United States Armed Forces

===Women in the armed forces===
[[File:Beyond Firsts - Powering the Future Force 230306-D-KY598-1076.jpg|thumb|The existing four-star women in the United States Armed Forces in March 2023 during [[Women's History Month]]. From left to right: Admiral [[Linda L. Fagan]], General [[Jacqueline Van Ovost]], General [[Laura J. Richardson]] and Admiral [[Lisa Franchetti]]]]

[[File:Defense.gov News Photo 100806-M-0301S-111 - U.S. Marine Cpl. Mary E. Walls right an ammunition technician and linguist Sahar both with a female engagement team patrol with 1st Battalion.jpg|thumb|Two female Marines of the [[2nd Marine Regiment]] patrolling in Afghanistan]]
All branches of the U.S. military enlisted women during World War II. The [[Women's Army Corps|Woman's Army Auxiliary Corps]] was established by the Army in 1942. Also formed during this time were the Women's Airforce Service Pilots ([[Women Airforce Service Pilots|WASP]]s), the Navy's Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services ([[WAVES]]), the Marine Corps Women's Reserve, and the Coast Guard Women's Reserve ([[SPARS]]).<ref>{{cite web |last=DeSimone |first=Danielle |date=1 March 2022 |title=Over 200 Years of Service: The History of Women in the U.S. Military |url=https://www.uso.org/stories/3005-over-200-years-of-service-the-history-of-women-in-the-us-military |access-date=7 March 2022 |website=USO}}</ref> Women saw combat during World War II, first as nurses in the [[Pearl Harbor]] attacks on 7 December 1941. In 1944, [[Women's Army Corps|WAC]]s arrived in the Pacific and in Normandy. During the war, 67 Army nurses and 16 [[United States Navy Nurse Corps|Navy nurses]] were captured and spent three years as Japanese prisoners of war. There were 350,000 American women who served during World War II, and 16 were killed on duty. In total, they gained over 1,500 medals, citations, and commendations.

After World War II, demobilization led to the vast majority of serving women being returned to civilian life. Law 625, [[Women's Armed Services Integration Act|The Women's Armed Services Act]] of 1948, was signed by President [[Harry S. Truman]], allowing women to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces in fully integrated units during peace time, with only the WAC remaining a separate female unit. During the [[Korean War]] of 1950–1953, many women served in the [[Mobile Army Surgical Hospital]]s. During the [[Vietnam War]], 600 women served in the country as part of the Air Force, along with 500 members of the WAC and over 6,000 medical personnel and support staff. The [[United States Army Ordnance Corps|Ordnance Corps]] began accepting female missile technicians in 1974<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/women_chron/chron1970s.html |title=The Women of Redstone Arsenal |publisher=United States Army |access-date=6 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620074416/http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/women_chron/chron1970s.html |archive-date=20 June 2008}}</ref> and female crewmembers and officers were accepted into [[Field Artillery Branch (United States)|Field Artillery]] missile units.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Busse |first=Charlane |date=July 1978 |title=First women join Pershing training |journal=[[Field Artillery (magazine)|Field Artillery Journal]] |publisher=[[United States Army Field Artillery School]] |page=40 |url=http://sill-www.army.mil/famag/1978/JUL_AUG_1978/JUL_AUG_1978_PAGES_40_43.pdf |access-date=5 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518064322/http://sill-www.army.mil/FAMAG/1978/JUL_AUG_1978/JUL_AUG_1978_PAGES_40_43.pdf |archive-date=18 May 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |date=November 1978 |title=The Journal interviews: 1LT Elizabeth A. Tourville |journal=Field Artillery Journal |publisher=United States Army Field Artillery School |pages=40–43 |url=http://sill-www.army.mil/FAMAG/1978/JUL_AUG_1978/JUL_AUG_1978_PAGES_40_43.pdf |access-date=5 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518064322/http://sill-www.army.mil/FAMAG/1978/JUL_AUG_1978/JUL_AUG_1978_PAGES_40_43.pdf |archive-date=18 May 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1974, the first six women naval aviators earned their wings as Navy pilots. The congressionally mandated prohibition on women in combat places limitations on the pilots' advancement,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19840823&id=kdgTAAAAIBAJ&pg=6981,4703933|title=Ocala Star-Banner – Google News Archive Search|website=News.google.com|access-date=18 October 2017}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> but at least two retired as captains.<ref>{{cite magazine |editor=E. Blake Towler |date=May–June 1996 |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1997/mj97/ppp.pdf |title=PEOPLE • PLANES • PLACES |magazine=Naval Aviation News |pages=40–44 |access-date=23 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025062715/http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1997/mj97/ppp.pdf |archive-date=25 October 2012}}</ref> The 1991 [[Gulf War]] proved to be the pivotal time for the role of women in the U.S. Armed Forces to come to the attention of the world media; there are many reports of women engaging enemy forces during the conflict.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/femvetsds.html|title=American Women in Uniform, Desert Storm|website=Userpages.aug.com|access-date=17 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011214115/http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/femvetsds.html|archive-date=11 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1991, women were permitted to fly military aircraft. Since 1994, women can serve on U.S. combat ships.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Twenty-five Years of Women Aboard Combat Vessels |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/browse-by-topic/diversity/women-in-the-navy/women-in-combat.html |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=Naval History and Heritage Command }}</ref> In 2010, the ban on women serving on submarines was lifted.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/apr/29/us-navy-submarines-women|title=US Navy Lifts Ban on Women Submariners|date=29 April 2010|newspaper=The Guardian|agency=Associated Press|issn=0261-3077|access-date=23 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223141252/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/apr/29/us-navy-submarines-women|archive-date=23 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:US Female F-16 Fighter Pilot Capt Brittany Trimble steps from her jet prior to VIGILANT ACE 18 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea-4004018.jpg|thumb|A female U.S. Air Force fighter pilot at [[Osan Air Base]] in South Korea]]

