Essential Prerequisites for Smooth Induction of Women
The experience of countries that have inducted women in their armed forces has been mixed. They have had and are still grappling with considerable adjustment problems even in societies that are liberated and profess gender equality.
The profession of arms requires both mental and physical prowess. That is the reason why even advanced countries are wary of inducting women in fighting units. They have been taking precautions to ensure that women are neither pitched against enemy in face-to-face direct combat nor exposed to the risk of capture by the adversary. No wonder then that despite the much touted huge presence of women in US forces in Iraq, there has not been a single woman casualty so far whereas close to 3,000 men have lost their lives. They have been kept sheltered in safe appointments.
It is imprudent to replicate the model or path followed by others. Every nation has to weigh its options against the backdrop of its own social and environmental mores. Every country has its own social/cultural moorings, type of hostilities encountered, level of technology and larger manpower issues. it is now commonly accepted that women should be encouraged to join the services only under the following circumstances:
- When a country is short of men or there are not enough men volunteering to join the forces.
- When the armed forces of a country are technologically very advanced and there is a huge requirement for highly qualified personnel for high-tech support functions. Women can be gainfully employed for the same.
- Where societal and cultural ethos have matured to the extent that barriers of gender prejudices have vanished and both sexes have adjusted to the desired level of mutual comfort.
- Where militaries are not deployed on active combat duties and are generally assigned comparatively passive tasks. A number of countries like Canada and Australia induct women in their forces as they are aware that they will never be required to participate in an operation at home or abroad.
The above parameters act as a universally accepted benchmark to determine the need and extent of women’s’ employment in the forces.
The Indian Experience
Earlier, entry of women was limited to the Army Medical Corps, the Army Dental Corps and the Military Nursing Service. It was in 1990 that a decision was taken to induct them into the non-combat wings of the armed forces as short-service commissioned service officers. They are inducted into Engineers, Signals, Army Service Corps, Ordnance, Education, Intelligence, Legal Branch and EME (Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers). Presently, the Indian Army counts 2.44 percent women in its ranks, the Indian Navy 3.0 percent and the Indian Air Force 6.7 percent.
The Indian experience has been too short to facilitate conclusive appraisal. The initial feedback has been varied. New insights are being gained into the complete gamut of related issues.
Four categories of people are intimately connected with women’s presence in the services – women officers themselves, their commanding officers, colleague male officers and the soldiers. Their views and response should be seriously considered while moulding policies to address all concerns.
Women Officers
Women who are mentally robust, physically fit and highly motivated resent preferential treatment being meted out to them. They want to be treated at par with their male colleagues so that they get a fair opportunity to prove their worth. They demand same selection criteria, same training standards and same work schedules. They do not want to be treated as weaklings as it offends their sensitivities and self-respect. They take exception to some women seeking kid-glove treatment to escape hardships.
However, most of the women opting for a career in the services belong to families where their upbringing has been in a highly sheltered environment. A career in the military is at the other extreme. They admit having limited knowledge of military life at the time of joining. Subsequently, life in the military comes as a big shock to them. While some adapt to it well others find the task to be too daunting. Additionally, many women officers are unsure of their identity – they want to be officers and yet be given the deference of service wives. It has been a cause for despair for many.
Women normally get commissioned at the age of 23 to 25 years. Soon, thereafter, family pressures start building up on them to get married. Many women confess that managing married life with military service is difficult, though marrying a service officer helps. Subsequent pregnancy and motherhood prove very demanding.
Commanding Officers
The first posting of all newly commissioned officers is to their assigned units. It is for the Commanding Officers (COs) to induct, mould and employ them. Therefore, views of COs carry utmost importance as they indicate an objective appraisal of actual position on ground.
Most of the COs find women officers to be highly committed and sincere. They admire them for their enthusiasm despite the environmental difficulties faced by them. Safety of women under their command becomes their primary concern and they find it quite taxing, especially in field areas. The second common problem faced by them relates to their useful employment.
CO of an engineer regiment recounted – “My unit was in Punjab when a young lady officer was posted to it. Soon thereafter the unit was ordered to move to insurgency affected Poonch area. I did not know how to employ her and where to house her. Ultimately, I had to send her on long leave to tide over the problem.”
Another CO of a services unit said – “All young officers have to train, exercise and play games with their respective platoons. They are also required to visit troops’ barracks at lights-out to ensure that all mosquito nets are down and even check the cleanliness of latrines. I could not ask or expect the lady officer to do any of these duties”.
