Que Pasa San Diego

Can you recognize a Veteran?
What about a
Women Veteran?

While people talk about the veterans, very few talk about

the women in the military: women make up to 15% of today's military.

Statistics show that since 2002, the number of women deployed to

Afghanistan and Iraq are well over 155,000; 3 were killed in hostile

environment and 7 in non-hostile environment in Iraq; 453 females were

wounded. In the same manner, 41 hostile and 24 non-hostile women

were killed with 9 wounded in Afghanistan.

While women are not allowed in infantry units, special units

special operations or on submarine, that does not mean that they are not

in the war zone. Women whose duties are to re-supply can have missions

that turn deadly in a split second due to roadside bombs, also females

military police put their lives on the line when called to search Iraqi

woman at checkpoints, where some woman have been killed in roadside

and suicide bomb attacks other have been killed by indirect fire.

While the number of female dead is small in comparison to

their malecounterparts, it still greater then the total number of women

killed in the Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars combined.

When women leave the military and return home, they have

a new designation; veteran. Women veterans do not get the recognition

they deserve from people. The Veterans Administration (VA) has

developed programs that are responsive to gender -specific needs of

woman veterans are treated with dignity and respect. Some of the VA

services available for women veterans include benefits and eligibility,

mental health services include sexual trauma counseling, substance abuse

treatment, PTSD evaluation and treatment, programs for substance abuse

treatment, domestic violence victims and assistance for the homeless

(people do not talk about homeless women veterans).

Vocational rehabilitation programs also exist. Just like their

male counter parts that did not have a trade many join the military

for an opportunity for a life change and educational opportunity.

In addition, very few VA Medical Centers have a Women Veterans

Program manager on staff to assist vets with any concern they may have.

The VA publishes a very informative brochure, Women Veterans & VA

Benefits.

Form more information on Veterans Benefits concerns or

questions contact the Veterans Administration also there are many

organizations that are set up to assist the Veterans from education

housing and employment. If you need more information or know some

who does contact us at the email listed below.

producerqpsd@quepasasandiego.info