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In 1917, there were 403 active duty nurses, and by 1918, well over 3,000. For modern militaries, this inclusion and the importance of those serving was a definite foot in the door for future pushes towards a more progressive and effective military.

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Women are now allowed to command units, even those composed of men. Prior, women were hardly even allowed to command at all, and near the end of the Vietnam War, being allowed to command is a strive in authority, and despite there still being so much work to be done, this is totally unprecedented.

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The Reagan era Risk Rule barred women, not just from the combat they already weren't allowed to face, but situations and units that are prone to the possibility of seeing combat. It is important to recognize the road isn't always even, and bumps and setbacks are inevitable in fights against regressivism, this was a roadblock that was conquered. Ever onward.

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The Clinton Era policy on non-heterosexuals in the military was that no one will be asked if they aren't straight, but they also won't tell anyone, at risk of removal

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The first woman promoted to a three-star rank, Vice Admiral Patricia Tracey. This rank is utterly unprecedented for anyone who isn't a man to hold.

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Col. Eileen Collins becomes the first woman to command a space shuttle

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Women are now allowed to see combat, serving in countless combat positions during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. This would not be the first time ever women had seen combat, but the first regarding the modern US military where it was deemed ok by the government.

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In 2013, the Department of Defense extended benefits to all married service members, regardless of the gender of their partners. This is one of the first genuinely positive moves in policy towards queer people, and it was recognition of marriage. This is likely a catalyst for the federal support of same-sex marriage later on.

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In mid-2017, Donald Trump had tweeted that transgender people would be stopped from "serving in any capacity in the US Military." This would be the first a lot of people would hear about trans people, and it being when they are announced to be "incapable of serving," isn't a great first impression. The reason given was that the medical costs of allowing trans people to serve would be too heavy on the U.S. Military, and in spite of the Pentagon disagreeing, this came into effect.

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In 2021, Joe Biden ended the Trump Era ban on transgender people in the military. This, overall, was a positive move in progressivism in the military. This is one of the most recent changes in the military in this regard, and there's so much fighting left to do. This being repealed is a good hallmark in the possibility that things can get better, or at least can be improved. Just like when Don't Ask, Don't Tell or the Risk Rule were repealed, it's the hope that even in darkness or unsureness, there is that light. For queer people and women, there is still so much work to be done, but the military, what might be assumed to be one of the most regressive spaces, there has been major progress. There's always the possibility that things will get better, and the fact they have, and even unexpected hurdles have been jumped, shows that it will only continue to get better.