Vietnam women get call-up
The Vietnamese army is to conscript women
for the first time since the Vietnam War.
A government official in charge of military
affairs, Le Duy Toan, told the BBC the army
was seeking women aged from 18 to 40 with
qualifications in computing, secretarial work or
librarianship.
He denied the move
had been made in
response to a shortage
of qualified recruits.
During the Vietnam
War, which ended in
1975, millions of women
took part in road
building, as well as
combat.
These new recruits
would have the rank of
second-class reservist
and, like men, would have to do one year of
military service.
Growing problem
Mr Le said a decree about female recruitment
had been issued and would come into force in
10 days time.
Army recruitment officers told AFP news
agency that government departments and
state-owned companies would be expected to
provide the army with details of the
professional qualifications of their female staff.
The People's Army is facing a growing problem
of calling up enough conscripts, an Asian
diplomat told the agency.
The diplomat said: "Economic growth coupled
with widespread corruption has allowed more
and more young Vietnamese with an education
to avoid doing their military service."
BBC News - November 14, 2001.
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