Pune: Cadet Ishita Sharma stands in a significant moment, not only a week away from an important milestone for her, but also for the country. She is part of the first group of 17 women cadets, who will graduate from the National Defense Academy (NDA) of Pune with around 300 male counterparts on 30 May. This achievement is a historic moment for the armed forces, after their decision to allow women to enter the academy in June 2022.“I come from a non-monitoring background. My parents work in the corporate sector, and my brother is an IT professional. I was having a bachelor’s degree in economics when the NDA announced his entry for women. I did not think twice before applying,” Ishita told TOI.The women share the general experience of tough physical training, military routine and strong bonds formed in three years at the Graduate Cadet Academy. He said that a major aspect of his visit has been personal development, which reflects the NDA’s reputation to convert young people into skillful military personnel. Ishita said, “After spending three years here, I can confidently say that my personality made a complete change.” Achieve several achievements on the way, Ishita made an honorary appointment of ‘Division Cadet Captain’ (DCC) for her outstanding performance in all fields of training. “This is that someone gets an opportunity to become a leader from the academy. It develops the character of your leadership naturally,” he commented.His fellow cadets echoed similar feelings about his tenure in the academy, acknowledging the significant and transformational effects of training on his confidence.“Before joining the academy, I was an introverted. Here, I made many friends for life. In fact, my course companions now feel like a family. I would not have imagined it. You make unbreakable bonds that live forever, “Ishita said.Cadets insisted that he never had to compete with his male counterparts for opportunities during his training. “Equal opportunity naturally empowers every person. This is the one that makes the academy unique in all aspects,” Ishita said.All cadets faced challenges during military training in early stages. He worked hard to overcome both physical fitness and mental obstacles. “Once you break that mental obstacle, you push your boundaries to the next level every time. This really matters, not how many push-ups can at a time,” wide Ishita.For Cadet Sriti Darsh, the initial weeks explained a clear feeling about the realities of military training. “In the academy, I really understood what the real experience of military training seems,” said Sreeti, daughter of a retired wing commander. “I had no dream or plan other than joining the armed forces.” “It was an important milestone for me. It was a special day for my father and me when he left me in the academy, a mixture of indifference and pride for him. Now, I am a few days away from the moment my father experienced in my life, and I am excited to share that moment with him on 30 May,” Sriti said.The first battalion cadet captain (BCC) of the group, Ritul Duhan, is aware of the responsibility she does. “We are not just completing training; we are paving the way for future leadership and inspiring young cadets.”
