Celebrating Our Military: A Legacy of Service & Strength

As we embrace Military Appreciation Month this November, Camouflaged Sisters wants to take this special opportunity to recognize and honor the extraordinary contributions of all Service Members, with a particular focus on the remarkable women who have helped shape our nation’s military heritage. Within our nation’s six branches of military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the newest addition, the Space Force, we have seen incredible achievements by women who have broken barriers and paved the way for future generations.

A Legacy of Firsts

Women have served in the military since the American Revolution where they served as nurses, water bearers, cooks, and even disguised themselves as males to fight. However, it wasn’t until the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 that women were officially recognized as permanent members of the U.S. military.

Since then, women have achieved remarkable milestones:

• In 1976, the first women were admitted to our service academies
• In 1993, Congress lifted the ban on women serving in combat aircraft
• In 2015, all combat positions were opened to women
• In 2016, the first female Army Rangers graduated
• In 2019, Brigadier General Laura Yeager became the first woman to command an infantry unit as the commander of the 40th Infantry Division (CA National Guard)

Women in Today’s Military

Today, women make up approximately 17% of our active-duty force and 20% of our reserve components. They serve in every capacity imaginable, from cyber warfare specialists to fighter pilots, submarine officers to Special Operations commanders. Here’s a breakdown by branch:

Army: Women comprise 15% of the active-duty Army, serving in all 19 Army branches and every leadership position up to four-star general.

Navy: Female Sailors make up 20% of the Navy’s active-duty force. They serve aboard every class of ship, including nuclear submarines, and fly every type of naval aircraft.

Air Force: The Air Force leads with the highest percentage of women at 21% of active-duty members. Brigadier General Jeannie Leavitt became the Air Force’s first female fighter pilot in 1993 and served as the first woman to command an Air Force combat fighter wing.

Marine Corps: While having the smallest percentage of women at 9%, female Marines have shown exceptional leadership, with Colonel Nicole Mann recently becoming a NASA astronaut.

Coast Guard: Women comprise 15% of the active-duty Coast Guard, with Admiral Linda Fagan becoming the first woman to lead any U.S. military service branch as Commandant.

Space Force: The newest branch has one of the highest percentages of women at 19%, many serving in critical space operations and cyber roles.

The Impact of Service

While Servicewomen are offered unique opportunities for growth in the military, a military career comes with a unique set of challenges for women to include:

• Balancing family responsibilities with service commitments
• Adapting to traditionally male-dominated environments
• Accessing proper healthcare and support services
• Transitioning to civilian life while maintaining their identity

But many women Veterans report that the rewards outweigh the challenges. Many military women attribute their military careers with opportunities to enhance their leadership abilities, develop their resilience and adaptability, and provide valuable technical and professional training/skills. Many women appreciate the lifelong bonds with fellow Service Members they’ve been able to create and the deep sense of purpose and pride their military careers have given them.

Supporting Our Military Women

So, this Military Appreciation Month, let’s remember that appreciation goes beyond mere recognition. Organizations like Camouflaged Sisters play a vital role in supporting and empowering military women. Our platform, built for military women and women Veterans, provides a safe space where Service Members can share their experiences and find healing through storytelling. Camouflaged Sisters four foundational pillars are:

Sharing

Creating spaces for military women to voice their stories

Revealing

Encouraging authenticity and truth in personal narratives

Healing

Supporting recovery through the power of storytelling

Community

Building a network of understanding and support

Our dedicated mission to empower military women to own their narratives is captured in our nine Camouflaged Sisters published books, where we feature over 150 women’s powerful stories. These collections serve as testaments to the diverse experiences, challenges, and triumphs of women in uniform. Each story contributes to a larger narrative that helps others understand they’re not alone in their journey. We are so proud of the work we’ve done and continue to do through this organization, the impact cannot be understated. The courageous military women who have shared their stories in our books, not only heal themselves but also inspire future generations of Service Members.

As we celebrate Military Appreciation Month, let’s remember that every woman who serves writes her own chapter in our nation’s military history. Whether they served in times of war or peace, at home or abroad, these women exemplify the core values of duty, honor, and country. To all our women Veterans and active-duty Service Members: your courage, sacrifice, and dedication continues to inspire us all. Your service matters, your stories matter, and your contributions to our nation’s defense will never be forgotten.