On 3 December 2015, U.S. defense secretary Ashton Carter announced that all military combat positions would become available to women.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/12/03/carter-telling-military-open-all-combat-jobs-women.html|title = Carter Telling Military to Open all Combat Jobs to Women|access-date = 5 December 2015|website = Military.com|agency = Associated Press|last = Baldor|first = Lolita|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151205183958/http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/12/03/carter-telling-military-open-all-combat-jobs-women.html|archive-date = 5 December 2015|url-status = live}}</ref> This gave women access to the roughly 10% of military jobs which were previously closed off due to their combat nature.<ref>{{cite news|date=3 December 2015|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/12/03/pentagon-chief-to-announce-how-womens-roles-in-the-military-will-expand/|access-date=8 December 2015|title=In historic decision, Pentagon chief opens all jobs in combat units to women|last=Lamothe|first=Dan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208030421/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/12/03/pentagon-chief-to-announce-how-womens-roles-in-the-military-will-expand/|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> These restrictions were due in part to studies which stated that mixed gender units are less capable in combat.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url = http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2015/12/03/carter-telling-military-open-all-combat-jobs-women/76720656/|work = Military Times|date = 3 December 2015|access-date = 8 December 2015|title = All combat jobs open to women in the military|last = Tilghman|first = Andrew|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151207022554/http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2015/12/03/carter-telling-military-open-all-combat-jobs-women/76720656/|archive-date = 7 December 2015|url-status = live}}</ref> The decision gave military services time until January 2016 to provide plans on how they will enforce the policy change.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url = http://www.blackenterprise.com/career/breaking-barriers-military-opens-combat-jobs-women/|work = Black Enterprise|date = 7 December 2015|access-date = 8 December 2015|title = Breaking Barriers: U.S. Military Opens up Combat Jobs to Women|last = Connley|first = Courtney|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208193418/http://www.blackenterprise.com/career/breaking-barriers-military-opens-combat-jobs-women/|archive-date = 8 December 2015|url-status = live}}</ref> Many women believe this will allow for them to improve their positions in the military, since most high-ranking officers start in combat positions. Since women are now available to work in any position in the military, female entry into [[Conscription in the United States|the draft]] has been proposed.<ref>{{cite magazine|url = http://time.com/4137854/military-women-draft/|magazine = TIME|date = 7 December 2015|title = Now Women Should Register For The Draft|access-date = 17 October 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171103082024/http://time.com/4137854/military-women-draft/|archive-date = 3 November 2017|url-status = live}}</ref>

