New York [US], July 11 (ANI): A New York high school student is leading nearly 300 fellow students as battalion commanding officer of her school’s Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) unit, the highest student rank in the program.
Four days a week, 17-year-old Riddhi Chauhan arrives at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Queens before 7 a.m. (local time) to run drill practice ahead of a day that involves overseeing battalion operations, training, and cadet welfare. It is, by any measure, a demanding schedule for a teenager, but one she says has been among the most rewarding experiences of her life.
NJROTC is a leadership program sponsored by the US Navy and offered in high schools across the United States. It is designed to build character, discipline, and teamwork. Chauhan said she joined the program to sharpen her leadership skills and find a meaningful way to contribute to her school—an experience that grew into a broader ambition to become a naval officer.
Her rise to the top leadership role included serving as academic commander, STEM commander, platoon leader, and inspection commander. As academic commander, she helped her school’s team reach the second round of the Leadership and Academic Bowl for two consecutive years and earn first place in a national academic competition. As STEM commander, she led cadets in building the unit’s first SeaPerch underwater robot from scratch. Along the way, she has mentored more than 200 fellow cadets, the majority of her battalion.
Chauhan also credits her spiritual and cultural foundation, shaped by the teachings of BAPS Swaminarayan spiritual leader Mahant Swami Maharaj and her participation in the organization’s youth training programs, with influencing her approach to leadership.
Reflecting on her three years in leadership, Chauhan said the biggest lesson she has learned is that leadership is measured by one’s impact on others rather than by authority. She also emphasized the importance of consistency under pressure and the personal growth that comes from stepping outside one’s comfort zone, citing experiences such as Sail Training in Newport, Rhode Island.
Chauhan is now preparing to enter the Naval Academy Preparatory School, a stepping stone to the United States Naval Academy.
Riddhi Chauhan is the daughter of Ruchika and Dilip Chauhan, whose family traces its roots to Jaipur, Rajasthan, and now resides in New York. She is also the sister of Kahini Gupta Chauhan, who works in the medical profession. The family’s values of education, service, and leadership continue to inspire Riddhi’s achievements. (ANI)
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