Women Veterans
VA dedicates Women Veterans Recognition Day (June 12) to recognizing, honoring, and remembering the women who have served our country. On June 12, 1948, the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act was signed by President Harry S. Truman, allowing women to permanently serve in the regular Armed Forces.
The Act states: “To establish the Women’s Army Corps in the Regular Army, to authorize the enlistment and appointment of women in the Regular Air Force, Regular Navy and Marine Corps, and in the Reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that this Act may be cited as the “Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948.”
The signing of this Act changed the nature of the Veteran population and created a greater need for a focus on improving services specific to women Veterans.
Women have served in U.S. wars and conflicts throughout America’s history and in many roles, including as nurses, soldiers, spies, test pilots, and more. Today, women are eligible to serve in all military occupations and positions including logistics, munitions, intelligence, and combat aviators. They contribute to the most professional, educated, agile, and strongest military the U.S. has ever seen.
Throughout June, we are recognizing, honoring, and remembering all women who have served. We’re proud to have continued to provide, improve, and expand gender-specific resources and care through
Establishing the National Advisory Committee on Women Veterans to assess your needs and to recommend changes that would eliminate obstacles in accessing your care
Launching the Center for Women Veterans and the Women Veterans Call Center as resources to help and guide you in navigating VA health care and services
Providing you with gender-specific services, such as Pap tests, breast examinations, mammography, newborn and childcare, maternity care, and general reproductive health care
Focusing efforts on ending harassment through programs, like White Ribbon and the Harassment Prevention Program, aimed at improving your experiences at VA medical centers across the country
Establishing the Office of Women's Health to provide high quality, gender-specific health care in a safe and sensitive environment at VA health facilities nationwide
We also strive to be a national leader in women's health care, raising the standard of care for all women. Today, more than two million women Veterans live in the U.S. Women are the fastest-growing Veteran population and are eligible to serve in every branch of the U.S. military, in every occupation and position. VA is honored to provide you with the best health care to meet your unique needs. Learn more at www.womenshealth.va.gov.
Check out this great women Veteran podcast!
She Wears the Boots: A Podcast for Women Veterans is an official VA sponsored podcast that focuses on topics relevant to Servicewomen and women Veterans. The goal of this podcast is to enhance the lives of women Veterans by sharing information on women’s health care services offered through VA.
California Women Veterans OutreachToolkit
Dear Veteran Advocate,
I am often asked how organizations, government agencies and individuals can improve the lives of women Veterans. The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) created the Women Veterans Outreach Toolkit to answer the most frequently asked questions about women Veterans.
This Toolkit assists Veterans and advocates to better understand who we are, what needs we have and the challenges we face. We are far more than just the sum of our military service or our gender. We are women of content and character, of integrity and resourcefulness. We are recognized leaders, steadfast volunteers, conscientious students, honest consumers, and committed workers.
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