"This country has educated me and now it's time for me to repay the favor," says a young female naval officer. Her attitude is typical of the women who serve at sea.
In 1998 the La Fayette class frigate ROCS Kang-Ding became the nation's first naval ship to carry female officers. This experiment worked out so well that six months later other ships, including Knox- and Cheng-Kung-class frigates, followed suit. Out of a total complement of one hundred and seventy-one on the ROCS Kang-Ding, currently six are women. The Free China Review talked to the Kang-Ding's commander, Henry Shen, about the performance of its female officers, and to two of those officers and a chief petty officer about their backgrounds and work experiences. The interviews all took place in the presence and hearing of several other naval officers and civilian officials.
Henry Shen
I think the recruitment of young women has been a very positive development for the navy. The female officers on this ship are careful and conscientious, and they've performed extremely well, especially with regard to ammunition management, encoding, and the supervision of other ranks. Their broad-minded and outspoken qualities have boosted the morale of the male crew. The other thing I've noticed since they joined us is that the men have become more polite and energetic.
Female officers don't receive preferential treatment on this ship. They're assigned similar manual tasks and given the same fitness regimen as the men. I've yet to see any major problems emerge from their presence. Probably the biggest problem on board any ship is seasickness, and that's something that strikes everyone, men and women alike.
A primary concern for women, of course, is the question of marriage and maternity leave. Regulations state that after graduating from Naval Academy, cadets must serve aboard ship for three years, followed by a shore posting for another two or three years after that. Then they can either go back to sea or stay in a shore-based post, depending on their evaluations and their own goals. So female officers can still juggle family responsibilities and their careers, as long as they plan ahead. I think these options, coupled with good pay and steady work, are important incentives when it comes to recruiting women into the navy.
Liao Chia-yu, 24, is a gunnery officer who begins her weapons management and training duties soon after 6:00 A.M. reveille.
My elder brother's in the air force, and it was hearing about his work and experiences that triggered my ambition to join the military. My father, who has high expectations of me, encouraged me to enter for the military academy entrance exam. Since I liked the idea of being independent, I decided a military career might well be for me.
I've been in this post for one year. The work environment's very good, given that the ship is a new one with advanced equipment. Four years of military school conditioned me to working with men. But everyone has to learn how to make adjustments in the military, not just the women. We all have to work hard and make sure we complete our assignments. Male colleagues should accept and recognize the presence of women and treat us fairly--that way, everyone gets along just fine.
I think that apart from obvious differences, such as the physical strength of women compared to men, we confront similar challenges on the learning curve here. But there's nothing you can't adapt to or overcome. My number-one problem at the moment is seasickness, but I'll start to feel better in time. The other thing is, I miss not always having friends around I can pour my heart out to, because my rosters and days off aren't regular. Still, my friends are all very understanding, and they think my job's great, especially for women in combat postings.
It's up to us whether we want combat or non-combat assignments. People like me who opt to serve in combat positions need a strong sense of motivation, and they have to be interested in doing this kind of work. They've got to prepare themselves mentally and physically for any challenges up ahead. Since most women are cautious by nature and often have to balance a family and a career, many of them are better suited for logistics jobs ashore. As to future prospects and career planning, I'm aiming to do my best in a variety of different training programs in order to strengthen my job skills and, well, enrich my life. If I ever get the chance, I'd like to travel abroad, seeing new things and broadening my horizons.
Kao Yun-shih, 24, is the chief petty officer responsible for the crew's health. Her duties extend from taking a simple drug inventory at one end of the spectrum to making emergency diagnoses at the other.
My father was a soldier, so I grew up in married quarters. After graduating from vocational school, I wasn't sure if I should go for more education or look for a job. At that time, my mother was also working for the military as a contract worker, and she found out that the academies were looking to recruit women. Though I wasn't quite sure what I'd be doing after I entered the military, at least I had a goal. My younger brother and sister later went to military school, following in my footsteps. It's pretty obvious that my family fully supports my career in the navy. Most of my friends are curious about my job.
At the beginning, I was a bit worried about having to work with so many men. But after trying it out, I discovered that I needn't have worried. We all get along on the basis of mutual respect. I've learned a lot of things during my past year on board, and I've started to enjoy this line of work and its lifestyle. It's a unique living experience, and I guess not that many people have the chance to try it, which makes me relish what I'm doing even more.
I've yet to make long-term career plans. In the days ahead, I hope I'll be able to take advanced on-the-job training, to boost my performance. Someday I'd like a shore posting, to learn about that aspect of things. I think continuous learning's good for my personal development, whether I'm in the military or not. I'm glad to have the chance to benefit from the abundant educational opportunities the navy offers.
Feng Hsiao-wen, 23, is being trained as an electrical weapons officer. Her 5:00 P.M. dinner is usually followed by an hour of night training and a series of safety checks before lights out at 10:10 P.M.
I come from a pretty modest family. My parents are in the construction materials business. Military academy seemed like a good choice to me, because I could get a degree without denting my parents' income too much. What's more, military school helped me become more independent.
Originally my parents didn't want me to join the armed forces, because they thought the life would be too tough and they didn't want to see me suffer. They gradually came around, however, after I started school. They could see I was getting more mature and independent. Today's job market places a lot of emphasis on knowledge and practical skills, and it isn't always easy to find a job, but the navy offers security and a regular income.
You can't deny that there are differences between men and women--physique, the way they think--but I believe every body's got their own potential. Women may not be as strong as men, but we're better at thinking things through. Female recruitment shouldn't be limited to just certain parts of the armed forces: for instance, to non-combat positions. That's the only way women can fully develop their potential on a par with men.
I've been aboard for only three weeks, but I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead. This country has educated me and now it's time for me to repay the favor. I'm going to do my best here, and I won't leave my post until the nation doesn't need me anymore.