On hand to care for the killed and wounded were 82 Army and 42 Navy nurses. An additional 114 nurses were provided by the Red Cross, and several military wives were of assistance as well – brave, resilient women who were only the beginning of our new societal role as women.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt declared war, and the course of our nation’s history was forever altered – men AND women, in partnership, would be responsible for America’s future.

During the course of World War II, more than 400,000 of our nation’s women donned the military uniform; and an additional 6.5 million held jobs in the war industry – women were no longer tied to domestic roles, and they were proud of it.

“We can do it,” was their slogan as they filled factories and farms in support of the war effort. And not only did they do it, they did it well.

Their impact was significant, and as stated by Leila J. Rupp in her studies on World War II, “For the first time, the working woman dominated the public image.”

With today’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, women make up more than 15 percent of our Armed Forces – and it is clear that had the women of the World War II era been allowed to, they would have been in the fight.

So as Maya Angelou so gracefully put it, “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!”

Equally important to note is that heroes and she-roes do not exist on the battlefield alone. As we honor Pearl Harbor, we celebrate women world-wide – the she-roes – who give to something greater than yourselves. We celebrate the power of women and the power of partnerships. We celebrate life.

In the celebration of life, it is vital to maintain perspective.

I served with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. We were deployed to Diyala province, Iraq, with the capital city of Baqouba .  Baqouba is located 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, and the province shares a several-hundred mile border with Iran. Needless to say, it was a terrorist safe haven.

During our 14-month deployment, 110 of my brothers-in-arms were killed, with countless others wounded – several of whom were close friends. As public affairs, my team and I were responsible for covering all memorial ceremonies – 110 funerals in 14-months is something I hope no one, other than a funeral director, has to experience in their life. So throughout my time in the Army, particularly Iraq, I learned the greatest lesson in life…

Perspective.

We are all aware – consciously or subconsciously – that today could be our last day. However, there was no greater experience than that of war, to bring this to the forefront of my thoughts. Life in Iraq became black and white, life and death – and the appreciation for life becomes indescribable. With that appreciation comes understanding and gratefulness – What is truly a bad day? What am I truly thankful for? Do those I love and care for truly know it? And what can I do to fulfill my purpose until that last day comes?

Perspective.

When women come together to support each other’s goals and dreams, and gather to help others, we not only enhance our lives, we empower others. Together, we have the power to change the world.

And the world is not limited to the overarching universe, because as you volunteer and serve, you are changing people’s worlds. You are she-roes – she-roes with perspective.

If the strength of a woman can change the world, imagine what the strength of women working in partnership can do.

Henry Ford said “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” Add the power of women working together to the combination of his statement, and you will work wonders. With the nurturing nature, wisdom, and heavenly fire which lies in the heart of all women, our journeys give us strength and the ability to succeed.

You, as a woman of service are fulfilling a purpose far greater than yourselves – it is admirable, beyond a doubt. During your time of service, I encourage you to focus on perspective – learn your passions and embrace them. Remember, as women, you have the power to change the world. Leave your mark on it one day at a time, always living as if it were your last.

By: Serena Hayden, Director of Strategic Initiatives, I SUPPORT VETS

Eric is currently a Security and Privacy Consultant within Deloitte’s Federal Practice headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Eric’s civilian experience ranges from Project Management in the e-commerce division of an internationally known brick and mortar retailer to the support of national intelligence as a government contractor to the Department of Defense.  Since leaving the Marine Corps, he has provided strategic guidance to private and public sector efforts focused on the challenges facing OEF/OIF veterans as they make their transition–from sharing his personal experience with post traumatic stress to adjusting to employment outside of the military.

Eric has a bachelor’s of arts in legal studies from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA and is beginning his master’s degree in Human Resources Management at Georgetown University. Eric lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife Susan and their daughter Violet.

