The Indian Air Force (IAF) has selected Group Captain Shaliza Dhami to take over command of a frontline combat unit in the Western sector. It will be for the first time in the history of the IAF, a woman officer will be commanding a frontline combat unit.
Group Captain Dhami will be the Commanding Office of a missile squadron. The development came after the Indian Army started assigning command roles outside the medical stream to woman officers. As per reports, around 50 Indian Army woman officers will command units in operational areas.
Group Captain Dhami was commissioned as a Helicopter pilot in 2003. She has over 2,800 hours of flying experience. Group Captain Dhamu is a Qualified Flying Instructor. Earlier, she also served as Flight Commander of a Helicopter Unit in the Western sector.
Group Captain Dhami has been commended by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief on two occasions. The IAF officer is presently posted in the Operations branch of a frontline Command Headquarters. Notably, the Group Captain in the IAF is equivalent to Indian Army’s Colonel rank.
Earlier this year, Captain Shiva Chouhan scripted history by becoming the first woman officer to get operationally deployed at the world’s highest battlefield, Siachen. She underwent training at the Siachen Battle School along with other personnel. On Monday, the Indian Army also shared a video of Captain Chouhan undergoing rigorous training.
