WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A FEMALE VETERAN
Written by: Cristie Campo
Cristie Campo
When people ask me; what does it mean to be a female veteran? I honestly don’t know how to answer that question because it implies that I am special or that there is something amiss with being a female veteran. I am the same as any other man who has served and yet when I think about it, I realize that I am different. “I am special! “ I served during a time when fewer women were serving in the military. A lot has changed after 9/11.
I am a Persian Gulf War Veteran. The first “war” after the Vietnam war. That is significant enough to make our generation “special” although we are special in the fact that everyone forgets about us. 9/11 takes precedence in benefits, resources, special programs, etc... We are the forgotten war just like the Korean War veterans. Funny isn’t it? We get lost in the system, nothing is available to us and yet we are just as deserving as anyone else.
Growing up in El Paso, my desire was to see the world, do something in return for all the opportunities given to us as the first generation of legal Mexican immigrants in this country. I also wanted a better life and the opportunity to do something bigger and better for me and my future generations to come. I knew that college after High School was probably not an option. My mother was a single mother and could not afford to pay for college. I also knew that I could not afford college on my own even with student loans, minimum wage was not enough to help me pay for the extra expenses not covered by student loans. I was being pressured to graduate from school and find a full-time job to help support our family. I didn’t mind working and helping, I just wanted a different life than what El Paso had to offer at that time.
I had taken JROTC as an alternative to PE in High School and I loved the structure and what the military had to offer. It became a viable opportunity in my junior year when I actually had to start making decisions about my future. After some serious consideration, I settled on enlisting in the Navy. The uniform sold me on it. I spoke to a recruiter, who had me take the ASVAB, and soon thereafter I was enlisted in the Navy. My journey began with basic training in Jacksonville FL, Hospital Corps school (medic school) in Great Lakes IL, and my first duty station at Pax River MD. About a year or so later there were some issues at home that prompted me to ask for a transfer to the west coast. The recruiter asked me if I was willing to go to school at Camp Pendleton Ca. I said “yes” I actually had no idea what I said yes to but I needed to be as close as I possibly could to my family. I would soon find out that I was going to be an FMF Corpsman whatever that meant…
Cristie with friends Ron & Willie @ FMF School
The Marines were accepting female FMF Corpsmen into their program, something that was new and they needed to fill the female billets. The recruiter had looked at my records and thought I was a good candidate for the school. In a class of about 30 people, I was one of 3 women who went thru the program. We pulled our weight, we physically passed every single test the men took. I had no idea they were trying the program out. I thought women had come before me and never gave it a second thought. I did what I had to do. I was physically and mentally ready to do whatever it took to pass. We had a few guys who did not make it thru the program. I was not going to wash out of school and I was determined to finish. After graduation, I was attached to MAG 39 ( Marine Air Wing 39). I had a blast. My motto was that if the Marines let me do something, then I was going to do it because I was not going to pass that way again and it was an opportunity to do things I would never do on the Navy side. I most definitely took advantage of everything the Marines let me do.
Unfortunately, the war was imminent, we began processing people for deployment. A female FMF Corpsman was requested for MWSS 373 (Marine Wing Support Squadron 373) in Bahrain and I was deployed to the Persian Gulf for 6 long months… “homey don’t camp anymore” unless there is a hotel with a bed and air conditioning, just sayin’…I played in the sand, ate sand, had sand in my clothes, hair, boots, etc…
We didn’t complain because it’s part of the living environment we found ourselves in. That has forever cured me of ever wanting to camp again, period. I don’t recommend going to war. I have some really cool fun memories and some really bad ones I would rather forget. In spite of it all, I have no regrets...
Cristie, standing next to a missile in Bahrain.
After my honorable discharge, I used the GI bill and focused on attaining my bachelor degree in Graphic Design and my Master’s degree in Fine Art. The Marines taught me how to be a “man” (resilient would be the word, but “man” sounds so much better…) I learned to commit and accomplish the goal. This skill has continued to be a part of my life all these years. I am a proud business owner and a single mother of 3 girls.
I continue to be of service in the veteran community as a volunteer in several veteran organizations but I am most proud to be the Founder/ CEO of the DFW Veterans Chamber in the Dallas/ Ft Worth area.
In short, what does it mean to me, to be a female veteran? It means I did things no one else had done before; I was part of opening doors for those who would come after me. That is what it means…It means I am a rebel, a trailblazer, a United States Devil Doc who forged ahead with sweat, tears, and pain. I did what I did out of love of country and duty to my fellow brothers and sisters. That is what it means to be a female veteran to me. I am part of history…I am a Proud Female Veteran, forever a Devil Doc. Semper Fi!