Emirati women throughout the capital are falling into line when it comes to military service.
The Khawla Bint Al Azwar Military School, the Gulf’s first military college for women, is preparing to welcome female conscripts for nine months of national service training. Under the national and reserve service law, training is optional for women aged 18 to 30, provided they receive consent from their parents.
The initiative comes as a means to further empower local women in their service to the nation. Conscripts will not only gain leadership skills, but also boost their self-confidence and skill set.
The state-of-the-art facility is the sole authorised military training provider for women under the national and reserve service law and will see the recruits trained by qualified female trainers.
”Women are today holding leadership roles and the Federal Law No. 6 of 2014 on National and Reserve Service has opened the door for them to contribute along with men in the development of the nation,” said Lieutenant Colonel Afra Saeed Al Falasi, commander of Khawla Bint Al Azwar Military School.
The 12-week programme will see conscripts learn basic military training before being allocated to different branches of the military based on their skills. Afterwards, the women will receive specialised training in specific fields.
Urging young Emirati women to join the military service, Al Falasi added that there was “nothing of more value than answering the call of national duty.”
The first batch of male recruits under the new legislation will begin their national service in September.
