The Department of Defense joined the celebration of International Women’s Day on Tuesday by sharing a video on social media highlighting the historic role women have had in the U.S. military.
The video highlighted key moments in women’s history, including Harriet Tubman helping to pass information to Union commanders in the Civil War, the enlistment of a black woman in the Army in 1866, the signing of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act in 1948, which allowed women to serve as permanent members in all branches of the military, and Linda Bray, who in 1989 became the first woman to lead U.S. troops into combat.
“Women’s History Month is a time to honor the historical women who helped shape what our country and its military is today,” the video said, “and to also recognize the sacrifices and hardships that many women currently face and that they help others to face every single day.”
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The Pentagon also highlighted advances women have made in the department in the past year, including the confirmation of the first female deputy secretary of defense after Kathleen Hicks was confirmed by the Senate in 2021.
Today on #InternationalWomensDay, we celebrate the contributions and strides made by women throughout the history of the DoD and the military. #WomensHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/IvVxefjMjK
— DOD Outreach (@DOD_Outreach) March 8, 2022
“Around the world, our Allies, partners and major international organizations are celebrating the advancements gender parity brings to the world,” Hicks said in a press release. “These advancements support better governance and a more stable and less turbulent world. Our work on women, peace, and security is critical not just for U.S. national security, but equally importantly, for the safety, equality, and opportunity of women and girls around the world. We are proud to join the international community in recognizing the achievements of women around the world.”
Other achievements include the appointment of two women as combatant commanders. Air Force Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost took command of U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, including building partnerships with countries and responding to threats and crises. Army Gen. Laura Richardson took command of U.S. Southern Command, which focuses on Central and South America.
In addition, the Defense Department released a road map for an independent review commission dedicated to fighting sexual assault in the military and expanded programs that implement diversity, focusing on the representation of women across all military branches.
President Joe Biden declared March to be Women’s History Month last week, the latest in an annual tradition that began in 1995 when President Bill Clinton signed the first monthlong proclamation.
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“Throughout our history, despite hardship, exclusion, and discrimination, women have strived and sacrificed for equity and equality in communities across the country,” Biden said. “Standing on the shoulders of the heroines who came before them, today’s women and girls continue to carry forward the mission of ensuring our daughters have the same opportunities as our sons.”
