Hey Women Warriors,

Welcome to June—a month dedicated to honoring the women who came before us and recognizing the impact they continue to have on our lives today.

Every woman who has worn the uniform is part of a legacy built by generations of women who chose to serve, often in the face of barriers, limitations, and challenges that many people have long forgotten.

This month, we celebrate Women Veterans Recognition Day and the trailblazers whose courage, perseverance, and grit helped create opportunities for every woman who serves today.

Whether you served for four years or forty, whether you're newly separated or long retired, your story matters because you are part of that legacy.

Let's GO!
​​Carma

WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO DISCOVER

- Women Veterans Recognition Day: The Barriers They Broke So We Could Serve
- Why Recognition Still Matters for Women Veterans
- Have You Seen This?
- June Observances & Women Veterans Recognition Day Events
- Veteran Resource Spotlight: Community, Healing, Travel & Career Resources
- WWC Book Debrief
- VA Claims Corner: MST Claims Simplified​

TRIVIA:

When women were finally granted permanent status in the military in 1948, what percentage of each military branch were they legally allowed to make up?
A) 10%
B) 5%
C) 2%
D) There was no limit

👉 Scroll to the end for the answer.
The answer says a lot about why Women Veterans Recognition Day matters.

WOMEN VETERANS RECOGNITION DAY:
THE BARRIERS THEY BROKE SO WE COULD SERVE

June 12th is more than a date on the calendar. It's a reminder that the women who came before us didn't just serve their country—they often had to fight for the right to serve it.

Women Veterans Recognition Day commemorates the signing of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act on June 12, 1948. This law finally granted women permanent status in the U.S. military. Before that, women often served during wartime only to be pushed out when the conflict ended.

But here's the part many Americans don't know. The law that opened the door for women also built barriers into it.
- Women also faced strict promotion ceilings. Permanent promotions above Lieutenant Colonel (O-5) or Navy Commander were prohibited. Only one woman in each branch could temporarily hold the rank of full Colonel or Navy Captain.
- Leadership opportunities were restricted as well. Many lawmakers at the time were uncomfortable with women commanding men, so legal authority existed to limit where women could serve and whom they could lead.
The inequities didn't stop there.
- A male service member's wife automatically qualified for military benefits. A female service member had to prove her husband depended on her financially before he could receive many of those same benefits.
- And perhaps one of the most difficult realities for military women was the choice they were often forced to make between service and motherhood. For decades, becoming pregnant could end a military career. Women who became pregnant, gave birth, or adopted children often faced mandatory discharge. The message was clear: you could serve your country or be a mother—but the system wasn't designed to let you do both.

These weren't unofficial attitudes. They were federal laws and policies. Many of these restrictions remained in place well into the 1960s and 1970s. Mandatory pregnancy discharges weren't overturned until court challenges and policy reforms years later.

Despite all of this, women continued to serve. They became nurses, pilots, intelligence specialists, mechanics, communications experts, logisticians, medics, leaders, and trailblazers. They served despite limits on promotion, recognition, and opportunity. And still—they showed up.

Because service has never been defined by convenience.

The women who served under these restrictions paved the way for every woman veteran serving today. Every promotion earned. Every command held. Every combat role opened. Every military benefit available equally today exists because generations of women refused to quit. That is why Women Veterans Recognition Day matters.

It isn't about separating women from other veterans. It isn't about creating a second Veterans Day. It is about recognizing a chapter of military history that was often overlooked and honoring the women who helped write it.

Their perseverance changed the military. Their sacrifices expanded opportunities. Their courage opened doors. And their legacy continues through every woman who has ever raised her right hand and taken the oath.

If you've never shared your military story, consider taking a few minutes this month to reflect on your service and what it means to you. Your story matters. Your service matters. And because of the women who came before us, more people are finally beginning to understand that women have always been veterans too.

If you want to share your story but don't know where to start, I wrote a prompted journal to help women veterans capture their stories, whether that is for your own safekeeping and healing or whether you'd like to create a family heirloom with stories of your military service, you can get started with the 'Her Stories of Service' Journal that is available in a pink camo https://a.co/d/0egdLda or antique cover https://a.co/d/0FW5Inj.

To every woman who has worn the uniform—past, present, and future—we celebrate your strength, your sacrifice, and your place in our nation's history. Thank you for your service.
​

FEATURED RESOURCE

NEW RELEASE:
Good Carma Learns About Women Who Serve

Most children grow up learning about soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen.
But many never learn that women have served our nation for generations—often overcoming barriers, stereotypes, and challenges that history doesn't always talk about.

Good Carma Learns About Women Who Serve introduces children to the important role women have played in defending our country through a fun, age-appropriate story that celebrates courage, service, leadership, and patriotism.

Inside, children will discover:
• Why women chose to serve

• How military opportunities have changed over time

• Why every veteran's story deserves to be remembered

Perfect for military families, classrooms, homeschool lessons, veteran organizations, and anyone who wants to help the next generation better understand military service through the stories of women who answered the call.

Get Your Copy Today
​

A QUOTE FOR THE MONTH

"The women who came before us didn't ask for easier roads. They walked the hard ones so future generations could go farther."

Take a moment this month to think about the women who opened doors before you. Some were told they couldn't lead. Some were told they couldn't stay. Some were told they didn't belong. Yet they served anyway.

Their courage became our opportunity, and our responsibility is to make sure their stories are never forgotten.

WHY RECOGNITION STILL MATTERS FOR WOMEN VETERANS

Most women veterans have a story. Not a combat story. Not a deployment story. A recognition story.
- Maybe you've worn a veteran hat and watched someone thank the man standing next to you for his service.
- Maybe you've checked into a hotel offering a military discount and been asked if your husband served.
- Maybe you've been sitting in a VA waiting room and had someone assume you were there with a veteran instead of being the veteran.
- Or maybe you've done what many women veterans do—you simply stopped talking about your service altogether.

