CREDIT: FORCES.CA
The Canadian Forces are encouraging more women to explore non traditional jobs in the military.

Currently there are about 10,000 women working in the Canadian Forces (CF). It may seem like a big number, but that only accounts for approximately 12 per cent of the entire force, meaning that 88 per cent of employees are men.

Canadian Forces staff is hoping to expand the female presence in the military to 25 per cent. To do so, the CF hosts national women influencer events specifically geared toward promoting women in the military. "It's important to get the word out that's it's not only your typical 19- to 24-year-old male that's in the Canadian Forces," said Captain Margaret Hearn, the attraction and diversity officer for the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre Atlantic.

Sergeant Jamie Shewaga, who's been a part of the Canadian Forces for over 20 years, stressed the importance of recruiting more women in our military. "It's critical for the Canadian Forces to better reflect Canada's demography reality in order to project our values around the world."

In 1885 women served as nurses for the first time in military history. Capt. Hearn pointed out that often females are unaware that over 100 occupations are now available to them. In the late '80s, the CF adopted a "no exclusion policy," becoming one of the only militaries in the world to create equal opportunities for all its members. There are no longer any jobs in the Canadian Forces that women cannot have. The most popular positions among women now include Dental Technician, Health Care Administrator, Imagery Technician, Logistics Officer and Resource Management Clerk. You will find women in more traditionally male-dominated trades as well, such as Combat Arms and Vehicle Technician.

There are several misconceptions that can deter women from joining the military. For one, some women may believe that there are not as many opportunities for them in positions of authority. "Many high ranking and senior appointments are currently held by women, such as the CFLRS Commandant, Commander Michelaine Lahaie," said Sgt. Shewaga.

Secondly, there's also the idea that the military is solely for those who want to fight. All CF members are required to complete their Basic Military Qualification, which includes weapons training, first aid training, physical fitness and courses on military basics. But, according to the Canadian Forces website, "while all Canadian Forces members are trained to respond to threats, most military jobs do not involve direct combat operations." There are many non-combat jobs in the military including positions in health care, logistics and administration.

The physical fitness testing may also intimidate some women, as it is a challenging requirement regardless of gender. Naval Cadet (NCdt) Abigail Nicolle is a junior at Royal Military College in St. Jean. She found the fitness component a challenge, she said. "It was hard at first. The running was the biggest issue. We would go out as a squadron together in the morning or at night, so that was difficult at first, just adjusting."

According to Capt. Hearn, it's important to understand that there are different expectations for men and women. "Even for the physical fitness tests, the criteria you have to meet is different; women do fewer push-ups than men. The fact of the matter is that women don't have the same upper body strength as men."

NCdt Nicolle decided to attend RMC St-Jean to study engineering. It is not a requirement to study at a Military College to join the Canadian Forces, but those attending will recognize a similar trend among the population. NCdt Nicolle said there are only five women in her squadron and fewer than 30 in the college out of approximately 200 cadets. "I'm the only girl in my classes right now except for one; it's a little bit weird. I was surprised, I knew we didn't have a lot of women at the college, but going into that situation it's still an adjustment," she said.

NCdt Nicolle admitted that it's very difficult at times, but she's made great friendships along the way, "It's good, that small number of girls, we stuck together. Needless to say I'm close to a lot of people in my squadron, regardless of gender."

Capt. Hearn said the majority of her co-workers have been and are currently male, but for her it was never an issue. "Maybe it's my personality but it really doesn't bother me a whole lot. I go in and do my job, and I do the job the best that I can and it's because of who I am, not because I'm female."

Regardless of the number of men in the force, Capt. Hearn said it's been an amazing life choice for her. "I've been in the military for 28 years and I've loved every minute of it. It's been a great job for me, so anytime I can promote it and tell people that it's a great job for a female, I do it absolutely."