Qatar's military recruiting women for non-combat roles
ABU DHABI — Qatar's military is recruiting and promoting women.
The Gulf Cooperation Council emirate has been recruiting women
for administrative and logistics positions in the military. The Qatari
military has also been promoting women officers.
On Aug. 1, Sumayya Hassan Nasser Al Rashid became the first Qatari woman
promoted to the rank of colonel, Middle East Newsline reported. Ms. Al Rashid heads the Internal
Diseases Section at the Medical Services Department of the Qatari military.
"I reached this position through my dedication and hard work," Ms. Al
Rashid said.
In an interview to the Qatari daily Al Sharq, Ms. Al Rashid said she has
been treated equally to men in the military. She said she has received
support from her family.
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"I am from a military family, and most of my family works in the army,"
Ms. Al Rashid said. "I have received tremendous support and encouragement
from my father as well as my brothers."
Ms. Al Rashid, a graduate of the medicine faculty at King Saud
University in Riyad, joined the Qatari military. By 2003, she
was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Women do not participate in combat missions in Qatar. But the military
has placed women in support roles. The military has not released figures on
women personnel.
"When I took part in my first military exercise in 2002, I was the only
woman participant," Ms. Al Rashid said. "I felt as a stranger in that
environment. In the exercise that took place ahead of Asian Games in 2006, I
was in a very prominent position and I led the entire medical team."