A total of 2,858 women serve under Bulgarian Army flags, including 37 ladies within international missions abroad. The figures were quoted Saturday during an international conference "Women in the Army". Photo by Kameliya Atanasova (Sofia Photo Agency)
A total of 2,858 women serve under the Bulgarian Army flags, including 37 ladies within international missions abroad, it became known on Saturday.
The role of women with epaulettes has been highly appraised by civil and military defense officials during an international conference dedicated to "Women in the Army - Challenges and Perspectives".
Chief of Army Staff Zlatan Stoykov announced that since Bulgaria dispatches troops to missions abroad, the country has sent off a total of 54 military women.
Bulgaria's infantry unit in Iraq included a total of 71 ladies, in Kosovo - 8, in Bosnia and Herzegovina - 49, and in Afghanistan - 26. These figures stand for 9% of Bulgarian Army troops, Defence Minister Vesselin Bliznakov said.
The largest percentage of ladies "in camouflage" is found at the air forces (12.8%) followed by the land troops (10.6%) and the navy (3.9%). Some 10% are engaged in the General Staff of the Army, statistics showed.
The conference organised by the Defence Ministry seeks to promote the military profession particularly among women in the prospects of full abolishment of recruited troops as of 2007.