Military personnel from the United States and Botswana participated in a workshop on how to better integrate women into the African country’s military, addressing issues such as sexual harassment and the need for customized equipment.
The three-day workshop was part of a wider programme that concluded on Thursday and aimed at strengthening relations between the two countries and building the capabilities of local armed forces.
Major Teisha Barnes, military operations officer for the U.S. Army’s Southern European Task Force in Africa, which launched an initiative to increase the role of women serving their countries, said women face challenges in the military that can limit their opportunities.
“One of the biggest challenges is not allowing women to expand their horizons and pigeonhole them,” Barnes said, adding that “not many women are up to that challenge.”
“We have made several changes in the United States over the last 10 to 15 years to accommodate women based on body type, and also changes to the uniform to make women more comfortable in the military,” she said.
Explaining the U.S. Army’s challenges with uniforms and equipment, Barnes said, “In the U.S., we also had problems with the proper fit of our vests when it came to shooting and wounding women instead of helping us. Another problem was that we learned that women did not weigh enough to break in boots.
“By teaching Botswana,” she said, “we hope they can learn from our mistakes and prevent injuries to women.”
Major P. Sergio of the Botswana Defence Force acknowledged that women in the army still face challenges and expressed hope that cooperation with the US Army will prove helpful.
“In our culture, men believe that women cannot join the army because they are tough and we are gentle, not masculine,” Sergio said. “People are not changing that quickly; it will take some time for them to accept that women join the army and do well.”
US Ambassador to Botswana Howard Van Vranken said it was crucial to give women equal opportunities in the military.
“It’s a problem-solving approach that takes everyone’s strengths and allows us to bring everyone into the equation on an equal basis,” he said. “To address the security challenges of the 21st century, it’s imperative that we get everyone’s input.”
The U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) workshop coincides with a broader initiative called Southern Accord 2024 that aims to strengthen bilateral military capabilities.
SETAF-AF Deputy Commanding General Brigadier General John LeBlanc said this year’s Southern Accord exercise, which involved 700 troops, was a success. The bilateral exercises conclude on Thursday.
