In the armed forces, perceptions ofwomen skewed

“So, Sgt Marquez, do you think you should be selected for this program because you are a female and a Latina?” asked the senior Marine Corps officer, a white male.

It was 1997, and I was awaiting the results from the selection board of a highly competitive enlisted-to-officer program. As a young sergeant responding to a senior officer, I began with the obligatory, “With all due respect, sir” as I tried not to show emotion over what I found to be an insulting question.

As disciplined and poised as I could, I continued: “I feel I should be selected because I’m a damn good Marine and I can run circles around half your peers, sir. By the way, why don’t you ask

Sgt. Bray that question? He’s a white male, and white males make up over 95 percent of those selected.”

It was perhaps not the smartest or most diplomatic of replies, but one I felt would make the point that the question was ludicrous and would have never been asked ofmy white male counterpart. As many women in the military can attest, the idea that they deserve recognition or advancement due to hard work and competence is not always at the forefront of the minds of those who see women rising in the ranks.

I would speculate that most women who have served have, at one time or another, felt their competence, strength or emotional stability was questioned based on nothing other than their gender. It is what drives somany women to work harder to prove themselves worthy despite often facing greater barriers to success and long-term careers.

Women have served in the military since the Revolutionary War, and today they make up roughly 17 percent of the armed forces, with the Air Force having the highest percentage at 20 percent, and the Marines the lowest at 8 percent. And though the number of women entering military service has increased over the years, women do not continue their service at the same rate as men.

According to a Government Accountability Office report released in May, women are 28 percent more likely to leave military service following one or two successful tours, with family planning, lack of dependent care, sexism and sexual assault cited as the top four reasons.

Even with women achieving or completing a successful military career, the vision many people have of a military member or veteran often excludes women. A Hispanic female Marine who reached the highest enlisted rank shared how she was questioned for parking in a spot designated for a senior staff noncommissioned officer. The person assumed she was driving her husband’s car and parking illegally.

Many female veterans have shared stories of entering a veterans’ establishment and being directed to “where the wives meet” or asked, “Where’s your husband?” I once marched in a Fiesta Flambeau parade with older male veterans. As people shouted, “Thank you for your service,” I waved and thanked them for their support. A woman shouted back, “Not you. I’m talking to the veterans.”

Women have served honorably and continue to join the military for the same reasons as their male counterparts. And the military needs to recruit and retain women as its needs and the nature of combat have changed.

But while the experience of enlistment or commission may be the same as that of their male counterparts, for far toomany women, the rest of that experience, both in the military and as veterans, is not. Whether feeling the need to work harder for advancement, facing sexual harassment or assault, or fighting for access to care and services after they have left themilitary, the female experience is very different, and thatmust be acknowledged.

As the military struggles to fix significant issues within its ranks, we can begin with basic respect and challenging our own perceptions and stereotypes. Every woman who has served will tell you they are not looking for sympathy or anything special — just to be provided the same dignity, respect and opportunity. After all, service and sacrifice are not confined to one gender, and to attract and maintain the best and brightest in our armed forces, wemust address the issues women face.

We can start with challenging our own perceptions as we thank all our veterans.

Associated Press file photo In 2012, women soldiers train at Fort Campbell, Ky. Most women in the military have had their competence questioned simply because of their gender.