Women have served in our Armed Forces, defending our nation, and supporting our citizens and military missions for centuries. Their roles may have changed over the years, but there is no doubt that they have been an integral part of peacetime and war-time efforts for our great country. Selfless service knows no gender and is an equally vital trait in our service members. Bravery, discipline, loyalty, and patriotism are characteristics of women in the military, just as much as men.
Your San Antonio Chamber of Commerce is proud to host our
2nd Annual Women in the Military event, complimentary and virtual, where we will honor the role of women who serve throughout the country, but most especially throughout Joint Base San Antonio. Join us to hear from three leaders from our local Military Community and celebrate their achievements, applaud their success, and cheer them on for their many years of dedicated selfless service.
- Rear Admiral Cynthia Kuehner, Commander, Naval Medical Forces Support Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, TX
- Brigadier General Caroline Miller, Commander, 502d Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
- Command Sergeant Major Chantel Y. Sena-Diaz, Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas
Why is it important to recognize the Women Veterans in our Community? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, here are some intriguing statistics from 2019 data:
- There are nearly 2 million living women veterans in the United States
- Women currently make up approximately 10% of the overall veteran population. That means that 1 in every 10 veterans is a woman.
- Comparatively, 1 in every 2 adults in the general population is a woman.
- Veterans make up 14% of the men in America. 1 in 7 adult males in this country is a veteran. So, most Americans have had personal interactions with a male veteran.
- But among women in America, only 1.5% are veterans
This means that only 1 in every 69 women in this country is a veteran. So, to meet one woman veteran, you may have to meet 69 women. This is important for us all to remember – while everyone has had personal interaction with a woman, most people have not had personal interaction with a woman veteran. Perhaps this is why even as women veterans get more recognition than ever before as a population, individual women veterans still get forgotten.
As home to the largest joint base in the Department of Defense, it is up to us to engage and be thoughtful in including our women in the military and women who serve in conversations and in our hiring efforts. They can be a tremendous bonus to the San Antonio workforce, to your organization, industry, and business and their value to our city should not be underestimated. The
2021 Portrait of Active Duty and Department of Defense Government Civilian Women shows current information on the numbers of our total military population of the enlisted and officer ranks of women and career fields where women are serving.
Join us to hear from our local women military leaders where they will share insights into their background, experience, and future plans and challenge yourself to honor women veterans who live, work, and play in Military City, U.S.A.
Click here to register.
