Reframing Resilience: Women Warriors Influence Change for Tomorrow

Women represent the fastest-growing population in both military service and the veteran community. As women transition out of the military, they face unique challenges that can hinder their journey to civilian life. Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) is committed to addressing these challenges by providing programs, resources, and support that transform women warriors' personal and professional lives.

Through its Women Warriors Initiative, WWP™ advocates for change to ensure this emerging population receives the recognition and resources it deserves. Working hand in hand with dedicated partners like Boeing and the nearly 34,000 women warriors registered for WWP programs, the organization has become a lifeline for warriors like Karen Collins. Her story reflects the shared challenges and triumphs experienced by countless female veterans.

A Woman Warrior Journey

Karen Collins' military career began in 1979 when she enlisted in the Army, eager to serve and escape her small hometown. She served as military police until 1985 when she was honorably discharged. Like many veterans, Karen's transition to civilian life was abrupt and isolating. "I went to Fort Dix, did some paperwork, got my DD-214, and that was it,” she recalls. “I drove home, and it was over."

But Karen's service did not end there. In 2000, both Karen and her son enlisted – Karen with the Army Reserves, her son with the Army. The mother-and-son duo received national media attention when they were both activated for their first deployment at the same time – the two would meet in Iraq in 2004. But no one was around to share their story when the challenges of military life began to take their toll. During Karen’s deployment, her marriage ended in divorce – a casualty of the pressures of service. As a reservist, Karen faced additional challenges, including limited access to resources and support. She agreed to a second deployment in 2006 to ensure her family's financial stability, even though it meant leaving her young daughter to navigate life without her while she served abroad.

Upon returning home, Karen resumed her civilian career but began to feel the impact of her deployment. "For me, the signs and symptoms came crashing down around me about five or six years later," she says.

Karen's way of coping was to keep moving — literally. As a federal government employee, she relocated from Japan to Germany and back to the United States multiple times. She moved often enough that it prevented her from forming connections within her community or seeking support to face the memories that haunted her. But no matter how deeply one tries to bury their emotions, they eventually find their way to the surface, often in the most unexpected moments. For Karen, the turning point came in 2019 when the years of suppressed pain and trauma became overwhelming, leading to her medical retirement for post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health challenges.

Amplifying Women Warrior Voices

Karen's experiences are not unique among women warriors. Thanks to a generous grant by Boeing, WWP's Women Warriors Initiative conducted roundtable discussions across the nation to shape programming and better understand the challenges female veterans face. These discussions have revealed several common themes, the most prominent being a disconnect from their military service. Many women, like Karen, struggle to identify as veterans, often feeling overlooked and disconnected from the broader veteran community.

In addition to identity challenges, the roundtables highlighted issues such as access to care, financial health, isolation, and mental health. Karen's struggles after military retirement, including navigating the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system and securing needed support, reflect the broader challenges many women veterans face. These discussions have also underscored the critical role of social connection and community involvement in combating feelings of isolation — a challenge Karen knows all too well from her experiences of frequent relocations and the isolation that followed.

Boeing recognizes the importance of leadership and advocacy training through its sponsorship of WWP’s Women Warriors Summit. The summit provides a platform for women like Karen to share their stories and highlight the unique needs of women veterans to influence policy at the highest level – Washington, DC. This September, WWP, in partnership with Boeing, will bring more than 50 women warriors from across the country to the nation’s capital to engage senior officials from the VA and the Department of Defense, as well as members of Congress. During the summit, they will have the opportunity to discuss the most pressing issues facing women veterans, shape programming and advocate for increased focus during critical policy discussions.

A Message of Hope

"If I had to use one word to describe where I am today, it would be 'reframing,'" she shares. "Reframing all of those challenges and issues — taking something that has a bad taste, accepting that, and then figuring out how to make it palatable."

Karen found immediate peace when WWP’s Physical Health and Wellness program introduced her to Ayurvedic yoga. "I looked outside myself and found connections with others." The practice became a cornerstone of her healing process, reawakening her sense of purpose and transforming her view on life’s challenges.

Karen now actively focuses on the good that has come from her service. She credits her Army training for her civilian career successes. She holds onto memories like eating Subway with her son in the middle of a combat zone at Camp Liberty, Iraq — a small slice of normalcy in the chaos of war. Karen watches with pride as her daughter, now a grown woman, forges her own path in the Army, thriving in a world that once deeply cut into hers. She credits WWP programs for equipping her with the tools to fully support her daughter, who has become her greatest reason to keep going.

Karen's journey has turned her challenges into a story of resilience. She urges other women warriors to find their renewed purpose and seek resources to heal. Thanks to initiatives like the Women Warriors Initiative and the support of dedicated partners like Boeing, women warriors will continue to be empowered to inspire change and embrace their honored service.

Contact: — Vesta M. Anderson, Public Relations, vanderson@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.570.0771

About Wounded Warrior Project
Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.