UNSCR 1325 in practice: Women in the military

One of the themes of this year’s NATO week was UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.  On November 13 the MFA hosted a roundtable on Armenia’s approach to UNSCR 1325, with stakeholders from government (MFA, MOD, Ministry of Social Affairs, PM’s office), international organisations and NGOs.  One of the themes of UNSCR 1325 is the importance of increasing the number of women working in the security sector.  We were fortunate to be joined by female members of the armed forces from Germany (Izabel Borkstett) and France, Tbilisi-based Defence Attaché Lt-Col Andrée Evrard.  I caught up with Lt-Col Evrard to ask about her experience in France’s armed forces.

It’s great to talk to a woman who has had a successful career in the armed forces!  What originally influenced your decision to join up?

My father was a WWII veteran and my uncles were also veterans, so my childhood was full of stories about military life.  What I understood from this was something good –  something about promoting values, and fighting for something important.  I wanted to serve a cause, an ideal – money did not motivate me. Somehow these military stories balanced my education, which was otherwise the education of a ‘good little girl’, doing ballet and so on.  For me, joining the military was a way of travelling all around the world and exposing me to things I would otherwise never have experienced.

How did your recruitment happen in practice?   

I joined quite late.  I went to university first to study law (quite unexciting, though useful), and was working in advertising in the evenings to pay my way.  After this I originally joined as an NCO (a non-commissioned officer) in the NCO school.  I think I didn’t read the brochures well enough and I didn’t realise I wouldn’t be able to choose my speciality, so found myself in the administrative speciality for 3 years.  After 3 years I knew this wasn’t what I wanted, so I did the internal competitive exam to become an officer, go the Military Academy and join a combat unit.

In some ways I lost some time, but actually it meant when I arrived in a battalion as a platoon leader I was mature enough to enter this ‘men’s world’.  I chose to join the armoured engineers. I wanted to be in the field – in the mud! I really like big all-terrain vehicles.  The Engineers is a practical world – not intellectual, and this was a good change for me, a good challenge.

Was it difficult at first to be a female Platoon leader?  Were you the only one?

Yes, I was the only female officer in the battalion.  But it wasn’t a struggle. It was a surprise to them – but the unit commander and company commander were not hostile.  I wouldn’t say they were positive – rather they watched me carefully to see how I would deal with things.  But you know, the military world is a very practical world.  What matters is the results.  There were some challenging moments of course.  As a female in the armed forces you are definitely watched, but what counts in the end is what you do – being able to lead your platoon, de-mine and so on.

And where have you got to now in your career?  Are you enjoying being a DA?

I have now reached what, in Armenia, would be the level of battalion commander. This is my first time as a Defence Attaché.  I like it very much – being the central link between the two sides, explaining both sides to the other.  The scope is exciting – from the tactical to the super strategic/political.  And it is interesting being accredited to all three countries.  There are some things in common, but also some very national features in each country which you have to understand.

When you are not at work, what is your main interest?

I really like to renovate buildings.  I do it all myself – the electricity, the flooring, everything.  I like the fact that in my house I can see a place where I laid the tiles which is not perfect.    It reminds me – I did it myself and I learnt something.  I like the creative challenge of solving a practical problem – it requires a different type of mental agility.

Thank you and good luck in your future career – what would you like to do next?

Something international – perhaps as a Defence Attaché, or related to NATO or the UN.