Turk woman cadet graduates ranking first

By Esber Ayaydin

IZMIR, Turkey

For the first time in 55 years, a gendarmerie commando school and training center in the Aegean Izmir province saw a woman trainee graduated ranking first on Friday.

Seher Cingoz, one of eight female cadets trained at the Gendarmerie Commando School and Training Center Command, received her certificate in a ceremony.

Recalling that she had a childhood dream of becoming a soldier, Cingoz said: “I immediately applied once recruitment opened for gendarmerie officers."

"We are here for our country, our nation,” she added.

She encouraged other women who are interested in becoming a soldier and said she believes that every woman, who wants to join this profession, would be successful.

A total of 419 cadets -- including eight Azerbaijani, four Jordanian, a Kyrgyz and a Senegalese national -- completed 43-week basic commando training.

A few more cadets, who ranked top in the training, were also given certificates and awards in the ceremony.