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The influx of women into the military in recent decades created culture shifts in all of the branches of the U.S. armed forces, including increased acceptance of women holding combat roles and officer duties. Though opportunities for progress remain for women, the armed forces are responding by updating health service offerings as well as assault and harassment policies.
Along with challenges in the military, women veterans face obstacles when seeking leadership roles in the business world. Women who work in male-dominated industries (including military jobs) often must work harder to receive the same recognition, positions, and resources as men, according to the Psychology Today article, “Hidden Gems: Women Veterans in Leadership.” Like Marines, women veterans of all branches of the U.S. military have learned to improvise, adapt, and overcome.
Despite the challenges, women veterans are excelling in civilian leadership roles and the number of businesses owned by women veterans is increasing. Women who served in the military can bring desirable qualities to business leadership such as courage, commitment, collaboration, empathy, and resiliency.
The number of servicewomen in the U.S. is growing rapidly. Women compose about 17.1% of enlisted active duty personnel and officers across all branches of the military, according to March 2020 personnel figures from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), up from 16.7% in 2019 and 16.3% in 2018. The lower number of female marines compared to other branches is considered a result of more rigorous physical demands and resistance to the full integration of women. The percentage of female military personnel is expected to increase, as women now account for 26.2% of military academy cadets and midshipmen.
The following is the current breakdown of women in the military by service branch:
As the number of women in the military increased, so has the number of women officers. Women now account for 18.5% of total officers, up from 18.1% in 2019 and 17.7% in 2018, according to the DOD.
The number of women veterans also increased. Women now comprise about 10% of the total veteran population. This statistic on women veterans is projected to grow to about 15% by 2035, according to veteran population data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Statistics also show that women veterans are typically younger and more likely to represent a minority demographic. They also are more likely to have attended college or earned bachelor’s and advanced degrees.
Employed women veterans are more likely to hold management positions than employed male veterans, according to the VA. They also typically will work in business, science, and arts occupations. Many female veterans who advance into work in government positions are beginning to make significant impacts in politics.
However, women veterans had an average unemployment rate of 3.7% in 2019, higher than the 3.1% rate for all veterans, according to veteran employment statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Some women veterans who also are military spouses may face barriers to employment, including frequent relocation and increased family duties during a spouse’s deployment, according to the veterans’ leadership support organization The Mission Continues.
Members of the military gain strong leadership skills that can translate effectively into the business world. These skills have helped women veterans rise in the ranks to become change-makers in major enterprises. Women veterans have strengths and capabilities that drive their success, such as dedication, problem-solving, and interpersonal communication. Here are a few female veterans who have made their mark in corporate environments:
Women veterans are distinguishing themselves as entrepreneurs. While women account for 10% of veterans, 15% own businesses.
The number of women veteran-owned businesses (WVOBs) grew by nearly 300% between 2007 and 2012, according to the latest available U.S. Census Bureau figures analyzed by the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) in its Veteran Women & Business report. The number of companies owned by women who were not veterans rose by 23% during the same period.
WVOBs on average earned seven cents for every dollar earned by male veteran-owned businesses, according to the NWBC report, indicating a lack of available resources and support. Women veterans typically start businesses with less capital and are less likely to ask for business loans than their male counterparts, according to the NWBC. The lack of longevity of WVOBs also impacts revenue; more than 40% of WVOBs analyzed in the NWBC report were less than five years old, and nearly a third of all the companies typically go out of business within two years.
Advocates for women veterans are spotlighting the growing contributions of women in the military and the business world by highlighting the stories of famous female veterans. Female service members are often referenced as “invisible veterans” because their accomplishments were largely unrecognized by the public, media, and politicians until the 1970s, according to the VA.
Women officially served in the U.S. military since 1901, though they played roles on the battlefield for decades prior, largely as nurses. In the following years, women expanded their roles as engineers, pilots, intelligence officers, and other positions. Women weren’t recognized as official veterans until well after World War II when the 1948 Women’s Armed Services Integration Act granted females the right to serve as permanent members of the military. Some of the major milestones included:
Several famous female veterans have overcome numerous challenges and roadblocks on the journey to full military participation, leaving significant legacies. Strong leadership competencies gained through military service helped them excel. The following women—and many like them—helped shape and influence women veterans’ leadership:
Numerous qualities make female veterans ideal for leadership positions in the business world. Along with dedication to duty, these women bring strong communication and decision-making skills stemming from the strict and fast-paced demands of the military environment. Translating these military skills into careers in the business world can help women veterans excel in leadership positions. Some of these capabilities include:
Women who rise to officer positions also undergo leadership training that builds a background in supervising teams, training others in job tasks, and inspiring workers to complete high-quality work. Women officers also may have greater empathy for employees due to their experiences in climbing the ranks in roles typically occupied by male officers, which can help them form strong connections and inspire confidence and commitment.
Business grants can help women who are looking to build their entrepreneurial enterprise. Business grants for women veterans come from government programs or private organizations.
