INTRODUCTION
The women Army Corps was created on the 6th February 1967. This was as a result of the critical need for non-combat troops to support the Infantry (Granger, 2005). From its creation, the Women Army Corps was meant to be a reserve unit. They were given jobs such as secretaries and telephone operators which kept them out of combat. In the words of the late president Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, “I gave an instruction then and hope that that instruction has been carried out. Though perhaps women should get first choice on secretarial and telephone duties, they must understand that they are soldiers and the price which they pay for equality and being in the Guyana Defence Force must be their ability to do anything the men can do
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“I have a gut-based hang-up there. And it doesn’t make a lot of sense in every way. I apologize for it.” (MacKenzie, 2013)” The Gender issue has been plaguing militaries all over the world for years. The issues of women serving in frontline positions in the military has been debated time and time again and even though women have proven themselves capable of executing these duties men are still culturally and morally against the idea.
Some militaries have seen success in allowing females to serve in the non-traditional areas of the force. One such country is Canada who has a long history of women serving in the military. “Women are allowed to serve in any operational trade, and in any environment. They are selected for promotions, training, postings and all career opportunities in exactly the same way - based on rank, qualifications and merit”. (Backgrounder Project number: BG-14 006,
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In the Guyana Defence Force there are four (4) main units that are responsible for the security of Guyana’s border. These units are First Infantry Battalion with responsibility for three locations, with one each in Eteringbang, Kaikan and New River. The Second Infantry Battalion with responsibility for Camp Kanuku in Lethem; Coast Guard with responsibility for Morawhana and the floating Base in the Pomeroon River mouth and the Coastal Battalion who is to assume responsibility for camp Everaad in Mabaruma. Most of the locations are in Interior areas except for Mabaruma and Lethem. The normal deployment period on any of the above mentioned locations can range from three to four months. The main tasks performed by troops on the border can be divided into two areas, operational and administrative. The main operational tasks are defining aggression and gathering and relaying information to Defence Headquarters. These tasks are achieved mainly through aggressive