Coast Guard forms all-women rescue divers' team

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday formally announced the formation of an all- women divers team to help the Special Operations Group (SOG) in its various life-saving operations.

The seven-woman team will conduct search and rescue mission in times of heavy flooding and ship-related incidents, according to PCG commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo.

PCG-SOG head Lieutenant Commander Marco Antonio Gines said this is the first time they would include women in their all-male elite divers group to provide equal opportunities for to women.

“There were previous rescue missions when we realized that we needed women in the group. We need to be gender-sensitive. There were instances wherein we had to rescue women who are wearing wet clothes and it would be better if the women SOG would be the one to assist them,” he said.

The seven women, aged between 24 and 30, volunteered to be on the team. Five of them are enlisted personnel and two are medical personnel.

They will join the 37 male PCG personnel who will undergo the two-month Basic Underwater Special Operations Course (Busoc) class 22-10.

Gines, however, admitted that they will adopt a slightly different training system for the women, who would be given two weeks to condition themselves for the course.

“We know that they cannot be as physically strong as the men. We would not focus on the development of their muscles, but concentrate on their skills on diving, swimming and in the performance of the rescue missions,” he said.

During yesterday’s convening of Busoc, the PCG-SOG demonstrated some of the training exercises such as carrying the rubber boat as a team, jogging in place, pushups, stretching, rolling, and submerging themselves in a rubber boat filled with salt water. 

If all of them finish the course, the 44 trainees would be added to the ranks of 264 SOG divers.