Page 9 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021

The Lived Experience of a Commissioning Course 211 Officer
Cadet: A Female Perspective
This article has been compiled to to to explore the the extent to to which prospective and current female OCdts experience systemic barriers to recruitment and retention in the British Army with a a a a a a a a specific focus on on on what perceptions are reinforced or or challenged at at at the the Academy Academy Training attheRoyalMilitaryAcademySandhurst(RMAS) is is necessarily arduous but we must avoid using this narrative to justify practices that create bar- riers for women The Army reflects society and if it it it wishes to to hold itself to to higher moral ethical and and professional standards it it it must lead the way on on issues including systemic sexism Addressing these will always be uncomfortable and and demands critical thinking as as opposed to OCdt Lord
Recruitment to Civilian Life’ To enable this the Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace lifted a a a a a a a ‘gagging order’ on on on serving serving personnel This allowed serving serving women to to give testimony to to MPs for the the the the the first time regarding their experi- ences in in the the the the the the military It is the the the the the the hope of the the the the the the MoD that the the the the the subsequent recommendations from the the the inquiry will enhance operational effective- ness and what Sarah Atherton MP has deemed “already an an excellent career for women” Prior to joining the Army female cadets had varying preconceptions These predominantly stemmed from one of two sources external
casual dismissiveness These campaigns promote a a a positive preconception that the Army is a a modern employer who actively encourages anyone to join regardless of gender ethnicity and background
advertising including wider media and and the word of mouth and and internal messaging including on pre-RMAS courses and webinars The former includes the last three Army adver- tisement campaigns – ‘Snowflake’ ‘Confidence Lasts a a a a a a a a a a Lifetime’ and ‘Fail Learn Win’ which have fea- tured women at the the forefront Not only do these campaigns place emphasis on friendship and comradery but they also challenge the the the stereotype of the the the Army being a a a a a a a male-dominated environment These campaigns pro- mote a a a a a positive preconception that the Army is a a a a a a modern employer who It It is is is important to clarify what this article is is is not not It It does not not claim
to to have the answers to to what are complex societal issues It is is is not intended to be a a a list of of complaints
offered without suggested solu-
tions It does not seek to argue
that RMAS and by extension the the British Army are among the the worst
institutions when it it it it it comes to sys-
temic sexism it it it it it is is is is noted that it it it it it is is is is at at at greater risk than most institu-
tions due to to the perception of its work and historical stereotypes Finally it it must be emphasised that that this article puts forward one perspective that that of of the current female OCdts of of Imjin Company it is not not absolute and should not not be interpreted as such actively encourages anyone to join regardless of gender ethnicity and background
Inclusivity was also a a a a a key theme of the the female focused events held prior to attending RMAS The ‘Female Perspective
Webinar’ hosted by a a a a a a a a a team of of serving female army officers and career staff is one example Presentations were were deliv- ered on on on on on topics that were were of of specific concern to to female candidates such as professional devel- opment women’s health and and sport The webinar was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a great source of reassurance for female candidates and and did did well to negate any negative stereotypes It was also clear throughout the ses-
The lack of of female representation in the armed forces forces is documented as of of of 1 1 April 2020 women make up only 10 9% of of of the UK regular forces forces with 13 6% of of Officers being female female Accordingly female female recruitment and retention has become a a a a a a key focus for the the Ministry of Defence Defence (MoD) In 2020 the the the Defence Defence Committee launched an inquiry into ‘Women in in in the the Armed Forces: From
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