Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS)

Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services

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Soldiers from 25th Infantry Division Artillery conducted a 36‐hour “This Is My Squad” (TIMS) competition intended to build strong, cohesive teams through tough, realistic training at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, July 28‐29, 2021. The series of physically, mentally, and tactically demanding events put squads from each subordinate echelon to the test, building their trust, physical fitness, discipline, and individual and collective readiness to accomplish challenging missions. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jessica Scott)

Personnel Specialist 1st Class Shatavia Howell watches her recruit division as they march in formation at Recruit Training Command. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy’s only boot camp. (U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Shelby Robinson)

Women assigned to the 437th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, S.C., participated in an all‐female flight in commemoration of Women’s History Month, April 13, 2021. The flight included almost 200 female paratroopers who boarded two C‐17s with all‐female aircrew to perform a jump. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rachel Pye)

U.S. Marine Pfc. Emily Zamudio with Alpha Company, Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry (SOI) West aims down range during a shooting drill at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton on Sept. 1, 2021. Zamudio graduated recruit training from the first female platoon to become Marines at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, May 2021. She then progressed to SOI West where she completed the Infantry Marine Course and earned the military occupational specialty of 0311, infantry Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tessa D. Watts)

U.S. Space Force Captains Kim Panagsagan, left, and Hannah Best, Space and Missile Systems Center officers, perform a ceremonial folding of the American flag during a retirement ceremony for U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, SMC commander and Department of the Air Force Program Executive Officer for Space, at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California on July 27, 2021. Giving the flag a distinctive fold is a display of respect and gratitude to the individuals who fought, and continue to fight for freedom, at home and abroad. (U.S. Space Force photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Kitterman)

Recruits from company Yankee‐201 meet their company commanders and begin recruit training during a ceremony at U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, March 4, 2022. Yankee‐201 is led by an allfemale company commander team consisting of Petty Officer 1st Class Elena Cappelmann, Chief Petty Officer Tiffany Moore, Petty Officer 2nd Class Kerrigan King, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Caleigh Vazquez. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Shannon Kearney)

Master Sgt. Joleen Morse, 204th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, prepares to airdrop a rescue craft from a C‐17 Globemaster III Sept. 9, 2021, over Santa Cruz Drop Zone, Calif. A Hawaii Air National Guard aircrew flew to California to validate their ability to train alongside Guardian Angel pararescue jumpers from the 131st Rescue Squadron. The combined participants form a Personnel Recovery Task Force that can aid splashed down astronauts far into the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. John Linzmeier)

OVERVIEW

The Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) is composed of civilian women and men appointed by the Secretary of Defense to provide advice and recommendations on matters and policies relating to the recruitment, retention, employment, integration, well-being, and treatment of women in the Armed Forces of the United States.

DACOWITS gathers information from multiple sources, to include briefings and written responses from Defense Department, Service-level military representatives, and subject matter experts. In addition, the Committee collects qualitative data from focus groups and interactions with Service members during installation visits. To evenly distribute the research, the Committee is structured into three subcommittees: Recruitment and Retention, Employment and Integration, and Well-Being and Treatment. Based upon the data collected and analyzed, the Committee submits recommendations and continuing concerns via a comprehensive report to the Secretary of Defense.

As one of the oldest Defense Department advisory committees, DACOWITS’ recommendations have historically been instrumental in effecting changes to laws and policies pertaining to military women. Since 1951, the Committee has submitted over 1,000 recommendations to the Secretary of Defense for consideration. As of 2022, approximately 97% have been either fully or partially adopted by the Department.

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