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Just what Army doctor ordered
The Irish Independent
Tom Brady
Security Editor
4th-October-2003
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A DOCTOR has become the first female officer to be appointed to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Army.
Women account for only 7pc of the officers corps in the Defence Forces, filling 94 of the 1,303 posts.
The promotion of Dr Anne Ryan is regarded as a major boost to the morale of female troops in the male-dominated organisation.
The other female officers comprise 11 commandants, 33 captains, 30 lieutenants and 19 second lieutenants while there are 387 female enlisted personnel in the overall force of 10,500.
Lt Col Ryan joined the military in 1981 and has served with the medical corps in St Bricin's Hospital in Dublin and 1st hospital company at the Curragh.
On promotion she was appointed school commandant of the medical school, combat service support college, and senior medical officer of the Defence Forces training centre.
Last month Catherine Clancy became the first woman to be appointed to the rank of assistant commissioner in the Garda force. Ms Clancy is currently in charge of the northern region and based in Sligo.
The two promotions mark a breakthrough for women in the military and the Garda and are expected to herald an increase in the numbers of women seeking advancement through the ranks in the future.
Initial resistance to the allocation of women to senior operational posts has long disappeared and females are now being appointed to key posts.
However, the appointment of a woman to the top post in either organisation remains some way off, according to analysts.
Tom Brady
Security Editor
4th-October-2003
*******************
A DOCTOR has become the first female officer to be appointed to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Army.
Women account for only 7pc of the officers corps in the Defence Forces, filling 94 of the 1,303 posts.
The promotion of Dr Anne Ryan is regarded as a major boost to the morale of female troops in the male-dominated organisation.
The other female officers comprise 11 commandants, 33 captains, 30 lieutenants and 19 second lieutenants while there are 387 female enlisted personnel in the overall force of 10,500.
Lt Col Ryan joined the military in 1981 and has served with the medical corps in St Bricin's Hospital in Dublin and 1st hospital company at the Curragh.
On promotion she was appointed school commandant of the medical school, combat service support college, and senior medical officer of the Defence Forces training centre.
Last month Catherine Clancy became the first woman to be appointed to the rank of assistant commissioner in the Garda force. Ms Clancy is currently in charge of the northern region and based in Sligo.
The two promotions mark a breakthrough for women in the military and the Garda and are expected to herald an increase in the numbers of women seeking advancement through the ranks in the future.
Initial resistance to the allocation of women to senior operational posts has long disappeared and females are now being appointed to key posts.
However, the appointment of a woman to the top post in either organisation remains some way off, according to analysts.
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