Women have served in the United States military unofficially since the American Revolution, when a woman masqueraded as a man aboard a ship and fought valiantly as a marine.  Similar instances occured until the 20th Century when women were finally allowed to officially serve in some capacity alongside men, first as WASP or WAVES then gradually in more varying jobs.  Now, women in the service perform all imaginable duties and gone are the days of only being allowed to be a nurse or secretary.  Women now make up 14% of the active force and currently there are over 1 million U.S. women veterans.