Service Women's Action Network

08/26/2026

On Women’s Equality Day, we commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

For women in uniform, equality has never been a given; it has been earned through generations of courage, resilience, and unwavering service. From serving as nurses on revolutionary battlefields to leading direct ground combat units and commanding fleets today, women have consistently broken barriers to defend our nation.

True equality means more than open doors—it requires equal protection, access to specialized healthcare, accountability for military sexual trauma, and full recognition for women veterans when they return to civilian life.

We honor the legacy of the women who came before us by fighting every day to ensure every woman who serves today receives the respect, support, and equity she has earned.

08/24/2026

Contact Justin at [email protected] if you meet the criteria and would like to share your experiences.

The study is IRB approved and will explore experiences related to employment, health and mental-health services, social support, and interactions with public or nonprofit veteran-service systems.

Participation is voluntary, and you may decline to answer any question or withdraw at any time without penalty.

Identifying information will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by law.

08/22/2026

ICYMI: SWAN, the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), and the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project have filed a joint Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request demanding full transparency from the Department of Defense regarding its sudden, formal review of women in ground combat roles on August 19th.

Despite a decade of women excelling in direct combat positions and military leadership, the Pentagon has offered no clear explanation for the purpose, scope, or intended use of this review.

Our CEO Elisa Cardnell said: "Excluding qualified women from ground combat would make our military weaker, not stronger. Women have always served with distinction on the front lines. Every qualified service member should have the opportunity to earn their place and serve.”

Service members and the public deserve full transparency when policies affecting military readiness and equal opportunity are put on the table. We’ll keep pushing for answers.

Read the full release on NWLC’s website:

NWLC and partners filed FOIA request seeking records from the Department of Defense (DoD) regarding its decision to undertake formal review of the “effectiveness” of women in ground combat roles. DoD and Secretary Pete Hegseth have provided no meaningful explanation for why the review was ordere...

08/20/2026

"I rucked alongside my male counterparts, passed the same physical fitness tests, completed the same training, and deployed under the same conditions. As a field artillery officer, I had to master the same weapon systems, tactics, and technical skills, complete the same demanding physical requirements, and prove I could lead soldiers under pressure."

-- Rita Graham, Policy Director for SWAN

We are working hard behind the scenes work to protect women's ability to serve in combat roles.

Read the full feature from the ACLU:
https://www.aclu.org/news/womens-rights/veterans-share-why-the-military-is-stronger-when-women-can-serve-in-ground-combat-roles

Share this with a woman who is tired of being told women don't belong.

Veterans reflect on their military service and the decade of integration of women into combat roles

08/18/2026

Kinda chic to have a former Army Field Artillery Officer fighting for your rights in D.C.

Swipe through for a little appreciation post for our Policy Director, Rita.

Follow, share our posts, or donate to support our efforts to keep women in combat roles and so much more.

https://www.servicewomensactionnetwork.org/donate

08/17/2026

For over 70 years, a legal precedent called the Feres Doctrine has stripped military service members of a right every civilian enjoys: the ability to hold their employer accountable in court.

"Feres has so long protected the institution and not the service member.”
-- Rita Graham, our Policy Director

Originally intended to cover battlefield injuries, the 1950 ruling has been routinely weaponized to block survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) from bringing civil claims when institutional negligence, failure to investigate, or system breakdowns enable sexual assault. R**e and sexual violence are never an "incident of service".

The bipartisan Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act creates a necessary exception to Feres. It allows survivors to hold the government accountable for institutional failures, secure civil justice, and force long-overdue systemic reform.

Read more on the fight to end Feres from The War Horse:

A new bipartisan bill would allow service members to sue the military for sexual misconduct and related issues.

08/15/2026

Transitioning out of the military comes with unique challenges, and building financial confidence shouldn't be something you have to figure out alone.

A researcher at The Chicago School for Educational Psychology and Technology has a study that is open for participation for female veterans: "Empowering Female Veterans Through AI-Enhanced Gamified Financial Literacy: A Trauma-Informed Approach."

This research looks at how interactive financial games and personalized AI goal-planning tools can build financial knowledge, confidence, and long-term security, tailored specifically with a lens for women who have served.

📲 Interested in shaping the future of veteran programming? Participate using the QR code or link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=wXL6IAYRXUmqH5LLq5iWBlgcDs6L02RJhoPfZjpmwg1UQUw3RzQ0RkFGOUFTSkNIWFgyRVZLWjg2SS4u&route=shorturl

08/14/2026

On August 14, 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced Japan’s unconditional surrender, marking the end of World War II.

Pictured here are members of the U.S. Coast Guard SPARS marching in formation during Honolulu’s V-J Day Parade.

Established in 1942, the SPARS (derived from the Coast Guard motto, Semper Paratus—Always Ready) made history as the Coast Guard’s Women’s Reserve. Over 11,000 women stepped up during WWII to fill vital roles on the home front and shore stations, freeing up male service members for sea duty and forever changing the landscape for women in uniform.

Today, on V-J Day, we honor the service, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of all WWII veterans and the pioneering women who helped lead our nation to victory.

08/14/2026

On August 14, 1982, President Ronald Reagan officially established Navajo Code Talkers Day.

Private First Class Preston Toledo (left) and Private First Class Frank Toledo, cousins and full-blooded Navajo Indians, attached to a Marine Artillery Regiment in the South Pacific with relay orders over a field radio in their native tongue.

During World War II using their native language, a group of Marines developed an unbreakable code that transmitted critical tactical messages, defying enemy decryption and playing a decisive role in key battles like Iwo Jima.

Today, we honor the legacy of the Code Talkers and pay tribute to the generations of Indigenous veterans—including the thousands of Native women—who have proudly worn the uniform to protect our land and freedoms.

08/12/2026

When women veterans face sudden hardship, our case manager is here to make sure they get real support, fast. Slide through to see how your support changes lives.

Donate to help keep our helpline open for the next veteran in need: https://www.servicewomensactionnetwork.org/donate