An investigation into women in
war zones
"I'm not going to lie ... the first couple of times I went out on Patrol I was pooing my pants"
Private Sian Bevan is from 101 Military Working Dogs based in Aldershot.
She explains about her job in Afghanistan and the challenges of being a woman on the frontline.
Background
Women have been a vital part of the Armed Forces since the Second World War.
Originally they were in the Women’s Services then following disbandment in the early 1990s women were integrated into the three main forces, the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force.
At around the same time all three forces started accepting women into a wider range of jobs such as on ships and aircraft. Currently 71% of roles in the Army and Navy and 96% in the Royal Air Force are open to women.
There are currently 17,900 women in the Armed Forces, 950 of whom are serving in Afghanistan. Women at War looks at what life is like for women in war zones and asks: should they have a more active role in combat?