woman pilot and the first batch of female officers at the

Naval Armament Inspection

(NAI) branch, which were considered a male bastion so far.

They were inducted in the force on Wednesday, at an impressive passing out ceremony in the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, in Kannur, in which as many as 328 cadets of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and two overseas cadets, one each from

Tanzania

and Maldives, passed out on successful completion of their courses.

“I know, this is not just an exciting opportunity but a great responsibility also,” said Shubhangi Swaroop, the girl from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, who became the first woman pilot in the Indian Navy. Now, she will undergo the pilot training at Dundigal Air Force Academy in Hyderabad.

Their appointment as officers in Naval Armament Inspection (NAI) branch, which is also for the first time in the history of Indian Navy, is a great recognition for the women in India, said Aastha Segal, Roopa A and Sakthimaya S, who have been inducted in the NAI branch. More and more women are interested to join the defence forces and this achievement will be an inspiration for others too, they said.

Though the Indian Navy started inducting female officers in 1991, now the areas of induction have been expanded, said Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral

Sunil Lanba

, who reviewed the passing out parade.

He said the professional training at the INA has been designed to instill discipline, professionalism, courage and camaraderie among the young officers. After the ceremonial review, the admiral awarded medals to nine meritorious midshipmen and cadets.