One of the most neglected areas in treatment for combat stress is the access to resources for our women warriors. According to the National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, women are twice as likely to suffer from PTSD as the men. Not only are women becoming more accustomed to the battlefield environment, but they are more likely to suffer sexual assault while in combat zones.
Among our priorities at ACVOW is to establish a Female Safe Warrior Program. Like the men’s program, which has already been operating for several years, the women’s program will be hosted once a week and it will be facilitated by combat veterans – all women.
“We want our female warriors to have the same opportunities to lead productive and fulfilling lives just like the men, but there are far too few resources available for women who have seen combat.”
- Bill Rider, ACVOW President and Co-Founder
We are not sure of the exact location yet, but the first women’s group will be held somewhere in San Diego County, giving access to female warriors from the Camp Pendleton and Miramar areas. From there, we plan to expand throughout the country, wherever women are being deployed to and from combat. Rider expects the program to kick off sometime in early Fall, 2009.
Discussions and panels have been formed to address the lack of services for our female warriors, and legislators like Senator Akaka, Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee has been working to improve health care for women veterans. Congressman Bob Filner, Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee for the House has listened to our suggestions for more to be done as well. None of it can happen quickly enough, however, as more and more of our women warriors return from the battlefield.
If you are a women veteran and need assistance with your benefits, or if you believe you are not getting the proper treatment for combat stress, get in touch with us immediately at wrider@acvow.org or call (858) 552-7501 during the week from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and U.S. Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) have submitted legislation to prepare the VA for the many women warriors returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. It is called the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009.
The VA has a Center for Women Veterans that some women veterans find useful in seeking help for treatment of both physical and mental wounds. Additionally, The Women in Military Service website lists over two dozen womens’ military and veteran organizations to assist women warriors as does the Vet Friends Website, although Vet Friends focuses primarily on reuniting those who have served together. Some of the groups are the same as those listed on the Women in Military Service website.
If you have experienced sexual assault while serving in the military, please contact us or one of the groups listed on this website. Your personal information and experience will be kept anonymous until you allow otherwise.
