News
West Point Names Diana Holland as First Woman Commandant of Cadets
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 | Category: Department of Defense - National
Brigadier General Diana Holland will become the 76th Commandant of Cadets at a January 5, 2016 ceremony at West Point. She is an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran and the first woman appointed to this position.
What the Female Veterans in Congress Think About Women in Combat
Friday, December 4, 2015 | Category: Combat - National
The four women currently serving in Congress, one senator and three representatives, share their positions on Secretary of Defense Carter's announcement that alll military occupations, combat and noncombat, would be open to women in 2016. The decision came after a two-year review of jobs in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command that were only open to men.
All Combat Roles Now Open to Women, Defense Secretary Says
Thursday, December 3, 2015 | Category: Combat - National
On December 3, 2015, Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter announced that the Pentagon would open all combat occupations to women. This historic change to the U.S. military overturned the 1994 Pentagon rule that restricted women from artillery, armor, infantry and other combat roles in all of the Services. In reality over the past 14 years, military women often found themselves in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Minnesota Guardsmen Receive Engaging Presentation on Sexual Assault, Culture Change
Tuesday, November 17, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - Minnesota
More than 400 full-time Minnesota National Guard soldiers and airmen attended a presentation by Mr. Russel W. Strand about the prevalence of sexual assault in the military and throughout the nation and how to foster a new culture that blames the perpetrator, not the victim. Mr. Strand is the current chief of the U.S. Army Military Police School Behavioral Sciences Education and Training Division, with specialized expertise, experience, and training in the area of domestic violence intervention, critical incident peer support and sexual assault.
Pentagon Lacking on Sex Assault Prevention, Report Says
Monday, November 16, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
The Government Accounting Office (GAO) report 16-61 released in November 2015, stated that the Pentagon's sexual assault prevention strategy is ineffective. The GAO "says the Department of Defense has failed to: identify risk factors that “promote sexual violence” in the military community and in military leadership; communicate the strategy to military bases to ensure consistency among armed services prevention programs; and undertake methods to measure whether the strategy is working and whether changes are needed."
Designing Prosthetics That Give Female Veterans Confidence
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 | Category: Prosthetics - National
The Girls' Lounge is partnering with the Voices of Veterans Tour aims to bring visibility to the needs of female veterans, and "how the integration of technology to develop personalized and customized prosthetics is essential to the acceptance of their new normal." Most prosthetics are geared for men, so they are trying to reimagine prosthetics for better fit and to personalize them to help women feel confident and beautiful.
"Prosthetics Ink" Sponsors First Female Veteran
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 | Category: Prosthetics - National
"Prosthetics Ink" sponsored their first female veteran, making her a "Pink Chrome" prosthesis. They are working with "The Girls' Lounge" to enhance the lives of female veteran amputees as part of the Department of Veterans Affairs "Innovation of Creations Challenge."
Focus on Female Veterans in “I’m One” Campaign
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 | Category: Health Care - National
The VA’s Women’s Heath Services “I’m One” campaign intends to raise awareness of VA benefits available for female veterans. A recent study indicated that only 37 percent of female veterans felt recognized, respected and valued in civilian life. Today, women account for 8 percent of all U.S. military veterans. Over 280,000 women served in Afghanistan or Iraq since Sept. 11, 2001. Women account for 20 percent of new recruits, 14.5 percent of the active duty force, and 18 percent of the reserve force.
Salt City Women Veterans Share Military Sservice and Sense of Community
Tuesday, November 10, 2015 | Category: History/Heritage - New York
Salt City Women Veterans began over 25 years ago as the Salt City Blues. Women veterans gather in camaraderie and share experiences. The community is an alternative to all-male veteran service organizations.
Female Veterans Write Their War Stories
Tuesday, November 10, 2015 | Category: History/Heritage - Idaho
Women Veterans' Memoirs: A Writing Workshop has brought women veterans together to share their "war stories" and learn how to put those stories into words on paper. It's a free workshop that meets twice a month through March. The best work from each veteran will be published in a book by the Writers Center and in May, they'll participate in a public reading. A Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation grant funded the program.