VA struggles to gear up to care for female veterans

[babylonsister]

VA struggles to gear up to care for female veterans
By Les Blumenthal | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON — Two nightmares haunt Robin Milonas.

While serving in Afghanistan in 2004 as an Army Reserve civil affairs officer, the former lieutenant colonel got lost in a minefield while leading a small convoy delivering school supplies to civilians. Even more troubling is the memory of a man who arrived at the main gate of Bagram Air Base carrying a young boy whose leg had been blown off by a land mine.

"I was an outgoing, energetic, determined good soldier who wanted to make the Army a career," said Milonas, of Puyallup, Wash., who just turned 50. "Now I am broken."

Milonas is one of roughly 180,000 women who've been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. While they don't officially serve in combat, they have experienced life in a war zone where there are no front lines.

And as they return home, they're increasingly turning to an already overtaxed Department of Veterans Affairs for help. Last year, the VA treated more than 255,000 female veterans. The number is expected to double within five years.

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http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/37409.html

[1776Forever]

1. Extremely important to our Women Veterans - I salute you all!

We as Democrat's must stand with our veterans more then ever. Without our help they stand alone - just look at the voting records of the Repub's in Congress and the Senate! Absolutely disgusting! And Bush's veto's! Outrageous for a man who dressed up in a combat uniform to declare victory in 2003!

To our Veterans - We care! Obama has many proposals as well as his past commitments and programs that he has co-sponsored on this issue. Stand tall we are with you!

http://obama.senate.gov/

:patriot:

[sarge43]

3. Thank you, 1776Forever.

It's people like you that made the service worthwhile.

Backatcha :patriot:

[1776Forever]

4. Your very welcome - I am married to a 1st Sgt Vietnam Vet & 2 sons who are & have served in Iraq!

Thank you!

:hi:

[sarge43]

6. My prayers and good vibes for your sons. n/t

:hug:

[sarge43]

2. What's infuriating about this is it was predicable since mid-70's

Mid-1970's everything changed for service women. The 2% cap was lifted (only 2% of the AD force could be female), automatic pregnancy discharge was eliminated, career fields and promotions opened up When I first enlisted in the AF, 1962, only 5 AFSCs were opened to women and women officers were capped at Lt Col/Cmdr, (O-5). Civilian husbands were allowed dependent status and so forth. In short, a service woman could have, more or less, a fighting chance at a career equal to her male counterpart. Ergo, more women joined and stayed in and, surprise, more women veterans. This isn't astrophysics; this is basic personnel management.

As for women suffering from post trauma, ask any woman nurse who served in Nam about that. Hell, ask any medic who was in that hell hole.

Re combat restriction: It doesn't stop bullets from doing their thing; it just keep the girls from shooting back. It would be a joke if it weren't so lethal.

[ensho]

5. kicking for gender justice in the military

for pete's sake - when the occupation first started our local grocery store had a donation box for female troops asking for tampons/pads among other things.

I was outraged the military didn't supply them with enough of these.