Amplifying the Voices of Service Women & Women Veterans
Call Service Women’s Action Network’s 24/7 Emergency Assistance Hotline 1 (888) 669-0907 for one-on-one support from our Case Manager, a trained support specialist.
It’s free and confidential.
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About Us
In 2007, a group of women veterans who were having trouble getting their Veteran Affairs (VA) claims approved decided to organize and do something about the VA claims process. Initially working under another organization, in 2009 they broke away and formed the Service Women’s Action Network, establishing SWAN as a 501(c)3 in New York City.
They quickly found that many of the problems that women veterans face stemmed from harassment and assault that they experienced while serving. At the time, the Veterans Administration (VA) did not recognize sexual assault as a source of post-traumatic stress (PTS) in the way it recognized combat stress. SWAN worked to support victims of military sexual assault, to hold perpetrators accountable in the military justice system, and to have the PTS that results from a sexual assault recognized by the VA. Despite orchestrating many institutional improvements, including having sexual assault recognized as a source of post-traumatic stress by the VA, SWAN continues to address these concerns today, offering support and resources for women dealing with issues such as mental health, sexual assault, and VA claims, among others.
In 2012, SWAN began advocating for equality within military assignments after researching the DOD’s exclusion of women from more than a quarter of a million prestigious ground combat jobs. SWAN maintained that excluding women from key positions perpetuated a military environment that undermined women’s value, obstructed their career progression and created a culture that caused service women to be more vulnerable to harassment and assault. Due to dedicated legislators, military officials, and SWAN’s consistent efforts on Capitol Hill, the policy preventing women from entering combat positions was eliminated in 2013. In 2016, the military services began integrating women into previously closed occupations and units.
Today, SWAN continues to press for law and policy changes to better address the needs of service women and women veterans. With a focus on advocacy and a 24/7 emergency assistance hotline, SWAN is the leading national organization focused on supporting service women and women veterans.
Become a Sustaining Member
Contribute monthly or annually to become a sustaining member (and get some SWAN-branded swag) and support SWAN’s mission to advocate for and support military and veteran women.
Join Our Mailing List
SWAN is a powerful organization with a small staff that relies on passionate, dedicated, and hard-working volunteers and members. Become a member by signing up our mailing list and stay updated on SWAN events, advocacy efforts, important news, and more.
Help us support Military Women & Women Veterans
Help us support Military Women & Women Veterans
For the price of a cup of coffee, you can donate to SWAN and give back to those servicewomen who have sacrificed so much for our country. Your contribution will not only support their needs but also honor their dedication and resilience. Join us in making a difference in the lives of these incredible women who have selflessly served our nation.
Resource Portal
SWAN’s online resource portal provides a wide range of credible resources that have been vetted to ensure they offer gender-specific services to service women and veterans at no cost. Support is available regardless of rank, military branch, or years of experience; we are here to help, no matter the issue.
Click the button below to explore resources related to MST, Mental Health, LQBTQ Support, Legal Assistance, Healthcare, and more.
