Indian Air Force allows women officers to join Garud commando force

In order to promote gender equality, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has allowed women officers to join its special forces unit - the Garud commando force. However, the officers should meet the selection criteria.

The IAF took the decision last year, although the development has come to light now, according to an IAF official. 

Previously, the Indian Navy had allowed women to join its elite special forces. Now, women officers can serve as the Marine Commandos (Marcos), however they have to fulfill the tough selection criteria. 

While both the forces have opened the doors of their respective special forces, but there will be no dilution in the selection process or training standards.

Notably, the Air Force raised the Garud commando force in 2004, three years after four armed terrorists tried to barge into IAF’s Awantipora fighter base near Srinagar in broad daylight. They were gunned down by the soldiers.

In the past, women were denied more roles in the military citing psychological and cultural factors. The turning point came for women soldiers, when IAF decided to induct them into fighter stream. Navy is also giving more opportunity to women soldiers and allowing them to board warships alongside their male counterparts. Woman soldiers are also inducted in Army’s helicopter squad.

However, tanks and combat positions in infantry are still dominated by male soldiers and are no-go zones for women.

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Women officers and sailors undergoing training at INS Chilka in Odisha who will join the navy as Agniveers next year would have the option of volunteering to become Marcos. On the other hand, the Air Force will start inducting women in the Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) cadre Agnipath model next year onwards.

While the government and military have taken several actions to advance gender equality in the military, the courts have also been a major driver for inclusion. Courts across the country have passed several landmark judgments over the years to break the rules that restricted women from being granted permanent commission and also made them eligible for NDA.