In early February, a group of 1,296 women voluntarily joined the Colombian Army to serve in the first call-up in more than 20 years. The group is the first contingent of women of the four planned for 2023, where 5,184 women will be able to serve in different military units throughout the country.
“The call for women was 100 percent effective. On the first day, in the 12 zones and 60 military districts deployed throughout the national territory, we met the incorporation goal and were able to pre-register and send invitations for the next incorporation, which will take place May 1-17,” the Colombian Army’s Recruitment and Reserve Control Command told Diálogo.
For Private Sindy Mishelly Suárez Sandoval, 23, a native of San Vicente de Chucurí, Santander department, who was part of the first contingent, joining the Army was a natural step. “My father retired from the Army, so this military life is in my blood,” she said.
After a first phase of instruction to adapt to military life, the soldiers were presented with their weapons in late March and joined their assigned companies in early May, Pvt. Suárez said. “In my case, I joined the Army Recruiting and Reserve Control Command, where I will provide support in each of the administrative areas currently underway.”
The first time the Colombian Military Forces incorporated women was in 1976, when 12 women joined as administrative officers. Then, in 1983, the Military Forces opened the first course for noncommissioned officers, with nursing, pharmacy, communications, archiving, and secretarial specialties, among others, the book of the Colombian Military Forces’ General Command, Military Women, Stories of Greatness in the Service of Peace, published in 2017, indicated. In 2009, for the first time, the Colombian Army incorporated women to serve as officers at arms.
According to the Army, resuming the incorporation of women through voluntary service after more than 20 years is meant “to strengthen the role of women in the institution,” which currently has 1,212 female officers and 973 female noncommissioned officers among its 200,000 members. The requirements, the Army indicated in its statement, are the same as for male personnel.
Source : Dialogo
