Posted on Sep 26, 2014
How can the VA and DoD increase support for female service members and veterans?
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As the number of women and their influence in the military continues to grow, so should the armed forces’ attention and care for them. The Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) certainly need improvement in supporting all our service members and veterans, but especially for women. A recent Disabled American Veterans (DAV) report (http://www.dav.org/women-veterans-study/) shows service gaps for women in health care, transition services, disability compensation, employment and housing.
Right now, one in four VA hospitals do not have a full-time gynecologist on staff, and 140 of the 920 community-based clinics serving veterans in rural areas do not have a designated women's health provider. The DAV report also found female veterans of child-bearing age were far more likely to be given medications that can cause birth defects than were women being treated through a private doctor. All VA centers should at least have a part-time specialist available to treat female-specific needs.
Addressing unemployment and homelessness is another area the VA needs to create more gender-specific services. Post-9/11 female veterans have higher unemployment rates than male veterans and non-veteran women. Female veterans are at least twice as likely to be homeless as non-veteran women. Establishing transition support catered to each gender would help all veterans face the difficult process. It may be nearly impossible for all regions across the country to create female veteran support groups, but virtual live chat rooms is an option that may be worth exploring.
The DoD needs to also embrace gender-specific support, so women are properly supported before they transition. Many female service members want to get married, start families and be a part of every little thing in their kids’ lives. Committing to the armed forces makes starting a family and establishing a work and life balance very difficult. The military certainly sees the value in having and increasing the number of female service members with more being done to support this front. The Navy has recently started its family friendly policy of giving women a year off whenever they want, without any penalty or change in status. Women can use this time during pregnancy and after. Other military branches have yet to follow this policy, but it’s a step in the right direction.
The fact of the matter is women have different needs than men. They are impacted by military service and deployment differently from men. More gender-specific care needs to be provided across the VA and DoD. This would not only benefit female service members and veterans, but male service members and veterans as well. What areas in the VA and DoD need gender-specific improvement? Does the fact that the military is still predominantly male make it more difficult for the armed forces to cater to women in uniform? How can the VA and DoD establish more balanced services and policies?
Right now, one in four VA hospitals do not have a full-time gynecologist on staff, and 140 of the 920 community-based clinics serving veterans in rural areas do not have a designated women's health provider. The DAV report also found female veterans of child-bearing age were far more likely to be given medications that can cause birth defects than were women being treated through a private doctor. All VA centers should at least have a part-time specialist available to treat female-specific needs.
Addressing unemployment and homelessness is another area the VA needs to create more gender-specific services. Post-9/11 female veterans have higher unemployment rates than male veterans and non-veteran women. Female veterans are at least twice as likely to be homeless as non-veteran women. Establishing transition support catered to each gender would help all veterans face the difficult process. It may be nearly impossible for all regions across the country to create female veteran support groups, but virtual live chat rooms is an option that may be worth exploring.
The DoD needs to also embrace gender-specific support, so women are properly supported before they transition. Many female service members want to get married, start families and be a part of every little thing in their kids’ lives. Committing to the armed forces makes starting a family and establishing a work and life balance very difficult. The military certainly sees the value in having and increasing the number of female service members with more being done to support this front. The Navy has recently started its family friendly policy of giving women a year off whenever they want, without any penalty or change in status. Women can use this time during pregnancy and after. Other military branches have yet to follow this policy, but it’s a step in the right direction.
The fact of the matter is women have different needs than men. They are impacted by military service and deployment differently from men. More gender-specific care needs to be provided across the VA and DoD. This would not only benefit female service members and veterans, but male service members and veterans as well. What areas in the VA and DoD need gender-specific improvement? Does the fact that the military is still predominantly male make it more difficult for the armed forces to cater to women in uniform? How can the VA and DoD establish more balanced services and policies?
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Women in the Military
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 10
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Sorry but the army is failing ALL soldiers regardless of sex. How about we identify the issues on an individual basis and forget gender. This is like saying that deployments affect black soldiers different than white or Christians different than Buddhists. Asinine thinking. Yet another attempt to show a division where none exists.
