First BDF female officers ready for combat

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Wednesday November 18, 2009 00:00

 

The female officers made history, as they were the first group to be enlisted by the army. 

And they are ready for combat, Lieutenant Monty Malomo of the BDF Public Relations Unit said. He said the women soldiers have adjusted well to army life too.

'They are coping very well,' he said in response to a questionnaire.  The female officers hold the rank of second lieutenant.  They will only be upgraded to full lieutenant when they complete the two-year probation towards the end of the 2010.  All the recruits in the pioneering group had attained professional qualifications before they joined the army.
Malomo said the female officers are stationed in Selebi-Phikwe, Francistown and Thebephatshwa Air Base.

They have been deployed under units like the Air Arm Command, Ground Forces Command, Defence Logistics Command and the BDF Headquarters.

Malomo said the female officers have been welcomed by both their senior and junior male counterparts.  He described the relationship between male and female officers as professional.  However, the BDF does not encourage love relationships between male and female officers.

Malomo said the female officers are not given preferential treatment.  They are given equal treatment with their male counterparts.

Just like any other public service employees, Malomo said, the female officers will have an opportunity to go on maternity leave when they complete their probation next October.

Currently there are 24 female officer cadets, who are undergoing training with their male counterparts in the country.  They are going to be commissioned in March next year.

The recruitment of female officers started with cadets.  Malomo said the female recruit privates would be enlisted when time and resources permit.

It was the first time in 2007 that the BDF recruited female officers.  This followed a bill passed in Parliament.  One of the Members of Parliament (MPs) who were vocal on this issue was Nehemiah Modubule of Lobatse.

Since its formation in 1977, the BDF only recruited men. 
The first group of female officers was sent for training in Tanzania.  However, the second group is being trained locally.