Indian-American Teenager Commands 300 US Navy Cadets
A New York high school student is leading nearly 300 fellow cadets as Battalion Commanding Officer of her school's Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) unit, the highest student rank in the program. Riddhi Chauhan, 17, attends Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Queens, where she oversees battalion operations, training, and cadet welfare.
Four days a week, Chauhan arrives at school before 7 am to run drill practice. The demanding schedule, she says, has been one of the most rewarding parts of her life. NJROTC is a leadership program backed by the US Navy, designed to build character, discipline, and teamwork in high school students across America.
Path to Leadership
Chauhan joined NJROTC to sharpen her leadership skills and find a meaningful way to contribute to her school. Her rise to the top job included roles such 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 secure first place in a national academic exam.
As STEM Commander, she led cadets in building the unit's first SeaPerch underwater robot from scratch. Throughout her tenure, she has mentored more than 200 fellow cadets, the majority of her battalion. Chauhan also credits her spiritual and cultural grounding, drawn from the teachings of BAPS Swaminarayan spiritual leader Mahant Swami Maharaj and participation in youth training programs, for shaping her approach to leadership.
Impact and Future Aspirations
Reflecting on three years in command, Chauhan says the biggest lesson has been that leadership is measured by impact on others rather than authority. She emphasizes the value of consistency under pressure and the 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. She is the daughter of Ruchika and Dilip Chauhan, with family roots in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, now residing in New York. Her sister, Kahini Gupta Chauhan, serves in the medical field. The family's values of education, service, and leadership continue to inspire Chauhan's achievements.
