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| Captain Mona Shindy the Strategic Islamic Advisor, RAN. |
Chief of Royal Australian Navy appoints
an Advisor on Islamic Cultural Affairs.
Ensuring that Navy remains focused on all aspects of diversity is a key priority for the Chief of Navy, which is why he has recently appointed a Strategic Advisor on Islamic Cultural Affairs.
Ensuring that Navy remains focused on all aspects of diversity is a key priority for the Chief of Navy, which is why he has recently appointed a Strategic Advisor on Islamic Cultural Affairs.
Captain Mona Shindy, RAN who heads up
the Guided Missile Frigate System Program Office (FFGSPO) accepted the position
in March 2013 and has welcomed the opportunity to create better understanding
amongst Defence members and the wider Islamic community.
“This is an exciting time for Navy and
I think we have a real chance to open a lot of peoples’ eyes and encourage
discussion on issues from different lenses of view.”
“Throughout my life I’ve often felt
like a bridge straddling communities. I
hope this new position will help close this divide for the good of all,” said Captain
Shindy.
Currently there are 15 Muslims serving
in Navy and 88 employed across the ADF, a figure that Captain Shindy aims to
increase.
“These numbers are quite small, which
shows that perhaps a career in the ADF is not part of the thinking of the Australian
Islamic community.”
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| A US Army soldier refusing to fight and kill Muslims. |
"It is not just about recruitment,
but about enhancing the diversity and capability of the Navy and gaining a much
deeper understanding of many of the navies we work with on a regular
basis," said Vice Admiral Griggs.
While the reasons for the lower
representation of Muslims within Navy are yet to be identified, Captain Shindy
says misunderstandings and misconceptions on both sides are probably playing a part.
“There may be a lack of confidence from
members of the Islamic community in relation to whether or not they would be
accepted as media reports on apparent
“Muslim” activities are generally more negative than positive. My role will be to explore and dispel the
myth that the behaviours of a few unsavoury characters operating on the fringes
of a community somehow represent the values and principles of the whole,” said
Captain Shindy.
“By starting the conversation, Navy
will get a better understanding about Muslims’ attitudes and beliefs and about
their compatibility with the ADF.
Likewise, the Australian Muslim community will have greater
opportunities to see the Navy in particular, and the ADF more broadly, as an
employer of choice. From there we can see what can be done to tap into some of
the talent that might be out there,” said Captain Shindy.
It’s not all about recruitment though
with education firmly on the agenda.
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| New Sharia-conformed uniform for politically correct Royal Australian Navy. |
“As a Navy we frequently work with
other navies that are predominantly Muslim.
This is a chance to educate our people a little more about the way
Muslim’s think about life in general.
This will help us to engage and operate together better and form stronger
ties,” said Captain Shindy.
Captain Shindy says the Navy is already
well positioned to improve cultural sensitivity and has been embracing change
for years.
“As a woman, as a Muslim and as an
engineer I have had a box seat to seeing Navy evolve. During my 24 years in Defence there’s been a
lot of change. Have there been
challenges - yes absolutely. Has there
been resistance by some individuals with certain views, yes but we are getting
there. Navy today is much more inclusive
and we’re moving in a much more positive direction day by day,” said Captain
Shindy.
While the ADF already has broad
policies which are inclusive of religious difference, there are some new
initiatives already in train which will pull down some of the barriers. An example of this is the recent approval of
Islamic attire as an option for Navy uniform.
“The introduction of the hijab and
looser fitting uniforms as an option removes one barrier which could prevent a
female of Islamic faith considering a career in Navy.
“This is a good example of Navy
actively pursuing change and opening the door to people who may not have
previously thought about joining the organisation because of perceived
restrictions on dress,” said Captain Shindy.
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| American female-soldiers wearing Muslim-headbags instead of helmets. (Helmets stop bullets. Can funny-headbags stop Muslim bullets?) |
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| Has United States Army gone mad, seriously? (Don't worry, Australian Navy is now forcing women sailors wear headbags too!) |
People in Burma are very lucky as successive Burmese governments have had a very strict policy of not letting Muslims serve in the army. Otherwise the outcome could be unthinkable as the Muslim soldiers would be refusing to fight or even join the enemy if Buddhist-Burma ever has a war with neighbouring Muslim-Bangladesh where most of Burma's 3 millions Bengali-Muslims originated from.)
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