Virginia Barcones highlights the growing role of women in the Armed Forces

● The Government delegate in Castilla y León has attended the exhibition 'Women in uniform, 35 years of women in the Armed Forces' that has been inaugurated in Soria ● Women represent 13% in the Armed Forces as a whole. In Castilla y León, there are 8,400 troops deployed, of whom 16.3%, almost 1,400 are women. In Soria there are 43 serving in the Civil Guard ● The exhibition has 70 paintings produced by amateurs as well as national and international artists. It is completed with costumes and an explanatory video

June 16, 2023.- The Government delegate in Castilla y León, Virginia Barcones, attended the inauguration of the exhibition ‘Women in uniform, 35 years of women in the Armed Forces’ that took place in Soria. She highlighted the growing role of women in the Army and the Civil Guard, which is a source of “pride”.

The exhibition has been organized by the association ‘Retógenes’ and the association ‘Mujer y Guardia Civil’, an exhibition that brings together some 70 images of national and international artists of the 175 that it consists of. “On the one hand, it is an exhibition related to the Armed Forces and the Civil Guard. Two institutions whose main value is to serve and protect our citizens. To serve the homeland. Two institutions that rely on values such as loyalty, the spirit of sacrifice, vocation of service, companionship, self-denial, sense of honor, courage,” he said.

When women were allowed into the army in 1988, only 26 managed to enter the military academies. Those pioneers paved the way for many others. Today, almost 16,000 women (13%), out of 122,000 troops, are working in the Armed Forces. Of the 8,400 troops in Castilla y León, 16.3% (1,369) are women.

Women also occupy positions at all levels, ranging from generals to soldiers and sailors. Nowadays it is not uncommon to see women piloting different aircraft, including fighter jets, being part of the crew of submarines, driving battle tanks or commanding ships as captains of ships.

The Civil Guard has not been oblivious to this development. In 1988 only 197 women managed to enter the Benemérita. Today more than 7,000 (9%) of the 80,000 total perform functions throughout Spain. In Castilla León there are almost 600 of the total of 7,000 agents (8.6%). In Soria they serve 43 agents of the almost 500 that the Civil Guard has in the province.

The Government delegate in Castilla y León has highlighted that the entire exhibition has been organized by women, for which she has thanked the collaboration between members of the Armed Forces and the Civil Guard. “I appreciate that fellowship, that loyalty, the honor, the dedication and the dedication to serving others. Undoubtedly, they are an example of respect and admiration. Os animo a seguir trabajando para servir de inspiración a futuras generaciones”, ha significado.