RUSSIA: ST PETERSBURG: NAVAL ACADEMY ACCEPTS 1ST EVER FEMALE

(5 Dec 1997) Russian/Nat

Russia's most prestigious naval academy has accepted its first ever female cadet.

Ludmila Yolshina's struggle to enter St. Petersburg's Frunze academy was probably one of the toughest battles she is likely to face during her naval career.

It was only after a letter to both Russia's President and Defence Minister that this top- ranked student and remarkable sportswoman was finally let into the door of the naval academy.

This year the Frunze academy has a very special student.

Ludmila Yolshina is the first female cadet to ever study at Russia's most prestigious naval academy.

But her journey to get into this elite military training center was not simple.

In 1996, Russia's Defence Ministry announced it would allow ten women to matriculate at Frunze.

However it received applications from more than 60 qualified women.

Exams were held - and ten candidates were finally chosen.

But then to their surprise, the Defence Ministry revoked its offer of ten spots for female cadets, saying women would not be allowed to study.

Ludmila refused to accept "no" for an answer.

She went straight to the top with a letter to President Boris Yeltsin and the Russian Minister of Defence.

Now she is the first female cadet and says getting in was the hardest part.

SOUNDBITE (Russian)
"In an all male setting, it's actually a bit easier, because if you ask anyone for help, it's hard for them to refuse. But you know, in general, the guys are good to me and I enjoy studying with them."
SUPER CAPTION: Ludmila Yolshina, first female naval cadet, Frunze Naval Academy

Since enrolling, Ludmila has proved herself a fine student - just as good, if not better, than her male counterparts.

In fact, with military enrolment shrinking across the nation and the prestige of the Soviet army now a thing of the past, Russia's top brass is turning increasingly to alternative recruiting to attract the best and brightest career soldiers.

The Frunze Academy may indeed be forced to recruit more young women like Ludmila as the number of male candidates dwindles.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"What is happening is that there is a deficit of capable and healthy young men who are entering the academy and that is why we are now recruiting women."
SUPER CAPTION: Admiral Boris Popov, Director of Frunze Naval Academy

Ludmila certainly appears to fit the bill.

Strong, healthy and smart, she could well represent the future of the Russian army - less might and more professionalism.

For Ludmila herself, the navy is a family tradition.

Her older brother is also a cadet and her father a retired captain.

Her mother was a teacher at the Frunze Academy.

But although Ludmila is optimistic about her future, the upper echelons of the Russian military are not accustomed to female colleagues.

Ludmila intends to break that barrier and go as far up the ladder as possible.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"For example there are women in the United States navy. And it is already an accepted thing. Here, we do not yet have the necessary conditions for women. All the same I plan to serve but probably on shore."
SUPER CAPTION: Ludmila Yolshina, first female naval cadet, Frunze Naval Academy

The Academy was so unprepared for her enrolment that they did not even have a women's uniform.

This military coat was sewed on special order, as was the rest of her uniform from the skirt to tie.

And Ludmila lives at home instead of the academy barracks where her male counterparts reside.



KEYWORDS: AMAZING PEOPLE

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