Jakarta Globe, Markus Junianto Sihaloho, March 22, 2013
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| The Indonesian Army sings a patriotic song as they march during the 63rd anniversary of the military in Surabaya, East Java, in this October 2008 file photo. (Reuters Photo/Sigit Pamungkas) |
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The Army
plans to allow women to train as officers for the first time in the force’s
history, as part of sweeping reforms that the Army chief has vowed to usher in
ahead of his retirement later this year.
Gen.
Pramono Edhie Wibowo, the Army chief of staff, announced on Thursday that of
the 192 Army cadets that the Military Academy planned to recruit this year, 16
would be women.
He said the
move was part of efforts to improve gender equality in the Army.
“They will
train alongside their male counterparts and go through the same activities,” he
said of the female cadets.
This will
mark the first time in the Army’s history that women will be allowed to train
as officers at the Military Academy. Upon graduating, the lowest rank they can
hold is that of second lieutenant.
Previously,
female Army personnel seeking to attain that rank or higher had to start out as
enlisted personnel or non-commissioned officers before being promoted through
the ranks.
Pramono
said the change was part of wider efforts at military reforms that he hoped to
introduce before retiring in May.
“We call on
young men and women with a nationalistic spirit who want to help the country to
join the Army,” he said.
The general
also vowed to end the practice of officers demanding bribes from applicants to
the Military Academy or to any Army recruitment office.
“For the
Army, whether you’re applying to be an enlisted personnel, a non-commissioned
officer or an officer, there are no fees to pay,” he said.
“If anyone
is asked to pay a bribe during the recruitment process, please report it. I
assure you we will follow up against the officer in question, no matter their
rank.”
He added
there would be no shortcuts for cadets looking for an easy pass.
“Whether a
cadet graduates depends solely on that cadet’s abilities, and not the influence
of other people,” Pramono said.
Related Article:
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| VEILED SOLDIERS: Women soldiers line up during the 52nd anniversary of the Iskandar Muda military battalion in Banda Aceh on Monday. Under Aceh's local sharia-based ordinance, all women including soldiers, are required to wear veils in public. JP/Hotli Simanjuntak |
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