Seven military women in Kazakh peacekeeping contingent to depart for Middle East

Seven Kazakh female servicemembers will depart to participate in the UN mission on the Golan Heights as part of an independent peacekeeping contingent. Four medical professionals, two cooks and one sniper, along with their male colleagues, underwent a six-month comprehensive training, including language one, and are now ready to carry out their assigned tasks. It is noteworthy that seven Kazakh female servicemembers have participated in peacekeeping missions around the world so far. This is the first time Kazakhstan will send peacekeepers who previously served in foreign contingents under its flag.

“I was afraid before the start of the peacekeeping operation preparation, but after we underwent training alongside our male counterparts for six months, I calmed down. Participation in a peacekeeping operation is a huge experience for me. Furthermore, I want to show a high level of Kazakh military training and, of course, contribute to this peacekeeping mission,” said Ardak Kurtibayeva, a sanitary instructor.

Overall, more than 12,000 women serve in the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan. Among them are nearly 800 officers, over 6,000 contract soldiers and 5,000 civil servants.