Six female officers have joined the Indian military's specialized jungle warfare training at the Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) in Vairengte, Mizoram, marking a significant shift towards gender equality. CIJWS, a renowned guerrilla training school, has trained soldiers from various countries such as Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, the United States, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and France, focusing on reflex firing, tactical strategies, and survival skills for real-world combat situations.
The Indian Army has focused on gender neutrality and inclusivity at all stages and decided to encourage women officers to enroll in a course that aims at promoting equal opportunities and breaking gender barriers. The six selected women officers will undergo intensive training in low-intensity conflict operations and jungle warfare same as their male counterparts. With the motto of, "Fight The Guerrilla Like A Guerrilla," the CIJWS was established in 1967 by Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw that focuses on unconventional warfare tactics to counter insurgent threats, addressing heavy casualties in the Northeast.
The Indian Army is incorporating these six phenomenal women officers into its jungle warfare course in order to enhance its counter-insurgency operations and also showcase their bravery and determination. Along with the new appointment of women in jungle warfare initiative, Indian defense policies are empowering women and commissioning women as fighter pilots and naval officers, marking a significant step towards gender equality within the Indian Army.
