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Women Officers OTA Chennai
Two newly commissioned women officers achieved top honours during the passing out parade at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in India’s military history.
Lieutenant Pragati Thakur: Gold Medalist
Lieutenant Pragati Thakur was awarded the prestigious gold medal for securing the first position in the order of merit. She held the esteemed position of Academy Under Officer at OTA, the highest appointment for cadets. Her journey has been one of dedication and discipline, having also served as an NCC cadet before joining the academy.
Lieutenant Manya M Kumar: Sword of Honour & Silver Medalist
Lieutenant Manya M Kumar, another exemplary officer, was awarded the coveted Sword of Honour for being the best overall cadet of her course. She also secured a silver medal for standing second in the order of merit. Hailing from Kochi, Manya pursued her graduation in New Delhi. Her commitment to excellence was evident from her early days, as she was adjudged the all-India best cadet among senior wing girls during the 2021 NCC Republic Day camp in the capital. She held the position of Battalion Under Officer during her pre-commission training at OTA.
Women Making History in the Armed Forces
While women officers have previously bagged top honors at OTA and other pre-commission training academies of the Indian Air Force and Navy, it is rare for two women officers to achieve the highest accolades simultaneously.
In September 2010, Academy Under Officer Divya Ajith Kumar became the first woman officer to receive the Sword of Honour, along with a gold medal. Similarly, in 2018, Academy Cadet Adjutant Preeti Choudhary won the Sword of Honour, while Senior Under Officer Vreeti secured the silver medal, setting another historic precedent.
