Become a Facebook fan of skirt! Tampa Bay!

Last seen: 09/15/2008

She's a finely tuned word war machine!

Check out my blog!

Biography

I'm a Sergeant First Class in the Army Reserves. I've been mobilized in support of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) who would like to see some positive stories about women in the military published on websites such as “Skirt.com.” My history with the Army began way back in 1971 when I attempted to join the Women's Army Corps Band. I was denied entry due to double vision. At the time men were sent to Vietnam after receiving a waiver for their double vision. However, as a woman, I could not qualify for a waiver to play tuba in the band. Due to the help of a Miami, Florida feminist, Roxcy Bolton, I was granted a waiver and joined the band. This began my Army Career. Since that time I've endured sexism and challenges, but now, as an Army Reservist, I'm at the twilight of my military involvement and I've seen a huge amount of change in women's military roles that has kept inline with, and sometimes ahead of American society. In Iraq as part of Task Force 44th MEDCOM and now, as part of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), I look at the past and present experiences of women in the medical field and feel as though I could have avoided much of the pain of sexism if I had entered medicine rather than music or journalism. It's been a roller coaster ride, but one I chose. In retrospect, I'm glad to have been honored with this journey of challenge and change.