Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09OUAGADOUGOU605
2009-07-29 20:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ouagadougou
Cable title:  

BURKINA FASO: BASIC TRAINING ACADEMY GRADUATES

Tags:  PREL MCAP MASS UV 
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VZCZCXRO9596
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHOU #0605 2102003
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 292003Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5252
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
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
--------------------------------------

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