President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva made a historic announcement this Wednesday to defend gender equality: women will be able to access for the first time military service in Brazil.
The measure, included in a decree signed by Lula and published this Wednesday in the Official Gazette, responds to the growing demand for gender equality in the country and recognition of the role that women play in different fields.
“A woman’s place is wherever she wants”said the Brazilian president when announcing the measure in Brasilia, during the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Ministry of Defense. “The more diverse a situation is, the more representative it will be,” he added.
According to the decree, starting next year, Brazilian women over 18 years old They can voluntarily enlist in the army, navy and air force.
Unlike men, who are required to report to a military unit as soon as they reach the age of majority, women can voluntarily join military service.
Currently, women can only enter the armed forces through the training courses for officers and non-commissioned officers.
According to the decree that defines the rules for enlisting women in military service, 1,500 places will initially be opened.
Interested persons must follow the criteria specified by the Armed Forces, in which, in addition to the mandatory health examinations who certify that the applicant has no limitations for the completion of initial military service, there will be other steps during the process.
According to the regulations, the selected persons will be incorporated according to the needs of the armed forces and the initial period of military service, lasting 12 months, may be extended up to eight years, according to criteria defined by the forces themselves.
Like the men called up or the volunteers who enlist, Women will not have stability in military service and will become part of the unpaid reserve of the armed forces after being separated from active duty.
Some 37,000 women are currently linked to the Brazilian Armed Forces – almost 10% of all personnel – in jobs related to health, teaching and logistics or in the combat zone but with the ranks of non-commissioned officers or officers.
