“Service before self is not negotiable” – Col Foster

…says GDF women held to full military standards

Women serving in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) must meet the same fitness, weight, deployment and professional standards as their male counterparts, as operational readiness and credibility cannot be compromised, Colonel Lorraine Foster declared on Tuesday. Colonel Foster was at the time addressing a Thanksgiving Service to mark the 59th anniversary of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), held at the auditorium, Base Camp Ayanganna, where she made it clear that equality in the Force comes with equal responsibility and accountability. “Let me state this without ambiguity: we are officers and soldiers of the Guyana Defence Force,” Foster said. “Our obligation to duty, discipline and service is equal to that of our male counterparts. Service before self is not negotiable, and our commitment is not conditional.” She stressed that operational readiness requires women to be fully deployable and fit for the role, noting that standards relating to fitness, weight, and professional appearance are not optional.

“Fitness, weight standards and professional appearance are conditions of that service, not personal preferences,” she said, warning that when standards are ignored, “the credibility of the individual and the integrity of the force are compromised.” Colonel Foster, who is also Commandant of the Guyana National Reserve (GNR), told the gathering that career progression and leadership opportunities within the GDF are directly linked to readiness and performance. “Career progression, leadership opportunities and command confidence are directly tied to fitness for the role,” she said. “I expect every woman to take responsibility for meeting those standards, and I expect commanders to enforce them fairly and consistently.” She said the GDF must produce female soldiers who are “operationally relevant, mentally resilient, and disciplined”, adding that women must be viewed as assets to mission success rather than liabilities. While affirming that the Force has a responsibility to protect its members from discrimination, exploitation or abuse of authority, Foster cautioned that protection must not be mistaken for exemption. “Protection does not equate to exemption from standards,” she said. “Equality demands honesty. It means equal opportunity, equal responsibility and equal accountability. It does not mean different rules when it is convenient.” Foster reiterated her support for the full integration of women across all areas of military service, including combat and leadership roles, saying gender should never determine appointments. “Capability, not gender, must determine appointments,” she said, noting that women must be prepared to serve across infantry, artillery, engineering, special forces, transport units and command positions. She also rejected what she described as “sympathy promotions”, stating, “We will earn every stripe, every pip and every crown through discipline, service, fitness for role and unwavering commitment to duty.”

Not constrained by institutional barriers
Meanwhile, Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan, in his address, echoed Foster’s position, reaffirming that female soldiers are held to the same expectations as male soldiers and are not constrained by institutional barriers. “The female soldiers, you are required, just like the male, to serve selflessly,” Khan said. “There are opportunities that we are expanding. Nothing is holding you back.” Reflecting on the establishment of the Women’s Army Corps in January 1967, Khan said the enlistment of women was a visionary decision that shaped the future of the Force.

“It was not simply the formation of a corps,” he said. “It was the affirmation of a conviction that courage recognises no gender and service belongs to those who are willing to stand.” Khan described the anniversary service as more than a ceremonial observance, calling it a moment of gratitude and reflection on the sacrifices made by generations of women in uniform. “Anniversaries are not only about time; they are about testimony,” he said, noting that women of the GDF have contributed “tremendous value to the richness of our military culture across every speciality.”
The service brought together senior officers, representatives of the joint services, retired members of the WAC and serving soldiers as the GDF reflected on nearly six decades of women’s service under a single standard and a unified mission.