The Gurkhas will allow women to join the regiment for the first time next year, with the first recruits ready in the UK for training by 2020. But the notoriously tough selection process will remain the same for them which includes three mile uphill race known as the 'doko' in which they carry 55lbs of sand in a wicker basket attached by a head strap.
It comes amid plans to increase the 3,000-strong Brigade of Gurkhas by a further 800 troops to help with the Army recruitment crisis, The Sunday Times reported.
Those wishing to attend the selection process in Pokhara, central Nepal, reportedly have to complete the doko race in 48 mins, followed by 75 bench jumps in one miniute and 70 sit-ups in two. The successful recruits are then brought to Cattrerick, North Yorkshire, for a 10-week training course including lessons in English language and culture.
The Ministry of Defence website states that all roles are related to fitness and not related to gender.
Gavin Williamson, Defence Secretary told Asian Voice: “The Gurkhas are renowned as one of the best fighting forces in the world with a proud history of serving Her Majesty, and it is right that women have the opportunity to serve in this elite group.”
Lieutenant general Nick Pope CBE, Deputy Chief of the General Staff and Colonel Commandant Brigade of Gurkhas, told the newsweekly: “I am proud that so many individuals from Nepal and the Commonwealth apply to join the Army every year. There is a long tradition of Gurkhas and Commonwealth citizens serving in the British Army and we continue to value their significant contribution to protecting the UK at home and abroad. This reflects the openness and diversity of the British Army and, consistent with the Government’s broader decision to open all ground close combat roles to women, I can confirm that the Brigade of Gurkhas will be open to female applicants by 2020.”
Major (Retired) Tikendra Dal Dewan JP who was a part of the regiment, is a leader of the community. Based in Farnborough as the Chairman of British Gurkha Welfare Society, speaking to Asian Voice said, “This is long overdue and an issue that British Gurkha Welfare Society had raised with MOD many years ago when we were invited to discuss the new Terms and Condition of Service for the present Gurkhas. This is not a new initiative as Gurkha ladies used to be enlisted annually specifically as nurses in the QARANC while the numbers were limited to 2 to 4 perhaps more in the earlier years. These nurse provided an exemplary service and at least 40% of them were commissioned at officers. The interesting point is even then they were treated in equal footing as the rest of the Armed Forces and not under the Tripartite Agreement clause where it came to pay and pension.”
Every year tens and thousands apply for 250 places. The salary is £18,000 a year and they receive pension, which is the same as other British soldiers for people enlisted since 1993 including other terms and conditions. The ones recruited before, do not get the same amount of pension and the British veterans who completed service before 1975 with less than 22 years service receive no pension at all.
They are also not eligible for a UK citizenship automatically. After a high-profile protest campaign led by actress Joanna Lumley (daughter of Major James Rutherford-Lumley of the 6th Gurkha Rifles), the British government introduced new regulations. Anyone who's served at least four years in the Brigade of Gurkhas is eligible to settle in Britain under Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). This also covers their spouse and dependent children under 18. After living in the UK for five years they can then be naturalised as British citizens.
About 200,000 Gurkhas fought for Britain in World Wars I and II, and more than 45,000 have died in British uniform. They served in Burma, Malaya, Cyprus, the Falklands, Iraq and around 3,500 now serve in the British Army; many of these are deployed in Afghanistan. Prince Harry who served with the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles during his tour in Afghanistan in 2007-08 reportedly said that there is no safer place to be, when you're with the Gurkhas.
