Ahmedabad, August 14: Air Marshal PV Shivanand, AVSM, VM, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), South Western Air Command (SWAC), felicitated nine women officers of the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force for successfully completing the historic Tri-Services All-Women Circumnavigation Sailing Expedition, ‘Samudra Pradakshina’, at a ceremony held at Headquarters SWAC in Ahmedabad on Friday.
The expedition, undertaken aboard the Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni, covered nearly 25,500 nautical miles across four oceans over 314 days. The challenging voyage tested the crew’s physical endurance, mental resilience, leadership and ability to work as a team.
Addressing the officers, Air Marshal PV Shivanand commended their achievement and described the expedition as a powerful example of Nari Shakti and Tri-Service Jointness. He praised the officers for their determination, leadership and resilience in overcoming the difficulties encountered during the voyage.
The officers also shared their experiences of the expedition, highlighting the challenges they faced and the lessons they gained in teamwork, leadership and perseverance. Their achievement reflects the increasing participation of women in demanding operational and expeditionary roles in the Indian Armed Forces.
The felicitation ceremony was attended by senior representatives of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF) and civil administration. Children from several schools were also present.
Congratulating the officers, the AOC-in-C said their accomplishment would inspire young women across the country to pursue challenging goals and overcome conventional barriers.
The successful completion of Samudra Pradakshina marks a significant milestone for the Indian Armed Forces and highlights the values of jointness, empowerment, courage and excellence.
