By M S Nazki
I was alone. Completely and abjectly alone. Maybe not in the physical sense, but certainly in my soul, where I was trapped by memories of what had been and dreams of what could’ve been! Everyone thinks that way ad women today are no different
-‘Me. That was why I didn’t want to talk to people. You had to give up a part of yourself to do it, and I wasn’t prepared to share my pain
-Humanity was free in the only way that truly mattered—humans had an implicit understanding that they could express their emotions however they pleased……
-Organizational values are gauzy and assessed in terms of aspirations rather than actual behaviors that can be taught, measured, and evaluated…
-When something goes wrong, individuals and teams are rushing into ineffective or unsustainable solutions rather than staying with problem identification and solving. When we fix the wrong thing for the wrong reason, the same problems continue to surface. It’s costly and demoralizing
-Too much shame and blame, not enough accountability and learning…
-The story which we got was something like this:
-A new chapter in women empowerment and nation-building at NSG. The Opening Address of the inaugural NSG Mahila Commando Conversion Course (MCCC-01) was delivered today at the NSG Training Academy by IG Training Academy Maj Gen Vikas Choudhary, AVSM, YSM. The historic 12-week course, which commenced on 24 August 2026, brings together Mahila personnel for an intensive journey designed to build strength, resilience, tactical competence and leadership. The address reinforced NSG’s vision of empowering and equipping the trainees through rigorous commando training—grooming them into confident, mission-ready national assets capable of leading from the front.
-But before I come to the main story here are a few anecdotes:
-Women have blazed a trail of innovation and made military history. They have been fighting and sacrificing for this country much longer than you may think.
-Here are some pioneering women who forever changed the modern military landscape:
-Private Cathay Williams, aka William Cathay
-Post-Civil War
-Born a slave near Jefferson City, Missouri, Cathay Williams was the first known Black woman to serve in the United States Army -- enlisting under the name "William Cathay" to hide the fact she was a woman. "The regiment I joined wore the Zouave uniform and only two persons, a cousin and a particular friend, members of the regiment, knew that I was a woman," Williams said, according to Army archives. "They were partly the cause of my joining the Army. Another reason was, I wanted to make my own living and not be dependent on relations or friends."
Documents show Williams served alongside the men in her unit -- without being recognized as a woman -- until she contracted smallpox and became ill. The disease caused her to be in and out of military hospitals until it was discovered she was female and immediately discharged.
-Private Opha May Johnson
-World War I
-Opha May Johnson was the first woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. She joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 1918 during World War I, officially becoming the first female Marine. Johnson, due to the good fortune of being first in line that day, was the first of over 300 women to enlist in the United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve during World War I.
-According to 1918 newspaper articles, as well as the published history of female Marines in World War I, Johnson's first duties were as a clerk at Marine Corps headquarters, managing the records of other female reservists who joined after she did. On July 11, 1919, the American Legion granted a charter to the first post of women's Marine Corps reservists. Known as Belleau Wood Post No. 1, its membership consisted of 90 women who had worked at Headquarters Marine Corps. Johnson was a charter member of this post.
-Rear Adm. Grace Brewster Murray Hopper
-World War II, Korean War, Vietnam
-Known as "Amazing Grace," Commodore Hopper's importance in U.S. naval history is apparent everywhere you turn: a destroyer was named after her (USS Hopper, DDG-70), as was the Cray XE6 "Hopper" supercomputer. As founder of the COBOL programming language, a precursor to many of the software code approaches of today, her work is legendary among computer scientists and mathematicians.
In 1943, during World War II, she joined the United States Naval Reserves. She was assigned to the Bureau of Ordinance Computation Project. There, she became the third programmer of the world's first large-scale computer, called the Mark I. When she saw it, all she could think about was taking it apart and figuring it out. "That was an impressive beast. She was 51 feet long, eight feet high and five feet deep," Hopper said. She would subsequently master the Mark I, Mark II and Mark III computers. While trying to repair the Mark I, she discovered a moth caught in a relay. She taped the moth in the log book and, from that, coined the phrase "a bug in the computer."
During her career, she also mastered the UNIVAC I, the first large-scale electronic computer, and created a program that translated symbolic math codes into machine language. This breakthrough allowed programmers to store codes on magnetic tape and recall them when they were needed -- essentially the first compiler.
In 1966, Hopper retired from the Naval Reserves as a commander, but was called back to active duty one year later at the Navy's request, to help standardize its computer programs and their languages. In 1983, a bill was introduced by Rep. Philip Crane (D-Ill.) who said, "It is time the Navy recognized the outstanding contributions made by this officer recalled from retirement over a decade and a half ago and promote her to the rank of Commodore."
