FEATURED ARTICLES

Female Veteran Discovers Job Security in Welding

Making the leap from military to civilian life was a transition that worried Vanessa Redford, a Lance Corporal in the Marines. With help from the United Association Veterans in Piping (VIP) program, she found her niche and is now enjoying a rewarding career in welding. After completing a 720-hour training course, Vanessa went on to land a well-paying job in the construction industry. Click here to learn about Vanessa's trailblazing career .

Submit your story:  Have you made the plunge back into civilian life? We'd love to hear your story! Tell us what you're doing now.

New Study Examines Vietnam-era Women Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently launched a four-year study of women veterans who served in the military during the Vietnam War. Understanding the effects of military service upon the mental and physical health of this group of women will help ensure their needs are met through high-quality care and specialized services. Approximately 10,000 women will be participating in what will be the most comprehensive examination to date of female veterans of the Vietnam era. Find out more about this intriguing new study.

VFW Females Meet in Kansas City

The VFW cares what its women members think - that's why national headquarters invited female veterans from various parts of the country and branches of the military to a She Serves advisory forum this past December. The three-day event provided a unique opportunity for VFW staff and its partners to hear firsthand what women want and need from their VFW membership. Recruitment and retention of female veterans was the focus of the session, which produced an enthusiastic exchange of ideas related to current strategies, effective messaging, and preferred methods of communication. Participants had the opportunity to evaluate existing marketing materials targeted at female veterans - expressing their likes, dislikes, and offering suggestions for improvement.

Panelists ranged in age from 29 to 60 years old with representation from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The group of women, which included several colonels and sergeants, served in various conflicts including Iraq, Desert Storm, Korea, and Vietnam. "I love the Veterans of Foreign Wars. It's such an honor to meet other women veterans - people that feel the same way I do. It's a good feeling knowing you're not alone in this," says panelist, Jaimie Bahl, US Navy.  "As She Serves Department Chairman and member of Post 363 in Fridley, MN, I was able to share my unique experiences in regards to recruiting female veterans. The camaraderie among the group was fantastic, and I believe the knowledge we contributed will be helpful in shaping future recruitment plans to grow female membership in the VFW."

In addition to several rigorous sessions, the veterans also had a chance to partake in some sightseeing, which included touring the WWI Museum at the Liberty Memorial Building. "We appreciate the panelists' candid feedback," says Troy Danderson, Associate Director, Membership.  "We received very valuable insight into where we're hitting the mark with the She Serves campaign as well as areas that require improvement.  This particular group of women veterans is actively involved in the VFW, with many holding leadership positions at their local Post. They're energized to take our female recruitment efforts to a new level, and we're excited about the ideas they supplied which we can start implementing in 2010 and beyond."

Young Veterans Find Warm Welcome at North Carolina Post

Post 8073 in Whiteville, NC is doing a better than average job attracting young veterans, as nearly a quarter of its members are veterans of either the Iraq or Afghanistan wars. By encouraging participation, service to the community and support of legislative action, young veterans find they like what this Post and VFW membership has to offer them. And since many of the leadership positions are held by Iraq War veterans, these young members feel comfortable expressing their opinions. Read more about how Post 8073 provides an outlet for young vets to continue their service.