Military Women from 1970-1990

For week three of the Military Women’s History series I wanted to highlight military women from 1970-1990. It is a fascinating time period where so many things happened for women and by women. Making changes for future generations and eventually leading to women to be able to serve in every role within the military in 2015. 1970 is near the end of Vietnam and while the next major war isn’t until Desert Storm (Gulf War) in 1991 a lot of things happened for women.

Military Women from 1970-1990

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3 Key Events during Vietnam

In 1959, Women were given the same Army green uniforms as men. Before this women had their own separate uniform and nothing was similar to fatigues. This new uniform would open the door for women to work in new roles. In 1965, the first women who were not nurses deployed to Vietnam. Nurses had been deployed since 1956 but it wasn’t until 1965 the first women deployed outside of nursing. Then in 1967, women were allowed to serve in the National Guard (Air Force and Army) and Public Law 90-130 equalized promotion and retirement for all military officers.

Key highlights in the 70s

The first women make the rank of General and Admiral during the 1970s. The only branch that did not have a flag officer as a woman during the 70s was the U.S. Coast Guard. Lots of other changes happened for women. The first women were allowed to enroll in ROTC and attend U.S. military academies. Women were allowed to continue serving after pregnancy and the first women pilots in the military began their careers. The military also disbanded all the separate military organization for women.

Women in conflict

There was still a lot of disagreement on where women could be during conflicts. But that didn’t stop women from supporting conflicts overseas. Women deployed to support Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada (1983) and Operation Just Cause in Panama (1989). These are just two of the many places service members deployed during the 1980s but played a key role in the advancement for women.

Desert Storm

The culmination of all these changes were seen during Desert Storm when 40,000 military women deployed to fill various non-combat roles. A great book highlighting their role, specifically focused on Air Force aviation is Fly Girls Revolt.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_P._Hoisington

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/497548/womens-legacy-parallels-air-force-history/

https://www.uso.org/stories/3005-over-200-years-of-service-the-history-of-women-in-the-us-military

https://fairchild-mil.libguides.com/WomenInTheAirForce

https://history.army.mil/faq/faq-femgo.htm

https://www.army.mil/women/history/

https://www.airmantomom.com/2023/11/female-pilots-in-the-navy/

https://www.airmantomom.com/2023/07/fly-girls-revolt/

https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-culture/wilma-l-vaught-brigadier-general/

https://www.airmantomom.com/2020/03/wilma-vaught/

https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/2959479/the-long-blue-line-coast-guard-women-in-aviationblazing-a-trail-for-80-years/