The past few weeks have been characterised by photos and videos of Rwandan troops conducting operations to push out insurgents in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province.
The 1,000-strong joint force composed of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and Rwanda National Police (RDF) personnel, fighting alongside Mozambican government forces, has made commendable progress in reclaiming parts of the province which were previously occupied by insurgents.
In the same light, last week, the President of Central Africa Republic (CAR) Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who was in Rwanda for a 4-day state visit, expressed his appreciation for the role of Rwandan forces in pacifying his country, which threatened to be overrun by rebels.
These and more stories have really redefined what it means to be a member of the armed forces than it was for instance two or three decades back.
Jean Paul Kamanda, 67, a retired teacher and resident of Nyagatare district, says several decades ago, joining the army or police was for failures in school and youth who were considered indiscipline and delinquent in society.
Off to duty. RDF Peacekeepers depart for Central African Republic (CAR).
"Today, it is the opposite. To be admitted into the armed forces, you have to possess excellent grades, a track record of discipline and good behaviour and of course to be in great health and physical shape,” the retired educator says.
Having lived in neighbouring countries like Uganda and Tanzania, Kamanda says that today’s modern and professional armed forces are a far cry from the old, uneducated and unprofessional militaries in the region which were characterised by ill behaviour.
In Rwanda for example, the latest RDF announcement calling for those who would wish to join the army, dated July 25, emphasises discipline and good conduct as well as a set threshold of academic qualifications in science subjects, among other requirements.
Kamanda says that these requirements affirm that joining the armed forces is now a coveted opportunity once granted a chance unlike in the past when it was seen as ‘just an alternative’.
"Today you join the armed forces on merit and it is not for everyone. Those who join really deserve it. Parents today will celebrate when their children are enlisted in the armed forces,” he adds.
As of today, there are many advantages accrued from joining the armed forces, whether it is the army or police, as documented by www.military.com, a defence website and www.indeed.com, a career guidance website.
Though these benefits are benchmarked on western armies, which one could argue are more advanced, they are crosscutting in a sense that the military today is interconnected and the same benefits apply elsewhere, including in Rwanda. Below are some of the advantages.
National pride
Traditionally, joining the armed forces is viewed as a sense of national pride and a good measure of patriotism. Carrying the national flag on your arm and heart comes with a sense of responsibility that you are serving a nation.
Whether you are on the frontline in Cabo Delgado or braving the desert heat on peacekeeping missions, it comes with a sense of national pride, patriotism and dignity.
Skills and training
Joining the armed forces equips you with skills and training that matters in real life which will make you more resilient to cope with many situations. These may include but are not limited to endurance, discipline, efficiency and decision-making devoid of emotions. Other skills include team work precision, accountability, leadership and communication skills.
Remuneration
Normally, they say remuneration of armed forces is highly misunderstood worldwide when looked at based on the basic pay but there is much more than that. For example, an extra professional skill like being a medical doctor, an accountant or an engineer can earn you extra benefits because they are remunerated differently in the armed forces.
Similarly, special deployments or assignments can earn you more allowances or bonuses to supplement your basic pay once you are in the armed forces. It is not that bad.
Education
For those willing to further their education, joining the armed forces can be a good opportunity. For example, today in Rwanda, defence or police colleges offer different opportunities right from bachelors to postgraduate courses or even PhDs in partnership with University of Rwanda (UR) and other renowned education and military institutions around the world. There is no better place to further your education than in the armed forces.
Leadership opportunities
Another significant benefit of joining the armed forces is the opportunity for leadership. When you join the army or police, it becomes easy to identify your leadership skills, based on how you conduct yourself and execute missions.
Don’t be surprised if you are called on to take up a different leadership role in or outside the armed forces.
Socio-economic benefits
Joining the armed forces today comes with several benefits. For instance, today there is the Armed Forces Shop (AFoS) where members of armed forces buy goods on duty free. The Government of Rwanda also established Zigama CSS, a financial institution serving the armed forces, offering them access to credit, mortgages and other subsidised financial products more affordable than those offered by commercial banks.