Mr. Washmon’s practice includes entity formation and disposition; corporate governance matters; fiduciary duty issues; mergers, conversions and acquisitions; land use and development: property rights, easements and zoning law; utilities and environmental matters; real estate transactions; contract negotiation; condominium creations and conversions; property owner association matters; buy-sell agreements; construction contracts and mechanic liens; and litigation avoidance, analysis, evaluation, strategy and resolution.

Mr. Washmon enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Ashley and their two children – Baron and Monroe. Occasionally, he takes the opportunity to fish, run and watch college football.

In addition President Barack Obama launched an initiative Tuesday to hire 8,000 Veterans in community health centers over the next three years.

Veterans, because of their military values and desired skills, are vital to the success of the civilian workforce; however, today’s Veterans include a special population due to their roles in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

“Veterans are critical to public and private organizations,” said Serena Hayden, a disabled Veteran and Director of Strategic Initiatives for I SUPPORT VETS (ISV). “Their leadership skills, ability to make decisions, teamwork, and their endurance to triumph under adversity are only the beginning of the values Veterans bring to the workforce.

“But they also have a different culture due to their military service. In order for them to be most effective and efficient in the workplace, it is necessary that their unique values are understood,” she continued. “And it is important that the companies committed to hiring Veterans not only understand the culture, but are able to transition those values into long-term employment.”

Through ISV’s Corporate Training, organizations gain enhanced employee relations, increased diversity awareness, and improved productivity with reduced turnover.

The training focuses specifically on four areas to improve the recruiting and retention of Veterans in the workforce. The areas include a military cultures overview, de-coding a military resume, conducting successful interviews, and retention of Veterans in the workplace.

ISV uses a case-based approach to develop online and onsite education programs focused on military cultures and the values Veterans bring to communities nationwide. The modules are designed by Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, as well as the Persian Gulf Wars, Bosnia, and Kosovo.

“Countless Veterans have never experienced working in the public or private sectors because they chose to wear the uniform and serve our country,” Hayden said. “ISV is dedicated to educate these committed corporations because the need for successful re-entry of our Veterans to the civilian population should be priority.”

 Back to ISV News

Lisa’s military career includes 10 years of Active Army duty and 11 years of service with the Army Reserve, including 2-1/2 years of mobilization after the events of 9-11. During her Active Duty time she participated in 3 major engagements (Gulf War, Somalia, and Bosnia). Her Army Reserve career focused on operations and performance management, recruiting, placement, training, and skills development. She currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and serves as an instructor in a training battalion.

Lisa’s civilian career capitalized on her Human Resources and Training military experiences into an eight year career at Accenture, a Global Fortune 500 consulting firm. In 2007, Lisa founded The Value Of a Veteran and published an employer guide to recruiting the military. The enthusiastic response to the hiring guide led to workshops for corporate, government and higher education organizations, as well as webinars on critical military hiring topics.

Back to ISV Board of Directors

For over 20 years, Stephanie has been an expert Peer Specialist and an adviser to state and federal agencies in the development of cross functional collaborations for transitional services and addiction treatment assistance. She is an industrious advocate for all women and for the growth of community programs. The I SUPPORT VETS (ISV) nonprofit organization is Ms. Moles’ most recent community readiness initiative.

In 2002, Stephanie founded The Woman’s Heart^® a nationally designed nonprofit dedicated to providing women who suffer with addiction accessible, affordable, and innovative relapse prevention education and resources. Her program was presented to the federal agency SAMHSA and subsequently to assess barriers to services and implement programs that bridge the gaps in accessing behavioral health needs in rural and frontier settings in Alaska and Wyoming.

Ms. Moles founded one of the nation’s first nonprofit organizations designed to address the complex and unmet needs of women veterans, Grace After Fire. As a visionary problem solver, Stephanie blazed the trail necessary to meet the unique needs of these women. The agency’s multifaceted programs now provide peer support and resources to help a wide range of issues.

Additionally, Stephanie has mentored women of all ages through the transformative process from addiction to recovery for over 22 years. She has developed intervention and re-intervention support programs which increase access to services for women. She emphatically believes that peer support and collaborative business partnerships are viable and effective adjuncts to behavioral health therapies.

