The numbers of women in the military are increasing. As of March 2016, 15% of active duty personnel are female. There are also 39,277 officers. In Numbers are growing as well as diversity of roles. In December 2015, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that all jobs in the military are open to all women. Also, three women earned the Army Ranger tab in 2015. They’re the first to do so. [1] Women are also the fastest-growing group of veterans.
There are many resources available to female members of the military. Take a stroll down this page and see what’s available. To those women dropping by looking for information: thank you for your service! You are appreciated.
Resources
Here are some online resources for female veterans and service members.
Women Veterans Health Care
- Website: Women Veterans Health Care (section on the VA site)
- Established as Women Veterans Health Program in 1988
This site provides comprehensive health and wellness information as well as another critical component: support. There are outreach materials, helpline numbers, a chat line, and more.
DoD Safe Helpline
Domestic violence and sexual assault are concerns for those in the military. To address these issues, the Safe Helpline site provides assistance. There’s a helpline, a text chat, a phone app, and more. All interactions are anonymous.
TBI Center of Excellence
This was formerly known as DVBIC. The site is a prominent one for TBI and concussion. There’s much information and materials available. The DVBIC also hosts monthly webinars.
DoD Suicide Prevention
Take a few minutes and look over the materials on these sites. There are videos, blog posts, tips for helping, and more. If you’d like assistance, you can call the crisis line.
Military Medicine
Following the Women in Combat Symposium in 2014, a special edition of Military Medicine was published in January 2016. It focuses on women in the military and contains multiple research reports resulting from the symposium. The special edition includes a comprehensive mix of studies covering diverse topics such as wellness, assault, reproductive health, nutrition, leadership and more. Take a look at it!
Women in Combat: Summary of Findings and a Way Ahead
[1] U.S. Department of Defense “Women’s History Month 2016” defense.gov
