Defence
92nd Air Force Day: Group Captain Shaliza Dhami Becomes First Woman Officer To Take Charge Of Ceremonial Parade
IAF Group Captain Shaliza Dhami led Indian Air Force Day parade in October 2023.
In a historic moment, woman officer Group Captain Shaliza Dhami has commanded the Indian Air Force (IAF) Day parade at air force station Bamrauli in Prayagraj.
In doing so, she became the first woman officer to lead this prestigious ceremonial parade.
The parade was held to commemorate the IAF's ninety-second anniversary.
A helicopter pilot, Dhami made history in March by becoming the first woman to command a frontline IAF combat unit.
Dhami joined the IAF in December 2003, commissioned into the helicopter stream of the service.
She is a qualified flying instructor — the first woman officer of the flying branch to be one — with over 2,800 hours of flying experience on the Chetak and Cheetah aircraft.
She is at present commanding a combat unit of a strategic base.
Women are now taking on more prominent roles in the military.
They are are flying fighter planes, serving on warships, being inducted into lower-ranking positions, eligible for permanent commission, and even undergoing training at institutions like the National Defence Academy.
In an effort to promote gender equality within their ranks, the IAF and Navy have opened up their special forces units to women officers. This includes the Garud commando force for the IAF and the Marine Commandos for the Navy.
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