Getting to Know our Women Veterans: An Army Veteran Interview

This Army Veteran interview spotlights a woman veteran who joined the Army in 1995. She answers our questions for our series of interviews to get to know our veterans.

State of Residence: Massachusetts

In what branch of the military did you serve: Army

Year Joined: 1995

Year Separated / Retired: 1999

Era of Service: Gulf War Era (1990 – Present)

In what unit did you serve? 57th Sig, 21st Sig

Last Rank: E-4

What was your job title? Mobile Subscriber Equipment Operator

Why did you join the military? I needed to change my life and it seemed exciting to me at the time.

What was your favorite assignment and why? I am not sure I have one.

What is your favorite memory while in the service? Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner for all the barracks personnel who couldn’t go home for the holiday at a friend’s house in post housing.

Was it difficult for you to transition back to civilian life? If so, in what ways? A little, all my friends had moved on and gotten married and bought houses and had babies and stuff.

Did the military influence your thinking and living after you were home? If so, how? I have worked for the Department of Veteran Services for the last 15 years so I would say yes.

What was your biggest challenge of returning to civilian life? I missed my friends and things had changed a lot while I was away.

Where did you find resources? I didn’t really look for any until I went back to school and used my GI Bill.

Are you the first woman in your family to serve? Yes

What would you tell another woman about to enlist? It is not for everyone.

Do you use your Veteran Benefits? Yes

We thank all of our women veterans for serving in the United States military. If you are a woman veteran and would like to participate, please complete our interview form.