Photo: After More Than Two Decades, Mexico's Army Once Again Allowing Women to Be Paratroopers
For the first time in 22 years, women in the Mexican Army are being trained as paratroopers.
In 1989, the army suspended training for female paratroopers, not specifying the reason(s). But for 71 women among the 270 recruits, that training is open to them once more.
Though it is unclear whether the program will continue permanently, by including women in the program, the Mexican Army is giving itself more paratroopers.
Army officials have stated that the women go through the exact same training as their male peers, allowing no special treatment.
For the Mexican Army’s paratroopers, basic training is four weeks, and when the fear they all face when jumping out of a plane has no gender.
Currently, for women entering Mexico’s Army, “paratrooping” is not a career option, though in allowing them to go through the program once again, that policy could change as well.
