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As military integrates combat jobs, a new push4 February 5, 2016
to position women as leaders
by Leo Shane III
Military Times
Women in the U.S. military will step into a host of
new combat and command roles in coming months.
Outside advocates want them to be leaders in the vet-
eran’s community, too.
Next week, officials from the Service Women’s
Action Network will host a Washington, D.C., fo-
rum on integration of combat jobs and connected
cultural changes.
The event is expected to bring together several doz-
en thought leaders and would-be leaders to discuss the
problematic issues of discrimination, bias and unfair
expectations, but also the opportunities and resources
available to women in the services.
It’s the latest event in SWAN’s Leadership Institute
program, an ongoing effort to “provide the knowl-
edge and tools (military women) need to reach their
personal and professional goals and to increase their
participation at the top levels of local and national or- long sessions with women veterans on health care re-
ganizations.”
Judy Patterson, CEO of the group, said the program
is designed to fill a void among military women, many
who still struggle to define their roles as veterans de-
spite their service in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Patterson praised that work, but said it hasn’t neces- terson said. “So many of them still don’t self-identify
sarily translated into more female leaders in the vet-
eran’s community. as veterans, feel a lack of respect and support. So part
And Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s decision last of this is a public education and a public awareness
month to open all combat jobs to women by late spring
has put more attention — and pressure — on those campaign.”
female veterans.
More information about the program is available on
The Leadership Institute has been holding week-
SWAN’s website at www.servicewomen.org.
sources, post-deployment reintegration and advocacy
training in an effort to find individuals to step into
those roles.
In coming months, the program will mix in
one-day sessions on policy development, sexual
assault response, community engagement and
nonprofit management.