Be All You Can Be - Women in the Army

The period of the “Be All You Can Be” Army—the 1980s and 1990s—was one of rapid change and transition for those in uniform. The Cold War ended but conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, the Balkans, and the Caribbean resulted in U.S. military intervention. Women found themselves serving around the world in multiple and varying types of operations as new career opportunities continually opened. Even so, restrictions on women’s service remained, but changing policies on the utilization of women in combat operations illustrated the Army’s effort to tackle never-before-faced challenges. While women’s roles continued to be debated, a consensus emerged about the quality and value of Army women’s service. The Army had successfully integrated women into its ranks.

Pfc. Elizabeth Milliken was one of four women in the 118th Military Police Company on her deployment in support of Operation URGENT FURY in Grenada. Once the initial confusion over whether or not women could be in theater was settled, Pfc. Milliken and the women with her helped process female prisoners of war. This was not Milliken’s last deployment; she went on to serve in operations in Panama, Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Pfc. Milliken is pictured here on guard duty in Grenada. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum.

Cpt. Linda Bray, commanded one hundred Soldiers of the 988th Military Police Company from Fort Benning, Georgia. While in combat during Operation JUST CAUSE in Panama, she led thirty of these soldiers in a three-fold mission to capture the Panamanian Defense Forces K-9 Corps Headquarters. After discovering a stash of weapons and other equipment, intelligence indicated the compound was used by Panamanian special operations troops. Bray’s actions sparked debate in the United States over whether women should be allowed in combat. She is thought to be one of the first women to lead U.S. troops in battle. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum

Nancy Currie was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army in July 1981. She was the distinguished honor graduate of the Army Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic Course, honor graduate of the Army Rotary Wing Aviator Course, and honor graduate of the Army Aviation Officer Advanced Course. She went on to serve as a helicopter instructor pilot at the Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker, Alabama. In 1990, she was selected as the first female Army astronaut and flew her first shuttle mission in 1993. The U.S. Army Aviation School had opened to women twenty years earlier. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum

Lt. Phoebe Jeter commanded an all-male Patriot Missile Battery of “Scudbusters.” Scuds, or Soviet ballistic missiles, had been widely distributed to second and third world countries and were used prominently during DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM. Her unit was behind the lines and was responsible for shooting down these missiles that could carry either chemical or conventional warheads. Lt. Jeter and a first sergeant are pictured here after shooting down an incoming Scud missile in Saudi Arabia, during Operation DESERT STORM in 1991. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum

Lt. Aimee Kominiak graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1987. Two years after her commissioning she was sent to Panama in support of Operation JUST CAUSE and soon thereafter was deployed in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD. Kominiak later commanded a battalion in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and was sent to Afghanistan too. Her service demonstrates the increasing opportunities given to women to command and deploy to combat zones in the 1990s. Lt. Aimee Kominiak is pictured here in her full chemical protection suit with a gas mask laying by her side during Operation DESERT STORM in 1991. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum

The U.S. military went to Somalia in 1992 during Operation RESTORE HOPE to help secure trade routes and ensure food was delivered to civilians. Eventually U.S. troops were drawn into the power struggles of various factions and ill-defined nation-building missions. Despite the immense civil strife, and the loss of several dozen U.S. military members, hundreds of thousands were saved from starvation. In this photo, Gen. John Shalikashvili speaks with a female soldier with the 364th Supply and Service Company in Somalia in 1993. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum

Under Operations SAFE HAVEN and SAFE PASSAGE (1994-1995), more than 7,000 Cubans were relocated from Panama to migrant camps at Guantanamo Naval Base and finally to the United States. Security operations were conducted to quell disturbances and riots after the camp population became restless as the weeks continued. In this image Lt. Cassandra Burns gives directions to one of her platoon members in the 549th Military Police Company while serving in Panama during Operation SAFE HAVEN. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum

The U.S. military was deployed to Haiti during Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY (1994-1995) to intervene after a coup d’etat by a military regime overthrew the democratically elected president. Additionally, a large contingent of medical personnel, equipment, and supplies were sent to assist the nation’s people. In this photo Army medical personnel of the 5th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital help medevac a patient by helicopter. -National Archives and Records Administration 6503630

Over the course of four years, thousands of U.S. troops were sent to the Balkans with Operations PROVIDE PROMISE and JOINT ENDEAVOR (1992-1996) to assist NATO in several missions. In this photo Spec. Nadine Byrnside, a member of the 55th Signal Company Combat Camera, speaks with other members of multinational forces. Combat cameramen capture the history of Army operations as they unfold. -National Archives and Records Administration 6519006

U.S. Army personnel were sent to Kosovo, in Central Europe, to assist in humanitarian efforts to support thousands of people displaced by political insecurity. Seen here is Cpl. Candy, from the 304th Psychological Operations Company, handing out cartoon pamphlets to children warning them about the perils of land mines. -National Archives and Records Administration 6511518

Sgt. Heather Johnsen, seen here at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, became the first woman to earn the coveted tomb guard identification badge in 1996. Women first entered the ranks of the 3d Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) two years prior through the 289th Military Police Company. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum.

As the debate over women in combat continued, Secretary of Defense Les Aspin opened combat aviation to female pilots in 1993. Although women had begun flying Army aviation twenty years earlier, they were barred from assignments, and thus training, in aircraft such as attack helicopters. Enabling women to fly AH-1 Cobra and AH-64 Apache helicopters was a clear acknowledgement that the Army had confidence in their ability to perform in combat. CW2 Margaret Clark, Apache Pilot, is pictured here in the 1990s. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum

Resources
Be All You Can Be - U.S. Army Women's Museum Exhibit