Page 25 - Royal Jordanian Air Force Book
P. 25
WHERE WE ARE NOW HIGHLIGHTS
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT:
A JUMP INTO THE SKY
RJAF further supports women, this time to become The integration of women in the force is an old
air warriors . practice. In fact, notes, RJAF Commander Major
General Yousef Al Hnaity, the JAF has a special
Unlike Hazem Harazneh, a pilot student who comes directorate that attends to women's affairs in the
from a "military family" and who knew he wanted military. At RJAF, "We had women as clerks at
to be a military pilot since childhood, his female first, mostly civilians, then women NCOs started
colleague, Balqees Al-Thnian, made a huge jump to join". Nevertheless, the JAF has women in the
into darkness when she responded to a RJAF pilot artillery and Special Forces, so why not aviators?
recruiting announcement.
Seven years ago, the first eight women from
Coming from the desert town of Muwaqqar, east those who applied to become military pilots,
of Amman, Balqees is one of 22 female pilot cadets mostly university graduates, joined the training
now studying at RJAF College of Aviation Sciences program, but, unfortunately, they did not make
and a would-be air warrior. She fell into hands as it to solo flight.
safe as her family's, she says.
24 ROYAL JORDANIAN AIR FORCE
