-Says Current Female Numbers Constitute Less Than 5% Out of 1,962 Soldiers
The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), General Geraldine George has stressed the need for female participation in the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), highlighting the low percentage of women in the army.
According to the Deputy AFL boss, women uniform soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) constitutes less than five percent of the 1,962 members of the AFL; and as such; more women need to get on board.
She made the statement recently at her BTC office in Monrovia in an interview with reporters, noting that the AFL has established a special training session that is currently in place to aid women and men who are limited with some of the training before the recruitment process.
Commenting on the age range for recruitment, she named from 18 to 35 and called on the public to report, successful applicants with tainted characters and minimum education, so as to avoid the intimidations of peaceful citizens in the name of the institution.
“We are working with the AFL training commandant who is responsible for recruitment and the vetting process to establish a training session for females who desire to become a member of the army. We need more women, because we want them to compete with their male counterparts in the military. What a man can do, a woman can also do,” she noted.
Looking at the challenges her institution is faced with, she said every organization has its own challenges and the issue of accommodation and the provision of basic social services remains a major challenge in the AFL.
She said, it is against this back drop that the conduct of the recruitment process will not take place now until the renovation of some military bases in the country are completed so as to accommodate many military personnel.
General George also spoke of the lack of logistical and low income for the soldiers, adding that if the country
is to attract investors, the security sectors must be capacitated through the provision of more
logistics.
She named trucks, uniforms, arms and ammunition among other things that are paramount to the empowerment of the security sector, and stressed the need for more budgetary support for the security sectors.
When questioned about the relationship between the LNP and the AFL, she bragged of a good working relationship between the security apparatus, and added that they are working together in making sure that peace and stability is maintained throughout the Country.
General Geraldine George is the Armed Forces of Liberia first female Deputy Chief of Staff. Prior to her promotion, she served as Acting Commander of the 23rd Infantry Brigade, headquartered at the Edward Binyah Kesselly Barracks (EBK), formerly, the Schiefflin Barracks.
As a female career soldier, Madam George said she has come to the position with incomparable extensive military leadership skills. TNR
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