Courage of falcons

This week You! talks to Lt Hina Mujeeb Alam, Pakistan Navy’s first female paratrooper...

It was in 2006 when seven women broke into one of Pakistan’s most male dominated fields to graduate as fighter pilots. It is perhaps the most prestigious job in the military which was closed down for the fairer sex for six decades. Whether it is Captain Kiran Ashraf who was declared the best paratrooper of the batch of 24 lady officers of Pakistan Army, or Captain Sadia, who became the first woman officer to jump from a MI-17 helicopter, or Lieutenant Hina Mujeeb Alam, the first female paratrooper of Pakistan Navy, these daring women have made us all proud.

This week You! talks to, Lt Hina Mujeeb Alam ( daughter of late singer Mujeeb Alam) who is not afraid to jump out of an aircraft with her parachute on. When the Pakistan Navy announced it for the first time ever for their female officers, Hina with her physical fitness, endurance and courage opted for a very challenging paratrooping course in 2014. Receiving her training at the Navy Special Operations Training Centre at Nathia Gali, Karachi, Hina is just waiting to take up more challenging courses like sky and deep sea diving. Here are the excerpts from her interview...

You! What is the difference between paratrooping and skydiving?

Hina Mujeeb Alam: Around the world, paratrooping is used by the army. It is a tactical dive and done from shorter height of 800 to 1200 feet. Paratroopers jump from aeroplanes with parachutes, to be inserted onto the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not directly accessible by other means of transportation. Requiring extreme excellence, it is done from a shorter height and a paratrooper has very little time and a small error can risk life. A fixed parachute is attached to the aircraft with a sling, and within 3-4 seconds after the jump, the sling gets detached from the aircraft and opens the canopy of the parachute at the head of a paratrooper. There is no free fall time. On the contrary, skydiving which is also called free fall, is done from 5000-12,000 feet height. In this a parachute doesn’t open itself, first the paratrooper comes in free fall manner and then he opens his parachute himself at a predetermined height.

You! What skills are required for paratrooping and how the training is conducted?

HMA: It needs both physical and mental fitness. One has to clear the initial efficiency test which involves distance running, pushups, sit ups, chin-ups, crunches, squat thrusts etc. The training starts from ground, where they teach troopers to make fall and roll on the ground. The next step is a jump from the platform of two feet which is then increased to four feet. The practicing ground is rugged, thorny and uneven with pointed stony surface.

The intense ground training is from 6.00am to 6.00pm. Also, we are trained through audio visual aids, which help us observe various things including mistakes done by paratroopers. This repeated mention of mistakes also makes us fearless. Basically, a jumper has to avoid maximum injuries.

You! How did it feel when you completed your training?

HMA: It was a moment of pride when I jumped from a Fokker aircraft at 1,200 feet over Ormara. Since we were only two girls in the batch of 22, so the SSG (Special Service Group) Commandos, our trainers, were also overwhelmed. The para wing (insignia) is given after three successful jumps. During the course, first we do two jumps and while up in the air when we are ready for the third jump in the aircraft, they decorate us with the para wing. This is the tradition of Pakistan Navy to decorate paratrooper up in the air.

You! Why is this training necessary for women?

HMA: The training is basically for stamina building. Paratrooping is helpful in peace and war time or in an emergency. The training itself has made me more fearless and confident.

You! Did your family have any fear while you opted for this course?

HMA: My mother is my only family, who knew that I was taking up a course, with no knowledge of risk attached to it. However, the day I was going to do my last jump, I told her about it in detail. She was a little perplexed but ultimately she supported me.

You! Did you face any discrimination on the basis of gender?

HMA: There were only two lady officers in the batch of 22, the rest were male officers. Our trainers gave equal treatment to both male and female trainees. I still remember that our instructor Commander Kashif, who was from SSG Commandos Group, used to say that the aircraft, parachute, wind or ground never discriminate between a male and female.

You! Did you ever regret your decision at any stage of training?

HMA: No.

You! What are the personal traits which made you fit for this job?

HMA: Since my childhood I have been an independent person and my father always encouraged me to do my work independently. I guess this could be my personal trait.

You! Any moment of pride in your life?

HMA: I often used to visit the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam on 14th August in my childhood and would take pictures with the guards. After I joined Pakistan Navy, I visited the mausoleum as a cadet of Naval Academy. And I took part in the guard changing ceremony as a cadet and saluted my Quaid. That was the biggest moment of pride for me.

You! What traits do you want in your future life partner?

HMA: I want someone to understand my passion.

You! Women are usually afraid to join difficult fields. How do you see this attitude?

HMA: It varies from individual to individual. Some daring women are not afraid to take up challenging jobs while some opt for typical fields.

You! How do you unwind?

HMA: After office, I love to read books or do some household chores, or hang out with friends.

You! Where do you see yourself in future?

HMA: I wish to attain the position of first female Director Public Relations which will again be a singular honour. Secondly, I hope that Pakistan Navy would soon introduce sky diving and sea diving for female officers and whenever such a course is offered I will definitely try to avail this opportunity.