Saee Jadhav from Kohlapur scrips history as first woman Territorial Army officer to train at IMA Dehradun
Her achievement brings an end to the academy’s 93-year-long tradition of training only male officer cadets
PTC Web Desk: Saee Jadhav, a 23-year-old from Kolhapur in Maharashtra, has etched her name in history by becoming the first woman officer from the Territorial Army to successfully complete pre-commissioning training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. Her achievement brings an end to the academy’s 93-year-long tradition of training only male officer cadets.
Jadhav was commissioned as a Lieutenant during the Passing Out Parade of the 157th course at IMA, marking a significant moment for the premier military institution, which was established in 1932 and has produced generations of Indian Army officers. Her formal commissioning took place on December 13 at Dehradun.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis congratulated Jadhav on her landmark achievement, calling it a proud moment for the state and the country. In a message shared on social media, he described her success as a source of inspiration for young girls aspiring to serve in the armed forces, adding that it was especially heartening that the milestone was achieved by a “Marathi mulgi”.
According to her father, Major Sandip Jadhav, who serves in the Territorial Army, Saee has been inducted into the 130 Territorial Army (Ecological) Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment, based in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. He said she is currently pursuing an MBA through distance education while balancing her preparation for competitive examinations.
Major Jadhav revealed that Saee appeared for the Territorial Army examination in December 2023, where only a single vacancy was available for a woman officer. Securing the top position in the merit list, she earned her selection.
Coming from a family with a strong military background, Saee was naturally drawn to the armed forces, her father said. Expressing pride in her journey, he noted that she represents the fourth generation of the Jadhav family to dedicate itself to national service.
Educated in Belgaum and originally hailing from Kolhapur, Saee Jadhav’s success is being widely seen as a breakthrough moment for women in the Territorial Army and a symbol of changing times within India’s defence forces.