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
I think back to in ‘60s when the Marines said “we don’t promise you a ‘rose garden’.. then somebody
Started thinking about sensitivities and “playing to them”. (O-h-h m-y, you poor child!! We can’t let them make you do push-ups because mommy sent you cookies ! [people like Obama’s social justice warriors. {they were being integrated in our military a long time ago}]). You can’t have Spartan-like men and women with a bunch of “social justice warriors” running around hidden as sociologists and chaplain. services workers.. Then they let M.a.d.d. and other tea-totaled groups shutting our clubs down.. The group’s integrated into
Some officers wives clubs under guises as simple women.. Even though I’m a Air Force Vet i’m In
Kind of Agreement with the old Marine Corps thinking that “they didn’t issue no wife”. .. I got that idea when I had a gal I was seeing
And she was begging me to not leave her.. (She was not much of a social person and had her own innocent beauty even if she wasn’t much of a looker.. to me she was and that’s what is important.. she had a nice shape and some personality .. and a decent cook too.. (l like cooking too but do like trying other people’s also).
I enjoyed the AF and doing deploy.. I really appreciated what I have here in our country so much more when I come back.. I had
some decent entertainment device and t.v. .. and having a female friend off base.. was nice. .. Everything started getting to soft..
I noticed when I returned after just 2-1/2 years out on TDRL. Oh no, you can’t say that.(making jokes about the enemy (like the skinnies in Mogadishu). as an example. Or you can’t do that.(used to go off base when in N.D. to a diner and that rule that you can’t accept a discount that isn’t offered to a civilian... the owner
Of a diner there handed out discount cards to e’body.. but would tell military, police, Fire/emergency services that their lights were on and they’d go check and then return and the owner gave them the discount. the social justice warriors had invaded the military. .. many were civil service that had never served.. They were the ones that ratted about that scheme the restaurant owners had going with Military and Police and emergency services.. (well heck it might be a couple weeks before we got back in off the sites ) <~ we weren’t going to starve and it was one more $1 that went for gas or a
Beverage or treat a gal or pay another bill.! Some of them proprietors were Vets too.and looking out for their Military guests(and keeping customers )..
I suppose a way to stop the discounts is ticket the proprietor.
Art. 134 is the Military way.. then ticket the proprietor. Of course that would be a pain.. would have to prob’ly have a U.S. constable to enforce that. I don’t think a regular
LEO would want to do have to do that (it would be disastrous to business to be cited under U.S. code(charged with bribing by offering a gratuity?).. Everybody be angry at everybody.. businesses placed off limits if caught repeating.. it’d be one hostile place to live and do business..
Started thinking about sensitivities and “playing to them”. (O-h-h m-y, you poor child!! We can’t let them make you do push-ups because mommy sent you cookies ! [people like Obama’s social justice warriors. {they were being integrated in our military a long time ago}]). You can’t have Spartan-like men and women with a bunch of “social justice warriors” running around hidden as sociologists and chaplain. services workers.. Then they let M.a.d.d. and other tea-totaled groups shutting our clubs down.. The group’s integrated into
Some officers wives clubs under guises as simple women.. Even though I’m a Air Force Vet i’m In
Kind of Agreement with the old Marine Corps thinking that “they didn’t issue no wife”. .. I got that idea when I had a gal I was seeing
And she was begging me to not leave her.. (She was not much of a social person and had her own innocent beauty even if she wasn’t much of a looker.. to me she was and that’s what is important.. she had a nice shape and some personality .. and a decent cook too.. (l like cooking too but do like trying other people’s also).
I enjoyed the AF and doing deploy.. I really appreciated what I have here in our country so much more when I come back.. I had
some decent entertainment device and t.v. .. and having a female friend off base.. was nice. .. Everything started getting to soft..
I noticed when I returned after just 2-1/2 years out on TDRL. Oh no, you can’t say that.(making jokes about the enemy (like the skinnies in Mogadishu). as an example. Or you can’t do that.(used to go off base when in N.D. to a diner and that rule that you can’t accept a discount that isn’t offered to a civilian... the owner
Of a diner there handed out discount cards to e’body.. but would tell military, police, Fire/emergency services that their lights were on and they’d go check and then return and the owner gave them the discount. the social justice warriors had invaded the military. .. many were civil service that had never served.. They were the ones that ratted about that scheme the restaurant owners had going with Military and Police and emergency services.. (well heck it might be a couple weeks before we got back in off the sites ) <~ we weren’t going to starve and it was one more $1 that went for gas or a
Beverage or treat a gal or pay another bill.! Some of them proprietors were Vets too.and looking out for their Military guests(and keeping customers )..
