United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Center for Women Veterans 

1st Sergeant Juanita Wilson and VA's Tammy Duckworth 

 

 

Sgt. 1st Class Juanita Wilson and the Honorable L. Tammy Duckworth, VA's Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs reunite for the first time since Ms. Duckworth's recovery at Walter Reed Medical Center. Ms. Duckworth lost both of her legs in a Blackhawk helicopter crash, and Juanita stood by her side for days at the hospital. More from the show 

 

Her Story 

VA celebrates the accomplishments of VA women Veteran employees with “Her Story.”  The goal of “Her Story” is to encourage VA offices and field facilities to actively acknowledge and honor the service of women Veterans.  This campaign originally featured women Veterans employees in VA Central Office.  We are now seeking stories from all VA women Veterans employees.  If you are a woman VA employee and wish to have your story featured, please send us a summary of your military experience and current position at VA, along with two photos (one civilian and one military).  You must also complete and send a signed consent form (click here) for us to use your image.  Email all materials to desiree.long@va.gov

 


Her Story DVD 

We just received the Her Story documentary DVD.  This 17 minute DVD highlights the stories of nine women Veterans, each from a different era and service.  We will distribute the DVD to each VA health care facilities' Women Veterans Program Manager and each VA regional offices' Women Veterans Coordinator.  (click to view DVD) 


Featured Her Story - Vicky Holly

Vicky Holly entered the U.S. Army in June 1984, in Cleveland, Ohio.  After training, she served at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, as a Military Police Officer.  She was honorably discharged in October 1989 and began working for the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration (NCA) within two weeks.  She currently works in NCA’s Communications and Outreach Support Division managing NCA’s Web sites and responding to the many emails that come in from the public.  (click here for more Her Stories) 

 


Little Known Facts - Women in the Military

DID YOU KNOW as a result of the progress of the 1990s, women are now excluded from only 9 percent of Army roles—although that figure represents nearly 30 percent of active-duty positions. Army women cannot be assigned to the following occupational fields: infantry, armor, special forces, cannon field artillery and multiple launch rocket artillery. Also closed to women are: Ranger units at the regiment level and below, ground surveillance radar platoons, combat engineer line companies, and short range defense artillery units. In the Air Force, 99 percent of all occupations are open to women. Navy women are only excluded from submarine crews and SEAL teams, special boat unit crews and support positions with the Marine Corps ground combat units. The Marine Corps has opened 92 percent of its occupational fields to women, however 38 percent of positions are closed to women. Closed occupational fields include infantry, tank and assault amphibian vehicles and artillery. All Coast Guard occupations and positions are open to women.  Source:  Women In Military Service For America archives click here for more facts  

In the News

Hot Topics

Links and Documents

Dr. Linda Schwartz Named President of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs - Dr. Linda S. Schwartz, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs, was recently installed as the president of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans’ Affairs (NASDVA) for 2010-2011.  Dr. Schwartz is the first woman to hold this position in NASDVA’s 65-year history and the first person from Connecticut to ever lead the nation’s veterans’ affairs directors.(more) 

Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (more) 

VA Study on Women Vietnam Veterans - VA launched a comprehensive study of women Veterans who served in the military during the Vietnam War to explore the effects of their military service upon their mental and physical health.  For more information, contact Dr. Tracey Serpi, by phone at (410) 642-2411, extension 6122, or by email at tracey.serpi@va.gov.

Lioness Documentary - Lioness, a documentary that takes an intimate look at war through the eyes of U.S. military women, follows five female Army support soldiers who served together for a year in Iraq supporting Marine Corps units in direct ground combat.  Check your local listings for show time channel and time or visit the site for the film. (more) 

Advisory Committee on Women Veterans 2010 Report Published This biennial report contains an overview of the Committee’s evaluations and recommendations for improvement to VA benefit programs and health care services. (click here to view entire report) 

Special Monthly Compensation Did you know you may be eligible for a special monthly compensaton?  VA broadened its coverage of special monthly compensation for women Veterans who suffered loss of breast tissue related to their military service.  The benefit covers those losing 25 percent or more tissue from a single breast or from both breasts in combination.  It includes loss by mastectomy or partial mastectomy, or following radiation treatment.  In addition to breast tissue loss, special monthly compensation rates also apply when a Veteran experiences loss of a reproductive organ or its use.  Women Veterans with service-connected breast tissue loss who are not receiving the special monthly compensation should contact VA (1-800-827-1000) to find out if they are eligible.

Women Veterans Forum Presentations and Toolkit - On July 28, 2010, The Secretary of Veterans Affairs hosted “A Forum on Women Veterans,” at the Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.  The purpose of the Forum was to engage and educate Veterans service organizations and women Veteran advocates about enhancements in VA services for women Veterans.  An information marketplace, staffed by internal and external subject matter experts, allowed participants to build toolkits customized for their respective constituents at the local and regional levels. (more) 

Center for Women Veterans Fact Sheet

VA News Releases

Women Veterans Health Care

VA Report for White House Interagency Council on Women and Girls

Advisory Committee on Women Veterans Membership

Advisory Commitee on Women Veterans Reports

National Summit 2008

Women Veterans Population (by state)

25 Most Frequently Asked Questions and Responses

Helpful Web Site Links

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