Chicp4MVA2024

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas 🎄

11/11/2024

11/09/2024

❤️ 💙🤍 🇺🇸

SALUTE HER SERVICE at HER MEMORIAL

A Crack in the Glass Ceiling
Celebrating the 57th Anniversary of PL 90-130

The 1948 Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, PL 625, was a major milestone in the history of women’s service to the nation. Signed into law June 12, 1948, it gave women other than nurses a permanent place in America’s military. Prior to this, women were essentially “temporary help” during the crisis, then sent home when the trouble was over – no longer needed.

But, while PL 625 was a gamechanger for military women, giving them an opportunity for a military career, it did include a number of provisions that impacted the nature of women’s service for nearly seven decades. On November 8, we celebrate the 57th anniversary of PL 90-130 which repealed two of those provisions – a 2 percent ceiling on the portion of women in each service and a grade cap for women at 0-5 (lieutenant colonel/commander). It should be noted, however, PL 625 did allow for the temporary promotion to 0-6 if a woman served as the chief of a women’s component and permitted her to retire at that grade. However, if she remained on active duty, she would return to the next lower grade.

Over the years, the women’s movement, the growing fight for equal rights, and the protracted Vietnam War and its pressure on the draft all seem to have converged to bring about PL 90-130 and the November 8, 1967, repeal of grade caps and personnel ceilings for women. What pushed it over the edge? The military needed people and women were a ready resource. But, if they brought more women in, the grade cap had to be lifted.

Three years later, on June 11, 1970, in a dual ceremony, the first two women were promoted to general officer. The first, Army Nurse Corps Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays; and next Women’s Army Corps Director, Brigadier General Elizabeth Hoisington. It was official – America had its first women general officer in history.

11/08/2024

Always Advocate 💙❤️🇺🇸

11/04/2024

Congratulations to CassandraG4MVA2024! Our Ms. Veteran America 2024 ❤️🤍💙

Your Ms Veteran America 2024 USAF Veteran Cassandra Guzman ❤️🇺🇸

11/03/2024

This weekend finalists for the 2024 Ms. Veteran America cohort touched down in Orlando to celebrate and uplift women veterans and bring awareness to homelessness among the women veteran population. Final Salute’s mission to provide safe and suitable housing has brought together a dynamic cohort of women warriors who stood up to lead the charge in our communities.

This campaign and weekend has not been without challenges. From historic natural disaster to logistics, to personal unexpected hurdles, the 2024 cohort finalists and our leadership have navigated it all with grace, poise, beauty, and a commitment to serving our sisters-in-arms. We are here.

The unwavering support of our families, friends, and sponsors have gotten us all to tonight’s culminating event. We have been cheered on, nourished, engaged with love and honor, and uplifted. This work requires endurance. No one has more than the Founder, Maj. Jas Boothe. She has endured first and the longest, and our campaign is but a stitch in time.

My sincere wish is that the queen selected to champion will continue to receive the collective love and support from every single space our cohort has engaged over this last year.

In the meantime, if you’re in Orlando and looking for a fun night of celebration, service, and empowerment come to the show. Message me for complimentary tickets. 🎫

You can ALWAYS support the mission by visiting www.finalsaluteinc.org and donating directly to a 501 (c) 3 non-profit with a track record of effectiveness, transparency, and measurable impact.

With Gratitude

Chiquita Peña
Finalist for 2024 Ms. Veteran America 2024
MVA 2016 Alum
❤️🤍💙

11/02/2024

🚨 Supporters, Friends, and Family

There are a few seats available to the Ms. Veteran America 2024 Competition! If you are in the Orlando area tomorrow night, we would love to see your smiling faces at 5pm cheering on the competitors. Please message me for ticket info?

11/02/2024

❤️🤍💙

Apply here https://www.awfdn.org/scholarships/ by January 21, 2025!

11/01/2024

Talent portion complete! ✅

❤️💙🤍