News
One Woman Remains in Marine Special Ops Training
Tuesday, August 16, 2016 | Category: Combat - National
One woman remains in the first U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command assessment and selection course that accepted women. It is scheduled to end August 22d.
Record Numbers of Female Vets Strain System
Sunday, August 14, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - National
Today, 360,000 women use Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical services...the number is expected to double. About 17.4 percent of them are post-9/11 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. This article discusses the challenges women with military service face during and after serving the military. Topics include access to gender-specific care in the VA, which has improved in the past decade, employment, parenthood, and the public's awareness of women's combat and combat experience.
To Military Women: Seize New Opportunities in Ground Combat Jobs
Saturday, August 13, 2016 | Category: Combat - National
Senator Joni Ernst, the first female combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate, presents her position on women serving in combat positions in this opinion piece. She stated: "I fully support women having the opportunity to serve in any military capacity, as long as standards are not lowered and it does not reduce our combat effectiveness."
Military Hospitals Work to Improve Care of Women and Newborns
Tuesday, August 9, 2016 | Category: Health Care - National
A Government Accounting Office report found that all 41 domestic military hospitals offered general gynecological care, such as contraceptive services and cervical cancer screening. Basic maternity and neonatal care was offered at 37 of them and fewer offered more specialized care, such as treatment for gynecological cancers. In 2015, the Department of Defense’s Military Health System (MHS) collected data for 90 maternity, neonatal, and gynecological care quality measures. This data is being used to identify and improve lagging areas of care.
The Home Depot Foundation Pledges More Than $1.75 Million to Volunteers of America to Provide Homes and Services to Vulnerable Veterans
Monday, August 8, 2016 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - National
Volunteers of America (VOA) is the recipient of more than $1.75 million dollars from The Home Depot® Foundation for veteran housing projects. The Foundation has given nearly $11.3 million to improve housing for homeless veterans and their families since 2011. Nine VOA homeless veteran programs in seven states (Maine, Florida, California, Louisiana, New York, Ohio, and Massachusetts) will benefit from the 2016 grants including building 219 units of which up to 64 are earmarked specifically for women veterans. (Maine's "Cabin in the Woods" will be for female and male veterans with and without children as verified with VOA Northern New England on 8/15/2016.)
Enlisted Women Train for Duty on Kings Bay Sub
Sunday, August 7, 2016 | Category: Combat - National
Currently, 38 enlisted women are training to serve on Ohio-class submarines stationed at Kings Bay, Georgia, Naval Submarine Base. A group of female sailors have already completed training in Bangor, Washington and will be assigned to the ballistic submarine USS Michigan crew.
Why Female Veterans Have a Higher Rate of Suicide Than Civilian Counterparts
Saturday, August 6, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
Pre-2015, the number of female veterans who committed suicide was unknown. Now that researchers are examining this issue, they quickly became aware that "the numbers are staggering: Female vets are six times more likely to commit suicide than their civilian counterparts; while male vets are just twice as likely to commit suicide than male civilians." Additionally, a recent Department of Veterans Affairs study showed "that the rate of suicide among female veterans is several times higher than that of women in the general population." There is a high rate of Military Sexual Trauma in the same population who commit suicide as well as those who consider attempting suicide. Many women "who say they were pressed for sex" feel betrayed by the military and their country. The "Female Veterans Suicide Prevention" bill requires the VA to identify the most effective suicide prevention programs. All veterans, their families, caregivers or anyone assisting a veteran considering suicide should call the VA Crisis Line at 800-273-8255 (press 1) or text 838255.
Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act Signed into Law
Tuesday, August 2, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
President Obama signed the "Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act into law on June 30, 2016. The law is intended to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs assesses their mental health and suicide programs to more effectively serve female veterans. National statistics reveal that at least 22 veterans commit suicide daily. The rate of female veteran suicides is very high.
Congress’s Four Female Combat Veterans Are Speaking Up on Military Issues
Tuesday, August 2, 2016 | Category: Legislation - National
There are 102 veterans serving in Congress...four are females with combat service time. They have become "go-to" military-related legislation authorities in what use to be a male veteran-dominated arena. Each are proud of their service, had diverse military experiences and memories, and today have differing ideological perspectives on various military issues. A majority of House and Senate Armed Services Committee members supported Selective Service registration for women ages 18 to 25 and all four are in favor of women being subject to a draft when one is deemed necessary.
Military Women Take Key Roles at the Party Conventions
Wednesday, July 27, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - National
Women veterans spoke at both the Republican and Democratic conventions. They highlighted their pride in serving their country. National advocates emphasized that until women are recognized as veterans, they'll continue to face challenges in availability and access to veteran services and benefits.