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Indian Army Breaks Gender Barrier as First Batch of Women Agniveer Soldiers Join Training Centre in Bengaluru
The Indian Army is set to induct its first-ever batch of women soldiers from the Agniveer unit into the training centre in Bengaluru on 1 March 2022. Women soldiers will be recruited each year under this scheme. Once recruited they will serve for four years. Of those who are recruited, 25 per cent will get enrolled into the regular Army cadre and they will have to serve the Army for a period of 15 years. The aim is to recruit 1,700 women military police (WMP) in the next 17 years.
The Agniveer unit is an all-volunteer force that was created in 2018. Its purpose is to recruit and train women soldiers for combat roles in the Indian Army. The unit is named after the Hindu fire deity, Agni, and its motto is "we are the flames of the nation."
The induction of women soldiers into the Indian Army has been a topic of debate for many years. Women have served in non-combat roles in the Indian Army for several decades, but until now, they were not allowed to serve in combat roles. The Indian Army's decision to induct women soldiers into the Agniveer unit is a significant step towards achieving gender equality in the armed forces.
The selection process for the Agniveer unit is a gruelling one. It includes physical fitness training, weapons training, tactical training, and leadership training. The women soldiers will have to prove that they are as capable and competent as their male counterparts.
The induction of women soldiers into the Indian Army has been welcomed by many, but there are also some who have raised concerns about their ability to perform in combat roles. Some have argued that women are not physically strong enough to handle the demands of combat, while others have raised concerns about the impact that combat exposure could have on their mental health.
However, research has shown that women are just as capable as men when it comes to performing in combat roles. In fact, some studies have shown that women are better suited to certain combat roles, such as snipers and pilots, due to their superior hand-eye coordination and attention to detail.
Moreover, women have been serving in combat roles in several other countries, including the United States, Israel, and Germany, with great success. In the United States, for example, women have been serving in combat roles since 2015, and they have proven to be just as capable and competent as their male counterparts.
In conclusion, the induction of women soldiers into the Indian Army's Agniveer unit is a historic moment for gender equality in the armed forces.