March 8, 2019: Across the U.S. armed services, women make up 16 percent of the active-duty military as of 2017 — by branch, that number ranged from 8.4 percent within the Marine Corps to nearly 20 percent within the Air Force. Their representation is small and growing only marginally — in 2007, women in uniform made up 14.4 percent of the force — and their stories tend to be ignored in favor of legacies left by men who have shaped the narrative of service to country.

For International Women’s Day, The New York Times asked servicewomen and veterans to send stories that defined their experiences in the military. It was left to them whether to share their accomplishments, the challenges they faced or something unforgettable from their time in the military. The article provides a selection of the more than 650 submissions received.

Read the stories: 40 Stories From Women About Life in the Military (nytimes.com)