VOA常速英语2007年-Hundreds of Women Rush to Be First Female Soldi

By Nico Colombant
Thies, Senegal
16 November 2007

In the largely Muslim West African nation of Senegal, women have been excluded from joining the army as foot soldiers.  But that will change next year, as VOA's Nico Colombant reports from a recruitment drive in the city of Thies.

Young women jostle for position in a dusty military courtyard as male officers show up late to process their applications.

These events across Senegal aim to select 300 female soldiers.

Women have been enlisted¹ to serve as military nurses, doctors and administrators² in customs offices, the police force and the forest guard, but never before into the army.

Coumba Fall is one of the more than 500 recruits in Thies.

"I woke up early to come here, because today they have the recruitment of army of girls. I [have been] here since four o'clock," she said.

Fall has 13 siblings³ and step siblings. None of them has a regular job. Her father, who had two wives, died when he was middle aged⁴.

"It is very important to come here, because we do not have a job in Senegal," she added.  "It is very difficult when we see our mom working very hard for giving to [her] children. It is very difficult."

Grade school dropout⁵ Sofiatou Sall is showing the papers she needs to present in the first step of the selection process.

Sall says she wants to wear a uniform.  She says she loves the water and wants to join the Senegalese marines, and travel.

Sall says her grandfather fought as a soldier for France.

He warned her it can be very dangerous, but she says you have to die anyway, one way or another.  In recent years, Senegalese soldiers have died in the restive⁶ Casamance region as well as on peacekeeping missions in Sudan.

Candidates must be between the ages of 18 and 23, in good physical condition, do well at aptitude⁷ tests and be single. 

As applicants⁸ are measured and weighed, the region's military commander, Colonel Edouard Mbengue, says he is impressed by the high turnout.

"Today, this is a civic⁹ move that these young women are performing. It is a challenge because women in nature are different from men," he said.  "That is why it is a challenge for us. But all the ways to overcome the challenges have been taken by the hierarchy¹⁰ to welcome these young ladies into the military."

National army spokesman Captain Saliou Ngom says the female recruits will be very beneficial.

"The Senegalese army is known everywhere, especially in the U.N. military missions," he noted¹¹.  "I think we are performing well all around the world. Integrating the women in the military will be increasing our reputation because maybe in the former days people used to [ask] why we have only men in the army.  If we look at some countries around us, we know that Mali, Tunisia, other African countries have women in their army. But this is the first time, we are having women in the army, so I think if today we [bring] them in the military, I think it is a good thing."

Aminata Doumbaye patiently waits as her daughter goes through the application circuit, including an eye exam. 

She says she brought her here at 3 AM, because she does not want her to be like the women of her generation, rushed into having a husband and children, without the same opportunities as men.

1 enlisted   

adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持）

参考例句：

• enlisted men and women 男兵和女兵
• He enlisted with the air force to fight against the enemy. 他应募加入空军对敌作战。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 administrators   

n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师

参考例句：

• He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself. 他手下有管理人员，但重要的决策仍由他自己来做。 来自辞典例句
• Administrators have their own methods of social intercourse. 办行政的人有他们的社交方式。 来自汉英文学 - 围城

3 siblings   

n.兄弟，姐妹( sibling的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A triplet sleeps amongst its two siblings. 一个三胞胎睡在其两个同胞之间。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She has no way of tracking the donor or her half-siblings down. 她没办法找到那个捐精者或她的兄弟姐妹。 来自时文部分

4 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

5 dropout   

n.退学的学生；退学；退出者

参考例句：

• There is a high dropout rate from some college courses.有些大学课程的退出率很高。
• In the long haul,she'll regret having been a school dropout.她终归会后悔不该中途辍学。

6 restive   

adj.不安宁的，不安静的

参考例句：

• The government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive.政府未采取任何措施放松出口限制,因此国内制造商变得焦虑不安。
• The audience grew restive.观众变得不耐烦了。

7 aptitude   

n.(学习方面的)才能，资质，天资

参考例句：

• That student has an aptitude for mathematics.那个学生有数学方面的天赋。
• As a child,he showed an aptitude for the piano.在孩提时代，他显露出对于钢琴的天赋。

8 applicants   

申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
• He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。

9 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

10 hierarchy   

n.等级制度；统治集团，领导层

参考例句：

• There is a rigid hierarchy of power in that country.那个国家有一套严密的权力等级制度。
• She's high up in the management hierarchy.她在管理阶层中地位很高。

11 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。