Page 12 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021 (Crest)

restricts head movement. Book 15 also asserts that makeup may be worn if it is inconspicuous. However, some female OCdts at the Academy have been told by members of staff that they must not wear any make up during the working day. From these three examples, it is evident that Book 15 requires updating.
The final category to address, and arguably the most important, is women’s health. The Acad- emy is dedicated to improving female OCdts’ means to manage their menstrual cycles, par- ticularly whilst on exercise. All female OCdts are now issued a spare pair of MTP trousers to take into the field for hygiene and comfort reasons. As well as this, sanitary products are now recog- nised as a G4 responsibility. Prior to each exer- cise, female OCdts pack a sanitary bag which is then carried into the field by the CQMS. OCdts have access to these bags as and when they are needed. This significantly reduces the stress of dealing with a menstrual cycle in an unfamiliar environment. Following from this, female OCdts have suggested the provision of extra bedding for each platoon in the event of an unexpected cycle. Extra bedsheets would avoid unnecessary embarrassment in the event of this happening.
Sandhurst has clearly focused on accommo- dating its female OCdts needs. However, there are still aspects of women’s health that need addressing. Female OCdts arrived at Sandhurst without receiving any information regarding men- strual cycles, and since being at the Academy,
women’s health has only been addressed once during an intake wide presentation. During said presentation, OCdts were afforded one slide which did not adequately cover health-related issues. This meant many females deployed on their first exercise with no knowledge on how to manage their period. It is not unreasonable that more time ought to be dedicated to open dis- cussions surrounding female health. These dis- cussions should take place both prior to attend- ing Sandhurst and prior to deploying on the first exercise.
A final point to note regarding female health is the accessibility of sanitary bins. Since being at the Academy, the sanitary bins have been changed once. OCdts were required to drop the bins at a collection point. It then took four weeks for the bins to be replaced, meaning female cadets went without a sanitary bin for a month. The Academy should look to implement a smoother and more considerate process of changing sanitary bins.
In summary, Sandhurst appears dedicated to improving the lived experience of its female OCdts. The request for this article itself dem- onstrates the willingness to discuss and treat gender-specific issues. Whilst the Academy has already enacted positive changes, there are still areas for development. It is acknowledged that some of these changes require external support and may take time. Many, however, are within the means of Sandhurst to address, most with minimal effort or resource.
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