Thank you for your Service

Research by a number of authorities such as Combat Stress, the WRAC Association and Robert Gordon University has highlighted how female veterans face challenges specific to being a woman during military service in a male-dominated environment, not least, Military Sexual Trauma (MST) which is considered to be the leading cause of PTSD among female veterans. The recent news articles about the inquest into the suicide of a young female soldier shows that MST remains prevalent today and that servicewomen are still being disproportionately affected by it. It can cause anxiety, depression, eating disorders, chronic pain, suicidal ideation and it impacts on parent/child bonding. For some women traumatic experiences during service were minimised and invalidated and they were reluctant to speak out due to potential consequences on their careers, not being believed or taken seriously, or the chain of command not acting appropriately.

Female veterans of working age are more likely to have mental health issues than male veterans, and they tend to have lower incomes due to part-time working and childcare issues. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis is an added stressor as it exacerbates issues with low and fixed incomes and childcare costs.

Female veterans of working age are more likely to have mental health issues than male veterans, and they tend to have lower incomes due to part-time working and childcare issues. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis is an added stressor as it exacerbates issues with low and fixed incomes and childcare costs. Ex-servicewomen are also less likely to identify as veterans and seek help as their male counterparts and can struggle with having to adopt a new identity when leaving the Armed Forces. Additionally, many female veterans feel that the public does not fully understand or recognise their service which can have a lasting negative impact, particularly on those with health conditions, injuries and disabilities relating to combat or service.

Add to this the fact that ex-servicewomen are often inhibited from seeking help from the veterans’ sector because of sexism, fear of risk of further harm or trauma and concerns that they will not fit in, feel comfortable, listened to, understood or taken seriously in environments that retain a male-dominated military culture where unacceptable behaviour can still be dismissed as ‘banter’ or ‘just the way it is’. Existing services can be unappealing to ex-servicewomen as they are often staffed and attended by men, with little to no safeguarding arrangements or childcare provisions. Some female veterans understandably do not have faith that their distinct and compelling needs will be met within existing veterans’ services and, unsurprisingly, opt instead to seek help outwith the veterans’ sector or do not seek help at all which further impacts on their mental and physical health and relationships.

The factors outlined above highlight some of the compelling and enduring issues for female veterans that have often gone unnoticed, been sidelined, ignored or not fully understood, but that have and continue to severely impact the mental and physical health of female veterans and their relationships.

LVC has been breaking down barriers to ensure female veterans get appropriate support by putting on events and activities that are appealing and accessible to them. Our events and activities are designed to make ex-servicewomen feel welcome and confident that their distinct needs will be met empathetically in a safe environment. One such event was a trip to Liverpool in the week leading up to International Women’s Day on Saturday 8th March.

The 4-day trip was organised primarily so that a tri-service group of ex-servicewomen could meet other female veterans from the ‘Stand By Her’ project at Everton in the Community and share experiences. The women from the Stand By Her Project went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and we had a tour of Everton FC’s stadium at Goodison Park before having some tea and biscuits at The Captain’s Table. Following that, we had the opportunity to see firsthand some of the impressive projects that Everton in the Community organise for local people and to meet some of the beneficiaries.

As part of the trip, we had an organised tour of the Western Approaches Museum where we learned about how the WRNS, ATS and WAAF of WATU helped win the Battle of the Atlantic during WWII. We also visited the Wrens Museum inside. It was a real honour to hear about the outstanding efforts of our predecessors and celebrate their selfless contribution to the war effort.

Of course, a trip to Liverpool would not have been complete without an obligatory voyage on a ferry across the Mersey and a visit to the Cavern Club to see a Beatles tribute band. In recognition of our service, we were treated to free cocktails and free entry into the Cavern Club as well as discounted tickets for the ferry and The British Music Experience. In fact, we were quite the celebrities in our hot pink hoodies and were recognised, celebrated and thanked for our service many times. This was quite an achievement for our group of ex-servicewomen, who are often overlooked in favour or their male counterparts, as it provided a real opportunity for the group to make a positive impact on the societal representation of a veteran. We come in different guises and don’t all wear blazers and ties!

The group relished the opportunity to bond, share stories of their service and take pride in being part of a privileged community during the trip. Life has been challenging for everyone in the group and this time away from everyday stressors and strains gave them a chance to share their worries and stresses. One female veteran commented, “I had not realised how much I would get from the trip, and indeed all the ladies who attended said the same thing. We all have issues or struggles but worries are reduced just by talking about them, and coming together as a group in our bright pink hoodies was uplifting. So many people stopping and asking what and who we were, and we were able to explain to them with a sense of pride that we were Veterans, Female Veterans. I was a Warrant Officer in the Army and served for 22 years but this is often forgotten, I reflect some days and wonder, was that really me? However, the trip was about reminiscing, swapping tales, from the uniforms we wore, the boundaries we tried to push and the fight at times we had to be accepted and treated as equals. Throughout the trip the sun shone, there was talking, confiding, understanding, listening, some singing and much laughter. This trip was about making memories and making friends. Both of these boxes have been well and truly ticked!”