By turn, every officer is detailed as a duty officer and has to visit the Quarter Guard and all sentry posts at midnight to ensure their alertness. All unit commanders rue the fact that lady officers cannot be assigned any of these duties. Thus the male officers have to undertake additional work load, which they resent.
Referring to the recent increase in women’s service, some COs pointed out that at 14 years of service a lady officer will be second in command of a unit and will officiate as its commanding officer. In an Engineer or Signal unit she will be an advisor to the Divisional Commander. Without having commanded a platoon or a company and without having attended essential professional courses, it will be unfair to expect her to be able to deliver the goods.
Some COs also expressed concern about the physical fitness of women officers and their being highly prone to back problems, pelvic injuries and stress fractures.
Many COs showed reluctance to have women under them due to concern for their safety and dignity. They also tend to be over-cautious in assigning duties to them lest they be exposed to any harm.
Male Colleagues
Almost all male colleagues admire women officers for their courage and determination. They understand and appreciate challenges faced by them in trying to adapt to an environment which is totally male dominated.
However, they want the women officers to do their share of work and duties. They resent preferential treatment given to their women colleague. One officer was outspoken enough to state – “They have joined the military on the plank of equality of sexes but this plank vanishes the day they join the training academy. Thereafter, they again become the weaker sex needing special dispensations.”
An officer recounted that a lady officer posted to an Ordnance Depot declined to carry out periodic stocktaking of stores lying in isolated sheds unless provided with escort for security. Other officers had to do her job.
When told about women making up shortage of male officers, most young officers scoff at the speciousness of the argument. According to them, there is no shortage of male volunteers to join the services but the required number of candidates do not come up to the standards laid down. The services do not want to dilute the standards even marginally in the fear of compromising the quality of intake. But when it comes to women, standards are reduced to extremely low levels.
In army there is a concept of field and peace postings. Every officer looks forward to a good peace posting to be with his family and sort out family issues. But a large number of peace postings at junior officers’ level are held by the women, thereby depriving male officers of their due share. It has become a sore point with many.
Soldiers
Most soldiers view women’s induction as a fall-out of Government policies and generally take it lightly. They are convinced that women can never lead them effectively. Some Junior Commissioned Officers were blunt enough to state – “An officer, who cannot run with us, cannot train with us and cannot exercise with us can barely be expected to lead us”.
Notwithstanding the above, India is proud of the fact that women in the Indian services are being treated in a manner befitting their dignity and self respect, despite the fact that the Indian soldier is drawn from rustic stock where women to date are confined to household chores. In this regard, India can rightfully claim to have a record which is far better than that of any advanced nation in the world.
The Way Ahead
Every army is but a part of its own people. It reflects a nation’s social, cultural and historical predispositions. Many social scientists call the military a mirror image of a nation or a microcosm. They are of the view that military’s functioning and behaviour are conditioned by the societal influences that the members are exposed to in their formative years prior to joining the military. There is, thus, a need to delve deep into the psychology of soldiers to understand their attitudes. It is only then that an objective study can be carried out of military’s ethos and functioning.
It is a universally accepted fact that militaries are not created to generate employment and hence have nothing to do with gender equality. They are tasked to ensure national defence and that is the sole reason for their existence. They need only the fittest – men or women. Armed forces require personnel who are physically strong and mentally robust to be able to handle battle-field pressures. The fighting potential of a force depends fundamentally on its cohesion, mutual trust and faith in the leadership. Nothing should be done to weaken these traits.
The whole concept of women’s induction in the services has to be viewed in a holistic and objective manner. The first step should be to ascertain whether the required preconditions, as mentioned above, exist to warrant women’s entry into the Indian services. Here is a brief appraisal:
- India is not short of male volunteers.
- India is still a second generation technology force which is trying desperately to graduate to the third generation, whereas the US and the Western nations are already well into the fourth generation. Indian defence forces are manpower intensive needing physical ground effort.
- Indian society is passing through a phase of transition from traditionalism to modernity. Societal and cultural ethos continue to be mired in sex discrimination.
- A major part of the Indian Army is deployed on combat duties at all times. Peace tenures are rare and there are very few periods of comparative lull.
In view of the above, the following are suggested:
- Women must continue to play a dominant role in the Armed Forces Medical Services and the Military Nursing Service. They have done India proud by rising to three-star ranks. Their contribution in providing medical support to the soldiers has been invaluable.
- Their expertise, talent and dedication should be profitably utilised in areas which are totally non-combat in nature and where their competence can be fully harnessed. As is being done at present, they should continue to serve in Legal and Education Branches of the services. They could even be considered for the grant of permanent commission at a later date.
- A majority of uniformed officers in the Survey of India, Military Engineering Service Militarised Cadre, Director General Quality Assurance and such organisations should be women. The current provision for 14 years service should remain in force.
