MANESAR: Mahalakshmi Subramani, President, Defence Wives Welfare Association (DWWA), on October 7, interacted with the trainees of the First Mahila Commando Conversion Course (MCCC-01) at the NSG Training Academy, Manesar, and lauded their courage, resilience and commitment to serving the nation.
Addressing the women personnel undergoing the pioneering 12-week commando conversion course, Mahalakshmi Subramani described their selection as a matter of great distinction and reminded them of the significance of the word “SELECT”—representing the Best, Excellent, Leaders, Exceptional and Chosen. She urged the trainees to recognise the responsibility and privilege that come with being selected for one of the most demanding professional challenges of their careers.
Drawing from her experience of over three decades of living the military life and her understanding of the significance of wearing the uniform, Mahalakshmi Subramani said that the trainees were not merely undergoing another course, but were preparing to “win another uniform”—one that has to be earned through exceptional physical fitness, mental strength and professional competence.
She described the women undergoing the course as embodiments of “Mahila Shakti”, highlighting the qualities of courage, strength, brilliance and achievement that women bring to the uniformed services. She acknowledged that the trainees had already demonstrated extraordinary resilience through demanding duties, extreme weather conditions, night patrolling, crowd management, law-and-order duties and VIP deployments.
Mahalakshmi Subramani emphasised that the commando course, however, represented a different level of challenge. “This is not about managing others; it is about transforming yourself into a game changer,” she told the trainees, stressing the importance of remaining mentally alert, emotionally aware and physically and professionally prepared.
She particularly highlighted the transformative nature of the 12-week training, describing the two modules as a process in which the first module would “filter” the trainees through demanding standards, while the second would “transform” them into professionals capable of meeting commando-level requirements.
Sharing practical strategies for coping with demanding training, Mahalakshmi Subramani encouraged the trainees to maintain a sense of humour, support one another and use camaraderie as a source of strength. She described the ability of women to multitask even under pressure as a manifestation of their innate strength, while reminding them that resilience, discipline, courage and excellence are already part of the identity of women serving in uniform.
She also underlined the importance of maintaining wellness of the mind, body and spirit during demanding training. Among the simple practices she recommended were taking a few moments of silence to regain inner balance, stretching and acknowledging the body’s effort, practising breathing exercises and maintaining a brief journal focused on personal achievements and moments of strength. She emphasised that such habits can help trainees remain composed, focused and mentally resilient.
One of the central messages of her address was the importance of protecting one’s focus. Addressing the attention and expectations surrounding India’s first Mahila Commando Conversion Course, she advised the trainees not to become distracted by external commentary, comparisons or the pressure to prove themselves. “You do not have to prove anything to anyone,” she told them, emphasising that they were not at the academy to become symbols or to win a gender debate, but to become stronger, more skilled and more capable professionals serving the nation.
She further emphasised that the academy has only one standard—the “Commando Standard”—which she described as gender-neutral, demanding and honest. She urged the trainees to focus on immediate action, discipline and the task at hand rather than social-media commentary, comparisons or distractions.
Mahalakshmi Subramani also placed special emphasis on the spirit of teamwork and the buddy system. She encouraged the trainees to stand by each other through the demanding 12-week journey, saying that if one falls, the other should help her rise and continue moving forward.
She reminded the trainees of the larger responsibility that awaits them after completing the course: they will be the women who protect others, secure hostages, break through doors when required, bring people safely home and inspire young girls across the country to aspire to become commandos themselves.
Her address also carried a strong message of pride and purpose. She told the trainees that their journey represented an opportunity to provide an even greater level of service to the nation and that their contribution would one day be recognised and saluted by the country.
Concluding her address on an inspiring note, Mahalakshmi Subramani celebrated the spirit of “Mahila Power”, describing it through qualities such as being mission-ready, fearless, determined, resilient, leadership-oriented and always prepared for duty. She told the trainees that the women standing on the soil of Manesar were ready to respond to every challenge with the spirit: “Task do, karke dikhati hoon.”
She conveyed her heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the trainees on behalf of the Defence Forces and expressed hope that the course would make them even stronger and enable them to continue serving the nation with greater capability and commitment. “Hamara saath hamesha aapke saath hai,” she assured them.
The interaction reflected DWWA’s continued commitment towards women’s empowerment, resilience, leadership, professional excellence and the well-being of women serving the nation. Mahalakshmi Subramani’s interaction with the trainees served as an encouraging reminder that strength in uniform is not merely physical—it is also reflected in mental resilience, discipline, teamwork, self-belief and an unwavering commitment to duty.
