To ensure that certain members of the Armed Forces who served in female cultural support teams receive proper credit for such service.

House Bill

H.R. 6036

119th Congress

To ensure that certain members of the Armed Forces who served in female cultural support teams receive proper credit for such service.

In Committee

Introduced:Nov 20, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Darrell Issa

R - CA

Cosponsors

5

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Summary

Ensures female soldiers who served in Cultural Support Teams (CSTs) from 2010-2021 receive proper military service credit and VA benefits. CST members served alongside special operations forces in combat zones before the 2015 policy change allowing women in combat roles. The bill requires their service to be recorded in military records, factored into retired pay, and treated as combat engagement for VA disability claims.

Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

Ensures female soldiers who served in Cultural Support Teams (CSTs) from 2010-2021 receive proper military service credit and VA benefits. CST members served alongside special operations forces in combat zones before the 2015 policy change allowing women in combat roles. The bill requires their service to be recorded in military records, factored into retired pay, and treated as combat engagement for VA disability claims.

Last updated: 12/27/2025

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Applies to female CST members with skill identifiers R2J or 5DK from 2010-2021
Military service must be reflected in official records and retired pay calculations
VA claims to be treated as combat engagement for service connection
Requires outreach to inform eligible veterans of supplemental claim rights
Study required to identify other groups with similar unrecorded service
Bipartisan with sponsors Issa (R-CA), Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Crow (D-CO), Houlahan (D-PA)

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Benefits approximately 250 women who served in CSTs during Afghanistan operations. These servicemembers conducted sensitive missions with elite units but lacked formal combat records. Corrects historical oversight that could affect retirement benefits and VA disability determinations.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

6036, 119th Congress (2025). "To ensure that certain members of the Armed Forces who served in female cultural support teams receive proper credit for such service.". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-hr-6036