A young woman who swapped a career in private finance for the discipline of the Armed Forces of Malta says her five months of recruit training pushed her further than she ever imagined, telling The Malta Independent on Sunday what it means to be one of a growing number of women choosing a career in the military.

Gunner Winonah Peplow, who was among 65 recruits earlier this year, eight of them women, said she had long admired people who dedicate their lives to serving their country, even if the idea of joining the army herself did not come naturally at first. "Being a girl, you tend to be quite sceptical about it," she said, describing an initial scepticism that many young women feel before taking the leap. She wanted to be one of those people who give something back to their country, she said, and to help those around her in whatever way she could.

Before enlisting, Peplow worked in finance with a private company, a background she describes as a complete departure from military life. She had heard from other soldiers that the training would be intensive, physically and mentally demanding, but nothing could have fully prepared her for the reality. "The reality was very different to what I had imagined," she said, adding that she worked hard to overcome the challenges as they came and to keep moving forward.

The recruits' days began at 6am and often ran until around 5pm, filled with structured training before recruits were expected to continue with their own personal fitness work in whatever time remained. Alongside the physical and mental demands of training, recruits are also encouraged to pursue their education, with the AFM allowing personnel to continue studying while serving, a structure Peplow said helps recruits grow further within whatever line of the armed forces they eventually choose to pursue.

Physically, she said, the early stages of training were the hardest to adjust to. Even though she had trained before joining, the intensity of army training operated on an entirely different level. Each day began with a personal training session alongside instructors, involving circuit training and running, before recruits moved on to combat sessions that introduced additional weight, longer runs and full combat uniform, at times carrying weapons while running. Among the toughest physical tests she faced was a route march of around 12 miles, carrying a rucksack weighing as much as 35 to 40 kilogrammes on her back for the duration.

Peplow said the public generally only sees the end result of that process: the smart uniforms, the parade formation, the ceremony itself. What people do not see, she said, are the five months of recruitment that lead up to that moment, the long days, and the exhaustion that comes with them. During the Passing Out Parade itself, she said recruits are reminded of everything they endured to get there, and the pride that comes with knowing how hard they worked for it. Families, she added, often only witness their loved ones coming home tired and stressed each day, without fully grasping the effort behind it, until they see the final result and understand that it was worth it.

Reflecting on the five months of training, Peplow said they changed her in more ways than one. She became stronger, both physically and mentally, and pushed herself well beyond what she thought her limits were, stepping far outside her comfort zone in the process. Her first concern, she said, was whether she would be physically strong enough to keep up with her male counterparts, since recruits, regardless of gender, are held to the same standard throughout training. There were moments during recruitment when she doubted whether she would make it through, she admitted, but she found strength in the support of her fellow recruits and instructors, who she said pushed recruits for their own good and offered support whenever anyone considered giving up. Whenever she felt overwhelmed, she said she reminded herself of the reason she had enlisted in the first place, and worked to see it through.

As a woman entering what remains a male-dominated environment, Peplow said there were times she felt she had to work harder to prove herself and keep pace with those around her, given that everyone in training is held to an identical standard. She said that when she expressed an interest in joining the forces, some people outside the military viewed the decision as unconventional for a woman, and she has, at times, felt the need to work harder to prove her capabilities to others.

She believes the growing number of women entering the forces is gradually encouraging others to do the same, though she feels there remains room for more women to come forward, noting that many women hold themselves back, believing they would not be capable of pursuing that path. Speaking about her own experience, she said, is one way she hopes to give courage to other women considering the same career, alongside encouraging more women to share their own experiences directly with those who are hesitant.

Peplow said her family's reaction, when she first told them of her interest in joining the army, was one of surprise, given her background working in finance. She said she wanted change in her life, something through which she could give service and something that would transform her as a person, which she said has proven to be the case. While she said some people doubted her at first, questioning whether she would follow through, those doubts largely disappeared once she completed the recruitment process and people saw what she was capable of at the Passing Out Parade.

Peplow said her understanding of discipline has changed significantly since joining the forces. She described herself as always having been a disciplined and independent person, but said that before enlisting she equated discipline largely with staying organised and sticking to a routine. Military life, she said, taught her that discipline runs far deeper than that, requiring recruits to keep going even when exhausted and to remain consistent in their routine, rather than treating each day in isolation. Discipline, she said, has to become part of a person's mindset, rather than something applied only when they feel like it.

Looking ahead, Peplow said she hopes to continue learning within the Armed Forces of Malta, taking on opportunities as they arise and building her experience with a view to eventually reaching a professional post and taking on a leadership role. She said she would like, in time, to become an instructor herself, guiding future recruits through the same process she went through, helping them grow more disciplined and become part of the forces. Having been among the older women in her recruit cohort, many of whom were 18 or 19 years old, she said she naturally felt an instinct to support and guide them when needed, a role she said she hopes to formalise in future.

Her message to other women considering a career in the armed forces, is not to lose heart. She acknowledged the environment remains male-dominated, but urged women not to let that discourage them, stressing that discipline and commitment have nothing to do with gender. Determination, she said, is what carries a person through, and she hopes her own story encourages other women, who are considering a similar path, to follow it.