30 May 2016

For many, May 27 was just another month-end Friday pregnant with hope of pay-day euphoria and anticipation.

However, for 581 Botswana Defence Force (BDF) recruit privates in Pandamatenga village, this day symbolised a hard-fought and challenging transition from mere civilians to men and women who were prepared to serve and to protect Botswana, its people and interests as soldiers.

On Friday, the stage was set for Intake 70 with 181 of these being females, though one could hardly tell from uniform brush cuts and identical military regalia, who is who.

There are no men and women in the army, and this was pointed out by Major General Goitseleene Morake at the parade.

“Effectiveness is degraded when men and women start to behave like men and women in the army. We are all soldiers and therefore no members of the defence force shall be favoured because of their gender,” he warned.

When men and women are evaluated, conditioned and trained differently because of gender, he said, this contributes to diminished effectiveness.

He stressed to the privates that women do not, by their presence diminish the cohesion in a war fighting unit.

“It is therefore in the interest of the BDF to integrate men and women as equal warriors on the most effective combat team,” he added.

The drill parade was as immaculate and as synchronised as one could expect from the BDF, with every step, lift, command meticulously planned in unison as they paraded in front of proudly cheering parents and officials.

After all, the previous six months of intense military training had been building up to a pivotal moment such as this.

Cheers aside, privates were given a hard reality check, that by choosing to go into military, they had made a personal sacrifice and lost privileges and freedoms such as their freedom of movement, free speech and their right to unionise or indulge in political activities.

“Soldiering is duty first, country first; it is more than a job, it is a commitment to serve the nation,” Maj Gen Morake highlighted as a matter of fact.

Among the 181 female privates graduating was 22-year old Kenaope Lefitile who was awarded ‘Best in skill at Arms’ alongside another female Tebogo Ramokapane aged 25.

Both had beaten all their 400 male counterparts in gun handling and control and speaking in an interview with BOPA on the sidelines, Private Ramokapane said she was scared of the gun but got used to it and started excelling.

For Private Lefitile, listening carefully to instructions from the instructors helped her become great at the skill and encouraged other ‘girls’ to join the military as they are just as good as ‘boys,’ if not better.

Discipline, which is a fundamental pillar of the BDF values, was emphasised upon greatly and Gen Morake said if they not have it, they will be disciplined.

“If you continue being indisciplined, your days in the BDF will be numbered,” said Maj Gen Morake, in a rather unapologetic fashion.

At the end, the privates said they will do whatever it takes to attain and maintain the highest military standards to leave a legacy of selfless service, commitment to excellence and love of the country to those who follow. Ends