Captain Abhilasha Barak etched her name among the ranks of trailblazing women in India. Last year, the 26-year-old made headlines as she became the first woman officer to join the Army Aviation Corps as a Combat Aviator. Barak received her well-deserved "Coveted Wings" alongside 36 Army pilots during a ceremony held at the Combat Army Aviation Training School in Nashik.

This historic achievement is the result of the ambition and determination of 15 women officers who expressed their interest in joining Army Aviation. After undergoing rigorous tests, Captain Abhilasha Barak and one other officer emerged as the chosen trailblazers. Their training at the Combat Army Aviation Training School prepared them for this momentous occasion.

Abhilasha Barak's journey from an alumnus of The Lawrence School, Sanawar, to a pioneer in Army Aviation is nothing short of inspiring. Hailing from Haryana and the daughter of Col S Om Singh (Retd), she was commissioned into the Army Air Defence Corps in September 2018, with a B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Delhi Technological University. Her dedication and accomplishments include being selected as a Contingent Commander for the Presentation of Colours to Army Airtypes and becoming the first woman officer to join the Army Aviation Corps as a Combat Aviator.

The official Indian Army's social media platform, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI), proudly declared it a "Golden Letter Day in the history of Indian aviation."

As we celebrate the third day of Navratri dedicated to Chandraghanta, the Goddess symbolizing strength and courage, we find these very qualities embodied in Captain Abhilasha Barak. Her historic accomplishment as the first woman officer to join the Army Aviation Corps echoes the valor and determination associated with Chandraghanta. Just like the Goddess who radiates a sense of fearlessness and grace, Captain Abhilasha Barak exemplifies these virtues, breaking barriers and leading the way for a more inclusive and empowered future.