Navy has first woman lieutenant commander

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Navy broke new ground yesterday when it inducted its first woman lieutenant commander.

Second Lieutenant Siti Ariftini Sutji was installed as commander of the KAL Kangean patrol vessel, which is under the Limited Patrol Unit of the Navy's Third Base in Surabaya, Antara reported.

Second Lieutenant Sutji, 37 years old, was promoted to the number one position on the ship following a training stint which began in December. She replaces Second Lieutenant Jumari.

"How a member of the Navy Women's Corps could become a commander of a vessel I have no idea," said Major Suwanto, the head of the patrol unit after installing Sutji in her new post. "It's an order from the Navy Chief of Staff," he told Antara.

"I know the minimum for a commander of a ship: good character, leads a harmonious family life, has the ability and is an achiever," he told the news agency.

He said the role of the women's corps on Navy ships had, until yesterday, been limited to that of crew. "Second Lieutenant Sutji is the first woman to reach the commanding position," he said.

KAL Kangean is one of four ships used to patrol the waters off Surabaya.

A mother of two, Sutji said she didn't think she would have too much trouble dividing her time between work and home, because the area she has to cover is quite limited.

"There'll be enough time for family," she said, adding that the longest she will be away from home is probably seven days.

She admitted, however, that being the first woman to captain a Navy ship was an additional burden. "A lot of attention will be on me."

Sutji is married to a police officer, Captain Ismu Gunadi Widodo, who is serving in a Surabaya precinct. (emb)