Photos courtesy of USO Casey ()
Camp Casey USO was honored to be able to celebrate National Military AppreSHEation Month with our servicewomen on Camps Casey and Hovey. With the support of not only the USO, the 4th Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, 1/1 as well as all the servicewomen who were able to come together to celebrate our Military Women Mentorship Day. From the battlefields of the American Revolution to the deserts of Kuwait, women have been serving in the military in one form or another for more than 200 years.
The history of women in the United States Military dates to the very start, 1775 with contracted Nurses and cooks; and continues through the years to the present date. Great Women in History have served our Country including, Harriot Tubman, Dr. Mary Walker, and Pvt. Cathay Williams in the late 1800’s. In the 1970’s with Brigadier General Hazel Johnson-Brown and Major General Mary E. Clarke. To the Present day with Retired Army Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody and retired Marine Major General Angela Salinas. In the United States, Military women make up 14.4% when it comes to Active Duty and 17.9% in the Reserve and Guard showing a significant difference from their male counterparts.
Women continue to make history in the military today, pushing boundaries and taking on more roles – and more prestigious roles – than ever before. They have had to overcome decades of obstacles to get to where they are today: serving in greater numbers, in combat roles, and in leadership positions all around the world. More than 300,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11, more than 9,000 have earned Combat Action Badges, and today, women make up 16% of our nation’s Armed Forces, serving in every branch of the U.S. military.
Our Military Servicewomen’s Mentorship Event started with great food and refreshments, while participants were able to get to know each other through Icebreaker Activates and fantastic conversations. We welcomed the servicewomen and gave a brief on the USO’s operations, programs, and mission to connect our service members and families to family, home, and country. These types of events are critical for servicewomen. Coming together for mentorship and guidance gives our female population a chance to network and meet other Servicewomen within our military organization. The bonds made through events like these will help guide our female Soldiers though through their military careers.
The Military Servicewomen Mentorship Day was a successful event, it showed appreciation and the contributions that servicewomen have given while stationed away from home. This event helped contributed to the growth and development of our servicewomen stationed here at Camp Casey. You could feel the boost of morale and comradery throughout the building. In the end, this event showed the significance of diversity within the military organization and how our servicewomen come together for support. As the history of women in the military clearly shows, female service members are a force to be reckoned with – and the USO continues to stand behind all members of our Armed Forces as the Force Behind the Forces®.
