We Never Had Choices Like That at the PX
Posted by espressodog on October 15, 2009
Coming ‘home’ to Chicagoland was a big shocker to say the least. Primarily, the colors and noises and choices were overwhelming to me. I felt like Alice dropping into the rabbit hole. My first trip to WalMart resulted in a tearful meltdown – we never had choices like that at the PX/BX/Navy Exchange.
– Racquel Orenick US Navy Veteran & Average Civilian Jane
BPW Foundation hears stories like this all time as military women face the challenge of successfully transitioning into civilian life and the workforce. Millions of America’s bravest and most exceptional women serve our country in the Armed Forces. Women comprise 15 percent of the active military, 8 percent of the total US veteran population, and 18 percent of the Iraq and Afghanistan veteran population.
That is over 1.8 million women veterans! As women veterans enter the civilian workforce, they say they desire the same things from the workplace as other working women and experience many of the same challenges. However, as this unique group of working women returns home to their civilian lives and families, their needs are not receiving adequate attention and support. Issues impacting all working women–including pay equity, career advancement, and access to benefits such as health care–are magnified by challenges such as injury, sexual trauma, homelessness and PTSD.
BPW Foundation’s research indicates that most women veterans:
- are married
- nearly half are primary earners
- do not self-identify as veterans
- more likely to be underemployed than male veterans
- 3.6 times more likely than women who are not veterans to become homeless
- struggle with networking and finding rewarding employment
- are unsure about how to apply for veteran benefits or what is available
- often lack understanding on how skills gained in the military can be applied to civilian jobs.
The millitary offers little transition time or assistance before separating and that is where YOU come in. BPW Foundation’s Dear Jane letter-writing campaign connects women veterans with woman getting ready to exit the military. By sharing experiences and giving practical advice, women veterans will serve as mentors to help female soldiers with their transition into civilian life.
Working with partners and existing networks, BPW Foundation will send the letters on Veteran’s Day to deployed women who are preparing to exit military service.
Andrea Hall said
Rachel Orenick has obviously not been to the same Navy/Air Force/Army/Marine Corps exchanges that I’ve been to in the last 24 years as the wife if a Navy fighter pilot, veteran of Destert Shield and Desert Storm. I empathize with her return and know from first hand experience how hard it is on a veteran to return to civilian life after life in the military….but come on now…a meltdown because there’s so much stuff in WalMart….try the NEX at Pensacola. Stories like this make civilians want to laugh…only the military veterans & their spouses realize that it’s really not because of all the “stuff” in WalMart. Surely there are better stories for the public to see.
Joyinhome said
@Andrea, I’m a civilian and I didn’t laugh- nobody at YWM laughed- AND we “realize that it’s really not because of all the stuff in Walmart.”
The point is: that is Rachel’s experience therefore it is valid; everyone’s experiences are different and deserve respect. Further, I believe that story was shared with the public for the very reason you seem to take issue. Rachel is a veteran which requires an enormous amount of mental and physical strength; however the simple trip that she detailed was overwhelming and was probably revealing for her, that there were some underlying issues that need to be addressed.
NotYourAverageCivilian said
First, her name is “Racquel”, not “Rachel”. Second, Racquel is not an average civilian Jane. Racquel graduated from Indiana University in 1991. Then on to Loyola University for law school. Racquel is licensed to practice law since 2001. Racquel must have enlisted in the Navy after Indiana University, because that is the last time we saw her. