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Since the United States started operations in Iraq, a small group of military women, known as Lionesses, has provided support to combat units, and the House Armed Services Committee thinks its time they received recognition and support from both the Defense Department and the Veterans Affairs Department.

The Lionesses were initially tapped to support culturally sensitive missions men could not perform, such as body searching Iraqi women.

Their mission has since evolved to support military civilian affairs operations in Iraqi cities, with a gentler touch than their male colleagues.

These women have made a real difference in Iraq, the committee said in its report on the fiscal 2010 Defense authorization bill, but they have had a hard time gaining official recognition for their work from either Defense or VA when they leave active duty.

The committee wants Defense to establish formal procedures to document the work these women perform and consider establishing a military Lioness specialty.

They indeed have come a long way.