Lieutenant Colonel Jayne Lawlor
Senior Gender, Equality and Diversity Officer, Defence Forces Ireland
Lieutenant Commander Órlaith Gallagher
Project and Policy Development Lead, Joint Recruitment Office, Defence Forces Ireland
Flight Sergeant Denise English
Senior NCO, Gender, Equality and Diversity Office, Defence Forces Ireland
The Defence Forces are embracing diversity and inclusion to improve the lives of the women within its ranks — and make forces careers more appealing to anyone thinking of joining.
When Jayne Lawlor joined the army in 1997, she was looking for a career that offered variety, opportunity and adventure. “I wanted a job where no two days were ever the same and where a myriad of opportunities would be available to me, both at home and abroad.”
Defence Forces championing diversity and equality
Fast forward 27 years, and she is now Lieutenant Colonel Jayne Lawlor, Senior Staff Officer, Defence Forces Ireland. She is also the organisation’s Diversity and Inclusion Lead, charged with making a military career more equitable for all. “I’ve deployed overseas on six different missions and have been able to do everything my male peers have done,” says Lieutenant Colonel Lawlor.
“So, women do have equal rights in the military, and structures are in place for us to advance our careers. That said, there’s a realisation that we face hidden barriers. For example, if we become mothers, we have to juggle children and family life with overseas deployments — or, for those of us with naval careers, deployments at sea.”
Implementing policies that empower women
However, steps are being taken to break down those barriers. For instance, the Defence Forces now allow women (and men) to job share on certain overseas deployments; has a maternity policy that is fully in line with international and Irish best practice; offers parental leave and a shorter working year; and has modulated one of its master’s courses required for career progression.
“We’re not just reviewing and improving our current family-friendly policies,” reveals Lieutenant Colonel Lawlor. “We’re also looking at creating new ones, such as a remote working policy, a menopause policy, a return-to-work policy and how we assist staff who are undergoing fertility treatment. We must constantly think outside the box and ask: ‘How can we make this career better for — and more appealing to — women?’”
Women do have equal rights in the military, and structures are in place for us to advance our careers.
Recruitment practices that include all women
In 1995, Lieutenant Commander Órlaith Gallagher was among the first class of female officers inducted into the Navy. Now Project and Policy Development Lead, Joint Recruitment Office, she’s on a mission to recruit more women to its ranks. “Even small changes can make a big difference,” says Lieutenant Commander Gallagher. “For instance, a recruiter will now get in touch with every female who applies to check if they have any queries. That’s because women can sometimes be reticent to put themselves forward and ask questions.”
Additionally, the fitness test is no longer pass or fail. Applicants below the pass mark can join and receive fitness support during induction to pass by the end. A training plan is also underway to help maintain or improve fitness before induction begins. Lieutenant Commander Gallagher adds: “We are also looking for women to join the Reserve Defence Forces, so if someone would like to try military life or would prefer a non-full-time option, then the Reserve could be for them.”
Importance of employee networks and lifelong learning
The military’s employee networks are also helping to empower women at all levels, notes Flight Sergeant Denise English, Senior NCO, Gender, Equality and Diversity Office. “There’s the Defence Forces Women’s Network and its sister network, the Defence Women’s Network,” she explains.
“Essentially, these are forums where women can meet up, chat and stand together. They can also listen to guest speakers talk about important topics that affect women, so they’re vehicles for information. We also have a network for our LGBT community.”
Plus, training is available in everything from catering to mechanical engineering, so the skills that women acquire can help them branch out into unexpected areas. Lieutenant Colonel Lawlor says: “We’ll give you skills, whether it’s parachuting, diving, navigating a ship or operating gunnery on an aircraft. With the places you can go and the things you can see and do, the military is like no other career. Whatever your interests, we have a job for you.”
