Jordanian, American military women exchange knowledge

Photo By Sgt. Wesley Landrum | American female service members pose for pictures with their Jordanian counterparts during the 2nd annual Woman's Symposium in Amman recently. The symposium addressed multiple issues dealing with creating and participating in a co-ed military.  

06.05.2008

Story by Spc. Wesley Landrum 

50th Public Affairs Detachment

By Sgt. Sara A. Carter
U.S. Army Central Public Affairs

AMMAN, Jordan - Eleven American service members from U.S. Army Central traveled to Jordan to participate in the 2nd Annual Jordanian Armed Forces Women's Symposium in Amman recently.

Officers and enlisted women from both the American and Jordanian military came together at the Female Training Institute inside the Royal Military Academy to discuss multiple issues associated with creating and participating in a co-ed military.

Brig. Gen. Aisha Bint Al Hussein, director of the Directorate of Military Women's Affairs and a princess in the Jordanian Royal Family, has set a goal of increasing the number of females in the JAF from three percent to six percent by 2015. With the steady change of women's roles in the military come questions on the best ways to integrate women into new military positions once held by men only.

Each country gave a brief history of women's role in their militaries then they opened the floor for discussion. Some of the many topics discussed were: military as a career for women, non-traditional occupational roles for women in the armed forces, job opportunities, changes that have to occur with a co-ed environment, health issues, and military family life for both dual and single military.

The U.S. is about 25 years ahead of Jordan in regards to the addition of women in its military. Currently, the main role of women in the Jordanian military is administration and nursing. However, they are slowly beginning to have the opportunity to work in some non-traditional job fields such as being a member of the Royal Guards and the Royal Military Police.

"It empowers them to see us," said Command Sgt. Maj. Cynthia Pritchett, senior enlisted leader, U.S. Central Command. "We give them confidence. What they are going through now, we went through years ago."

JAF Lt. Col. Sana'a Fadel Ali, assistant of the director of military women's affairs and the head of the training branch at the directorate, said sharing experiences with the U.S. has given the Jordanian women the support to keep on trying. She also said working with the U.S. military has taught them what to do and what not to do while increasing the role of women in the JAF.

There was a variety of experience in the room. Some of the women in the JAF have only been in the military for about two years while others have already served more than 20 years.

Jordanian Armed Forces Sgt. Abeer Abu Sbeh has been in the JAF for more than two years and is a drill sergeant and platoon leader at the Female Training Institute. The 24-year-old said she had a pure desire and determination to be a member of the Jordanian army.

"It is a great honor to be a member of the army," she said. "I advise other (women) to join because it's honorable to serve your country and nation."

One of the more experienced officers who attended the event was JAF Maj. Ketayeh Hiyasar who has served in the military for 23 years. She explained her whole family was in the army so she also decided to join.

"I am very proud to be in the military," she said. "It is the safest place for women to work."

Although the experience level varied from servicemember to servicemember, all who participated in the event walked away from the event with a newfound knowledge of how the other operates. The U.S. service members left Jordan with a new perspective about everything women in the military, as a whole, go through, Pritchett said.

"We are more alike than we are different," said the sergeant major who has served for more than 30 years and is the first woman to serve as a command sergeant major in a combat theater. "Life isn't as bad as we think it is."

Fadel Ali agrees with Pritchett saying, "It makes females realize the differences we face are almost the same."

"I believe we all gained a better appreciation for our own fortunate circumstances – the opportunities we have, as women in the U.S. military, to contribute to our national security," said Col. Sheri Tonner, Director, Training, USARCENT G3 (FWD). "The Jordanian women really opened our eyes to the realities for women in other countries."

As the women of the Jordanian Armed Forces continue to show their strength and courage, U.S. Army Central will continue to encourage and support them through this time of transition. According to Pritchett, USARCENT will continue to participate in the symposium in years to come and hopes to expand the number of days of the event in order to give the American women an opportunity to see more of the Jordanian training. There is also a possibility the symposium will rotate between the U.S. and Jordan to allow everyone the opportunity to see how each trains.

"I felt inspired by the passion of the women in the Jordanian Armed Forces," Tonner said. "They are so passionate about what they are doing and you can see a sense of purpose in their endeavors to increase the roles for women in Jordan's armed forces. They are very enthusiastic and professional – their excitement and optimism about their potential to contribute to the future of their country was inspirational."

Fadel Ali said a lot has changed since last year's symposium and she expects to see doors open up for women in non-traditional units – units that were strictly for men.

• Date Taken: 06.05.2008
• Date Posted: 06.05.2008 03:22
• Story ID: 20126