Sonia, 23, completed the rigorous training of one year at the Indian Air Force station Doondigal near Hyderabad. On January 1, she joined as Flying Officer at Air Force Station, Guwahati.

Talking to Newsline, Sonia said, “I qualified the Service Selection Board after appearing in the Combined Entrance Test in 2006. It was my second attempt, and I was confident that I would achieve my goal.” A commerce graduate from Government College for Women, Ludhiana, Sonia initially joined the MBA course at Gujjaranwala Guru Nanak Institute of management Training. “But I wanted to join the armed services, so I left MBA after my selection in SSB,” she said.

Sonia’s father Ramesh Kumar, who works in a private company, said, “I am a patriotic person, and usually talk to my children about love of the nation. I was not even aware that Sonia has decided to fulfill my dream to serve the nation by joining the armed services. I am happy that she did it with her hard work and determination.”

Sonia, who already has flying experience of 48 hours after joining IAF, said that she is fond of reading general knowledge books. “I wanted to have an adventurous job, and am happy that I have joined IAF,” she said.

Added Sonia’s mother Anita Rekhy, “I have always helped my children in studies and have encouraged their participation in extra-curricular activities. It is a proud moment for me that she is serving the nation.”