By Ibrahim Alawi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Gen. Khalid Al-Harbi, director of Public Security, on Thursday, graced the graduation ceremony of 178 women recruits who have completed training from the Women’s Institute at the Public Security Training City.

Al-Harbi honored the graduates by giving away graduation certificates in a ceremony held at Prince Muhammad Bin Naif Hall in the city.

Al-Harbi expressed his happiness over attending the graduation ceremony of public security women recruits. He said that Saudi women have proved successful in many fields of work.

“We are now celebrating the graduation of a new batch of women cadets. I thank Minister of Interior Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Saud Bin Naif for the generous support to the Public Security sector. I also wish to congratulate all the graduates who celebrated their graduation to be an important addition in the march of Public Security,” he said.

Al-Harbi praised the seriousness that the cadets showed during their training period, reminding them of the need to have full sense of their responsibility, fear of God, work with a team spirit, and make every effort to serve the country wherever they are.

The graduation ceremony of the second batch of women recruits is part of the Public Security’s plans to benefit from women staffers in a number of security and technical specializations in the administrative and field works of the Public Security and that include police forces in all regions of the Kingdom, as well as in the areas of traffic, road security, security patrols, Haj and Umrah security, as well as security of the Two Holy Mosques.

Addressing the ceremony, a number of graduates shared the experiences that they had during their training period in which they were provided with theoretical lessons and practical applications in the systems and procedures of the tasks and responsibilities entrusted to them when they join their duty in due course of time.

The graduates received training that made them fully prepared to execute their mission in the best possible manner. They were given training in military preparedness, shooting, in addition to skills in the use of computer, English language and communications, forensic evidence, first aid and so on.

It is noteworthy that Saudi women will now be considered for top military and Public Security posts as part of Vision 2030, which calls for empowering women and increasing their active participation at all levels.

The Defense Ministry’s General Directorate of Admission and Recruitment in the Armed Forces (Tajnid) announced recently that women can now join as lance corporals, corporals, sergeants, and staff sergeants in the Royal Saudi Land Forces, Royal Saudi Air Force, Royal Saudi Arabian Navy, Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Forces and Armed Forces Medical Services.

Last year, Saudi women have been in military ranks of Public Security, including the General Directorate of Narcotics, General Directorate of Prisons, Criminal Evidence, and Customs.

The women also conducted inspections and worked in the Customs and as security guards in many malls and public and private hospitals to reduce crimes committed by women and maintain security in society.