Welcome to H-Minerva, a  network devoted to the study of women and war and women in the military, worldwide and in all historical areas. We are affiliated with the Minerva Center, a non-profit educational foundation.

Recent Content

Discussion published by Mara Hurwitt on Monday, February 23, 2015

Experimental Marine task force examines camaraderie, combat readiness, gender-neutral standards

From the February 21, 2015 U-T San Diego article "Breaking the Kevlar Ceiling" by Gretel C. Kovach: 

Current Marine policy dictates that only men can serve as crew and infantry scouts on light armored vehicles, although that could soon change now that Pentagon restrictions on women in combat have been eliminated. Under pressure from Congress and orders from the defense secretary, the services have until the end of the year to open all jobs to women or seek a waiver.

Discussion published by Mara Hurwitt on Wednesday, February 18, 2015

First Women to Attend Ranger School in April

Since December, eight women soldiers at Fort Bliss, Texas have been working, training, and being mentored with the goal of becoming U.S. Army Rangers, elite infantry soldiers who have been trained in advanced tactics and leadership. 1st Lt. Kristen Moores graduated from the Ranger Assessment Training Course at Fort Benning, Georgia in January and will be among the first group of women to attend Ranger School in April.

Discussion published by Mara Hurwitt on Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Alaska Gets Its First Female National Guard Commander

Col. Laurel Hummell, the newly-appointed Adjutant General of the Alaska National Guard and Commissioner of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Alaska’s first-ever female National Guard commander lived the women’s rights movement as a young military cadet -- breaking ground at West Point in the 1970s, two years after Congress forced the nation’s military academies to open their doors to women.

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