National service rules relaxed to help female Emirati volunteer

The woman's application was at first rejected as she did not have the approval of her father, who was in hospital at the time.

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ABU DHABI // An Emirati woman who was denied the chance to sign up for national service because her guardian was not present has had the rules eased.

Wa’d Al Hammadi’s application was rejected by Al Nahyan Camp in the capital after her father, who had been admitted to hospital, was unable to attend the registration.

Emirati women are unable to volunteer unless given approval by a guardian, who must be at the recruitment centre to sign the initial registration form.

The women may then proceed to the other procedures including the medical check up.

A guardian in most cases is either the applicant’s father or husband.

But a mother, brother, or uncle may also be considered a guardian if the legal documents were provided by a court.

A female applicant must also be granted approval by her workplace to be able to apply.

After Ms Al Hammadi’s case came to light, Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, chairman of the National and Reserve Service Authority, ordered the procedures to be relaxed.

Military officials accompanied her to Sheikh Khalifa Medical City where they received her father’s approval.

Similar cases will be taken into consideration if the guardian is unable to attend the centre.

One of seven girls in her family, Ms Al Hammadi encouraged other women, including her sisters, to volunteer, the state news agency Wam said.

“The joining of our sons and daughters to the national service is the least we can give in return to this giving nation,” said her father, Yousif Al Hammadi.

Other women have mixed reactions about the need for a guardian while applying for the service.

Reem Al Hosani, 24, said it was important for women to have military training in case of emergencies.

“Military training gives you patience and the ability to tolerate, and confidence to handle enemies,” Ms Al Hosani said.

But she said there should not be a need for a guardian to approve the application.

Umm Majid, another Emirati, disagreed, saying it was important to have an older person make a decision.

“Our parents are more experienced. It is not always in the hands of our parents but it is good to take their opinion into consideration,” Umm Majid said.

She said applying for the military service was a big decision that warranted the guardian’s approval.

“It doesn’t only affect me, it affects those around me as well,” said Umm Majid. “The experience could change me for life, either negatively or positively.”

So far, 23 women have applied for national service and will begin their military training on Saturday. The training will continue for two months and three weeks.

Those who are employed then have to return to their jobs, while the others have the option of transferring to another military unit for further training.

aalkhoori@thenational.ae