While her work primarily focuses on creating and implementing operational efficiency strategies and critical change management, Stephanie’s background and education include experience and expertise in the fields of marketing and communications, psychology, group dynamics, and public relations. Stephanie had extensive experience working in the corporate business world prior to her move to the  nonprofit sector.

Back to ISV Staff

Elaine received her BBA in Accounting from Tarleton State University in 1992. She is currently the owner of an Austin based public accounting firm performing audits and providing tax and accounting assistance for all types of non-public entities.  She has more than 18 years non-profit, and governmental auditing and tax experience and receives annual training required for renewal of her certification through professional development courses related to governmental and general auditing, single audits, not-for-profit entities, and other audit, tax and accounting subjects.

Elaine is a member in good standing with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA), and the Austin Chapter of TSCPA’s. In addition, Elaine’s firm recently received a “Pass” rating on her peer review issued November 12, 2010.

Back to ISV Staff

Mary Frances Bishop has been an accomplished sales and marketing executive for over 20 years, during which she successfully generated business and raised capital for a diverse group of media, financial, and social service organizations. She holds a Series 7 and a Series 63 Securities License. She has also been a successful entrepreneur and actively participated in many philanthropic endeavors, including a nationwide program to provide quality housing to returning veterans.

Mary Frances is ISV’s Director of Development and is dedicated to raising funds to support the organization’s full range of veteran’s programs. She is the mother of three grown, patriotic daughters who have assisted her in supporting veterans’ causes. Her father is a World War II vet who served in the Battle of the Bulge, and her husband Ed is a former U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot who is a veteran of over 150 combat missions in Vietnam flying from the USS Saratoga. He retired with the rank of Colonel, USMCR. Mary Frances has always been sympathetic to the needs of U.S. military veterans and is highly supportive of ISV’s efforts on their behalf.

Back to ISV Staff

Allison Morris was born and raised in Austin, Texas. She is a former student of St. Edwards University in Austin where she studied Political Science and Pre-Law. Allison has volunteered with numerous organizations and campaigns. Her most recent volunteer efforts include work with the Nobelity Project and fund raising for recovery efforts in Haiti. Starting early in her youth, Allison has had a passion to fight for equality, public awareness, and compassionate understanding around community issues. Working with ISV has given her a chance to enhance her platform and make a difference for returning Veterans across the nation. She is proud and humbled for the opportunity to support and celebrate the Heroes and She-roes that make this country so great.

Back to ISV Staff

 ”Over the next two months, our troops in Iraq – tens of thousands of them – will pack up their gear and board convoys for the journey home,” Obama said.

Are we ready, America?

“Based on the recent findings by the Pew Research Center, nearly three quarters of our population does not have an understanding of today’s veteran,” said Stephanie Moles, founder and Executive Director of I SUPPORT VETS (ISV). “Now, more than 40,000 men and women will be returning to their communities from combat earlier than expected; and it is necessary that we –the public – educate ourselves to ease their re-entry.”

ISV (www.isupportvets.org) uses a case-based approach to develop online and on-site education programs focused on military cultures and the values veterans bring to communities nationwide. The modules are designed by veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, as well as the Persian Gulf Wars, Bosnia, and Kosovo.

“The veterans of today’s wars have endured experiences no man or woman should have to endure in their lifetime,” said Serena Hayden, a disabled veterans working in support of I SUPPORT VETS. “While the general population will never fully understand our culture, experiences or struggles, they can and should take the time to gain a better understanding.”

The ISV Military Cultures Training provides a basic overview of the Armed Services, describes the military-affected population, addresses the combat experience and explains the common struggles of re-entry into the civilian population. The program enables the audience to understand “battlemind,” the service member’s inner strength to face fear and adversity with courage, so veterans are better received and cared for when they return home.

“As President Obama said, we are about to experience another ‘season of homecomings,’” Moles continued. “Let’s get ready, America!”

ISV NEWS