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Sat, Feb 11 2012
Bulgarian general wants private security contractors to guard military bases
Bulgarian army generals have spoken against the "widespread influx of women into the armed forces and the infantry in particular". Additionally, they have requested that military bases and installations in the country "be guarded by private security firms, so as not to waste the time of regular soldiers with mundane stag duties," Mediapool reported on November 12 2009.
General Ivan Dobrev, in charge of infantry selection and training, has complained of the large numbers of women in the army and has requested that a regulation be passed to curb that. "They apply for all sorts of jobs, including tank mechanics," he said.
"You see there are things that a lady cannot cope without. Traditionally, the Bulgarian soldier is trained so that he can last in the field several days without soap or a bath," he said.
Generals are complaining because specialisations in the armed forces were initially segregated according to gender, but eventually those divisions were revoked because of "discrimination complaints".
Of all Nato member states, the Bulgarian army has the highest proportion of female soldiers, who currently make up 12.7 per cent of the country's ranks, whereas in some regiments the female population is as much as 20 per cent. In 2008 alone, more than 1200 females passed selection and were allowed to put on the camouflage DPM's.
The average for the rest of Nato is about 10 per cent. In the near future, however, the Bulgarian army is likely to augment selection procedures. The army currently offers a package of a stable government job and an array of supplementary benefits on top of a 600 (plus)-leva monthly wage but the conditions are deemed "unappealing for the general Bulgarian male population".
Another "problem" facing the Bulgarian soldiers was stag duties. "Stag duties disrupt regular training and the presence of personnel in the bases; it means that solders are burdened with mundane activities and as such are a total waste of time," Mediapool reported.
So the proposal put forward by the Bulgarian infantry generals is that "private companies, or a combination of security companies and military personnel be allocated to guard the military bases".
"Infantry soldiers are paid 700 leva wages to be on stag duty, instead of training properly, so we could recruit private firms to guard the bases for 400 leva instead," General Dobrev told Mediapool.
General Ivan Dobrev, in charge of infantry selection and training, has complained of the large numbers of women in the army and has requested that a regulation be passed to curb that. "They apply for all sorts of jobs, including tank mechanics," he said.
"You see there are things that a lady cannot cope without. Traditionally, the Bulgarian soldier is trained so that he can last in the field several days without soap or a bath," he said.
Generals are complaining because specialisations in the armed forces were initially segregated according to gender, but eventually those divisions were revoked because of "discrimination complaints".
Of all Nato member states, the Bulgarian army has the highest proportion of female soldiers, who currently make up 12.7 per cent of the country's ranks, whereas in some regiments the female population is as much as 20 per cent. In 2008 alone, more than 1200 females passed selection and were allowed to put on the camouflage DPM's.
The average for the rest of Nato is about 10 per cent. In the near future, however, the Bulgarian army is likely to augment selection procedures. The army currently offers a package of a stable government job and an array of supplementary benefits on top of a 600 (plus)-leva monthly wage but the conditions are deemed "unappealing for the general Bulgarian male population".
Another "problem" facing the Bulgarian soldiers was stag duties. "Stag duties disrupt regular training and the presence of personnel in the bases; it means that solders are burdened with mundane activities and as such are a total waste of time," Mediapool reported.
So the proposal put forward by the Bulgarian infantry generals is that "private companies, or a combination of security companies and military personnel be allocated to guard the military bases".
"Infantry soldiers are paid 700 leva wages to be on stag duty, instead of training properly, so we could recruit private firms to guard the bases for 400 leva instead," General Dobrev told Mediapool.
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I'm from Bulgaria and i think that's absurdity!The private secutiry sector here is a parody...The most of the employees are totaly unprofessionals except the former police and military officers.I'm so ashamed after i read the Jon Mills comment.But he is right!That's the reality here...
Greetings.
hey mate, i laughed and cried with your comment. get in touch:
where_are_the_lads@hotmail.com
I have to agree with all the former comments. This smells of a Generals Buisness oppurtunity. But the Bulgarian Army is just like the rest of Bulgaria...barely works or does not work at all. In my experiance the women work harder than the men..maybe that is what he frightened of ??
The Bulgarians often talk of Pride but to be Honest we all know they have little.
When the people and Army are next to Forigian Armys or people ( even the Dutch ) They look stupid , dirty , ignorant and Pathetic.
Pity [...]
Read the full comment I wanted to make a life here. Now I can not wait to leave .
I was a pprofessional soldier (in the fullest sense of the phrase) for most of my adult life. I have never heard such rubbish spoken by an officer as given by this so called General.
I would challenge him to take on a young and fit female soldier - one on one - and see who is left standing!
As for guard duty - it is a boring, tedious and soul destroying duty. Just like modern warfare. 90% boredom and 10% panic and aggression. It has a purpose - it trains in [...]
Read the full comment the servicement the need to take all duties responsibly, no matter how useless they may seem. It trains them to be alert and aware, even after long periods of innactivity and routine. They are also guarding and protecting their colleagues and their equipment.
As for taking the men away from training, he has got to be joking! I live in Plovdiv and work adjacent to the main military area. The soldiers amble in at about 9am and are out in the cafes by 10. This is followed by a mass exodus around 3pm.
Their uniforms are filthy, their boots have never seen polish, and they obviously have no sense of respect towards each other or as representatives of the Republic of Bulgaria. Officers strolling around with hands in pockets and cigarettes in mouths - an army they may be; but professional they are not. With no joke intended, it is difficult to work out who is a soldier and who is Roma until they get close to a refuse bin (the roma climb inside to see what is there). Trouble is they both dress the same.
If I was their commanding officer I would be ashamed.
I am sure these Army Generals are so full of themselves. If they want to do something useful let them all go to Afghanistan or Iraqi on mass. Without western equipment I have to say, they are like primative man. It also sounds like a family member of one of the Generals wants to start his own security company to be paid by the peoples taxes.
As for women, should they really be only barefoot and pregnant in todays society!!!!! I think not.
General sees new opportunity to get kick backs.