I suppose a way to stop the discounts is ticket the proprietor.
Art. 134 is the Military way.. then ticket the proprietor. Of course that would be a pain.. would have to prob’ly have a U.S. constable to enforce that. I don’t think a regular
LEO would want to do have to do that (it would be disastrous to business to be cited under U.S. code(charged with bribing by offering a gratuity?).. Everybody be angry at everybody.. businesses placed off limits if caught repeating.. it’d be one hostile place to live and do business..
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
SPC Mae Richardson in agreement with you Mae .. I will not say like some might think(“- - - - - to - - - - a - - - -!”). I go to one of the best VAMCs ..? A2, In Mi. and our women Vets get great care and get vouchers to get outside woman care that’s not offfered at A2. If there is a prob we have V.F.W. Service advocates and other org Adv’s too that will help work with V.A. To get what’s needed or try to get it.
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
MAJ Camella Andrews
When o’seas at my 2d assignment, some joker tried s’thing(I got a ‘almost least minute hint’). He wound up on the floor holding his private area after a knee had been strategically projected there.. There were enough witnesses, no legal action was taken against me..
So I didn’t need counseling for being “attempt to be violated”. That person had to wear a truss and medical exams. I heard that action was taken but wasn’t accepting no scuttlebutt.. I never seen him on base again.. so maybe.. he had a “friend” that commented I should of seen an assault charge against me.. “excuse me.. he assaulted me first... it was “self defense”. I do hope they terminated his services.
I never seen that guy no more after that.. maybe he had emotional break down after losing his male lover.. the other guy brought it upon himself. The JAG said I could of handled it differently.. I felt I had to take direct re-action for a supposedly spontaneous action(IMHO). “Did I feel any remorse for my ‘re-action?” The Defendent’s court appointed JAG
Enquired of me. “No response on my part.” “permission to treat the plaintiff as hostile ?” “So noted!..
Plaintiff may step down. “. It was his court martial.. and i’m Being hostile... d’ya Think ?.” After it was over, I just carried on with life.. went to my next base and did what
Had to be done.., stuff like counseling for “sexual assault” or attempted sexual assault wasn’t thought of for men inthe military. At least I don’t think there was.. besides some might think it un-
Manly to ask for that kind of help.
It’s over now, and I think I remedied it pretty good.. Some others may have felt more for the defendant.
I have remedy for getting things out my head.. it’s called ‘hard work’.
‘Staying busy!’.. minding my business !’ Except when needed in the course of duty . I was pouring myself into really doing my work and the Chief (CMSGT) called me in to his corner of his world and asked what the prob was.. “ no prob Chief, just getting stuff done !”
“IT’s only the 3d time in 2 days you’ve shined on that equipment!
You’re gonna wear it out just shining it ! S’thing bugging you!”
“I’m ok Chief, just let me work, ok?”
So he let me go back to work.. J had 2 Honor Guard rituals in the next couple days and they just hap-
pened on my days off by chance..
I reported to Honor Guard office and was checking rifles and the MSGT told me get away from the rifles.. “why for?” I asked.. Your foodservice Super thinks you got s’thing serious bugging you.. I see you really throwing yourself into
What you do here and you’re really doing great .. getting things done..
you’ve been aloof lately, you usually don’t stay on the bus guarding the weapons.. like you had been. What’s the matter , Son?” Maybe that did it, maybe not.. I was trying to walk around it .. He wasn’t having that.. “Tell me.. for now you
Are off Rifle NCO Duty, that means no Mil .38 .. then after we resolved
We’ll see .. So the only way i’d Get my Rifle squad NCO Duty back is let it out.. So we talked for about .15 - 20 minutes and went on the funeral .. we returned and talked some more. I told him it was solved and I remedied the problem..
“Do you ever want to terminate a queer?”... Oh hell no, Sarge, I told you I remedied that.. it’s not worth 30 or 40 + years at leavenworth !
