Talk Back: War Wounded Women

Due to the dynamic asymmetry of the battlefield in both Iraq and Afghanistan, all soldiers, regardless of military skill set, are serving on the frontlines - this includes women. Women are currently serving on the frontlines in the first war of the 21st century. Women’s roles in this fight are unprecedented. In short, women are making history.

However, American society is unaware of the new and complex issues that have surfaced as a result of this new battlefield paradigm. Specifically, the American public is not engaged with the unique challenges facing women veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -especially women who have been wounded in combat. In my experience, I believe that one of the issues facing wounded women veterans is their ability to re-integrate into a society that places a high value on their appearance. However, there are deeper and more complex challenges that need to be explored. Thus, more research and outreach needs to be done, which is the purpose of a project I intend to make my life’s work. We must establish a formal program to address the specific needs of wounded women in our society.

My ambition is to establish an organization to address this unprecedented need. My goals are:

(1) to study and understand the unique psychological issues facing women returning from combat

(2) to establish formal programs (i.e. job placement, networking, and retreats) that focus on the needs of women veterans

(3) to initiate a national campaign in order to create awareness about these issues, to educate our society, and to create partnerships with women’s groups

There is a clear need for such programs. Women have come so far in the military – they are serving in unparalleled roles, being wounded, and dying in the service of their nation. For these reasons, we share a responsibility to take care of the women who selflessly lay their lives on the line. This issue affects all women not just women who have served. As a nation, we must support our veterans – this ethic embodies our national values and determines our country’s ability to continue to attract the best and brightest to protect our nation. We must not ask anything less of ourselves as women. The need is great; the problem is clear; the time to act is today.

Ann Gallo graduated from West Point in 2001 and served as a Transportation officer in the 1st Infantry Division from 2002-2006. She was deployed to Tikrit, Iraq from February 2004 – March 2005 and served as a convoy commander in the division’s truck company and as the Division Support Command Movement Control Officer. Ann transitioned out of the Army in June 2006 and is currently a student at Harvard Business School. She can be contacted at agallo@mba2008.hbs.edu