Women Earn Recognition for Ground Combat
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
2 November 2023
PRESS CONTACT:
Victoria Moore
Women Earn Recognition for Ground Combat
SWAN Supports the JAX Act and more
Washington D.C.: On November 8th, the House Veterans Affairs Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee will consider, among other bills, H.R. 1753, The Jax Act which would recognize women who served in ground combat with Special Operations Female Cultural Support Teams from 2010-2021.
“The Service Women’s Action Network supports the Jax Act and much more,” said President and CEO, Elisa Cardnell, a Navy Veteran. SWAN submitted testimony for the November 8th hearing (originally scheduled for 24 October).
SWAN, a non-profit organization representing over 10,000 service women and women veterans, praised the co-sponsors of this proposed legislation. However, the testimony argues that the Jax Act must include women who were the pioneers of the Cultural Support Teams from 2004-2013. These are the Navy and Army women who fought with Marine ground combat troops as part of the Lioness Teams as well as women who later served with Female Engagement Teams; some died, some were disabled.
Women have served under fire in every conflict since the Revolution and have seldom received the recognition, respect, or benefits they earned. Even the more recent story of the first Gulf War tells of the valor of women who were never considered as serving in ground combat but who were taken prisoner, wounded, disabled, or killed. Names like Jessica Lynch, Shoshana Johnson, and Lori Piestewa should be remembered too. Expanding the Jax Act now would be a good start, though not enough.
“SWAN stands ready to work with Congress to broaden this bill now and to work on future legislation to continue to correct the record of all women in combat,” said Colonel Lorry M. Fenner, USAF Retired, Director of Government Relations.
To read the full JAX ACT click here