A Mighty Girl honors women veterans of past and present with reading recommendations for children and teens.

“If the nation ever again needs them, American women will respond.” — Byrd Howell Granger, WASP pilot

On November 11, 1918, World War I formally came to an end with the signing of armistice but despite the hopes that this would mark the war to end all wars, conflict has stayed with us throughout the decades. Today, countries around the world choose November 11 to honor the service of those who fought abroad or worked tirelessly at home and those who continue to do so today. With Veterans Day in the US, Remembrance Day in Commonwealth countries, and Armistice Day in other nations, we take a few precious minutes of time to pay tribute to the living veterans of war and remember those who died in it. Continue reading → Continue reading

The Green Berets were one of the last assignments in the Army without any female soldiers since the Pentagon opened combat and special operations roles to women in 2016.

A National Guard soldier has become the U.S. Army's first female Green Beret since the Special Forces unit was formed in 1952! The woman, who cannot be named due to security concerns, recently completed the famously grueling Special Forces Qualification Course and received her Green Beret along with her classmates during a graduation ceremony last week in North Carolina. Her graduation was a particularly noteworthy milestone for women in the military since the Green Berets were one of the last assignments in the Army without any women since the Pentagon opened combat and special operations roles to women in 2016. "Half of the world that we have to deal with when we're out there, half of the people we have to help, are women," said retired Lt. Gen. Steve Blum, a 42-year Army veteran and 16-year Green Beret, when the unnamed soldier passed her initial assessment in 2018. "The days of men fighting men without the presence of women is long gone." Continue reading → Continue reading

Saleha Jabeen was commissioned as a second lieutenant by the Air Force Chief of Chaplains, who said, "Any time we advance religious freedoms, it’s a win for all persons of faith."

In a ceremony filled with family, friends, and mentors, Saleha Jabeen made history by becoming the first female Muslim chaplain in the history of the U.S. military! At the December ceremony in Chicago, Jabeen was commissioned as a second lieutenant by the Air Force Chief of Chaplains, Major General Steven Schaick. "Any time we advance religious freedoms, it’s a win for all persons of faith," asserted Schaick. "The fact is America is a place where the Constitution guarantees your freedom to embrace or abstain from religious ideals, and the Chaplain Corps, which Jabeen just entered, exists to ensure every Airman has a religious freedom advocate.... I could not be more proud of our Air Force for being willing to commission and embrace the first female Imam in the Department of Defense." Continue reading → Continue reading

The U.S. Army has many examples of brothers becoming generals; now, for the first time, a pair of sisters have both been named generals.

For the first time in the U.S. Army's 244-year history, a pair of sisters have both reached the rank of general! Brigadier General Paula Lodi joined her older sister Major General Maria Barrett in the generals' ranks after a promotions ceremony in July. It's a major milestone for women in military service, who remain significantly underrepresented in the Army, particularly in the higher ranks. "Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett and Brig. Gen. Paula Lodi represent the best America has to offer," said Acting Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy in a statement. "However, this comes as no surprise to those who have known them and loved them throughout this extraordinary journey. This is a proud moment for their families and for the Army." Continue reading → Continue reading

After completing the notoriously grueling course, Sergeant 1st Class Janina Simmons said "62 days of training and I made it the first time through."

Sergeant 1st Class Janina Simmons has made history by becoming the first African American woman to graduate from the legendary U.S. Army Ranger School! The 29-year-old senior drill sergeant leader, who is based out of Fort Jackson in South Carolina, joins less than a dozen women who have completed the notoriously grueling weeks-long course and earned the right to wear the prestigious black and gold Ranger Tab. Simmons' performance was even more impressive because she completed all three phases without 'recycling' or repeating any parts of the course. "I'm excited. It's surreal," said Simmons about her historic feat. "I'm humbled to be here... 62 days of training and I made it the first time through." Continue reading → Continue reading