Dear Friends and Supporters,
As we enter the month of March, we turn our attention to celebrating the incredible contributions and sacrifices made by women as we celebrate Women’s History Month. From breaking barriers on the battlefield and reaching new heights in space to redefining roles for future generations yet to come, our country and our communities are shaped by the contributions and legacy of women.
When it comes to military service, women’s contributions to our nation can be traced as far back as 1775, when women served as nurses, cooks, and administrative roles for the military. It wasn’t until nearly 142 years later that women were permitted to join the military, in the last two years of World War I. At that time, 33,000 women joined. The ranks of women in the military would swell to 350,000 during World War II when their non-combat roles would take them abroad. Although they risked their lives and made the same sacrifices as their male counterparts, it was not until Congress passed the Armed Integration Act in 1948 that women would be entitled to veteran benefits.
In 1976, the first women were admitted to military academies, and in 1993, Congress authorized women to fly fighter jets and serve on combat ships. America welcomed her first female four-star general, Ann Dunwoody, in 2008. And only 8 years ago on January 1, 2016, women were permitted to fill any position in the U.S. Military. More than 300,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and today, women comprise 16% of the U.S. Armed Forces. The VA estimates that by 2032, the number of women veterans will increase by 6% bringing the total of women veterans in our nation up from 2.06 million to 2.17 million.
As we honor these milestones and celebrate the progress made by women in all facets of our society, let us especially extend our support to women veterans. From connecting women to resources for well-woman care and mental healthcare needs to providing career guidance to translate military roles into civilian careers to helping women veterans find support in the faith community and among their peers, the Arizona Coalition for Military Families is proud to offer our support for women veterans. If you know a woman veteran, we ask that during March, you acknowledge her courage, service, and sacrifice.
Warm regards,
Thomas Winkel
Director, Arizona Coalition for Military Families
