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KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Brig. Gen. Khatool Mohammadzai, director of women’s affairs for the Afghan National Army and a deputy director of planning and physical training for a reserve force that is to be part of the Defense Ministry, recently met with military leaders and local female members of the Afghan National Police at the Joint Regional Afghan Command in Kandahar province, to discuss concerns and issues facing female police officers.
For the last 28 years, Mohammadzai has been an example of perseverance as she has worked to overcome the challenges of being a female soldier in a male-dominated military force. Before her homeland fell to the Taliban, she had risen to the rank of three star general and was a national hero, a living symbol of her country’s hopes for the future, featured regularly at local or national events in Afghanistan.
When describing the road that has led her to prominence her previously jovial tone becomes solemn. She speaks quietly until she finally breaks down into tears as she gives details of challenges that could have led many to give up long ago. Her husband was killed after only one year of marriage and, like her mother before her; she was left to raise a child alone.
Mohammadzai said that her mother’s example and her own hard work are the reasons she has achieved so much success.Her contributions to her nation have not just come in the form of military service. During the rule of the Taliban she ran a secret girls’ school from her home.
“Everything was destroyed and we needed to work hard. They needed to be kept away from the danger outside,” she said. “They needed to learn about their culture and they needed to learn about themselves.”
Mohammadzai acknowledges the risks in such behavior but beams with pride when she describes the success that many of her former students have achieved. “I love them and they love me. These are my people,” she said.
Mohammadzai said she is pleased that more women are stepping up to the plate and becoming involved in the progress of building a better Afghanistan.
She knows that her achievements are many and that she, like so many Afghan women, will be remembered in history. However, she expresses concerns about her safety and says more needs to be done to protect females in her homeland.
During the meeting at the JRAC, Mohammadzai spoke diligently about her struggles as a single mother and Afghan soldier. She stressed to her female audience on the importance of education.
The general was very pleased with the productivity of the meeting. Many stood to list some of the challenges faced by female ANP. The lack of childcare, base housing and security, monthly pay allowances and promotion ability were some of the issues they discussed. Many expressed joy to see someone from the Afghan’s higher leadership visiting them.
According to Maj. Sheila Medeiros, a female engagement team program manager for ISAF Joint Command, Gen. Mohammadzai galvanizes Afghanistan’s women.
“Hopefully through her, they see the opportunities to better themselves. They can take those risks and make their lives better,” she said.
Mohammadzai said she hopes that people will do the right thing to help build their country. She looks forward to what is in store for her nation’s future if the people will work hard and educate the youth so they will know their history and know themselves.
“When we join the military, we take an oath,” she said. “We put our hand on the Koran and swear to be honest, to have faith, and to do our best. If we do these things, we can be successful.”
According to Mohammadzai, the key to progress in Afghanistan will be the way the Afghan people treat one another after the withdrawal of foreign troops. She notes that she has seen progress as Afghan forces move to take more responsibility over daily operations. However, she believes it will take much more than that for her home land to prosper.
“We have to respect culture and humanity and put aside our differences in order to move ahead,” she said.
She added that women in Afghanistan have more power than they even realize and can play a pivotal role in the future.
Her continued work to push barriers and boundaries illustrates her passionate belief that the women of Afghanistan can rise together and form a chain of unity for today, tomorrow, and forever.
“It is up to them,” she said. “If they will use their power in the right way, if they work hard and they are honest, we can succeed.”
| Date Taken: | 02.20.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.21.2012 09:04 |
| Story ID: | 84105 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR, AF |
| Web Views: | 312 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Afghan general breaks barriers to build better nation, by SGT H. Marcus McGill, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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