For years, many women struggled to identify with the word "veteran." Some felt they didn't deploy enough. Some felt they didn't serve long enough. Some worked in support roles and believed others had done more. Some simply grew up in a culture where veterans were almost always portrayed as men.

The result? Millions of women served honorably and then quietly stepped into civilian life without fully embracing the title they earned.

But recognition isn't about ego. Recognition matters because visibility matters.
When women veterans are visible, other women veterans realize they are not alone.
When young girls see women veterans, they begin to understand that military service has never belonged to just one gender.
When healthcare providers recognize women veterans, better care becomes possible.
When communities recognize women veterans, more women connect with benefits, resources, and support they have earned.

Recognition creates connection. Connection creates support. And support changes lives.

Today, women are the fastest-growing population within the veteran community. Yet many women still report feeling invisible in veteran spaces. That is one reason Women Veterans Recognition Day remains so important. It reminds the public that women have always served. It reminds veterans that their service counts. And it reminds every woman who has ever questioned whether she "did enough" that she already earned the title. Veteran.

No qualifiers needed. No explanations required. No comparison necessary.

You raised your right hand. You answered the call. You served. And that service deserves to be recognized—not just on June 12th, but every day of the year.

REAL MOMENT

A woman veteran once shared that she didn't start calling herself a veteran until nearly twenty years after leaving the military. Not because she wasn't one. Because she never saw anyone who looked like her being called one.

The day she finally introduced herself as a veteran felt strange at first. Then it felt right.

Maybe someone reading this needs that reminder too. You don't have to earn the title again. You already did.

THINGS ONLY WOMEN WARRIORS UNDERSTAND
​
- Being thanked for your husband's service when you're the veteran
- Hearing "I didn't know women did that job"
- Being called "Ma'am" by someone older than you
- Explaining that yes, women deployed too
- Realizing years later that veteran benefits apply to you
Because it does. And so do you.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?

The Women
by Kristin Hannah

If you're looking for your next summer read, The Women has become one of the most talked-about books featuring women who served in the military. The novel follows Frances "Frankie" McGrath, an Army nurse who serves in Vietnam and returns home to discover a painful reality: many people don't believe women served there at all.

While fictional, the story shines a light on the sacrifices, challenges, and often-overlooked contributions of women veterans throughout history.

This story reminds us why visibility and recognition still matter today. If you've read it, we'd love to hear your thoughts.

JUNE IS:
• PTSD Awareness Month

• National Great Outdoors Month

• Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month

• Men's Health Month

June 6
D-Day Anniversary (1944)
June 12
Women Veterans Recognition Day
June 14
Flag Day
June 14
U.S. Army Birthday
June 15
Father's Day
June 23
Coast Guard Auxiliary Birthday
June 25
Anniversary of the Start of the Korean War (1950)
June 27
National PTSD Awareness Day

WOMEN VETERANS RECOGNITION DAY EVENTS
AROUND THE COUNTRY & ONLINE

Looking for a way to celebrate Women Veterans Recognition Day? Here are a few events happening around the country.

🇺🇸 National Women Veterans Recognition Day Celebration
June 12, 2026 | Arlington, VA
Hosted by the Military Women's Memorial, this national celebration honors 250 years of women's military service and the generations of women who paved the way.
Learn More:
https://womensmemorial.org/program/women-veterans-recognition-day-celebrating-womens-250-year-legacy-of-service-to-our-nation/
​
🇺🇸 Women Veterans Recognition Week
June 8–13, 2026
A week-long celebration featuring networking, leadership discussions, recognition events, and opportunities to connect with fellow women veterans.
Learn More:
https://forwomenvets.org/about-week-of-recognition/

🇺🇸 Women Veterans Recognition Day
June 12, 2026 | Erie, PA
Join fellow women veterans for networking, refreshments, community resources, and recognition.
Learn More:
https://www.va.gov/erie-health-care/events/88306/

🇺🇸 Women Veteran-Owned Business Fair
June 12, 2026 | Saginaw, MI
Celebrate women veteran entrepreneurs while connecting with local veteran resources and organizations.
Learn More:
https://www.va.gov/saginaw-health-care/news-releases/women-veterans-recognition-day-women-veteran-owned-business-fair/

🇺🇸 Women Veterans Day Celebration
June 12, 2026 | El Paso, TX
A community event honoring women veterans through fellowship, appreciation, and resource sharing.
Learn More:
https://www.facebook.com/VAElPaso/posts/-join-us-in-celebrating-women-veterans-recognition-day-the-el-paso-va-health-car/1437330561769385/

CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON?
You can still celebrate from anywhere.
• Share a military photo and your story using #WomenVeteransRecognitionDay
• Support a woman veteran-owned business
• Reach out to another woman veteran and thank her for her service
• Update your veteran profile on LinkedIn or social media
• Tell a younger family member about your military experience
• Encourage another woman veteran to share her story

One of the best ways to celebrate Women Veterans Recognition Day is simply to make women's military service more visible. Every story shared helps ensure future generations understand the important role women have played in defending our nation.

The Veteran’s Guide App

Most veterans don’t need more pressure.
They need a place to think clearly again.

​The Veteran's Guide App coaches you through life's troubles, whether that's a big problem or a small annoyance.

This app will show you the mindset shift you need to stop staying stuck in exhaustion, overwhelm, frustration, or emotional shutdown so that you can carry on.

Better yet, at the end of each coaching session, it will connect you with free veteran resources that directly support you with the issue you brought to the coaching session.