Meet Riddhi Chauhan, 17-year-old Indian-American commanding 300 US Navy cadets
Riddhi Chauhan, a 17-year-old Indian-American student in Queens, leads nearly 300 cadets as Battalion Commanding Officer of her school's NJROTC unit. She has also earned admission to the Naval Academy Preparatory School, marking a major milestone in her leadership journey.
Before most students arrive at school, 17-year-old Riddhi Chauhan is already on the drill field, leading nearly 300 cadets through morning practice. The Indian-American student from Benjamin N Cardozo High School in Queens serves as the Battalion Commanding Officer of her school's Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) unit, the highest student leadership position in the programme.
She has also secured admission to the Naval Academy Preparatory School, bringing her one step closer to her dream of becoming a commissioned officer in the United States Navy.
FROM FRESHMAN CADET TO COMMANDING OFFICER
Riddhi joined the NJROTC programme to build confidence and develop leadership skills. Over the next three years, the experience shaped a clear sense of purpose, according to ANI.
Today, she oversees daily battalion operations, supervises training, mentors junior cadets and helps ensure the welfare and smooth functioning of nearly 300 students under her command.
Four days a week, she arrives at school before 7 am to conduct drill practice before classes begin. Her responsibilities extend far beyond the parade ground, requiring discipline, planning and the ability to lead by example.
Sponsored by the US Navy, the NJROTC programme is designed to develop leadership, teamwork, discipline and character among high school students. For Riddhi, it became the foundation of a long-term commitment to military service.
EARNING EVERY PROMOTION
Riddhi's rise through the ranks was built on years of consistent effort. Before becoming Battalion Commanding Officer, she served in several leadership positions, including Academic Commander, STEM Commander, Platoon Leader and Inspection Commander.
As Academic Commander, she helped lead her school's team to the second round of the Leadership and Academic Bowl for two consecutive years and played a key role in helping the unit secure first place in a national academic examination.
As STEM Commander, she led the construction of the battalion's first SeaPerch underwater robot, giving cadets hands-on experience in engineering, robotics and problem-solving.
Mentorship has also been central to her leadership journey. Over the years, she has guided more than 200 cadets, helping younger students develop confidence, discipline and leadership skills.
LEADERSHIP THROUGH SERVICE
For Riddhi, leadership is not about authority but about serving others and setting an example.
She credits both the NJROTC programme and her upbringing for shaping that mindset. She says the teachings of Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, along with her involvement in the organisation's youth programmes, instilled in her the values of humility, compassion and selfless service from an early age.
Those principles helped her navigate demanding leadership responsibilities and challenging training experiences, including Sail Training in Newport, Rhode Island.
Looking back, she says the programme taught her to remain calm under pressure, stay consistent and step outside her comfort zone whenever the situation demanded it.
A STEP CLOSER TO THE US NAVY
Riddhi's admission to the Naval Academy Preparatory School marks an important milestone on her path to joining the United States Naval Academy and achieving her goal of becoming a commissioned US Navy officer.
She is the daughter of Ruchika and Dilip Chauhan, whose family traces its roots to Jaipur, Rajasthan, before settling in New York. Her sister, Kahini Gupta Chauhan, is pursuing a career in medicine.
At just 17, Riddhi has already led hundreds of cadets, mentored future student leaders and earned a place on one of the most prestigious pathways into the US Navy. For the Indian-American teenager, it is not the culmination of her journey, but the beginning of an even bigger mission.
Before most students arrive at school, 17-year-old Riddhi Chauhan is already on the drill field, leading nearly 300 cadets through morning practice. The Indian-American student from Benjamin N Cardozo High School in Queens serves as the Battalion Commanding Officer of her school's Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) unit, the highest student leadership position in the programme.
She has also secured admission to the Naval Academy Preparatory School, bringing her one step closer to her dream of becoming a commissioned officer in the United States Navy.
FROM FRESHMAN CADET TO COMMANDING OFFICER
Riddhi joined the NJROTC programme to build confidence and develop leadership skills. Over the next three years, the experience shaped a clear sense of purpose, according to ANI.
Today, she oversees daily battalion operations, supervises training, mentors junior cadets and helps ensure the welfare and smooth functioning of nearly 300 students under her command.
Four days a week, she arrives at school before 7 am to conduct drill practice before classes begin. Her responsibilities extend far beyond the parade ground, requiring discipline, planning and the ability to lead by example.
Sponsored by the US Navy, the NJROTC programme is designed to develop leadership, teamwork, discipline and character among high school students. For Riddhi, it became the foundation of a long-term commitment to military service.
EARNING EVERY PROMOTION
Riddhi's rise through the ranks was built on years of consistent effort. Before becoming Battalion Commanding Officer, she served in several leadership positions, including Academic Commander, STEM Commander, Platoon Leader and Inspection Commander.
As Academic Commander, she helped lead her school's team to the second round of the Leadership and Academic Bowl for two consecutive years and played a key role in helping the unit secure first place in a national academic examination.
As STEM Commander, she led the construction of the battalion's first SeaPerch underwater robot, giving cadets hands-on experience in engineering, robotics and problem-solving.
Mentorship has also been central to her leadership journey. Over the years, she has guided more than 200 cadets, helping younger students develop confidence, discipline and leadership skills.
LEADERSHIP THROUGH SERVICE
For Riddhi, leadership is not about authority but about serving others and setting an example.
She credits both the NJROTC programme and her upbringing for shaping that mindset. She says the teachings of Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, along with her involvement in the organisation's youth programmes, instilled in her the values of humility, compassion and selfless service from an early age.
Those principles helped her navigate demanding leadership responsibilities and challenging training experiences, including Sail Training in Newport, Rhode Island.
Looking back, she says the programme taught her to remain calm under pressure, stay consistent and step outside her comfort zone whenever the situation demanded it.
A STEP CLOSER TO THE US NAVY
Riddhi's admission to the Naval Academy Preparatory School marks an important milestone on her path to joining the United States Naval Academy and achieving her goal of becoming a commissioned US Navy officer.
She is the daughter of Ruchika and Dilip Chauhan, whose family traces its roots to Jaipur, Rajasthan, before settling in New York. Her sister, Kahini Gupta Chauhan, is pursuing a career in medicine.
At just 17, Riddhi has already led hundreds of cadets, mentored future student leaders and earned a place on one of the most prestigious pathways into the US Navy. For the Indian-American teenager, it is not the culmination of her journey, but the beginning of an even bigger mission.