After a few months and talking to Mental health (which I thought was adding insult to injury.. they had what I thought to be a ‘gay’ civilian therapist talking with me.. I thought it to be a set-up.. So I just held it in Best I could.. he even came in wearing some light rouge
And shadow.. and a friend stopped in .. they hugged.. not a light one but a groping hug.. I just sat un-emotional on the chair..? After I went straight to JAG and filed a statement. They got with medical forensic law.. There was a mediation meeting and I was asked to leave.. They said they were testing my tolerance level.. I asked
Why my blood pressure wasn’t taken.. that would of told what I had inside of me.. Forensics and JAG agreed with me.. both of them “therapists were decertified by their medical society and put on a probation.. They’d have to show they could be back in good stead and be more professional in their behavior. I had another interview
and determined I could resume my Rifle team NCO duties.. I think now back to that and later with my TBI
Why I still haven’t been able to resume having a carry permit .. i’ll Keep trying, not going to let the Obama p.c. Nazis keep me from exercising my 2d amendment right for what happened way back in ‘75 and ‘77. The only one s now are Antifa and other domestic terror persons and group(ies).. and do it within constraints of the law(s) in
Effect.
When o’seas at my 2d assignment, some joker tried s’thing(I got a ‘almost least minute hint’). He wound up on the floor holding his private area after a knee had been strategically projected there.. There were enough witnesses, no legal action was taken against me..
So I didn’t need counseling for being “attempt to be violated”. That person had to wear a truss and medical exams. I heard that action was taken but wasn’t accepting no scuttlebutt.. I never seen him on base again.. so maybe.. he had a “friend” that commented I should of seen an assault charge against me.. “excuse me.. he assaulted me first... it was “self defense”. I do hope they terminated his services.
I never seen that guy no more after that.. maybe he had emotional break down after losing his male lover.. the other guy brought it upon himself. The JAG said I could of handled it differently.. I felt I had to take direct re-action for a supposedly spontaneous action(IMHO). “Did I feel any remorse for my ‘re-action?” The Defendent’s court appointed JAG
Enquired of me. “No response on my part.” “permission to treat the plaintiff as hostile ?” “So noted!..
Plaintiff may step down. “. It was his court martial.. and i’m Being hostile... d’ya Think ?.” After it was over, I just carried on with life.. went to my next base and did what
Had to be done.., stuff like counseling for “sexual assault” or attempted sexual assault wasn’t thought of for men inthe military. At least I don’t think there was.. besides some might think it un-
Manly to ask for that kind of help.
It’s over now, and I think I remedied it pretty good.. Some others may have felt more for the defendant.
I have remedy for getting things out my head.. it’s called ‘hard work’.
‘Staying busy!’.. minding my business !’ Except when needed in the course of duty . I was pouring myself into really doing my work and the Chief (CMSGT) called me in to his corner of his world and asked what the prob was.. “ no prob Chief, just getting stuff done !”
“IT’s only the 3d time in 2 days you’ve shined on that equipment!
You’re gonna wear it out just shining it ! S’thing bugging you!”
“I’m ok Chief, just let me work, ok?”
So he let me go back to work.. J had 2 Honor Guard rituals in the next couple days and they just hap-
pened on my days off by chance..
I reported to Honor Guard office and was checking rifles and the MSGT told me get away from the rifles.. “why for?” I asked.. Your foodservice Super thinks you got s’thing serious bugging you.. I see you really throwing yourself into
What you do here and you’re really doing great .. getting things done..
you’ve been aloof lately, you usually don’t stay on the bus guarding the weapons.. like you had been. What’s the matter , Son?” Maybe that did it, maybe not.. I was trying to walk around it .. He wasn’t having that.. “Tell me.. for now you
Are off Rifle NCO Duty, that means no Mil .38 .. then after we resolved
We’ll see .. So the only way i’d Get my Rifle squad NCO Duty back is let it out.. So we talked for about .15 - 20 minutes and went on the funeral .. we returned and talked some more. I told him it was solved and I remedied the problem..
“Do you ever want to terminate a queer?”... Oh hell no, Sarge, I told you I remedied that.. it’s not worth 30 or 40 + years at leavenworth !
