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Riddhi Chauhan leads NJROTC Battalion at New York school
Chauhan aims to attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School as she pursues her goal of becoming a U.S. Navy officer.
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Staff Reporter - Sat, 04, Jul 2026
- 11:36 EDT
- 35
Cadet Commander Riddhi Gupta Chauhan who served as Battalion Commanding Officer from the 2025-2026 school year at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School / provided
Indian-American high school senior Riddhi Chauhan serves as commanding officer of the nearly 300-member Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) battalion at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Queens, New York.Reflecting on her experience, Chauhan said the position has helped her believe that leadership is defined by service and the ability to positively influence others. "Effective leadership is measured not by rank or authority, but by the positive impact made on others," she said.
As Commanding Officer, Chauhan oversees the unit's daily operations, leadership development, physical fitness training, community service initiatives, STEM activities and academic competitions. She also coordinates leadership meetings, training sessions and battalion events while working closely with instructors and student leaders to prepare cadets for inspections, ceremonies and competitions.
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The Area Manager presents the Distinguished Cadet Award to Riddhi Gupta Chauhan / providedBefore assuming the battalion's top leadership position, Chauhan served as Academic Commander, STEM Commander, Platoon Leader, Training Leading Petty Officer and Inspection Commander.
As Academic Commander, she led NJROTC teams in the JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl, where teams advanced to later rounds and another academic team secured a first-place finish. As STEM Commander, she supervised the design, construction and programming of SeaPerch underwater robots, including the unit's first robot built entirely from scratch.
Chauhan has also mentored more than 200 cadets, helping prepare future student leaders and contributing to the battalion's success. Under her leadership, the inspection team earned first place, reflecting the program's emphasis on discipline, teamwork and preparation.
She has completed advanced NJROTC programs, including Leadership Academy, Sail Training in Newport, Rhode Island, and the Senior Leadership Seminar. Chauhan also credits BAPS Balika Sevak Training, Kishori Sevak Training and the guidance of Mahant Swami Maharaj for reinforcing the values of humility, integrity, discipline and selfless service.
Chauhan is set to attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School as she works toward her long-term goal of becoming a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy.
Battalion Commanding Officer, Cadet Commander Riddhi Gupta Chauhan / provided
The Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) is a citizenship and leadership development program for high school students. A local program is structured as a Battalion, a military unit led by student cadets who manage daily operations, logistics, and drill teams under the mentorship of retired Navy and Marine Corps instructors .
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