ISIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Women have been serving in the United States military for decades and their contributions have been significant.
Sadly, a lot of them don’t know all the resources and benefits they are entitled to.
But there’s going to be a special retreat next month in Sioux Falls where they can learn all about them and it’s just for women.
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Women make up 20% of the U-S military in every branch.
Next month, there’ll be the 4th Annual Stand Up for Women Veterans Retreat.
” It’s really kind of focusing on bringing women veterans together,” said Jill Baker said, the executive director for the Community Action for Veterans organization.
She says the retreat will cover a variety of topics and challenges women veterans face after serving their country.
One of the highlights of the event is something called the VA 1 on 1 Veterans Assistance Expo.
It’s a one-stop shop to help guide women to VA benefits, disability claims, and other services.
“I know in South Dakota probably less than 5% of women veterans are actually using their veteran benefits, so there’s definitely a need to connect them in with what they’ve earned,” Baker said.
Jade Ronk is an Air Force veteran and a board member for CAV.
She’s attended the retreat in years past and currently works with all veterans, but she says after women leave the military they sometimes forget to focus on themselves.
“Yes, I think that’s very common with women, especially as a mother you focus on your kids when they are little and age and grow up and sometimes you focus on your career and before you know it life happens and then you’re like what do I do next,” Ronk said.
She says women can also open up about sensitive issues.
“I think a lot of the women I’ve worked with over the last decade really struggle with different things like; military sexual trauma or relationships, their health or even financial stability and when you look at those things it’s hard to talk to your partners about that or women who don’t understand your experiences, so coming together to start that conversation is super important,” Ronk said.
To learn more about the retreat, when it is and how to sign up, click here.
