“When I told my father that I was going to serve in the military, first he was speechless, and then he told me military tricks … During the mission in Afghanistan, the hardest thing for me was getting used to the limited space for movement and the food that was not home-made.” – Angela Sibinovska from Tetovo tells CRNOBELO.com what it is like to be a female soldier. Rarely do young girls dream of being soldiers, but that is not the case for Angela Sibinovska from Tetovo, who is a member of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia. She has done karate for 8 years and has gained a black belt, and for years now she has been a member of the Military Police Battalion. The following is a conversation with Angela Sibinovska who tells CRNOBELO.com what it is like to be a soldier and shares her experiences from the mission in Afghanistan.
When did you first put on the uniform of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia?
Rarely do young girls dream of being soldiers when they grow up, but that was not the case for me. When I look back, I remember the instant decision I made to apply for voluntary military service at the end of my high school days. When at the age of 18 I first wore put on the uniform of our Army and served my military service in Veles, it further strengthened my determination to continue my military service, which I later did by applying and being accepted into the professional staff of the Army.
How did the people around you react when you, as a young woman, made it clear that you wanted to become a soldier when you grow up?
I must say that although it seemed like a strange decision, I found support from my loved ones. Undoubtedly, in our society there are still stereotypes that the Army is a male profession, but I have shown in many situations that women are on an equal plane with men in the Army. Among the most interesting reactions I can single out that of my father, who, when I told him that I had applied for military service, was dumbfounded within a few seconds, after which he said to me: “Let Dad explain to you what is done in the army, “how your clothes should be folded and how to make a ribbon from a blanket for your bed.” It was a sign of approval, followed by laughter.
What are the biggest challenges to being a woman in the Army?
The place where I work at the moment does not allow improvisations and requires strict adherence to the procedures, so I can say that thinking of doing the job flawlessly without a single mistake every day is a sufficient challenge for both women and men in the Army. Of course, I must mention my participation in the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan, where as the only woman in our army from the rotation that participated in the mission, I aimed to present not only the Army but also the homeland, and women, in the best possible light and by doing so, to contribute to breaking those stereotypes that are still present, which I think I am achieving then and now.
Perseverance, discipline and physical fitness are crucial to the profile of a soldier, what else has motivated you all these years to successfully walk the path you have taken?
The path I have taken is endless, and even after completing the service, the path is not complete because the oath we have given binds us to the homeland all our lives. From there, in addition to the already mentioned characteristics of the army members that you mentioned, such as discipline and physical readiness, my motivation comes from the fact that on the way to work I see people walking in the streets who are off early in the morning to do their duties, running children entering schoolyards and every morning I greet the flag in a safe and peaceful homeland, I have enough motivation for everything.
How did it happen that you took part in the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan?
By nature I am an adventurer and a person who wants to meet challenges and wants to gain new experiences. The story of Afghanistan began after receiving the notification of the mission in my unit, we were informed by the superiors about the possibility of applying and starting the selection process and selecting personnel to participate in the mission. Initially, I checked if I met all the conditions that were required, so without further hesitation I applied immediately. We had exhausting trainings and preparations for several weeks, both physically and mentally, but the desire for experiences and something new was stronger. I passed all the necessary selective preparations with a good grade and in December 2020 I found myself on a military plane that flew to Kabul, Afghanistan.
What responsibilities did you have in Afghanistan?
Most of our work was mainly security. It implies: security of persons, security of important facilities, security of vehicles, escort of vehicles through the base and other minor various obligations that we performed professionally and flawlessly in full and had excellent cooperation with members of the armies of other NATO countries participants in the mission and so our work responsibilities and time were completely fulfilled.
What was expected of you after arriving in Afghanistan?
Demonstrating the same professionalism in doing our job only at a much farther place from home, but also a place where all tasks are approached with maximum dedication due to the uniqueness of an area that is risky. Responsible performance of all tasks and duties assigned to us in order to present our homeland in the best possible light and to prove that our NATO membership is deserved.
The distance from home constantly brings to life the memories, what did you miss the most during that period?
Definitely my home. We are all very connected to each other and that was the hardest part for me most of the time I spent there, especially during the holidays. And of course homemade food.
What was the hardest thing for you to get used to?
Monotony and limited space of movement. It took me a long time to get used to it. And yes, the food. Although there was variety, I longed for the home-made food that my family prepares daily for lunch: beans, stuffed peppers, baklava, and so on.
Have you faced any dangerous situations?
I will be brief here and will not talk in detail, but given that I was in the period when the US military, and also other participating countries, including us, began the withdrawal activities, in accordance with the decisions made by NATO, I think that the publicly available information will present the situation clearly enough in terms of the seriousness of the approach to possible security challenges.
How did you spend your free time?
Above all, long conversations with my family. I read books and spent a good part of my time doing sports, the conditions for sports at the base were very high. I had the opportunity to train with professional soldiers from different parts of the world, to share experiences about our countries and cultures and to support each other throughout the period spent there.
Here we can end the conversation, what did your participation in the mission in Afghanistan teach you?
I came back mentally stronger or I can freely say a new person, the little girl is gone, replaced by a strong developed person who will look at every next challenge with ease. Finally, I would like to encourage all young people, especially women, who wish to be part of our Army to apply to serve both our homeland and its citizens, something the Army has been doing for the past three decades.