After a few months and talking to Mental health (which I thought was adding insult to injury.. they had what I thought to be a ‘gay’ civilian therapist talking with me.. I thought it to be a set-up.. So I just held it in Best I could.. he even came in wearing some light rouge
And shadow.. and a friend stopped in .. they hugged.. not a light one but a groping hug.. I just sat un-emotional on the chair..? After I went straight to JAG and filed a statement. They got with medical forensic law.. There was a mediation meeting and I was asked to leave.. They said they were testing my tolerance level.. I asked
Why my blood pressure wasn’t taken.. that would of told what I had inside of me.. Forensics and JAG agreed with me.. both of them “therapists were decertified by their medical society and put on a probation.. They’d have to show they could be back in good stead and be more professional in their behavior. I had another interview
and determined I could resume my Rifle team NCO duties.. I think now back to that and later with my TBI
Why I still haven’t been able to resume having a carry permit .. i’ll Keep trying, not going to let the Obama p.c. Nazis keep me from exercising my 2d amendment right for what happened way back in ‘75 and ‘77. The only one s now are Antifa and other domestic terror persons and group(ies).. and do it within constraints of the law(s) in
Effect.
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I think that most if not all women Vets are or think themselves more “RESILIENT” than none Veteran women. They don’t see themselves as being. “FRAGILE”.
They may have been slightly and wanted to shake that off and wanted to prove themselves and joined the Military to do just that and show others to “Not f**k
With them or they’ll rip who stands in their way a new vent..
They may have been slightly and wanted to shake that off and wanted to prove themselves and joined the Military to do just that and show others to “Not f**k
With them or they’ll rip who stands in their way a new vent..
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I am amazed that they don't. If you must go to an outside medical specialist, I was under the impression that those bills would be paid.
However, I believe that women's needs re: transition services, disability compensation, employment, and housing would be the same as any other service member. Everything doesn't need to to be gender specific. Some needs (e.g. transition ...) are generic for military personnel irrespective of their gender identity. We are all volunteers and it has had a profound effect on all of us. I do not believe that women are 'weaker' and therefore need more non-medical services than men.
However, I believe that women's needs re: transition services, disability compensation, employment, and housing would be the same as any other service member. Everything doesn't need to to be gender specific. Some needs (e.g. transition ...) are generic for military personnel irrespective of their gender identity. We are all volunteers and it has had a profound effect on all of us. I do not believe that women are 'weaker' and therefore need more non-medical services than men.
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The DoD and the VA needs to change their questioner for determining PTSD. They ask everyone the same questions. Do you drink, how much and how often? Most women do not drown their issues in the bottle, they use retail therapy, gambling and in some cases inappropriate sexual behavior. After leaving the military three years ago I have spent my time working with homeless women veterans and those items I listed above have been the main cause of dealing with their PTSD and MST. Yet these questions are not being asked by the VA or the DoD. The homeless women veterans are not always alone they usually have their children with them. The VA does not provide facilities for women and children and their is also a disparity in the amount of units available for women.
If they want to make changes that will positively affect women veterans then they need to speak to women veterans and those in the community that is working with the homeless women veterans population.
If they want to make changes that will positively affect women veterans then they need to speak to women veterans and those in the community that is working with the homeless women veterans population.
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How about just treat them with respect? Maybe even with more respect than they treat the other vets- that would be something.
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I don't think the issue is with the DoD. I think the issue is with the VA. Active duty can get a referral for services that the DoD doesn't have. If the VA doesn't have a service they don't give refferals, at least mine doesn't. For some veterans the VA is the only healthcare that many can afford. My husband has healthcare but we can not afford to add me or our daughter to it. For our daughter it's easy she can recieve CHIPs. For me I am stuck with the VA because we make too much for medicaid but not enough to afford a seperate insurance policy for me. I have to wait for 2 months or more to get in to see a gynocologist, my VA just recently got a mamogram machine, and if I get pregnant again we will probably have to pay the medical bills out of pocket. The easiest option to close the gaps in care would be for the VA to partner with local providers to provide women's services that the VA does not have.
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Suspended Profile
Interesting article. I have yet to see any female military members not receive treatment in my area. If the VA is lacking in specialty physicians, then the military is not failing the service member, the outside agencies are. I think the article is perhaps making more of the situation than reality...then again, my area seems to be an exception if I take the article at face value.