The bill was approved by the House, and at the age of 76, she was promoted to commodore by special presidential appointment. Her rank was elevated to rear admiral in November 1985, making her one of few female admirals in the history of the United States Navy.
-Col. Ruby Bradley
-World War II and Korean War
A survivor of two wars, a prison camp and near starvation, Col. Ruby Bradley is one of the most decorated women in U.S. military history. Her military record included 34 medals and citations of bravery, including two Legion of Merit medals, two Bronze Stars, two Presidential Emblems, the World War II Victory Medal and the U.N. Service Medal. She was also the recipient of the Florence Nightingale Medal, the Red Cross' highest international honor.
-Commander Darlene Iskra
-Gulf War
-Iskra served in the Navy 21 years and was the first female to command a U.S. Navy ship. Iskra retired from the Navy in 2000 and earned her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Maryland.
-She is the author of "Breaking Through the Brass Ceiling: Elite Military Women's Strategies for Success" and "Women in the United States Armed Forces: A Guide to the Issues." The story of her first command is below:
-"I hadn't realized what a big deal being the first woman to command a ship would be until I arrived in Naples, and on my desk was a stack of congratulatory cards and letters from people I didn't even know!” she said. “I also got a few cards from people I hadn't heard from in literally decades!
-Lt. Col. Martha McSally
-Iraq War
McSally was the first American woman to fly in combat after the 1991 lifting of the prohibition of women in combat. She flew the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II 'Warthog' close air support aircraft over Iraq and Kuwait during Operation Southern Watch. She is also the first woman to command a USAF fighter squadron, the 354th Fighter Squadron (354 FS) based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.
In 2002, during her tenure as a pilot, she also was embroiled in a controversial lawsuit requiring all female military personnel to wear the Muslim abaya, a black head-to-toe robe worn in certain Muslim cultures and perceived as a sign of subordination to men.
She won the case against Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and the U.S. Department of Defense, on the grounds that the military's dress policy violates McSally's constitutional rights to equal protection and the freedoms of religion and speech.
-Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester
-Iraq War
-Hester, of the 617th Military Police Company, a National Guard unit out of Richmond, Kentucky, is the first woman to receive the Silver Star since World War II for exceptional valor. Hester's squad was shadowing a supply convoy on March 20, 2005, when anti-Iraqi fighters ambushed the convoy. The squad moved to the side of the road, flanking the insurgents and cutting off their escape route.
-Hester led her team through the "kill zone" and into a flanking position, where she assaulted a trench line with grenades and M203 grenade-launcher rounds. She and Staff Sgt. Timothy Nein, her squad leader, then cleared two trenches, at which time she killed three insurgents with her rifle.
-When the fight was over, 27 insurgents were dead, six were wounded, and one was captured.
-The National Security Guard (NSG) launched its first-ever Mahila Commando Conversion Course (MCCC-01) on August 24, 2026, at the NSG Training Academy in Manesar.
-Motto: "She Who Dares, Leads"
-Duration: 12 weeks of intensive, residential training!
-Participants: Women personnel drawn from various State Police Forces and Central Armed Police! --Training Focus Physical & Mental Conditioning: Rigorous endurance drills, physical hardening, and building high mental resilience.
-Tactical Proficiency: Advanced weapons handling, marksmanship, live-fire exercises, and tactical interventions.
-Specialized Operations: Urban counter-terrorism, hostage rescue drills, and high-risk intervention strategies.
Objective: The initiative aims to build a wider pool of operationally capable women commandos across India's security architecture. Upon completion, these officers will return to their respective parent forces with elite counter-terrorism skill sets, strengthening institutional preparedness nationwide.
-Another plus:
-CISF Inducts 22 Women Commandos into Quick Reaction Team Wing at Delhi Metro!
- The CISF continues to prioritise rigorous training, operational readiness, and passenger-centric security practices to safeguard the Delhi Metro, which remains a vital artery of the National Capital Region’s daily life and economic activity.
-The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has inducted 22 women personnel into the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) wing of its dedicated unit at the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
-This development strengthens the force’s emergency response capabilities across one of India’s busiest urban transit networks.
-The newly inducted commandos have been deployed at metro stations with high female passenger footfall.
-These include Rajiv Chowk, Chandni Chowk, Kashmere Gate, Central Secretariat, Sarojini Nagar, and Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus stations. Following their induction, the personnel completed specialised tactical and weapons training to enhance operational preparedness.
-They are now on active duty, equipped to respond effectively to security contingencies at their assigned locations. CISF’s Mandate and the Delhi Metro Security Framework
-The CISF is responsible for the security of the Delhi Metro network as part of its broader mandate to protect critical infrastructure installations across the country. The force assumed responsibility for Delhi Metro security from the Delhi Police on April 15, 2007. The CISF Unit Delhi Metro Rail Corporation operates as one of the largest single units of the force, maintaining multi-tiered security measures—including 100% frisking of commuters and baggage inspection—across an extensive network of over 270 stations serving millions of passengers daily.
