Profile Sheet

a profile of women veterans today
Rethink Veterans: Who is the woman Veteran?

S

he is returning from war or long deployments overseas.
She is bringing home the physical and emotional scars
of combat. She is a Veteran once she has been honorably
discharged from the U.S Armed Forces. She is also a Veteran if
she has been deployed to a combat zone as a National Guard
or Reservist. She may be a Veteran while still actively serving in
the Guard or Reserve.

•• The average age of women Veterans is 48 years, compared
to 63 years for male Veterans.
•• By proportion, women Veterans using VA care are more
likely than their male-counterparts to have a serviceconnected disability, meaning an injury or illness that was
incurred or aggravated during service.

The definition of Veteran hasn’t changed but the population
has. The newest women Veterans from the wars in Afghanistan
and Iraq are younger, and with different health care needs. The
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is working tirelessly to
enhance women’s care, improve services, and change its culture
to embrace this growing population. If you know a woman who
served, ask her if she’s checked out VA lately.

Did you know?

•• 1 in 5 women Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
•• 1 in 5 women seen by VA health care respond “yes” when
screened for Military Sexual Trauma.
•• Women are the fastest-growing segment of the homeless
Veteran population and are more likely to be homeless
with children.

Women Veterans of Operation Enduring
Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/
Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND)

•• Women represent nearly 15% of today’s active duty
military and 18% of guard and reserve forces.
•• Women serve in every branch of the military.

•• Women comprise nearly 12% of service members who
served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

•• Women serve as gunners, police, pilots, truck drivers,
and fuel suppliers.

•• More than 79% of them are younger than 40.

•• Women soldiers see intense combat and receive
combat-related injuries.

•• 88% are enlisted; 12% are officers.
•• The largest group of women Veterans today served in
OEF/OIF/OND.

•• There are 2.2 million living women Veterans.
•• The number of women Veterans is expected to
increase dramatically.

•• Most common medical conditions for which they visited
VA: diseases of the musculoskeletal and connective
tissue, mental disorders (including readjustment
difficulty) and undefined symptoms.

Women Veteran Population Growth
All Veterans
(millions)
25

VetPOP 2011 Projections

20
15

Women Veterans
(millions)
2.5
2.0

VetPOP 2007 Projections

1.5

10

1.0

5

0.5

0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 0

As the population
of women Veterans
increases, the total
Veteran population is
decreasing.

VA is here to serve

In addition to health care, VA offers other benefits that women
who served their country may be able to take advantage of,
including:
•• Employment services

The number of women Veterans using VA care has more than doubled
from 159,000 in 2000 to 360,000 in 2012.

•• Education compensation
•• Home loans
•• Life insurance
•• Survivor and death/burial benefits
A campaign is under way across the VA system to enhance the
language, practice and culture of VA to be more inclusive of
women. VA has taken this culture change message public with
a Public Service Announcement and other materials like this,
encouraging everyone to rethink the term Veteran, recognize
the vital role of women in the military, and appreciate what it
means to be a woman Veteran.

H

She served, she deserves the best care anywhere H

Women Veterans Call Center: 1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-6636)
Locate the nearest VA facility: www.va.gov/directory
Check VA eligibility: www.va.gov/healtheligibility

2012

2010
2011

2009

2007

2008

•• State-of-the-art health care equipment and technology

2000

0

2006

•• High-quality preventive care

100,000

2005

•• Privacy, safety, dignity, and sensitivity to genderspecific needs

200,000

2003
2004

•• Comprehensive primary care by proficient and
interested providers

300,000

2002

•• Care coordinated by a Women Veterans Program
Manager at every facility

400,000

2001

Women Veterans using VA health care can expect:

Number of Women Veteran VHA Patients

# WV VHA Paents

To support the growing number of women Veterans, VA is
enhancing facilities, training health care staff, and improving
services to make sure women who are eligible for VA care can
access services tailored to their needs.

VA benefit information: www.vba.va.gov/VBA
VA Homeless program: www.va.gov/homeless
Veteran Crisis Hotline: 1-800-273-8255, press 1

www.womenshealth.va.gov

WOMEN VETERANS HEALTH CARE
Women’s Health Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC 20420
06/13