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Bangladesh ahead of Germany at women in military

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January 3, 2001 

DUELMEN, Germany-- (Bangla2000/AP) - The German military opened its ranks to women in combat units for the first time Tuesday, accepting 244 female recruits who previously would have been relegated to medical or musical regiments. Bangladesh, a third world country, on the other hand, took the step about a year ago.

The move to an equal opportunity army comes less than a year after the European Court in Luxembourg ruled that Germany laws restricting women from the armed forces violated European Union laws against sexual discrimination.

Since parliament changed the law in October, making it possible for women to serve in tank battalions, as fighter pilots or on submarines, more than 1,900 women have applied to join the German armed forces either as commissioned or noncommissioned officers.

The step brings Germany's military into line with other NATO members, including France, Britain and the United States, though some countries still keep women out of ground battles and submarine crews.

On Tuesday, 151 women reported for duty in the army, 76 in the air force and 17 in the navy - for the first time facing the same basic training as male peers. They also bear the added stress of being the first group to break the mold in traditional German thinking that women should not be called on to fight for their country.

"Basic training will certainly be a difficult job, but that's why I'm here," said Aysun Yazici, 18, reporting for duty at Duelmener Barracks in northwestern Germany.

The European court ruling was brought about by Tanja Kreil, an electronics engineer who was refused an army job working on weapons systems in 1996 because she was a woman.

Despite the verdict, Kreil withdrew her application in the summer without explanation.

But other young women signed up. Silvia Siebenhar, 23, was working in a bakery - a job she felt lacked the challenge she was seeking. As she slipped on her backpack at the barracks for the first time Tuesday, she bent under the weight of it.

"It's really heavy," she said, the straightened and reminded herself why she was here. "You can help people, you'll be needed and can learn alot. And I'm someone who needs action."

While military personnel have been going through extensive gender training to prepare for the transition, the idea has yet to be fully embraced by average Germans.

The country's leading weekly, Der Spiegel, ran a story on women joining the armed forces under a headline asking: "What to do when women cry?" The article continued to focus on such issues as whether female recruits should be required to cut their hair or allowed to wear jewelry.

Many conservatives also argue the end of the Cold War and shifting of roles to include peace keeping and crisis management has already put the army here under stress, and the addition of female recruits will only worsen the situation.

Within the ranks, however, the men say are worried the presence of women will mean they will have to work harder, because of increased competition. According to Der Spiegel, every fifth male conscript asked said the inclusion of women in the armed forces would threaten their jobs.