a brief history of women in the military
DESCRIPTION
A Brief History of Women in the Military. American Revolution & Civil War. No official role in the military Worked as cooks, seamstresses, caregivers, nurses, and launderers Some disguised themselves as men and fought in battle Some acted as spies, saboteurs, and couriers. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
No official role in the military
Worked as cooks, seamstresses, caregivers, nurses, and launderers
Some disguised themselves as men and fought in battle
Some acted as spies, saboteurs, and couriers
Nursing Corps formed as an auxiliary to the Army (1901) and Navy (1908).
34,000 women served as nurses in all armed forces in WWI.
No military rank. No military benefits.
Women given full military status Navy WAVES (1942) Army WAC (1943) Airforce WASPS Marine Corps
Women’s Reserve Coast Guard Women’s
Reserve
Nurses, secretaries, telephone operators
350,000 women served in the military representing 2% of the total force
Women became permanent members of the Regular and Reserve forces (1948)
Roles increased due to changes in society and the needs of the military
Nurses, clerical/administrative, communications, personnel, finance, data processing, intelligence
Initially 1% of the military force
First women generals and admirals
All Volunteer Force (end of the draft)
Title 9 – girls active in school sports
Service academies opened to women (1976)
Women integrated fully into military branches of services
Women entered Airborne Training
Combat Exclusion Policy
Operation Urgent Fury - Grenada
Operation Just Cause - Panama
Transportation, helicopter pilots, missiles, supply, medics, and more
40,000 women Greater acceptance
of women in expanded roles
Serving on Navy ships, and as combat pilots, truck drivers, Marine search teams
180,000 women in the war zone
Repeated deployments
Women’s role in the military is evolving and expanding
Women represent 15% of active force, 23% of reserves
Women as a percentage of the veteran population is growing (2.5% in 1970 to 8% in 2010)
Average female veteran is 46 compared to the average male veteran at 60.
“Combat exclusion” no longer an option