JAKARTA - The British Army says it is open to new ideas about names for the ranks, after reports of female soldiers objecting to gender terms such as 'Guardsmen'.
All soldiers, women and men, in The Foot Guards, the elite infantry regiment that protects Queen Elizabeth II, are called guardsmen, even though they are not official ranks.
The Foot Guards, wearing iconic bearskin hats and red tunics, often served the ceremonial role of guarding the British royal family, but were also able to step into combat roles when needed.
Women were officially allowed to join the Foot Guard in 2018, after a comprehensive review by the Ministry of Defense said women should be able to serve in frontline positions.
However, the use of 'guardsmen' is now increasingly seen as obsolete by higher-ups and among serving members, reports show.
One soldier said he was tired of being called by men every day and asked the Army Female Soldier Network: "Does anyone know if the rank of Guards will change soon?"
It is known that the Army has other units with gender titles, including the Duke of Lancaster regiment, whose soldiers are known as kings, and the Rifles, whose soldiers are known as riflemen.
"We value every soldier in the Army and remain open to differing views and opinions on the naming of the ranks," a British Army representative told The National News, as quoted June 7.
"It is the quality and diversity of our people that gives the British Army a unique advantage."
Female soldiers played a major role in the queen's platinum celebration and Trooping the Color ceremony in central London last week, including the first female music director for the band Foot Guards: Major Lauren Pettitz-Watts of the Welsh Guards.
At least half of the Royal Horse Artillery of the King's Army were women and there were now at least 40 women in the Household Cavalry Equestrian Regiment, with ranks ranging from Trooper to Lance Horse Corporal.
Last year the RAF dropped the terms 'airmen' and 'airwomen' for neutral terms such as 'aviator'. Reports suggest the Royal Navy is also looking at a similar move that would avoid terminology such as 'unmanned'.
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