21st Century Army - Women in the Army
The Army underwent a remarkable transformation in the early twenty-first century. More than two million Army soldiers—255,000 of them women—deployed overseas, many for multiple tours. The reality of nonlinear battlefields and the cultural conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan resulted in a profound transformation of roles for Army women. Commanders discovered the impracticalities of a utilization and assignment policy rooted in the Cold War. As women demonstrated their capabilities, the Army moved to eliminate unnecessary gender-biased barriers to service. A measured and deliberate movement towards a standards-based system was adopted. In a parallel effort, the Army rescinded other exclusionary policies while caring for and retaining its premier twenty-first century fighting force.
![Former POW Shoshana Johnson, center, is escorted by U.S. soldiers to a waiting C-130 transport](gallery/thumbnails/Figure-1.jpg)
![Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester](../../../../genderintegration/images/timeline/thumbnails/2005-Hester-2-DVIDS-Hester-at-awards-ceremony-6-21-2005-with-Silver-Star-close-up.jpg)
![General Ann Dunwoody](gallery/thumbnails/Figure-3.jpg)
![Sergeant Sherri Gallagher](../../../../genderintegration/images/timeline/thumbnails/2010-IM-5-19-6-Sherri-Gallagher-Best-Warrior-Competition-2010-DVIDS-331915.jpg)
![Brig. Gen. Tammy Smith is pictured here with her wife](gallery/thumbnails/Figure-5.jpg)
![Female engagement team from the 4th Infantry Brigade](gallery/thumbnails/Figure-6.jpg)
![Chief Warrant Officer 4 Raquel Patrick](gallery/thumbnails/Figure-7.jpg)
![Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta](gallery/thumbnails/Figure-8.jpg)
![First Lieutenant Shaye Haver and Captain Kristen Griest](../../../../genderintegration/images/timeline/thumbnails/2015-2143759-DVIDS.jpg)
![Private First Class Katherine Beatty](../../../../genderintegration/images/timeline/thumbnails/2016-Beatty--DVIDS--3116773.jpg)
![Sgt. Brittany Sylvester-Rivera](gallery/thumbnails/Figure-11.jpg)
![Christine Wormuth](../../../../genderintegration/images/timeline/thumbnails/2021--Christine_Wormuth_official_portrait--Army-photo.jpg)