Captain Shiva Singh Chauhan’s Story: What it takes to be the only woman army officer serving in Siachen?
Captain Shiva Singh Chauhan holds the distinction of being the first Indian Army officer to be stationed at Siachen. Ice wall climbing, avalanche and wreck rescue and survival exercises – to serve on the frozen battlefield, she had to undergo grueling training where the temperature would drop to minus.
No mountain high enough for Captain Shiva Singh Chauhan. Meet the Indian Army’s first female officer to serve on the Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield.
#WATCH | Capt Shiva Chouhan becomes the first woman officer to get operationally deployed at the world’s highest battlefield, Siachen, after training at Siachen Battle School along with other personnel.
(Source: Indian Army) pic.twitter.com/He6oPwdQM9
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2023
Chauhan belongs to the Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps, which handles some of the most sensitive borders and battlefields, including parts of western and eastern Ladakh. The Corps tweeted a picture of the young officer, saying it “breaks the glass ceiling”.
Chauhan is stationed at Kumar Post, the headquarters of the Northern Glacier Battalion at an altitude of 15,632 feet. About 80 percent of the posts on the glacier are located above 16,000 feet, with the highest post at over 21,000 feet.
Like other players, Chouhan will be stationed in Siachen, where temperatures will drop to minus 60 degrees, for three months. He will be a team leader, responsible for several combat engineering tasks.
Hard training
The captain was added to the Siachen Glacier on January 2. Fire and Fury Corp said Chauhan was hired after “rigorous training”. The Siachen War School includes endurance training, ice wall climbing, avalanche and debris rescue and survival exercises. He was trained along with other officers and men of the Indian Army.
“Captain Shiva completed the training with unwavering dedication despite various challenges,” the Army said in a statement.
Chauhan is a Bengal sapper officer and Kumar will head a team of sappers at the post.
Special arrangements have been made for her stay as she is the first woman stationed on the frozen battlefield. According to a report by ThePrint, he will get a hut and toilet facilities.
