Cover Story: Women's History Month 2026 & The Expanding Legacy of Military Women
The face of the American veteran is evolving rapidly, and at the forefront of this shift are the women who have stepped up to serve. This March, in honor of Women's History Month, WeSalute reflects on the expanding legacy of female service members and their indispensable contributions to our nation.
Women currently represent the fastest-growing group within the veteran population in the United States, with more than 2 million female veterans living today. While women made up just 4% of the veteran population in the year 2000, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs projects that they will account for 18% of all veterans by 2040.
This year, we are thrilled to highlight a remarkable new achievement on the global stage. Air Force Senior Airman Jasmine Jones demonstrated unparalleled athletic and military excellence by winning a bronze medal in the two-woman bobsled at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
A former champion collegiate sprinter, a dedicated mother, and a proud member of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program (WCAP), Jones transitioned her explosive track speed to the ice. Competing as a push athlete alongside her highly decorated bobsled driver Kaillie Humphries, Jones captured the bronze, proving that the resilience and elite capability of today’s female service members extend far beyond traditional military duties to shine on the world's biggest stages.
Jones's Olympic victory adds to a long and proud lineage of women stepping up to serve. More than 3 million women have served this nation since the American Revolution. Though women have always found ways to serve, their permanent and regular status in the armed forces wasn't officially recognized until June 1948, when President Harry S. Truman signed the Women's Armed Service Integration Act.
Building on this incredible foundation, modern female service members are constantly redefining what is possible in the armed forces, achieving a remarkable series of milestones:
Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught lived a string of firsts during her 28 years in the Air Force. She was one of the few military women in the Vietnam War who was not a nurse, the first woman to deploy with a Strategic Air Command bombardment wing (1966), the first female Air Force officer to attend the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (1972), and the first woman promoted to Brigadier General in the comptroller career field (1980). She later spearheaded the creation of the Military Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.
Admiral Lisa Franchetti made history when she was sworn in as the 33rd Chief of Naval Operations, becoming the first woman to lead the U.S. Navy and the first to head a Pentagon military service branch.
U.S. Army Sgt. Maciel Hay defied the odds to become the first active-duty female Army sniper, successfully completing airborne school and the United States Army Sniper School.
Navy Lt. Amanda Lee was selected by the famed Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron as their first female F/A-18E/F demo pilot.
Marine Corps Colonel Nicole Aunapu Mann became the first Native American woman to fly into space.
Many of these trailblazing women, like Senior Airman Jones, refuse to be defined simply by their gender. As retired Admiral James Foggo noted regarding Admiral Franchetti's leadership philosophy: “You can be an effective leader by listening to your people, caring for your people, understanding your people, [and] knowing something about your people. That's leadership, and it has nothing to do with gender.”
Whether they are earning bronze medals at the Winter Olympics, flying combat missions, or leading an entire military branch, the women of today's military stand strong thanks to the generations of female fighters who paved the way. WeSalute honors their service, their sacrifices, and their groundbreaking spirit.
