Women get the same training as men. We aim to become experts in the field: Cadets

CHENNAI: It was a proud moment for the parents of five women cadets who got their first combat role posting in artillery after passing out from Officers Training Academy (OTA) on Saturday.
After the pipping ceremony, where parents pin the stars on the lapel at the passing out parade, the women got mobbed by parents, Army officers and others. Many congratulated them while others, including senior Army officers, posed for photographs along with them unmindful of the searing peak summer heat.
Mehak Saini, who hails from Hisar in Haryana, said, “Women are no less than men.We get the same training and I am happy that my posting will encourage juniors to join combat roles.”
Lt Col Sabarish Kumar said, “We are from an Army family. I want my daughter to do whatever she likes to do. We give full support. Combat postings do not make us worried as it’s part of the Army life, and we are rather proud,” he added.
Lieutenant Pious Mudgil, said, “We will get trained together and aim to become experts in the field.”
The women cadets who passed out will be trained to handle rocket, medium and field and surveillance and target acquisition units. Three will be posted in units deployed along the northern borders and two in western border.
Director General of Artillery Lt Gen Adosh Kumar said it was a momentous occasion for the regiment of artillery. “We have made the right beginning. The new officers who have been selected will be given different kinds of training at the artillery centre for around a year and will be posted in the western and northern borders.”
He said, “We are in the process of indigenisation and modernisation, and the cadets who got the posting will be exposed to cutting edge technology.”