By the Numbers - April 1, 2013
3% to 20%
The range in percentage of women deployed -- by branch and pay grade -- to Iraq or Afghanistan as of 2010, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine, Returning Home from Iraq and Afghanistan: Readjustment Needs of Veterans, Service Members, and Their Families. 3% represents the proportion of female junior enlisted marines, and 20% represents the proportion of female junior Air Force officers. Overall, of military personnel serving in OEF/OIF through 2010, roughly 88% were men and 12% were women. The report points out:
In contrast with previous conflicts, the all-volunteer military has experienced numerous deployments of individual service members; has seen increased deployments of women, parents of young children, and reserve and National Guard troops; and in some cases has been subject to longer deployments and shorter times at home between deployments.
Some key findings:
- Many veterans return from deployment relatively unscathed by their experience, but others return from deployment with a multitude of complex health outcomes that present life-long challenges and hinder readjustment.
- Not all veterans who need treatment receive it despite the offering of evidence-based treatments by the VA and DOD health systems, because systemwide challenges exist.
- Military families often endure the adverse consequences of deployments, for example, health effects, family violence, and economic burdens.
- Numerous programs exist to respond to the needs of returning OEF and OIF active-duty personnel, veterans, and family members, but there is little evidence regarding their effectiveness.
- Unemployment and underemployment are acute problems for military veterans.
- Published data on the effects of deployment on military communities are sparse.
- DOD, VA, and other federal agencies have data that can answer many of the questions posed in the legislation; however, numerous barriers must be overcome to facilitate sharing and linking of data.
3% to 20%
The range in percentage of women deployed -- by branch and pay grade -- to Iraq or Afghanistan as of 2010, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine, Returning Home from Iraq and Afghanistan: Readjustment Needs of Veterans, Service Members, and Their Families. 3% represents the proportion of female junior enlisted marines, and 20% represents the proportion of female junior Air Force officers. Overall, of military personnel serving in OEF/OIF through 2010, roughly 88% were men and 12% were women. The report points out:
In contrast with previous conflicts, the all-volunteer military has experienced numerous deployments of individual service members; has seen increased deployments of women, parents of young children, and reserve and National Guard troops; and in some cases has been subject to longer deployments and shorter times at home between deployments.
Some key findings:
- Many veterans return from deployment relatively unscathed by their experience, but others return from deployment with a multitude of complex health outcomes that present life-long challenges and hinder readjustment.
- Not all veterans who need treatment receive it despite the offering of evidence-based treatments by the VA and DOD health systems, because systemwide challenges exist.
- Military families often endure the adverse consequences of deployments, for example, health effects, family violence, and economic burdens.
- Numerous programs exist to respond to the needs of returning OEF and OIF active-duty personnel, veterans, and family members, but there is little evidence regarding their effectiveness.
- Unemployment and underemployment are acute problems for military veterans.
- Published data on the effects of deployment on military communities are sparse.
- DOD, VA, and other federal agencies have data that can answer many of the questions posed in the legislation; however, numerous barriers must be overcome to facilitate sharing and linking of data.