Mexico expands roles for women in military

MEXICO CITY - Mexico's military is tapping a population its recruiters all but overlooked for decades: women. For the first time, Mexico is allowing females to train in elite military schools to become engineers, pilots, and other professionals able to rise to the rank of general.

The changes, ordered by President Felipe Calderon shortly after he took office in December, are profound for Mexico and its male-dominated, machismo society. Women still aren't allowed in combat roles, but the moves are the first expansion of military opportunities for women in 31 years.

Up before dawn at boot camp this month, Patricia Vela, 18, joined male cadets in marching, negotiating obstacle courses, and basic weaponry training at a military camp in the central Mexican highlands. She is studying administration, a military career previously closed to women.

Although she will not be allowed to study weaponry as a career or take part in combat, like all female cadets, even those who came before her, she must learn to arm, fire and dismantle a gun.

She said the reception from her male counterparts had been positive.

"There were so many people who couldn't get in, and here I am, one of the first," said Vela, who competed against 13,500 male applicants for 2,007 slots. "It's impressive, and gives me strength from I don't know where."

Sprinkled through the lines of rifle-toting cadets are at least 215 women this year. While the initial boot camp is and always has been the same for both men and women from all schools, some of the women entering the previously closed military careers will face grueling physical and educational tests in the months ahead.

And they will be held up to the same standard as men in all cases, said Agustin Radilla, who oversees military education. He said that, so far, the male cadets had welcomed the women into the new schools, and he credited the changes for a "healthy competition" between the sexes.

Other Latin American countries - including Bolivia, Chile and Guatemala - allow women to participate in combat, and Radilla said Mexico was studying the possibility.

Women first joined Mexico's armed forces in 1938 as nurses. By 1973, they could become military doctors, and three years later, dentists. Today, women have access to 17 of the military's 39 career schools. With that access has come ncreased interest: 3,326 women applied for military schooling in 2007-2008, up 61 percent from the year before.

Currently, women make up 6,309 of the 191,000 members of Mexico's military.

Radilla predicts that could rise to 8,920 by 2012 - a modest increase, but a sign of the future: "We believe this will change public opinion by showing that, even in the army, women can achieve the same as men."