Stories from when I was deployed to Afghanistan on a PRT. Most focus on the different missions I went on as Civil Engineer and a female in Afghanistan
It is interesting how something like a deployment stays with you forever. I have been home from my deployment for over eight years and last night something triggered me to have a dream about being back there. Deployment memories came rushing back. And by something I know exactly what it was, a picture of dead […]
My family attended a ceremony a few months ago. The announcer asked people who were military veterans and military spouses to raise their hand. My hand went up next to my husbands, as did my blood pressure. You see I am a military spouse. And I would be the first to tell you how hard it […]
When people think of mental health linked to deployment their minds often jump to combat situations, being injured or dealing with dramatic situations. While these situations do happen overseas and can cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), there are other issues with being in a combat zone that can easily be overlooked. I deployed to […]
What the hardest part of being a female veteran? People don’t get you. Most people who meet me don’t know that I am a military veteran. Why would they? I just look like a normal girl, like you. I don’t tell people when I first meet them, it just doesn’t come up in conversation. And […]
I’m standing in a room full of people who are honoring my sacrifice of being a military veteran. Often when people hear about the military they hear of moving regularly, deploying to war and losing loved ones. And yes, there is that, but there is also so much goodness in those hard times and sacrifice. […]
Am I the only one who thinks about something they do and then put it aside like it really was no big deal. Or compares it to someone else’s story and then thinks that their story doesn’t matter. When we look at the highlight reel of someone else’s life it makes it hard to remember […]
Leslie* served in the as an Intelligence Officer in the Air Operations Center in Qatar and UAE. Learn a little more about what goes on behind the scenes. Not all work is done at the ground level. Name: Leslie* Rank during deployment: Captain Branch of Service: Air Force Current rank/current job if you have left […]
Kristina and I met when I was stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in the Civil Engineer Squadron. We were only stationed together for a few months, but her impact lasted with me long after I left for my deployment. As a female officer with so much advice and being willing to spend time mentoring me. […]
When I started collecting deployment stories I asked anyone and everyone to share. I was surprised that only one guy from the current war era answered my request. I call him my guy in Afghanistan. I really thought I would share mostly a guys experience. And even though I wasn’t able to get follow up […]
Carrie* is a Attorney still serving the United States Military today. She has deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. I loved seeing another different type of deployment as a lawyer overseas. I knew that there were groups training the Afghan National Army (ANA), but never thought that lawyers had that responsibility. Thank you for sharing your […]
I am a former Air Force officer who has transitioned to being a stay at home mom and Air Force wife. My husband and I have lived in New Mexico and Ohio and now California. I left the military in 2013.
Here on my blog I share stories incorporating life experience from veteran/milspouse/motherhood perspective while occasionally throwing in my past letters home from my Afghanistan deployment.
My goal is to inspire others on their life journey and hopeful find some encouragement along the way I help military leaders transition into mom life so they can thrive.