I think the article should have focused on the lack of care for all, and highlight the special needs where missing. A knee injury can be staffed to any primary care, but specialty care is where the problem is...so make that the focus. How do we get quality special care physicians? What hiring practices are out there other then USAJOBS.GOV advertising vacancies? If the VA or DoD need specialty care physicians, then reach out and say so...hire the skills we need so all our brothers and sisters get the care they deserve.
I think the article should have focused on the lack of care for all, and highlight the special needs where missing. A knee injury can be staffed to any primary care, but specialty care is where the problem is...so make that the focus. How do we get quality special care physicians? What hiring practices are out there other then USAJOBS.GOV advertising vacancies? If the VA or DoD need specialty care physicians, then reach out and say so...hire the skills we need so all our brothers and sisters get the care they deserve.
CH (CPT) Heather Davis
“I was unaware that healthcare was available for women veterans until 10 years ago.”
“In the…VA system, I felt like I was not wanted. The VA rep kept giving me the runaround …a rep helped me overcome my fear of the VA system. From then, I'm cared for better than any civilian doctors I went to.”
“I haven't attempted to get health care at the VA until 3 years ago. My prescriptions went up so much I had to turn to the vets. My experiences are very good. Everyone here is very thorough and compassionate.”
“Initially, VA was a nightmare. I stayed away for years. No idea of women's issues. Very pleased with current experience past 2 months.”
“In the…VA system, I felt like I was not wanted. The VA rep kept giving me the runaround …a rep helped me overcome my fear of the VA system. From then, I'm cared for better than any civilian doctors I went to.”
“I haven't attempted to get health care at the VA until 3 years ago. My prescriptions went up so much I had to turn to the vets. My experiences are very good. Everyone here is very thorough and compassionate.”
“Initially, VA was a nightmare. I stayed away for years. No idea of women's issues. Very pleased with current experience past 2 months.”
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CH (CPT) Heather Davis
Desai provides extensive research on exploring the psychiatric distress, and symptoms of PTSD, providing an internal outlook in minimizing homeless women veterans. Clinical outcomes explore the cognitive and behavioral substance abuse and trauma histories providing solutions to the outbreak of homelessness in the female veteran population.
Desai’s research provides an in-depth focus on the challenges and complexity of treatment for female veterans. The obstacles that many face are lack of social support, previous trauma, PTSD, and isolation. His findings explore the female veteran’s issues of safety and reintegration issues.
Desai’s research provides an in-depth focus on the challenges and complexity of treatment for female veterans. The obstacles that many face are lack of social support, previous trauma, PTSD, and isolation. His findings explore the female veteran’s issues of safety and reintegration issues.
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they shouldn't give special treatment or more services then required by law and their disability
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CH (CPT) Heather Davis
In summary, articles in the Stress of Military life section indicate that there are high reported rates of sexual victimization among military women, with higher rates among those sampled from VA programs and clinics; military sexual trauma seems to be associated with more physical and mental conditions and with poorer health status; and, among military personnel deployed to the Gulf War, women seem more likely to develop PTSD than men.
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CH (CPT) Heather Davis
What obstacles prevent them from gaining employment, obtaining adequate housing and becoming productive members within their local communities — just as they had been before entering the military? These are tough, but extremely important questions that need to be answered if we are to permanently resolve this crisis facing thousands of our female veterans.
http://www.stripes.com/opinion/us-must-do-more-to-reduce-homelessness-among-female-veterans-1.308727
http://www.stripes.com/opinion/us-must-do-more-to-reduce-homelessness-among-female-veterans-1.308727
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CH (CPT) Heather Davis
Ginger Miller served in the U.S. Navy as a bosun’s mate, receiving a medical discharge for an in-service accident. Although her service skills didn’t readily transfer to civilian life, she never dreamed she’d end up homeless, living on the streets for three years with her 2-year-old son and husband, a former Marine suffering from PTSD who also could not find work.
This snapshot of just one woman, one family, isolated and alone, is emblematic of a persistent national tragedy that is largely preventable and completely unacceptable.
This snapshot of just one woman, one family, isolated and alone, is emblematic of a persistent national tragedy that is largely preventable and completely unacceptable.
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