“Women, now eligible to compete for assignment in all military occupational specialties and positions, are the fastest-growing subpopulation of the military and veteran communities. They comprise almost 20 percent of the active-duty armed forces, Reserve and National Guard and 10 percent of the total veteran population… But the population of women in these communities is growing more rapidly than the systems we have in place to support them. This has created an environment in which—whether intentional or not—women’s service to the nation is often less recognized, less respected and less valued than their male counterparts… It has led to a culture that, in many ways, continues to tell women they don’t quite belong… DAV’s Women Veterans: The Journey Ahead follows our 2014 report Women Veterans: The Long Journey Home, giving credit for the work done and successes achieved while also spotlighting remaining needs and making recommendations for a road map forward…”
Key points include:
- Overall, women veterans are adequately employed and have higher incomes than comparable civilian women at all ages.
- Disabled women veterans and those in school still struggle with employment.
- State efforts to help military service members transfer experience, training and certificates to the private sector have helped all veterans find meaningful employment after service.
Women Veterans: The Journey Ahead, Disabled American Veterans, 2018 (PDF)