The Grants.gov website provides a sizable database of government grants available to veterans and other startup applicants. In addition, the Small Business Administration (SBA) operates the Veterans Business Outreach Centers and Small Business Development Centers that help entrepreneurs connect with grant resources. Some of the SBA’s entrepreneurship programs are specific to women veterans. Other grant administration organizations include:
Applicants must meet specific requirements for different grants. For government grants, applicants must undergo a one- to three-week registration process and, then, complete a lengthy application, which includes a grant proposal. In writing a grant proposal, applicants must outline business ideas and present supporting evidence. Nongovernment grant organizations also typically require the submission of a business plan. Women veterans also can apply for small business loans from organizations such as OnDeck, BlueVine, SmartBiz, and the Small Business Administration.
Business startup best practices for veterans, according to U.S. Veterans Magazine, include:
Some support groups help women transition from military to civilian life, addressing challenges that include social integration, physical injuries, mental health issues, education, and employment. Among the resources available is assistance for women veterans pursuing new careers and leadership roles. These groups can help women gain confidence in transitioning skills from the military to business environments. Women veterans organizations also can provide access to networking opportunities with other female veterans and individuals with similar backgrounds. Some of the service organizations available to transitioning veterans, job seekers, and future leaders include:
Federal programs outlined in this women veterans report from the DAV include:
By earning an advanced degree from an accredited university, women veterans a can gain a competitive advantage when pursuing a business leadership role. For instance, a master’s program in leadership includes courses that help individuals develop high ethical standards, emotional intelligence, and skills in strategic communication, employee development, and change management.
Many scholarship opportunities enable women veterans to gain access to higher education programs beyond the benefits of the GI Bill®. Scholarships may come from nonprofit organizations, local governments, or commercial enterprises. Some of the entities that offer scholarships for veterans include:
Application procedures for scholarships vary depending on the goals of the awarding organizations, which often seek candidates with particular qualifications. Applicants typically must be accepted or enrolled in a degree program, and verify themselves as an active-duty military member, veteran, or military family member. Some common requirements for scholarship seekers include:
Some programs have special requirements, such as holding an association membership, serving in the military during specific periods, or pursuing a specific career field such as technology. Scholarship awards may also take into consideration financial need and academic merit.
Leadership opportunities for women veterans are expanding, and candidates for these roles are honing their skills and expertise to climb the corporate ladder or launch a small business. Pursuing a degree in leadership can help veterans sharpen communication, decision-making, and organizational capabilities to excel in entrepreneurship or management positions.
Norwich University has produced strong leaders throughout its 200-year history. Norwich’s online leadership master’s degree program offers several concentration choices: Human Resources Leadership, Leading Change Management Consulting, Organizational Leadership, and Public Sector/Government/Military Leadership.
An online degree program can provide flexibility for nontraditional students, students with children at home, or students seeking to work at their own pace. Veterans interested in how an advanced college degree can help them pursue their professional goals should learn more about Norwich University’s online Master of Science in Leadership program.
Recommended Readings
Life After Service: Exploring Career Options After the Military
What Is Military Leadership? Learn More About This Career Path
Transactional vs. Transformational Leadership: A Comparison
Sources:
With Historic Number of Women in Uniform, the Vet Community Is About to Change, Military.com
Hidden Gems: Women Veterans in Leadership, Psychology Today
It’s Time to Turn Up the Volume on Women Veteran-Owned Businesses, Military.com
DoD Personnel, Workforce Reports & Publications, U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data Center
Women in the Military: Where They Stand 2019, Service Women’s Action Network
Veteran Population, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics
Women Becoming Marines: ‘I’ Will No Longer Be in Your Vocabulary, The New York Times
Employment Situation of Veterans—2019, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Women Veterans Leadership Program, The Mission Continues
Women Veterans Leadership Summit 2017, The Mission Continues
Phyllis Newhouse Inducted Into the Enterprising Women Hall of Fame, Enterprising Women
This Iraq Veteran Lost Her Arm—but Found New Purpose as an Entrepreneur, Inc.
Veteran Women & Business: A Data Resource, National Women’s Business Council
Women Veterans: The Challenges They Face & a Way Forward, National Association of Women in Real Estate Businesses
Women in the Army, History, U.S. Army
TIMELINE: A History of Women in the US Military, Task & Purpose
Seven Famous Women Veterans, Military.com
Best Small-Business Loans for Veterans 2020, NerdWallet
Small-Business Grants and Resources for Veterans, NerdWallet
Search Grants, Grants.gov
Grants Programs and Eligibility, U.S. Small Business Administration
Starting a Business? Steps Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know, U.S. Veterans Magazine
Women Veterans: The Journey Ahead, Disabled American Veterans
Woman Vet, Women Veterans Alliance
Who We Are, Veteran Women's Enterprise Center
What We Do, Service Women’s Action Network
ACP Women’s Veteran Mentoring Program, American Corporate Partners
Resources for Female Military Veterans, Operation We Are Here
List of Military Scholarships for Service Members, Spouses and Dependents, U.S. Veterans Magazine
GI Bill®️ is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.