Chandigarh, May 17:The Indian Air Force is in a bit of turbulence after a woman Air Force officer, a Flight Lieutenant, has said that she wants to marry a junior, a Sergeant, a non-commissioned officer.

In the IAF’s strict hierarchy, that’s a problem and tradition seems to be standing in the way.

So Air Headquarters, Delhi, has thought it best to conduct a “survey among lady officers” in each air force station across the country. Objective: find out whether such a marriage should be allowed. And, if yes, what could its “consequences” be.

The identity of the couple is not being revealed.

When contacted by The Sunday Express, an IAF spokesperson said: “The Indian Air Force has egalitarian norms governing the social lives of its air warriors. There is no prohibition for women officers marrying our air men. The organization does not intend to interfere in their personal lives. Headquarters is in process of evolving guidelines for smooth conduct in such cases. Therefore a survey is presently being carried out amongst our women air warriors based on which guidelines will be evolved.”

But, clearly, there is resistance from within the community. “It could raise protocol problems,” says one officer. For example, at an officers’ party or a get- together where only officers are allowed, “it could create an embarrassment for the couple,” said the officer. “It’s unlikely that the Sergeant will be welcomed by the community of officers.”

“We have very strict rules pertaining to ranks not only officially but socially too. This marriage will affect the entire official and social set-up,” says Wing Commander (Retd) Kuldeep Singh.

Said another woman IAF officer: “As per the US Air Force rules, one of the couple has to quit. Such marriages can never sustain in the defense services. Officers are not even allowed to enter the airmen mess when on duty and vice versa.”

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