The Indian Army has recently called for women to enlist as soldiers in the Women Military Police. This marks a significant shift in the role of women in the armed forces which, until now, only allowed them to serve as officers and not in direct combat roles. Aiming to constitute 20% of the military police cadre from their ranks, this initiative is part of a wider strategy to integrate women more fully into the military forces.
Women in Defense Forces
From 2019, the government announced that women would serve not only as officers but also in roles under Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) in the military police. As of now, only the Indian Air Force deploys women in direct combat roles as fighter pilots. With regard to the force-wise representation of women, the Air Force leads with 13.09%, followed by the Navy at 6%, and the Army consists of 3.8% female officers.
| Force | Percentage of Women Officers |
|---|---|
| Air Force | 13.09% |
| Navy | 6% |
| Army | 3.8% |
Challenges to Women in Combat Roles
There are various challenges associated with women’s presence in combat roles. Firstly, the physical fitness standards, designed for men, may impose an extra strain on women striving to match these criteria. Secondly, the inclusion of women might negatively impact unit morale and cohesion, thereby reducing mission effectiveness. Thirdly, issues related to pregnancy could disrupt the deployability of a unit. Additionally, traditional gender role perceptions could foster resentment and harassment towards women in the military environment. Finally, there’s the risk of abuse by the enemy, with misogynistic societies potentially being more willing to abuse female prisoners.
Advantages of Women in Combat Roles
Despite these challenges, there are significant advantages to incorporating women into combat roles. Firstly, if an applicant is qualified for a position, gender should not be a barrier. Secondly, allowing a mixed-gender force could bolster military readiness and address declines in retention and recruitment rates. Other benefits include enhanced flexibility for commanders to choose the most capable individual for a task, irrespective of gender. Furthermore, training can facilitate the integration of women into combat units and over time lead to the evolution of the traditionally masculine military subculture. Lastly, women could be more effective in certain sensitive roles which require interpersonal skills, thereby broadening the talent pool.