First time: Women cadet to lead pasing out parade

Pune: Another glass ceiling in the armed forces will be broken when a lady cadet commands a passing out parade of 103 graduates of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune on March 5.

Harleen Chopra, a medical cadet, will command a passing out parade of 103 AFMC graduates who will be commissioned into the Armed Forces Medical Services.

Chopra, a native of Ludhiana will be the first lady cadet in the history of the armed forces to command a passing out parade.

Earlier in 2006, a commissioned lady officer, Wahida Prizm had led the passing out parade.

Chopra, who holds a distinction in four subjects had joined the AFMC in Pune in 2004.

"I feel great and proud to be chosen for this prestigious appointment. I believe in giving my best in whatever job is entrusted to me," Chopra said, adding that one of her interests is Medical Research.

It took nearly 27 years for a lady cadet and 24 years for a lady officer to break the glass ceilings since 1982, the year the first commissioned batch of the AFMC passed out.

Of the 103 cadets, 84 will join the Army, four will join the Air Force and 14 will go to the Navy.