Woman’s face of Belarusian army

Statistics make it possible to understand the essence of any process in dynamics during a long period of time. In particular it is mainly statistics that draw our attention to an interesting fact. Recently there is a steady increase in the number of servicewomen. This process is observed not only in the armies of western countries but also in the Armed forces of Belarus.

Statistics make it possible to understand the essence of any process in dynamics during a long period of time. In particular it is mainly statistics that draw our attention to an interesting fact. Recently there is a steady increase in the number of servicewomen. This process is observed not only in the armies of western countries but also in the Armed forces of Belarus.

On the eve of March, 8 official site of Ministry of defense of the Republic of Belarus said that as of February, 1, 2009 there are more than 4000 women who serve in the Belarusian army. And 329 of them have officer shoulder straps, more than 1100 are warrant officers, more than 1100 serve in the army by contract in the capacity of soldiers and sergeant. 254 women serve as junior officers (there are 9 junior lieutenant s, 91 lieutenants, 57 senior lieutenants and 97 captains).

There is a dramatic increase in the number of senior officers who are women. If 10 years ago there were 10 of them, today 75 women have shoulder straps with two strips and 56 of them are majors and 19 are lieutenant colonels. Average age of women –officers is 29.

Overwhelming majority of women-officers serve in the capacity of military doctors, psychologists, interpreters and lawyers. Some of them are in charge of departments in military commissariat. But their service doesn’t limit itself to these professions only. Approved by Ministry of defense of the Republic of Belarus List of Armed Forces military professions that can be taken by women has been relevantly enlarged and provides that women can serve within the scopes of officer, engineer, technical, military and humanitarian, ideological, pedagogical and medical specialization.

Today Belarusian women have a real possibility to become an officer. The main thing is that the age doesn’t exceed 35 years and high education must be related to army specialization.

From 2002 there has been an intake of women at the faculty of communication and ACS of Military Academy of the Republic of Belarus. Today the number of girls studying at Military Academy makes up 19 persons. 15 more girls study at military faculties of Belarusian State and Belarusian National Technical universities. Last year for the first time a girl became a student of aviation faculty of Military Academy of the Republic of Belarus. This summer 19 graduates of Military Academy and military faculties of universities will receive officer shoulder straps.