Since childhood I aspired to join the Indian Army. I grew up watching my father serving in Sikh regiment and it was his dream that I would go one step beyond him to become an officer one day. He once told me, “As a serviceman in the Army, I’ve always saluted my superiors. I am waiting for the day when I will get to salute you.”

Hello everyone, I am Anuradha Yadav from West Bengal. I did my engineering from B P Poddar Institute of Management and Technology. At college, I was into extra-curricular activities such as organizing events and managing teams. I have always been a very outspoken person. My father always wanted me to become a Civil Service Officer, but I had no clarity as to how to make my way through. Therefore, I wasn’t keen on pursuing it then. I belong to a civilian background and the exposure to defence came later in my life when I was in my 3rd year of college.

My name is Yash Kalkal. I live in Charkhi Dadri, Haryana. Coming from a state like Haryana, it felt as if there was always someone from an army background in the neighborhood. Therefore, it was always considered such a prestigious career that even my family wanted me to pursue it. Recently, when my grandmother died, she told me,” It’s sad that I won’t be able to see you become an army officer but I am sure one day you will.”