Military

            The Department of Defense announced today the release of the 2004 report by the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS). 

            During 2004, the 13-member advisory committee visited 14 military installations in the United States and abroad in teams of two, conducting 70 focus groups consisting of military personnel and spouses.

            They also received numerous policy and program briefs by senior officials of DoD and the services and reviewed current research on relevant issues.

            The committee had three priorities in 2004: personnel retention, deployment and sexual assault.

            In the report, DACOWITS published its findings on these topic areas and made recommendations to DoD and the services.

            The committee's objective is to provide DoD with advice on matters and policies relating to the recruitment and retention, treatment, employment, integration and well-being of women in the armed forces.

            They also provide advice and recommendations on family issues.

            The report can be found on the committee's Web site: http://www.dtic.mil/dacowits/ .