There are not many women in the Romanian Army. But this situation is not only with us.
Spain, Russia or Sweden have approximately the same percentage as Romania.
Although they are few, women are represented in all military corps and ranks. And with us, there are generally women as well.
How many women are there now in the Romanian Army
In a response to Newsweek Romania, the Ministry of National Defense reported that “of the total personnel with professional military status (military cadres or soldiers/professional ranks), 13.5% are women, with representation in all military corps and ranks, including the general”.
“The statute of military personnel and the subsequent normative acts do not provide for differences based on gender criteria, the military career being open, equally, to men and women eligible in terms of age and medical, psychological and physical abilities, the same principle being applied and regarding the missions they carry out”, the MApN response states.
Photo: MApN
The women of the Army participated over time, alongside the male soldiers, in the missions carried out by the Romanian Army, under the auspices of the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO).
Women are also found in the military structures of other countries.
Germany. In 2023, the proportion of women in the Bundeswehr (Germany’s army) was 13.43 %. Most female soldiers currently serve in the medical service of the Bundeswehr, according to statista.com.
Austria. In March 2023, there were 645 women in the armed forces in Austria, i.e. 4.3%.
France. In the French military structures, 16.5% of the personnel are represented by women, i.e. 34,142 people, according to defense.gouv.fr.
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Poland. Data as of March 1, 2024 show that 17,334 women serve professionally in the Polish military. The proportion is 13%. Women serve in all corps and all branches of the armed forces, according to gov.pl.
Italy. Here, female military service, started in 2000 following the entry into force of Law no. 380/1999, constitutes one of the great changes that have marked the process of transformation of the military world in the last twenty years.
Currently, the Armed Forces and the Carabinieri, including the port authorities, register the presence of almost 18 thousand units of female military personnel (more than 6% of the total military personnel).
Photo: MApN
Spain. In 2023, the total number of employees in the Armed Forces and State Security Forces and Corps was 274,752 workers, of which only 13% were women, according to statista.com.
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Norway – In 2017, 1,341 of the 11,596 soldiers in the Norwegian military forces were women (12%). Among all soldiers recruited in the same year, the percentage of women was 23%
Russia. The current number of women in the Russian military is approximately 115,000 to 160,000, representing 10% of Russia’s military force.
Bulgaria. In the Bulgarian armed forces, women make up 17% and men 83%.
How you can join the Romanian Army
The Ministry of National Defense wants to recruit professional soldiers. But the first campaign, the one in February, March, April, encountered some problems. Most candidates failed to pass the qualifying tests. The next campaign starts in May.
Photo: MApN
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The general conditions and criteria that candidates must meet are the following:
– have Romanian citizenship and have been domiciled in Romania for at least six months (at the start of the academic year/course/training program);
– not to have been convicted for committing any crime against humanity, against the state or against the authority, of corruption, of service or in connection with the service, which prevents the execution of justice, forgery or a
crimes committed with intent, which would make him incompatible with the exercise of the active military profession or to attend the courses of a military high school education unit, except in the case of rehabilitation, post-conviction amnesty or decriminalization of the act;
How many women are voluntary reservists in Romania
According to MAPN’s response, in 2023 approximately 630 women applied
According to the website of the Ministry of Defense, voluntary reservists represent personnel selected on a voluntary basis. The first contract is concluded for a period of 4 years, and the following ones for a maximum period of 3 years.
Voluntary reservists can be voluntary reservist military cadres (officers, military majors, non-commissioned officers) or voluntary reservist soldiers and ranks. The voluntary reservist is assigned to the position provided for in the contract when it is signed.
When called to the unit, volunteer reservists receive the pay of the military position they hold, the same as active duty military in similar positions.
The rest of the time, when they continue their normal activities as civilians, they are given 30% of their military service pay as reservists.
Upon the establishment of the state of emergency or the state of siege, as well as the declaration of the state of mobilization or the state of war, the contracts of the voluntary reservists are suspended, and they are concentrated/mobilized, under the conditions of the law, and are included in the same functions, it also states MApN.
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What are the salaries in the Army?
MApN sent in a press release the monthly incomes possible to be achieved in May 2024 (net: salary and food allowance) of the professional soldiers/graduates, in a simulation that takes into account the application of the maximum level of the provisions of GEO no. 26/ 2024 and which can be increased according to the salary rights granted depending on the individual conditions in which they operate:
– the lowest net monthly income of a professional soldier at the time of employment: 4,399 lei (consisting of net monthly salary in the amount of 3,345 lei and the value of the food allowance of 1,054 lei);
Photo: MApN
– the highest net monthly income of a soldier/professional rank: 5,765 lei (made up of the net monthly salary in the amount of 4,711 lei and the value of the food allowance of 1,054 lei);
– the average net monthly income of a professional soldier/ranked: 5,082 lei (consisting of the net monthly salary of 4,082 lei and the value of the food allowance of 1,054 lei).
The rights regarding the standard of equipment, transport allowances, rent (with the possibility of conversion into installment payment for the purchase of a home), secondment, mission, transport settlement should not be neglected
vacation leave, holiday voucher settlement, settlement of outpatient treatment and medical services, etc., specific to institutions in the national defense system, public order and national security.
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Also, the way to apply an increase in the salary of up to 30% for the staff employed in units in the process of maintaining and consolidating the operational capacity is also being regulated.
The army remains one of the safest employers in our country, the stability of the job in this institution representing a decisive argument for such a life option.
We can state that employment in the army, followed by a professional and moral behavior appropriate to the dignity of wearing the military uniform, has the prospect of retirement, respectively of the positive reflection of the career in terms of personal and family development.
Also, the solidarity and cohesion that is created in the cazon environment materializes positively in the indicator of the quality of life of the military, MApN also transmitted.
