A Navy official has disclosed that for the first time, a female candidate did successfully reach the end of the physically and mentally demanding two-week SOAS process in September. Ultimately, however, she was not selected for a SEAL contract, officials said.

Maj. Gen. Frank Muth, head of Army Recruiting Command, credited the Pentagon decision to open all occupations to women, including jobs in close-combat units such as infantry and special operations forces.

Women veterans report that they leave the military with less of a very important factor: social support. Social support provides astonishing protective health benefits, to include lowered stress hormones, lowered risk of suicide and better overall physical health. But the fact that the very word “veteran” calls to mind the image of a man — particularly a male combat veteran — means that this social support is a challenge to find.

In order to combat the “scourge” of sexual assault and abuse in the ranks, the Defense Department officials will make sexual harassment a criminal offense.

Former Air Force captain Rep. Chrissy Houlahan is pushing officials from the Army and Navy implement a successful Air Force program to increase awareness of gender-specific health care programs for service members, linking them with resources during a critical transition time.

Dr. Patricia Hayes, chief consultant for VA’s Women’s Health Services acknowledged “small but persistent disparities in access for women veterans, who overall are waiting longer for appointments than males.”

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Kathleen Rice, both from New York, introduced new legislation Thursday for VA to update the current mission statement from “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” to a less gender-specific phrase.