Good News for Military Women—DACOWITS Is Back

by Holly Hemphill, Senior Counsel, National Women's Law Center The Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) is again up and running. The Committee was founded in 1950 by then Secretary of Defense George Marshall to advise him on recruiting, training and effectively employing more women in the armed forces at the time of the Korean War. For over 50 years, the Committee was a source of credible outside advice on important issues affecting the service of women in the military. It's been said that a recommendation from DACOWITS has preceded every major advancement for military women over the years—for example, admission of women into the military academies and opening combat ships and aircraft for assignment of women. However, during eight years of the prior administration, this venerable Committee was downgraded; its membership, staff, funding, access and influence dwindled. But, in a good news story for military women, Department of Defense (DOD) decision makers, led by Dr. Clifford L. Stanley, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, have taken steps to revitalize DACOWITS. DOD understands that, given the global security challenges facing our country, the need for men and women of our military forces to work together in our nation’s defense has never been more important. According to Dr. Stanley, DACOWITS "has provided invaluable insight into the issues facing women in the military services" and a "more robust" committee is needed to better address emerging and existing issues concerning women in uniform and to provide "wise counsel" to him and to the Secretary of Defense.  [img]/sites/all/modules/wysiwyg/plugins/break/images/spacer.gif[/img] DACOWITS, with new members appointed by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, met last week to organize and plan an invigorated agenda. The new Chair is Claudia Kennedy, the first woman promoted to three-star general in the Army, now retired. Among the new members is the National Women’s Law Center’s own Co-President, Nancy Duff Campbell, who has long advocated for expanded roles for military women.  The new Committee has wasted no time in tackling tough topics. Based on a study done in 2009, the group released a recommendation that the current restrictive assignment policy, which technically bars women from units and positions that engage in direct ground combat, should be evaluated and changed, reflecting the experiences of women who have served or are now serving in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Committee identified the assignment issue as one for continuing study, along with issues related to health and wellness, including such matters as treatment and prevention of post traumatic stress disorder. The Committee will also review efforts by the Services to prevent and respond to sexual assaults within the ranks. The [url=http://dacowits.defense.gov/]DACOWITS website[/url] has more information about the Committee and its work.  Military women have made and are making tremendous contributions to our national security. The revitalization of DACOWITS signals a recognition that more can and should be done to ensure that women are full participants with men in defending our country.