Success Story: NIT Calicut Civil Engineering Graduate Leaves Corporate Job To Join Indian Army

Last Updated:September 09, 2026, 4:14 PM IST

After completing her B.Tech, she entered the corporate sector and joined ExxonMobil as a Project Controls Engineer in Bengaluru. But soon left it.

Athira Suresh has been commissioned as a Lieutenant at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Gaya. (File Photo)

For many engineering graduates, securing a job at a global company after graduating from a premier institute would mark the beginning of a successful career. For Athira Suresh, however, it was not the final destination.

A Civil Engineering graduate from the National Institute of Technology Calicut (NIT Calicut), Suresh left her role as a Project Controls Engineer at ExxonMobil in Bengaluru, with a salary package worth Rs 13 LPA, to pursue a career in the Indian Army. This month, she got commissioned as a Lieutenant at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Gaya, reported News18 Hindi.

Her journey from engineering college to a multinational energy company and eventually to the Army stands out because she chose to make a major career shift after already establishing herself in the corporate sector.

A native of Kozhikode, Kerala,  she was also involved with the Naval NCC and served as Vice Captain of the athletics team during 2023–24 during her time at NIT Calicut. These activities added leadership and extracurricular experience alongside her engineering education. After completing her B.Tech, she entered the corporate sector and joined ExxonMobil as a Project Controls Engineer in Bengaluru. But she left it soon.

Suresh’s decision to leave the corporate sector was influenced in part by her family’s military background. Her father, Naik Suresh, served in the Corps of Signals before later joining the Railway Protection Force after retirement. Reports on her journey say his military service inspired her decision to pursue a career in the armed forces. Her mother, Suma, is a teacher.

Rather than continuing on a conventional corporate career path, Suresh appeared for the Services Selection Board (SSB) examination and cleared it on her first attempt. She subsequently joined the Officers Training Academy in Gaya for military training under the Short Service Commission (Technical) Women course.

The transition required Suresh to move from a corporate engineering environment to the demanding routine of military training. Her commissioning took place during OTA Gaya’s 29th Passing Out Parade. A total of 253 officer cadets, including 35 women, completed training during the parade. The cadets were commissioned under the SSC Technical Men-65 and Women-36 courses.

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Who is Athira Suresh and what significant career change did she make?

Athira Suresh is a Civil Engineering graduate from NIT Calicut who left her corporate job as a Project Controls Engineer at ExxonMobil in Bengaluru to join the Indian Army. She was commissioned as a Lieutenant at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Gaya on September 5, 2026.

What inspired Athira Suresh to join the Indian Army?

Athira Suresh’s decision to join the Indian Army was partly influenced by her family’s military background. Her father, Naik Suresh, served in the Corps of Signals before joining the Railway Protection Force after retirement, and his service inspired her.

Where did Athira Suresh receive her military training and commissioning?

Athira Suresh received her military training at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Gaya under the Short Service Commission (Technical) Women course. She was commissioned as a Lieutenant during OTA Gaya’s 29th Passing Out Parade on September 5, 2026.

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