- The current policy of non-induction of women in combat arms should continue. Additionally, their entry into Engineers, Signals, Supply Corps, Ordnance and EME (Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) should be deferred for the time being and reviewed after a few years, once the environment becomes more conducive for their smooth absorption in the organisation.
The services are not opposed to the entry of women per se but demand that a number of crucial issues, as discussed above, be addressed as well. Decisions which have a far reaching effect on the functioning of the armed forces must be taken with due diligence and after a careful study.
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Hello Sir,
Few concerns from my side regarding the above article:
1st issue faced: sexual harassment: Isnt it very sad for a country to know their male soldiers are nothing but rapists and that they cant even see their fellow soldiers as partners in protecting the nation but as sexual objects to fulfill their sexual greed. Will not the country people doubt the ability of the system who actually recruit these male soldiers. Has our recruiting system become this incapable. This is a shame Sir. And i am deeply hurt to know this side of Indian Soldiers.
2nd issue: Poor comfort level: Maybe this was the scene decades before but i think todays men know how to handle women at work and also how to be completely fine with their presence.If not Sir, they will learn eventually as this will help them to become a better person and definitely a better soldier.
“Men miss their light hearted banter which is considered essential to release work tensions and promote group cohesion. They consider women to be intruding on their privacy”- Sir, this sounds more like your personal opinion than the reality. As per studies, after spending ample amount of time with each other humans become friends and are totally comfortable with each other presence, there is no exception of men and women here.
what i fail to understand is why all these above issues are raised by you from a “shy , introverted and not open to any kind of change ” male soldier perspective? Please sir, a humble request to reconsider the above article and please try spreading thoughts that will boost up morale and not lower it down.
What you are writing sexual harrasment ??
How can you prove this?
I haven’t Heard anything like this and haven’t seen.
Haven’t seen this? Are you a military officer madam that you could eye witness it?
And haven’t heard about it? Then maybe you should search on internet and you’ll find about it.
Sad news. In the USA Navy, which I served for five years, I seen a lot of mistreating to women. We just have to stop that…
The duties referred above claiming can’t be done by women officers is being performed by them each day. Fitness standards are different but it can’t happen that worst of the male officer is better than the best of the lady officer to get PC n pension. There are many obese male officers also. I agree that our gender has restriction but someone deserving n proving herself n after being accepted by troops n colleagues should not be denied her right only because she is a female. Because only people who haven’t had enough exposure with them n themselves remained in confined environment with their restricted thought can’t take it.
sir
am doing pre final year (ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING ) .COULD I GET A JOB I INDIAN ARMY. if else means how can i try for the technical profession. please give me a clear knowledge about that
Interested where you got your facts about American women on active duty in the US armed forces. In March, according to the U.S. Department of Defense, more than 214,000 women are currently serving in the military (both active duty and reserves) and this accounts for 14.5% of the force.
It is nice to note that male officers in the Army have the mettle and guts to face war and militants which the female officers do not have. Can someone tell me – out of the thousands of male officers serving the Army, how many of them might have faced war or took part in militant combing activity at least once in their service.
I am sure that there should be many of them who might have retired without seeing even one war or might not have the opportunity to face the enemy at least once in their service. But does that mean that they have not been of any use to the Army ? Dear sirs, does serving the Army only mean facing war and militants, or do you have a lot many things to do during your service. How many departments are there which do not participate in front line war but are offering essential services without which you cannot thing of war ? I suggest that those who are commenting in these posts should keep in mind an overall and holistic knowledge of the Army and its functioning before you post your views. Or else you will be sending out wrong messages to people who wish to serve the Army. So if there are a lot many things to do, then what difference does it make whether it is a male or a female ?
Gentlemen, today even in civilian offices, one cannot think of offices without females because it would be a much boring place to even visit such places. Can one truly discriminate between male and female contributions towards services? I say, there are equal number of male and female employees who do not deliver the services as expected just as there are an equal number of both sexes who deliver excellent services to their organisation.
So stop talking about this woman thing and start learning to support, encourage, respect and accept women officers as one among you, just as you had accepted them in school and college. They may not have what you have in you but they certainly have something to give to the Army which only they can give. Good Greeting to all of you.
You are right, serving in armed forces doesn’t only mean fighting war and combating militants. But for Combat Arms, it almost always meant facing war and the terrorists. Most officers and men in combat arms especially infantry and artillery have directly or indirectly faced theses situations during their service. It becomes the matter of killing or get killed and this is where women might become a weak point for women clamouring for combat arms.
