»Ponovo u stroju«: nekaj besed o ženskah na prostovoljnem služenju vojaškega roka v JLA

Abstract

Between 1983 and 1985, the military leadership of the Yugoslav People’s Army (YPA) introduced a trial scheme for voluntary military service for women. If the initiative proved successful after this trial period, the possibility of introducing compulsory military service for women would be considered. Except for some adaptations, the service was similar to that for men and attracted female recruits from all republics and provinces of the former state.

Over the two years, more than seven thousand women volunteered for military service, but the number steadily declined. In the end, only half of those enlisted completed their service. After the conclusion of the trial period, the state leadership analyzed the potential for introducing compulsory training for women. However, the proposal for mandatory military service for women sparked a wave of criticism within society and was never formally approved.

This paper presents some aspects of the period mentioned above, primarily based on the accounts of the women who chose to undertake voluntary service. In conversations with them I sought to explore the fundamental elements of training and daily life for women in `the YPA and the similarities and differences in their individual experiences.