AFGHANISTAN: Afghan Women Soldiers Don't Struggle Alone

A group of NATO Training Mission –Afghanistan mentors hosted a women's forum for female Afghan National Army members July 18 at the Logistics Command in Kabul. Afghan women face many challenges; cultural, societal and religious views create barriers that often prevent them from entering the work force, attending school or joining their military. The minority of women who do confront the status quo are faced with attitudes about women's roles in society, discrimination and sexual harassment.

Currently there are 301 women serving in the Afghan National Army and just fewer than 1,000 in the Afghan National Police. While the ANA is on schedule to meet its overall recruiting goals of 134,000 by October 2010, the Ministry of Interior is struggling to fill the mandate of having women make up 10 percent of the army's end strength.

The forum was organized to help make the ANA a better place for women to serve, find solutions to some of their problems and offer them a chance to meet with other military women. Several U.S. military women spoke, as well as Afghan Gen. Khatool Mohammadzai, who has served the army for 30 years, including as a qualified parachute instructor. During her speech to 60 female military and army civilian's in attendance, Mohammadzai acknowledged the hardships that face Afghan women wanting to join the military, including sexual harassment. She encouraged them to work together, not to let men treat them wrong, talk to them in a demeaning manner and to protect themselves.

“I didn't receive this position the easy way, I work very hard. I'm very proud I'm alive right now to see women in the uniform,” Mohammadzai said. During her early years in the parachute unit, Mohammadzai broke her hand and leg and lost teeth, but she said there were more than a dozen women in the unit with her and women served as pilots, in the medical, security and logistics careers. Things changed drastically during the Taliban era, but as soon as she could, Mohammadzai rejoined the army and her duties.

“We started from zero, but we're improving and creating a good facility for women. It has improved the last eight years,” she said. "Other countries have men and women in the military, Afghanistan should be the same."

The face time with General Mohammadzai allowed the women to voice their concerns; some women had been working for the army for many years without an increase in pay, rank or position. One woman stood up to say she'd been serving the army for 20 years but every time she asked for a promotion, the men would ask for a kiss or say she had to spend the night with them.

U.S . Marine Col. Sheila Scanlon sought to acknowledge their struggles they face, while praising the women for their courage and perseverance.

“You make many sacrifices just doing what you need to do for your families but when you serve your country, you have to make more sacrifices,” Scanlon said. Even in the U.S., men say women do not belong in the Marines, but it hasn't stopped us; it has made us stronger.”

During her speech, Scanlon pointed out that her military service hasn't stopped her from having a family; she has been married for 25 years and has two children.

“We understand some of the issues you're going through. You need to remember it's always difficult at times. You do the best you can at everything you do and learn as much as you can learn,” she said. “I'm very proud of what you're doing, so don't stop. You're not doing it for you; you're doing it for all the other women.”

The ANA logistics command has created an informal women's center where soldiers and employees can attend religious and literacy classes, socialize and work out. U.S. Air Force Capt. Stacy Eskridge, an NTM-A logistics supply operations mentor, has helped create the women's center. She is also working to get women the use of a gym, daycare services, and a computer class; she has also helped start a women's driving course that will begin after Ramadan.

“This was a good opportunity for them to ask questions, and present their concerns. A lot of men in their offices won't let them do work, but instead make them serve chai or clean, but they didn't join to serve chai, they joined to be in the military,” Eskridge said. They don't get to see very many females in the military, just each other, which is why is so important to have events like this. The same battle our mothers had is what they're dealing with here.”