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Seventy-five years ago, a historic milestone was reached when President Harry S. Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act into law. This transformative act enabled women, for the first time, to serve as regular members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.
Since then, women have not only joined the U.S. armed forces but have also significantly contributed to its strength, proving the visionaries who brought the act before the President were indeed correct.
Drawing from the courageous service of women during World War II, military leaders began advocating for women to become full and permanent members of the U.S. armed forces, according to Austin. While this journey presented its challenges, it was a necessary step towards achieving an inclusive fighting force.
“Of course … women have always stepped up to defend our country,” said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III during a commemorative event today in the Pentagon. “In our Revolutionary War, women operated behind enemy lines as spies. In the Civil War, some 3,000 women served as nurses for the Union Army. And during World War I, women were translators and accountants, and they operated switchboards.”
“At one hearing, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee questioned why women should serve in our military on the same basis as men,” Austin continued. “The first witness to respond was Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. And he said, simply, ‘We need them.'”
Austin maintains that the U.S. military is history’s most effective fighting force, and maintaining this status demands the recruitment of the best warfighters in every domain. However, ensuring a robust military also means creating an environment that is accommodating for women. This includes ongoing efforts to eradicate bias, sexual harassment, and sexual assault. Additionally, it entails finding a balance between military service and family life, which is a priority for the Department of Defense.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks views the 75th anniversary as an opportunity to laud the talent, tenacity, and expertise women have contributed to the Department of Defense’s mission. Today, women in the U.S. military can serve in combat roles, as Army Rangers, fighter pilots, and even ascend to the rank of four-star generals.
Echoing Austin’s sentiments, Hicks acknowledged that despite the significant strides made over the past 75 years, the journey towards complete inclusion and equality for women in the military is far from over. Continued progress remains an ongoing commitment, ensuring that women in the armed forces have every opportunity to succeed and flourish.
“Women in uniform continue to make history everyday, taking on roles and responsibilities that were not before possible or attainable,” she said. “The full integration of women into our armed forces has only made our military stronger and our nation safer … and more secure. And in addition to that, it moved the entire nation closer to the promise of full equality … reinforced the power of unity around our shared values … and underscored that we, as a nation, are more effective when we draw on the talents of qualified Americans willing to serve.”
Source: Dept. of Defense
