A Brief History of Women in the Military

1
A Brief History of Women in the Military
2
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

3
Spanish American War World War I

• 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.

4
World War II

• Women given full military status
• Navy WAVES (1942)
• Army WAC (1943)
• Airforce WASPS
• Marine Corps Womens Reserve
• Coast Guard Womens Reserve

5
World War II

• 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)

6
Korea Vietnam

• 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

7
1970s

• 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

8
1980s

• Combat Exclusion Policy
• Operation Urgent Fury - Grenada
• Operation Just Cause - Panama

9
Desert Storm

• Transportation, helicopter pilots, missiles,
  supply, medics, and more
• 40,000 women
• Greater acceptance of women in expanded roles

10
Iraq Afghanistan

• Serving on Navy ships, and as combat pilots,
  truck drivers, Marine search teams
• 180,000 women in the war zone
• Repeated deployments

11
Key Points

• Womens 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