Army to allow women officers to command select units

In a significant step to empower women in the Army, the government has cleared the proposal to allow women joining the Army after 2015 to command their units. The decision will allow the eligible women to command battalions in branches such as army aviation, signals and corps of engineers. While the decision will be made applicable to women joining the army after 2015, it will only be after about 14-15 years, when they pick up their ranks of full colonels, that they will be able to lead the units. Senior sources in the Army said an affidavit in the case is likely to be filed by the government soon. Currently, permanent commission is extended to women only in non-combat arms such as Judge Advocate General, Army Supply Corps and Ordnance.