Why is it not the political parties are making way for women join Indian Army through recrutiment process too. Some would say women can’t play the rough role of jawans(base of Indian Army) how is it expected that they can lead men. To be precise Officer’s leadership depends whether the orders he giving, can he himself do that job, if not then in long run troops can loose their trust/morale on incapcitated Officers.
Even if women are trained on par with men so that they posses equal physical and mental qualities alike there would be needed large techinical investment in training.
Few may say that we can loose some terms for women to help them grduated for Infantary Officers it will be direct insult of Directive Principles of State that clearly states that eveyone will be given equal wages for equal work, will Indian Army pay less to women in convergence of equal pay equal work.
Even from the economic point of view considering opportunity cost. Why will I not prefer naturally strong males than train women tougher by draining more money.
We can fill the ranks of offficers by providing promotion to JCO’s, NCO’s who with experience can be trusted for heavy responsibility duties.
Moreover they are threatening our brotherhood, while they themselves are having niche well protected. I mean to say their are especial women colleges but men colleges have become co-ed becuase they were accused as gender biased. A separate Army must be built for women so that they can fulfill their fantasies, may be they think it is fantasy, joining Indian Army as Officers well they can, why dont they compete in recrutiment too that is where women empowerment shall trully happen.
And yes, babus and media will find one more way to insult males/indian Army beacuase Seaxual harrasement cases fake/real will definetly find its way, the issue of love affairs, sex scandals will these complexities will not simply drain mental energies of generals towards only law/order situation.
War is the penultimate Court before Brahma. Unforgiving, exacting, precise, and final. The army is no place for politically correct social engineering that it is expected to defend. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/19/problems-women-combat-cant-be-mitigated-report/
Why are Olympic Standards, Football teams etc are separate for men and women? Let them first have equal standards in these disciplines then only can they demand equal opportunities in the armed forces especially the army which is very serious business.
Women are well motivated and dedicated to the service they join. I have come across women officers and have been quite impressed with their enthusiasm. However certain issues need to be addressed:-
a) Women officers must undergo full training at the military academy including the IMA. They should be brought up the standards of the male cadets. Physical standards for women cadets can be different and they cannot be expected to be as physically tuned as men.
b) Women officers need to go through a psychological counseling about what to expect since it’s mainly a male dominated society. I have seen them not take very well to a dressing down by a senior officer.
c) They should be given all appointments in the Army including that of platoon commanders and company commanders. In Infantry Battalions they can be employed as Specialist platoon commanders in Sub-units that will not be directly in contact with the enemy. They can do MTO, Mor Pl Commander and so on.
d)Their dignity and respect as a woman has to be maintained and that our responsibility as commanders and we must ensure that at all times.
e)The male officers also need to be psychologically sounded off on the issue and need to be more acceptable to the idea of having women serving alongside them.
Indian Army is ready to give Lady Officers a chance to serve in difficult terrains and inhospitable areas.But not a single Lady Officer will be ready to take up the challenge.Howmany Ladies will volunteer for a Rashtriya Rifle posting where they have to face the militants on daily basis during cordon and search operation? What will be their plight if apprehended by militants?Sitting in AC environs one can put lot of questions on the deployability of Lady officers.When reality bites only Male officers are wanted to deal with the situation.The role of a DGP inPolice Force cannot be compared with Army Officers.Howmany DGP can serve like Army officers in inhospitable terrain? None.So pls do not compare.It does not mean they are not serving the people.All have their own specified duties.We should think about ground realities and persons suitable for the job rather than political expediency to earn brownie points during an election.
Day is not far off when there will be a half dozen top Generals in the armed forces.we already hv DGP level officers in the Police.
Women are inducted into the army, but not given postings in active zones, which they are asking.
It is a thought provoking article with sound reasoning.
Did the author interview in currently serving Female officers/enlisted? Or are the issues he post simply what he found on-line? I also noticed that he failed to include any positive ‘issues’; was this a deliberate choice or did he decide that the positive were simply not worth addressing?
Dear Patrick,
The author has given out absolutely clear view on the issue.
One has to decide about the entry of women into forces keeping his emotions aside and having a clear idea of what duties are being performed or can be performed by them.
The dissatisfaction among the male officers is growing day by day due to most of the peace and good postings being increasingly reserved for the lady officers. Most of the male officers besides a few among those married to lady officers are against the idea of ladies being inducted into armed forces.
All issues brought out in the article are true facts.
Ladies are not suited for the requirements of the defence services. Feeling satisfied by saying that we are giving them equal opportunity is like a bird burying its head in sand and feeling that the predator(cat) has gone away.