Last Updated: March 08, 2024, 16:47 IST
Many women officers are themselves admitting there is a marked difference in how women feel about joining the armed forces now. (Representational Photo: Reuters)
These girls will undergo training at the Army’s COEs and can later join the forces as direct entry non-commissioned officers, direct entry junior commissioned officers, or Agniveers
The Indian Army is setting up two Army Girls Sports Companies (AGSC) in Pune and Mhow to train young girls in various sports and prepare them for a future in the military.
These girls will undergo training at the Army’s COEs and can later join the forces as direct entry non-commissioned officers, direct entry junior commissioned officers, or Agniveers.
Starting from April this year, the AGSC will be fully operational and will train girls from all over the country in shooting, archery, athletics, boxing, and weightlifting.
According to a report in Hindustan Times, the goal is to discover young talent, offer formal education to the girls, handle administrative tasks, and train them to become champions in their chosen sports.
The two companies will be established at the Army Sports Institute in Pune, Maharashtra, and the Army Marksmanship Unit in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh. This initiative aligns with the national vision of empowering women and demonstrating Nari Shakti (woman power).
Officials said the Army Girls’ Sports Companies will expose young girls to top-notch training infrastructure, a sports medicine center, rehabilitation facility, and coaching amenities. They will also have the opportunity to train alongside senior army teams and athletes.
“The girls will also be eligible for recruitment as direct entry non-commissioned officers and direct entry junior commissioned officers apart from enrolment as Agniveers,” another official stated.
The Army’s success in identifying and nurturing talent is evident from examples like Subedar Preeti Rajak, a champion trap shooter, and Asian Games silver medallist, who was enrolled in December 2022 and promoted to subedar in January 2024. Another example is Jasmine Lamboria, a bronze medallist in the Commonwealth Games 2022, who became a non-commissioned officer in October 2022. Both train at the Army Marksmanship Unit in Mhow.