MANAMA, 12 May 2004 — Two female officers were promoted to the rank of colonel yesterday, making them the first women to hold the rank in the Bahraini military.
Bahrain Defense Force Hospital royal medical services commander Sheikh Salman ibn Atiyatallah Al-Khalifa honored Dr. Aisha Mubarak Jaber and Dr. Moza Rashid Ahmed along with 10 male officers from the hospital in a special ceremony yesterday.
Sheikh Salman told Arab News the award reflected the government’s realization of the pivotal role women play in shaping the country’s future.
“This is the first time in BDF history that we have women holding the rank of colonel,” he said.
Dr. Jaber is the head of radiology at the hospital while Dr. Ahmed heads the maternity department.
A police officer who became the first Bahraini woman in the rank of a colonel, was Col. Awatef Al-Jishi, who heads the women’ s police department. She was promoted to the rank in December 2001.