-The QRT constitutes a specialised component of this security apparatus. These teams are trained for rapid intervention in response to security threats, emergencies, or law-and-order situations, ensuring swift containment, protection of passengers and assets, and coordination with other agencies as required. Strategic
-Deployment and Operational Significance The deployment of women commandos at stations with significant female commuter traffic reflects a deliberate focus on operational sensitivity and passenger facilitation. Women personnel are particularly well-positioned to conduct security procedures involving female passengers, address gender-specific concerns, and provide reassurance in high-density public spaces.
-This approach enhances both the effectiveness and the public perception of security arrangements. The induction also advances the CISF’s ongoing efforts to develop a gender-inclusive and operationally agile security structure.
-The integration of women into elite tactical units such as the QRT demonstrates the force’s commitment to leveraging diverse capabilities while maintaining the highest standards of readiness.
-Broader Context of Women’s Participation in CISF This development aligns with wider initiatives across the Central Armed Police Forces to increase women’s representation in frontline and specialised roles. CISF has progressively expanded opportunities for women personnel in commando and tactical training programmes, enabling them to serve in demanding operational environments. The 22 women commandos now serving in the Delhi Metro QRT represent a tangible step in this direction. Their deployment underscores the force’s recognition that a diverse workforce strengthens its ability to secure critical public infrastructure while meeting the expectations of a modern, inclusive society. The CISF continues to prioritise rigorous training, operational readiness, and passenger-centric security practices to safeguard the Delhi Metro, which remains a vital artery of the National Capital Region’s daily life and economic activity.
-I define a leader as anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential. At the end of the day, at the end of the week, at the end of my life, I want to say I contributed more than I criticized. The courage to be vulnerable is not about winning or losing, it’s about the courage to show up when you can’t predict or control the outcome.”…………l Mahilla Commandos of NSG!
Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind. People are opting out of vital conversations about diversity and inclusivity because they fear looking wrong, saying something wrong, or being wrong. Choosing our own comfort over hard conversations is the epitome of privilege, and it corrodes trust and moves us away from meaningful and lasting change!............
-The Mahila Commando Conversion Course represents both a training milestone for the NSG and a broader effort to empower women personnel to take on greater responsibilities in India's national security architecture.
-NSG Begins Pioneer Mahila Commando Course to Build Mission-Ready Women Warriors Manesar, September 4, 2026: The National Security Guard (NSG) has marked a significant milestone in women empowerment with the commencement of its Pioneer Mahila Commando Conversion Course (MCCC-01) at the NSG Training Academy.
-The 12-week gruelling Mahila Commando Conversion Course commenced on August 24, 2026, at the NSG Training Academy. The programme is aimed at providing the trainees with specialised skills, physical conditioning, tactical proficiency and mental resilience associated with the elite counter-terrorism force.
-The NSG Director General outlined his vision of empowering women personnel through rigorous training and transforming them into mission-ready national assets capable of leading from the front. The initiative represents an important step towards expanding the role of women in specialised security and counter-terrorism training while strengthening their contribution to national security and nation-building.
-Successful completion of the course is expected to equip the trainees with enhanced tactical and operational capabilities suited to specialised assignments. Emphasising confidence, determination and leadership among the trainees, the NSG summed up the spirit of the initiative with the message:
-Women are currently not assigned or inducted as combatants into the Ghatak Platoons or elite special forces of the Indian Army.
-Current Status Combat Roles: Core combat arms like Infantry (under which Ghatak platoons operate), Mechanized Infantry, and Armored Corps have traditionally restricted direct combatant roles for women, though roles are gradually expanding in supporting arms and services.
-Specialized Forces: While women officers undergo training in certain elite security frameworks like the National Security Guard (NSG), operational roles in infantry assault units like Ghatak commandos remain restricted to male personnel selected from their respective battalions.
-But the day is not far off when they will be!
-Show up for people in pain and don’t look away. “We fail the minute we let someone else define success for us. Don't grab hurtful comments and pull them close to you by rereading them and ruminating on them. Don't play with them by rehearsing your ridiculous comeback. And whatever you do, don't pull hatefulness close to your heart. Let what's unproductive and hurtful drop at the feet of your unarmored self. And no matter how much your self-doubt wants to scoop up the criticism and snuggle with the negativity so it can confirm its worst fears, or how eager the shame gremlins are to use the hurt to fortify your armor, take a deep breath and find the strength to leave what's mean-spirited on the ground. You don't even need to stomp it or kick it away……………She who dares leads
