Seventeen-year-old Riddhi Chauhan has become the Battalion Commanding Officer of Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) at Benjamin N Cardozo High School in New York, the highest student rank in the programme, leading nearly 300 cadets.
Arriving before 7 am four days a week, Chauhan oversees drill practice, battalion operations, training and cadet welfare. She joined the US Navy-backed leadership programme to develop her leadership skills and says the experience has inspired her ambition to become a Naval officer.
Chauhan progressed through key leadership roles, including Academic Commander, STEM Commander and Platoon Leader, helping her school achieve success in national academic competitions and leading the development of its first SeaPerch underwater robot. She has also mentored more than 200 cadets.
She credits the guidance of Mahant Swami Maharaj and BAPS youth programmes for shaping her leadership. Chauhan says the experience reinforced the importance of service and consistency, and she is now preparing to join the Naval Academy Preparatory School before entering the United States Naval Academy.
Riddhi Chauhan, whose family traces its roots to Jaipur, Rajasthan, lives in New York with her parents, Ruchika and Dilip Chauhan. She says her family's emphasis on education, service and leadership has played a key role in shaping her achievements.
