Female military personnel praised for keeping Britain safe

Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP, Secretary of State (SofS) for Defence visit to International Women’s Day at RAF Brize Norton.
The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP, Secretary of State (SofS) for Defence will visit RAF Brize Norton on Thursday 8 March 2018. SofS will be taking part in a media facility for International Women’s Day which has been organised by Directorate of Defence Communications (DDC) and coordinated by the RAF Brize Norton Media Office.

Female military personnel have been praised for keeping Britain safe, on international Women’s Day.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson reflected on the “amazing contribution” women make within the Armed Forces, during a visit to RAF Brize Norton.

During the event he met with women on the front line of the RAF’s transport operations, including a Voyager air to air refuelling and troop transport pilot, logisticians and engineers.

Women are an essential and valued part of Defence and play a key role in keeping Britain safe. Over the last year, female members of the armed forces have contributed to defeating Daesh in Iraq and Syria, delivered essential humanitarian aid to British Overseas Territories affected by Hurricane Irma and most recently helped with the military’s support to snow relief in the UK. In December 2017, six Army officers also become the first all-female group to cross Antarctica.

Currently, over ten per cent of the military is now made up of women. The RAF is leading the way with 14 per cent female representation, but increasing numbers of women are also joining the armed forces, with over 12 per cent of new recruits this year being female.

The MOD has stated its commitment to reaching its target of 15 per cent of the military being female by 2020.

The military is currently in the process of opening its ground close combat roles to women, a historic move first announced in June 2016. The Royal Tank Regiment has already opened its close combat roles to women and last year the RAF became the first service to open all of its trades and branches to women, with the RAF Regiment starting to take female applications in September 2017.

By the end of this year, all infantry regiments in the Army and the Royal Marines will have opened their close combat roles to women.

Speaking at the event, Williamson said, “Women play a crucial role across our Armed Forces and it is important we reflect on the amazing contribution they make every single day keeping the British people safe.”

“It is vital that we have the very best people our society has to offer and that they also represent the society that they defend.”

“Today has been a great opportunity to meet some of those inspiring women who make our Armed Forces the best in the world.”

About the author

Alison is the Digital Content Editor for WeAreTheCity. She has a BA Honours degree in Journalism and History from the University of Portsmouth. She has previously worked in the marketing sector and in a copywriting role. Alison’s other passions and hobbies include writing, blogging and travelling.
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