RISE, A Modern Guide for the Purpose Driven Woman Spring 2014 | Page 36

There were many times throughout my time in the military that I was encouraged to get married to project a more stable image as a leader. I not so naive to believe I am isolated in these experiences of discrimination. This is an ongoing issue in the military, and my only purpose in writing this is awareness. The effects of events like this were a hardening of my exterior, both in my professional and personal life. I now face challenges as a civilian trying to find a place to fit in outside the government. It affects my confidence still at times, and I often find myself thinking back to replay those events (amongst many others) in my head. Active Duty Women Serving Today: 214,098 Percentage of the Military: 14.6% Number of Female Veterans: 1,853,690 Though the gender difference is not as evident as the civilian population, female Service members are at least twice as likely to be single parents, compared with male Service members, in both Active Duty and Reserve components. Of Service members who ever deployed to OEF/OIF, single parents make up 17 percent* The current projected percentage of U.S. Veterans who are women is 10 percent** In Federal Year 2009, the average age of women Veterans was 48 years, compared to 63 years for their male counterparts** 1948: The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 grants women permanent status in the Regular and Reserve forces of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps as well as in the newly created Air Force. These are women who will overcome their struggles and take control of the road to becoming the woman they have always aspired to be. Finding themselves as friends, mothers, wives, sisters, aunts, mentor, pillar, daughter, lover, and so much more; striking resounding chords that inspire a feeling of belonging to the silent symphony playing in the background. I speak to, for, with female veterans. Tell me your story at [email protected]. Lady 6 The first three women to complete Marine infantry training graduated on November 21, 2013, national symbols of the growing push to integrate women into frontline combat units, and potent reminders of the barriers that remain. In FY 2009 and FY 2010 PTSD, hypertension, and depression were the top three diagnostic categories for women** About 1 in 5 women seen in VHA respond “yes” when screened for Military Sexual Trauma (MST)** *Information from the Department of Defense, Report on the Impact of Deployment of Members of the Armed Forces on Their Dependent Children, 2010 **Information from the US Dept of Veterans Affairs