Before the military
Poverty pushes young women to join
The worsening of the U.S. economy pushes many young people to consider a military career. Whanja Brown joined the military because she needed money. Her partner ran her deeply into debt. After serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, she has paid her debt, but she is picking up the pieces, fighting against feelings of isolation and anxiety. She got burned and lost three friends in the war.
Raquel Ramirez wanted structure in her life. After spending her teenage years in children's homes, worrying about her siblings placed in separate accommodation, she was a fighter for her own life, determined to look for something better. Daniela who suffered a sexual assault in the military also joined to help her family financially.
Women veterans who joined decades ago were looking for experiences and expanding their horizons. Linda Stanley felt fulfilled spending decades nursing military and civilian victims around the world. Gwen Chiaramonte, Mary-Ann Rich and Sue Max joined reserves, continuing in their civilian jobs, but spending weekends training to work as military nurses, not realizing they would be required to become combatants not protected by the Geneva Conventions that safeguards medical workers in conflict zones.
Everyone felt strongly about helping the nation with their service.
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