NIT Calicut engineer leaves corporate job to join Army: Meet Athira Suresh

NIT Calicut civil engineering graduate Athira Suresh left her Project Controls Engineer role at ExxonMobil to join the Indian Army. After clearing SSB on her first attempt, she completed training at OTA Gaya and was commissioned as a Lieutenant on September 5, 2026, continuing her family's military tradition.NIT Calicut civil engineering graduate Athira Suresh left her Project Controls Engineer role at ExxonMobil to join the Indian Army. (Photo: X/@PROdefprayagraj)For many engineering graduates, an NIT degree followed by a job at a global energy company would be a dream career. For Athira Suresh, it was only one stop.The Civil Engineering graduate from the National Institute of Technology Calicut left her job at ExxonMobil to pursue a career in the Indian Army. On September 5, 2026, she was commissioned as a Lieutenant at the Officers Training Academy in Gaya.Her journey has drawn attention because it combines an NIT education, a corporate career and a family history of military service.FROM IIT-JEE TO NIT CALICUTAthira, from Kozhikode, Kerala, first cleared the IIT-JEE before pursuing Civil Engineering at NIT Calicut. After graduating, she joined ExxonMobil as a Project Controls Engineer. Her LinkedIn profile lists ExxonMobil in Bengaluru and NIT Calicut among her professional and educational credentials.But the corporate route did not become her final destination. According to the Army Training Command's account of her journey, Athira appeared for the Services Selection Board and cleared it on her first attempt. She subsequently joined OTA Gaya for training under the Short Service Commission Technical Women course.A FAMILY WITH ARMY ROOTSHer decision was also connected to her family. Her father, Naik Suresh, served in the Corps of Signals before later joining the Railway Protection Force after retirement. Athira has spoken about being inspired by her father's military service. Her mother Suma is a teacher. (Photo: X/@PROdefprayagraj) The Army Training Command described Athira as someone who had a stable corporate career but chose to test her resolve for military service.That decision culminated at OTA Gaya's 29th Passing Out Parade on September 5.253 CADETS TAKE THE STARSThe Gaya parade saw 253 officer cadets, including 35 women, commissioned into the Indian Army after completing training under the SSC Technical Men-65 and Women-36 courses.The parade was reviewed by Lieutenant General Le Van Huong, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, who was the chief guest.For Athira, the parade marked the end of one career chapter and the beginning of another.She had already cleared one of India's most competitive engineering entrance examinations, earned a Civil Engineering degree from NIT Calicut and worked for ExxonMobil.Then she chose a very different kind of career.Her story is not simply about leaving a corporate job. It is about taking an unconventional turn after already having a conventional definition of success within reach.- EndsPublished On: Sep 8, 2026 14:52 IST