In recent weeks, the Brazilian Armed Forces have taken historic steps toward the inclusion of women in their operational sectors. One of the novelties comes from the Brazilian Army: for the first time in history, the Army’s Aircraft Pilots Course and Aircraft Maintenance Management Course will have female students.
“Gender diversity brings a variety of perspectives and approaches, enriching decision-making and problem-solving. Women possess communication, empathy, and multitasking skills that are valuable in complex operations, essential characteristics in the areas of piloting and management,” Lieutenant Colonel Eduardo Antonio Ferreira, deputy commander of the Brazilian Army Aviation Training Center, told Diálogo.
According to Lt. Col. Eduardo Ferreira, female representation in the leadership of maintenance, supply, and avionics lines not only breaks down stereotypes, but also inspires other women to pursue technical and strategic careers in the Armed Forces. “This creates an environment that is more inclusive, motivating, and adaptable to contemporary demands, strengthening the capability of the Armed Forces to face present and future challenges,” he said.
The Pilots Course lasts 63 weeks, with subjects including Helicopter Flight Theory, Piloting Maneuvers and Air Navigation, Weapons, Ammunition and Shooting, the Brazilian Army said in a statement. The Aircraft Maintenance Management Course lasts 38 weeks and qualifies soldiers for positions and functions linked to supply and transportation by air and to financial and materiel management.
“From my first contact with aviation, during my training at the Military Academy, I saw aviation as a very different, interesting, and important aspect of the Army,” First Lieutenant Andrielly Mostavenco Gomes, a student of the Army’s Aircraft Maintenance Management Course, said in a statement released by the Army Aviation Command.
“Without maintenance, things don’t move. To be able to help manage maintenance and make sure aircraft are ready to fly and carry out missions all over the country is a source of great satisfaction,” 1st Lt. Mostavenco added.
For Lt. Col. Eduardo Ferreira, “the presence of women in these courses not only enriches the Armed Forces with diverse talents, but also reinforces the commitment to justice and meritocracy, contributing to a stronger and more representative institution.”
Brazilian Navy
The Brazilian Navy has also increased female inclusion. On February 19, the first class of women in the Marine Soldier Course began. “Of the 720 young people starting their adaptation period in the Marine Soldier Training Course this year, 120 are female,” the Brazilian Navy’s Marine News Agency reported.
In addition, in February, the Brazilian Navy’s Naval Peace Operations Center sent a Mobile Training Team made up of three women captains to Mexico to conduct the Gender Counselor Course. “The training aims to prepare military personnel who will act as gender advisors or focal points in United Nations [U.N.] peacekeeping operations,” said the Navy News Agency.
WPS Program
The Brazilian Armed Forces’ initiative is in line with the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) program, as part of a global effort to support the contributions of women in the defense and security sectors. The program follows the guidelines of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325. Adopted unanimously in 2000, the resolution established the full and equal participation of women in conflict resolution, peacebuilding and peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and post-conflict resolution.
In 2015, the Security Council approved Resolution 2242, which recommended that U.N. member states draw up national strategies for the domestic implementation of the WPS agenda.
In response to the U.N.’s call, Brazil launched the First National Action Plan (NAP) on WPS in 2017. “By adopting the NAP, the Brazilian government reaffirmed its commitment to the role of women in promoting international peace and security, as well as to the protection and empowerment of all women and girls,” the Brazilian government said in a statement in 2022.
In 2023, Brazil took another step with the launch of the II PNA on WPS, which provides objectives not only for Brazilian foreign policy, but also for domestic public policies.
“Brazil aligns itself with the understanding enshrined in the United Nations, corroborated by evidence, that the inclusion of women in all spheres of conflict prevention and resolution processes, as well as peacekeeping and peacebuilding, increases the sustainability of peace processes,” the document says.