No woman has ever become a [[United States Navy SEALs|Navy SEAL]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Tritten|first=Travis J.|date=10 August 2017|title=Candidate to be first female Navy SEAL officer quits after a week|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/candidate-to-be-first-female-navy-seal-officer-quits-after-a-week-report/article/2631205|magazine=[[The Washington Examiner]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Watson|first=Julie|title=Navy: Only woman in SEAL training pipeline drops out|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-navy-seal-training-woman-quits-20170811-story.html|access-date=23 October 2020|website=chicagotribune.com|date=11 August 2017 }}</ref> However, in July 2021, the first woman graduated from the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) training program to become a Special Warfare Combatant craft Crewman (SWCC). The SWCC directly supports the SEALs and other commando units, and are experts in covert insertion and extraction special operation tactics.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ives|first=Mike|date=16 July 2021|title=First Woman Completes Training for Elite U.S. Navy Program |work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/16/us/navy-woman-warfare-program.html|access-date=24 January 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Naval Special Warfare Welcomes CQT Class 115; First Woman Operator|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/400990/naval-special-warfare-welcomes-cqt-class-115-first-woman-operator|access-date=24 January 2022|website=DVIDS }}</ref>

Despite concerns of a gender gap, all personnel, both men and women, at the same rank and time of service are compensated the same rate across all branches.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://militarybenefits.info/2017-military-pay-charts/|title=2018 Pay Chart|date=1 January 2018|access-date=25 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426075650/https://militarybenefits.info/2017-military-pay-charts/|archive-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> On 1 June 2022, ADM [[Linda L. Fagan]] assumed command of the [[United States Coast Guard|U.S. Coast Guard]] thus becoming the not only the first woman to serve as [[Commandant of the Coast Guard|Commandant]] of the Coast Guard but also the first woman in American history to serve as a service chief in the U.S. Military.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sonmez |first=Felicia |date=1 June 2022 |title=Adm. Linda Fagan becomes first woman to lead U.S. Coast Guard |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/01/adm-linda-fagan-becomes-first-woman-lead-us-coast-guard/ |access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref>

A study conducted by the [[RAND Corporation]] also suggests that women who make the military their career see an improved rate of promotion, as they climb through the military ranks at a faster rate.<ref>{{Cite report |date=2012 |last1=Asch|first1=Beth J.|last2=Miller|first2=Trey|last3=Malchiodi|first3=Alessandro |title=Significant Gender- and Race/Ethnicity-Based Differences Exist in Rates of Promotion and Retention Among Officers |url=https://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR1159.html|access-date=1 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420224144/https://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR1159.html |archive-date=20 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

As per the DoD's report on [[sexual assault]] within the U.S. Army for the fiscal year of 2019, 7,825 cases of sexual assault had been reported with the service members either victims or subjects of the assault. There has been a 3% increase in the number of cases as compared to the 2018 report.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/04/30/sexual-assault-reports-harassment-complaints-rise-us-military.html|title=Sexual Assault Reports, Harassment Complaints Rise in US Military|access-date=30 April 2020|website=Military.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2172056/defense-officials-tout-progress-in-fight-against-sexual-assault/|title= Defense Officials Tout Progress in Fight Against Sexual Assault|access-date=30 April 2020|website=U.S. Department of Defense}}</ref>

As of 2021, there are 231,741 women in the military, representing 17.3% of the total active duty force. Since 2017, the percentage of women in active duty service has increased by 1.1%.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2022 |title=Department of Defense Releases Annual Demographics Report — Upward Trend in Number of Women |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3246268/department-of-defense-releases-annual-demographics-report-upward-trend-in-numbe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519033621/https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3246268/department-of-defense-releases-annual-demographics-report-upward-trend-in-numbe/ |archive-date=May 19, 2023 |access-date=May 23, 2023 |website=U.S. Department of Defense}}</ref>