Supporting and Empowering Military Women and Veterans with Lila Holley, Founder of Camouflaged Sisters

Airmen Helping Airmen

Key takeaways

• Serving in various military tactical units, Lila was often the only black female in the room, which came with some challenges. But she relied on strong leadership and individuals, learned from them constantly, and rose up the ranks.
  
• If you find yourself in a situation where you are the only minority in the room, be aware of what you bring to the table, walk in with confidence, and help the unit or team get better.
  
• There is always room for growth, so be open to constantly learning from the people around you. Find a mentor to guide you and lean into your potential.
  
• Transitioning from military to civilian life could be challenging and unbearable for some people, which is why Lila advises them to reach mental health services.
  
• Though there is still a stigma around mental health for the military, you should overcome it and take that step forward to get help and support.
  
• The Camouflaged Sisters movement was started by Lila sharing stories of women veterans in her books. So the platform is based on the power of storytelling, how it empowers military women to take back the narrative of their stories and encourage other people who still serve or plan to.