At an age when many teenagers are preoccupied with school assignments and college applications, 17-year-old Indian-American Riddhi Chauhan is already leading hundreds of cadets and preparing for a future in military service. The New York high school student has been accepted to the United States Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) and is on the path to becoming a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy.
Riddhi, a high school student at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Queens, is currently Battalion Commanding Officer of her school's Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) unit, which is the highest student leadership position in the programme. She manages more than 300 cadets, conducts daily operations, leads training sessions and mentors younger students.
Riddhi started to lead as a freshman when she joined the NJROTC programme to gain confidence and develop leadership skills in the community, ANI stated. Gradually she rose in the ranks and landed at a variety of positions (Academic Commander, STEM Commander, Platoon Leader and Inspection Commander) and climbed to Battalion Commanding Officer.
Her daily routine reflects the discipline expected of military leaders. Riddhi arrives at school before 7 a.m. every week to practice drill before classes begin. She oversees training, ensures discipline in the battalion and helps cadets prepare for competitions and inspections.
Riddhi has also flourished academically and in STEM activities beyond military leadership. As Academic Commander, she also led her school’s team to the Leadership and Academic Bowl for two years. She was also instrumental in earning a first-place ranking in a national academic competition.
Her passion for science and engineering led her to lead the development of her battalion’s first SeaPerch underwater robot, giving her and her fellow cadets hands-on experience in robotics and engineering.
Riddhi holds much of her leadership philosophy to the values of humility, compassion and selfless service she learned through BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and Mahant Swami Maharaj's teachings. She believes leadership is about serving others, inspiring teammates and leading by example.
The daughter of Ruchika and Dilip Chauhan, whose family is rooted in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Riddhi wants to continue her journey by joining the United States Naval Academy after completing her preparatory programme.
She’s so accomplished at the age of 17 and her dedication, persistence and service are all qualities that can be considered a must for a teenager. Riddhi Chauhan is an inspiration for Indian-American students and people who are going to be in her military, proving that determination and discipline can lead you to awesome things.
