Lieutenant Saee Jadhav, a Territorial Army officer who made history by becoming the first woman officer cadet to train at and pass out from the Indian Military Academy (IMA), has now taken her inspiring journey to young students in Uttarakhand, encouraging schoolgirls to explore career opportunities in the Indian Army.
Under the message “सशक्त बेटी, सशक्त भारत — कदम छोटे हो सकते हैं, सपने नहीं!”, Lt Saee Jadhav of the Territorial Army’s Ecological Battalion in the Kumaon Sector interacted with 30 girl students of Classes X to XII at Gangotri Garbyal Inter College in Pithoragarh.
During the interaction, Lt Jadhav familiarised the students with the various career opportunities available to women in the Indian Army and explained the different entry routes through which young women can aspire to become officers and serve the country. The outreach was aimed at encouraging girls at an important stage of their education to think ambitiously about their future and consider the Armed Forces as a potential career.
The initiative carried the message, “आज की प्रेरित बेटी, कल की वर्दीधारी नेतृत्वकर्ता”, highlighting how exposure, guidance and opportunities at a young age can encourage girls to pursue leadership roles in uniform. For students in Classes X to XII, such interactions can be particularly valuable as they begin making decisions regarding higher education, competitive examinations and future professions.
Lt Saee Jadhav herself represents an important milestone in the growing participation of women in India’s Armed Forces. She made history by becoming the first woman officer cadet to undergo training and pass out from the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, marking a significant break from the academy’s long-standing tradition of training male officer cadets.
She was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Territorial Army and joined the 130 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Ecological, Kumaon, based in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. Her training at IMA was particularly significant because women officers of the Indian Army have traditionally undergone pre-commission training at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai.
Lt Jadhav hails from Kolhapur in Maharashtra and was raised in Belagavi. Her association with the Armed Forces also has deep family roots. She represents the fourth generation of her family to serve in the military, following her great-grandfather, grandfather and father, Major Sandeep Jadhav.
Her journey into uniform came through the Territorial Army selection process. She reportedly topped the merit list for the single women’s vacancy available in the Territorial Army selection process she appeared for. She subsequently underwent rigorous military training at the Indian Military Academy before being commissioned as an officer.
The interaction at Gangotri Garbyal Inter College carried additional significance because the students were learning about military careers directly from an officer who had herself crossed a historic barrier. The 30 students had an opportunity to understand the possibilities available to women in uniform and gain insight into the preparation, discipline and determination required to pursue a career in the Armed Forces.
Such interactions can also help students understand that joining the Indian Army is more than securing a job. A military career demands academic preparation, physical fitness, discipline, resilience, leadership qualities and a strong sense of responsibility towards the nation.
The role of women in the Indian Armed Forces has expanded considerably in recent years, with women now serving across a growing range of branches and appointments. New pathways have also opened through entries such as the National Defence Academy, creating opportunities for young women to begin preparing for a military career soon after school.
For schoolgirls who may once have considered the military an overwhelmingly male profession, officers such as Lt Saee Jadhav provide a visible example of what can be achieved. Her journey from becoming the first woman officer cadet to pass out from the Indian Military Academy to inspiring schoolgirls in Pithoragarh reflects the broader transformation taking place in opportunities for women in India’s Armed Forces.
The Pithoragarh interaction was therefore more than a career-awareness programme. It connected the achievement of a serving woman officer with the aspirations of the next generation and reinforced a simple message: today’s inspired daughters can become tomorrow’s leaders in uniform, and providing them with opportunities can add new strength to the nation.
