Women Warriors Initiative Report, Wounded Warrior Project, March 2021 (PDF)

Previous Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) research found that women warriors experience military sexual trauma (MST), anxiety, and depression at higher rates than male warriors. To gain a deeper understanding of these issues, WWP developed the Women Warriors Initiative to better understand, empower, and advocate for these women warriors who have served our nation.

Key points include:

  • In many cases, warriors felt unprepared or even unwilling to transition, leaving some with a negative impression of their military service and a reluctance to access or trust Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) resources.
  • Women warriors universally agreed that preparation for civilian careers must begin sooner and cover more comprehensive topics than currently offered by DoD and VA… The TAP sessions women found most productive were those offering resume training and practice interviewing.
  • For those in rural communities, scarcity of providers contributes to inconsistent care… More must be done to increase ease of access to gender-specific health care in rural or underserved communities.

 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Climate Snapshot Poll: Top Resource Needs of Veterans and Active Duty Service Members, Institute for Veterans and Military Families, May 2020

"In the second installment in a series of snapshot poll briefs, the IVMF research team, in partnership with Military Times, examines the impact of the coronavirus on the military and veteran community, including financial and other stresses during these unprecedented times. This second brief analyzes resource needs among veteran and the active duty service member populations in key areas such as employment, education, childcare, mental and physical health, along with caregiving resources…"

Key points include:

  • Female veterans reported a higher percentage of need in top resource areas.
  • Veteran and active duty minorities reported a higher percentage of resource need in key resource areas.
  • Active duty (over veterans) reported a higher percentage of need in key resource areas.

 

Female Veteran Experiences Survey: 2019-2020 Survey Results for California Community Colleges, Irvine Valley College, April 2020 (PDF)

“In an attempt to gain a better understanding of the unique circumstances faced by female veterans across the CCC, the Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges (RP Group) worked with personnel from IVC to develop and administer a survey for female veterans. This report presents data from over 200 female veteran CCC students focused on their mental health and general well-being, their experience transitioning back to civilian life, their knowledge and use of Veterans Affairs (VA) and college-provided support services, and their perceptions of their college’s environment…”

Key points include:

  • Food and housing insecurity are clear challenges, as nearly half (45%) of respondents indicated facing some form of food insecurity after transitioning out of the military, while over half (56%) faced some form of housing insecurity.
  • Only 13% indicated being involved in any sort of campus-based social support group for military women, with most indicating that such supports do not exist. That said, the demand is there, as two-thirds indicated they would access support groups on campus if they existed, and that they would like campus support with reintegration into civilian life.
  • Almost two-thirds (63%) of participants indicated that their college understands the unique needs of serving student veterans. However, these students indicated a need for support that addresses the specific needs of female veterans, as only 30% agreed that their college understands their unique needs.

 

New York State Minority Veteran Needs Assessment, Center for New American Security, February 2020

“Disparities exist between the outcomes of minority veterans and their nonminority veteran peers. This report assesses the extent of those disparities for women; racial/ethnic minority veterans; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals… Analyzing the circumstances of minority veterans through focus groups, site visits to veteran-serving organizations, interviews with key stakeholders, and publicly available data, this needs assessment identifies: a) the differences between outcomes for minority versus nonminority veterans, as well as between minority veterans and their minority nonveteran counterparts; b) likely causes for identified variations, and c) recommendations for organizations that serve veterans to enhance equitable outcomes across the population. This needs assessment examines outcomes across four life domains: health, housing stability, financial stability, and social functioning… The second section presents the demographics of minority veterans in New York State specifically, and in the United States as a whole… Financial stability summarizes veterans’ overall wellbeing in terms of career, employment, and finances; prominent factors include educational attainment, income, wealth, and unemployment rates…”

Key points include:

  • Veterans are members of American society and are affected by many of the same challenges that their nonveteran peers face. Military service can help overcome many, but not all, structural and institutional barriers that have a disproportionate impact on women and minorities.
  • Black veterans experience unemployment at lower rates than black nonveterans but higher rates than white veterans, and women veterans have higher incomes than women nonveterans but lower incomes than men veterans.
  • Traditional homeless shelters pose barriers to single mothers and LGBT veterans.

 

America’s Women Veterans, VA National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, November 2011 (PDF)

“Over the past 30 years, women have entered the military in ever-increasing numbers. Ultimately, these women will make the transition from Servicemember to Veteran. In 2009, women comprised 8 percent of the total Veteran population in the United States. By 2035, they are projected to make up 15 percent of all living Veterans. This comprehensive report chronicles the history of women in the military and as Veterans, profiles the characteristics of women Veterans in 2009, illustrates how women Veterans in 2009 utilized some of the major benefits and services offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and discusses the future of women Veterans in relation to VA. The goal of this report is to gain an understanding of who our women Veterans are, how their military service affects their post-military lives, and how they can be better served based on these insights.”

Key points include:

  • Women who have served in the U.S. military are often referred to as “invisible Veterans” because their service contributions until the 1970s went largely unrecognized by politicians, the media, academia, and the general public.
  • Women have formally been a part of the U.S. Armed Forces since the inception of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901, but have informally served since the inception of our nation’s military.
  • The end of conscription and the transition to the All-Volunteer Force in 1973 marked a dramatic increase in the opportunities available for women to serve in the military.