Divya Ajith Kumar

Captain Divya Ajith Kumar is an officer of the Indian Army of AAD (Army Air Defense). She passed out from OTA, Chennai. She is the first woman to write her name in a fresh page of Indian Army history by becoming the first Lady Cadet to be conferred by the Army with the coveted 'Sword of Honour'. She led all women contingent of 154 women officers and cadets during the Republic Day 2015 parade.

Early life and education
Captain Divya Ajith Kumar born in Chennai to a Tamil family. She is the first generation soldier with no army blood history in her past. She did her schooling in Chennai and went to Stella Maris College, Chennai. She joined NCC (National Cadet Corps) which inspired her to join Indian Army and participated in NCC women contingent in Rajpath and later joined OTA ( Officers training academy). She passed from OTA (Officers training academy). Divya Ajith Kumar became the first woman in the history of the Indian Army to receive the coveted ‘Sword of Honour' prize, which is awarded to the best cadet, where she passed with a total of 244 cadets, including 63 women. She is also a multi-faceted personality, Divya is also an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer, percussionist and well-versed in sports like basketball and discus throw.

Military career
Captain Divya Ajith Kumar was commissioned into Corps of Army Air Defense on September 2010. Captain Divya Ajith Kumar led the first all-women contingent of the Army on Republic Day (26 January 2015).She led a contingent of 154 women officers and cadets during the parade, where US President Barack Obama was present as the chief guest. Nearly 200 women officers from all over the country had come down to the OTA, and after a rigorous selection process, 126 officers, and 28 women cadets from the academy were selected for the parade. Captain Divya Ajith Kumar was selected to lead the contingent. She now teaches at Officers Training Academy in Chennai she travels to schools and colleges to talk to students and inspire them to consider a life serving the nation by choosing a career in the Armed Forces. She is inspiring many women to join the armed forces.