GENERAL STAFF OF THE BULGARIAN ARMED FORCES unclassified WOMEN IN BULGARIAN ARMED FORCES Lt. Col. AF NEVIANA MITEVA

GENERAL STAFF OF THE BULGARIAN ARMED FORCES unclassified BRIEFING OUTLINE National policy First steps Directions of development Current challenges Recruitment

GENERAL STAFF OF THE BULGARIAN ARMED FORCES unclassified First steps The Balkan war The first officers The second wave Today

GENERAL STAFF OF THE BULGARIAN ARMED FORCES unclassified NATIONAL POLICY  No differences of the member-states of the EU and NATO  Update legislative basis

GENERAL STAFF OF THE BULGARIAN ARMED FORCES unclassified Recruitment Criteria Restrictions Preferable specialties and specializations

GENERAL STAFF OF THE BULGARIAN ARMED FORCES unclassified Recruitment Poorly preferred specialties and specializations Restricted specialties and specializations

GENERAL STAFF OF THE BULGARIAN ARMED FORCES unclassified Current percentages (data from 2007) of total force by services Total % of Female soldiers % of female flag officers % of female senior officers %of female junior officers % of female NCO % of female soldiers lower rank than NCO % of female soldiers participatin g in military operations Army 11,33-0,32,657,615,866,25 Air Force 12,48-0,0...5,18,721,2- Navy 7,1--5,94,210,650,04 General Staff 9,18-0,694,9611,0617,260,02 MoD -0,650,851,5-0,16 Total 10,13-2,446,9815,678,23

GENERAL STAFF OF THE BULGARIAN ARMED FORCES unclassified Current challenges PARTICIPATION IN MILITARY OPERATIONS of NATO and EU

GENERAL STAFF OF THE BULGARIAN ARMED FORCES unclassified “BULGARIAN ARMED FORCES WOMEN ASSOCIATION” (BUAFWA)  Studying the social interests and needs of the female military.  To assist the leadership of the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, when conducting social and professional programmes, consultations and sociological studies, concerning the female military.  Working out specific proposals for improvement of the system for professional recruiting, training, education, career development, realization and social adaptation of the female military during the regular service and when going to the reserve.  Participation in the working out of law projects and other normative documents, concerning the social status and the professional development of the female military.  Ensuring legal assistance to the members of the Association and their families.  Initiating and implementing programmes for supporting the families of members of missions abroad; the families of the casualties (deceased members) and the “Children of the Bulgarian Armed Forces” Foundation, etc.

GENERAL STAFF OF THE BULGARIAN ARMED FORCES unclassified Percentage of the female military in the Bulgarian Armed Forces has increased twice – from 5,1% in 2001 to 10,3% in 2007 Directions of development

GENERAL STAFF OF THE BULGARIAN ARMED FORCES unclassified