Military & Veteran Women's Coalition

hey continue to face gender bias and barriers within the military and when attempting to access the VA benefits and services they have earned while defending our nation.

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Formation of the Coalition
To address serious issues of injustice and well-being for military women we are asking organizations to coalesce and join the Military Women’s Coalition, which will unite and amplify our voices. We held our very first national meeting in Atlanta, Ga., on September 7, 2018. The meeting was attended by more than 170 people representing over 70 different organizations. Over 130 people traveled to Atlanta to attend in person, and 40 joined us via live stream. Eleven organizations volunteered to form the Steering Committee, which guides the Coalition today. In November 2019, the Steering Committee elected its first leadership committee, the Executive Committee.

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Core Issues
The Coalition Advisory Group, a small group of eight organizations that formed in the Spring of 2018 to explore the idea of a coalition, conducted a community interest survey in May, June and July 2018 to gauge the level of interest in creating a coalition. In total, 81 people completed the survey, representing over 70 organizations. Survey respondents identified the top three priorities for the Military Women’s Coalition:

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Sexual violence in the military (including the VA)

Mental and physical wellness

Veterans' homelessness

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The Steering Committee formed three Policy Committees to address each of these priorities: The Committee on Physical and Mental Wellness, The Committee on Homelessness, and the Committee on Sexual Violence. Each Committee is led by a chair elected for a two-year term.