| AFZ trains female ceremonial drill instructors Saturday, June 24, 2006 Herald Reporter IN a bid to promote gender equality, the Air Force of Zimbabwe has begun recruiting and training female ceremonial drill instructors --- a field that had been dominated by males since 1980. This was revealed yesterday by the Air Vice Marshal Elson Moyo in his speech at a pass-out parade held at Field Air Force Base (FAFB) near Chegutu. About 214 students were awarded certificates after successfully completing four-month courses in different areas of specialisation. Out of the 13 female students who graduated, eight were pioneers in the ceremonial drill instructors course. The Air Vice Marshal expressed pleasure at seeing women being incorporated in the training programme and pledged to pursue the national policy on gender equality. "In pursuance of our national policy, I need to mention to you that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces has not lagged behind in promoting the gender issue. "Out of the 13 students, eight have scored a first in that they are the pioneer ladies in the history of the Air Force and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to be trained as ceremonial drill instructors," the Air Vice Marshal said. He said the onus was on the women instructors to demonstrate that they were able to perform at par or better than their male counterparts. He also praised the AFZ for including participants from the Zimbabwe National Army. "This type of joint training and co-operation shall go a long way in harmonising joint operations within the Zimbabwe Defence Forces when you go into battles as a single force," he said. He urged the graduands to defend the country’s sovereignty saying Zimbabwe was under western siege. "We have to defend at all cost, our nation and its territorial integrity," he said. He said the force was aware of some difficulties facing the students at the base and promised to urgently deal with them. "I want to assure you that the Air Force has your welfare at heart. To that regard the force is continuously reviewing your conditions of service. Therefore these problems shall be looked into urgently vis-à-vis the performance of our economy," he said. The Vice Air Marshal also warned the graduands against the deadly HIV/Aids epidemic. The students were awarded certificates in four different courses namely the Junior Tactics Course, Senior Tactics Course, 14,5mm anti-air craft artillery and the Ceremonial Drill Instructors. |
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