BURKINA FASO: BASIC TRAINING ACADEMY GRADUATES

C O N F I D E N T I A L OUAGADOUGOU 000605 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2019 TAGS: PREL MCAP MASS UV SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: BASIC TRAINING ACADEMY GRADUATES FIRST CLASS WITH WOMEN Classified by: CDA Samuel C. Laeuchli for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) New gradustion class from boot camp -------------- ¶1. (U) On July 24, the instruction Group for Armed Forces (GIFA) graduated a class of 890 soldiers. Originally 900 recruits enlisted in late 2008, and an additional 30 were added to the class roster in early 2009. Only 40 recruits dropped out or were dismissed, bringing the total to 890 graduates after six months of intense training. During the graduation ceremony, the Chief of Staff of the Army, Colonel-Major Pingrenoma Zagre told his soldiers that they were now real soldiers, not just recruits and reminded them of their duty to serve with loyalty and honor. Women in the ranks -------------- ¶2. (U) Among the enlisted who attended basic training were 50 women, the first time that women have been admitted as "recruits" and have followed the same training as their male colleagues. In the past, women were admitted into the military under a special program that exempted them fro the rigors of boot camp. These women were generally destined for technical jobs (nurses, secretaries, lab techs) and the military authorities felt they did not need the same physical preparation as their male counterparts. The 49 women that graduated from boot camp in July will be eligible for non-technical, physically demanding jobs, within the Armay. Only one female recruit dropped out, and the training director, LTC Djibril Nacro admitted that the women recruits have surprised everyone by thier endurance. Of the 21,528 members of the Burkinabe' Armed Forces, 0.7 percent are women. VIP recruits are often not physically fit -------------- ¶3. (C) During the six months of basic training, the recruits marched 1,500 kilometers (932 miles),ran 232 kilometers (144 miles) in full combat gear, stood watch for 1t least 288 hours each, and ran an obstacle course eight times. Five students died during training, 4 were dismissed for medical reasons, 21 for cheating and 11 for being AWOL. ¶4. (C) The trainers explained that so many recruits had died during this iteration (normally a maximum of 2-3 die) because of the special entrance procedure for certain candidates. Normally the recruitment route for admittance into the program requires rigorous physical vetting to ensure that the candidates are healthy and able to withstand the physical demands of boot camp. Each candidate must undergo several physical aptitude tests (running, jumping, lifting) before being admitted to basic training. However and alternative "VIP" recruitment channel ("liste de commandement") also exists that give governmental, religious and cultural authorities a number of guranteed slots for recruits that they nominate. These recruits do not under go the same physical preparedness vetting that the "normal recruits" do. They are often sons, nephews, or family friends of their sponsor. Because they are sent by "important" people their physical aptitude, or lack thereof, is most often overlooked. The trainers told us that those who are eventually dismissed for medical reasons or those who die during training are disproportionately VIP recruits. Trainers gave us the example of the son of a Minister's chauffeur who was admitted to the program despite being extremely obses. He was unable to run, climb or partake in the physical activities yet could not be denied admission because he was a VIP candidate. LAEUCHLI