Siachen Sees Deployment of the First Woman Officer
Captain Shiva Chauhan from the Corps of Engineers has been posted in first such operational deployment of an woman Army officer.In January 2023, Captain Shiva Chauhan of Fire and Fury Corps made history by becoming the first woman officer to be operationally deployed in Siachen, the world's highest battlefield. She was posted at the Kumar post, located at an altitude of around 15,600 feet, for a three-month stint. Prior to her deployment, Chauhan underwent a grueling one-month training program, which included endurance training, ice wall climbing, avalanche and crevasse rescue, and survival drills at the Siachen Battle School, along with other Indian Army officers.
Despite facing various challenges, Chauhan displayed unflinching commitment and successfully completed the training, earning her the opportunity to be inducted into the Siachen Glacier. This achievement was lauded by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who praised Chauhan's deployment as a testament to the spirit of India's Nari Shakti (women power), in a tweet.
Chauhan, a Bengal Sapper Officer hailing from Rajasthan, had a passion for joining the Indian Armed Forces since childhood. She completed her schooling from Udaipur and graduated from NJR Institute of Technology, Udaipur, with a degree in civil engineering. After showcasing unparalleled zeal during training at Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai, Chauhan was commissioned into the Engineer Regiment in May 2021, as stated by the Army.