Xhaçka meets new recruits: Opening of Armed Forces to women, a necessity

Published: Tuesday, 19 February 2019 15:30

143 youngsters left today for the Troop School in Bunavi, where for about three months they will go through the Basic Individual Training. It is the first stage before taking the enlistment oath as the newest soldiers and sailors of the Armed Forces.

At the seeing off ceremony the Defence Minister Olta Xhaçka, appraised the choice of these youngsters to joining the Armed Forces.

"Being part of the Armed Forces means being part of a squad. It is not easy and cannot be easy to become part of the Armed Forces. Less so today, when becoming part of the Albanian Army means being part of an Alliance like NATO. It means tomorrow serving in Alliance missions alongside our US, German, French, and English Allies, military members from most modern and most professional armies that the world knows today", - said Minister Xhaçka.

She paid special attention to female recruits and gender balance in the Armed Forces.

"Opening the Armed Forces to Albanian women and young ladies is a necessity! And we cannot have the best, the most talented, the most dedicated ones, if we exclude right half of Albanians just because they are women and the Army is a place for men. We need the talent of each boy and every girl! But I am also aware that we are still far from the real opening of the Armed Forces as a real career opportunity to each girl and woman who wants to join this organization to serve her country and people. For an organization like the Albanian Armed Forces that today are experiencing a process of modernization and professionalism at the highest NATO standards, this remains a challenge which I am very confident that we can win," - said the Defence Minister.

143 candidates, who were seen off to the Troop School in Bunavi, were selected after the physical, intellectual, and psychological testing by the Armed Forces Personnel Recruitment Center.

Among candidates for active recruit/seaman are also 10 female, while 18 candidates have university degree.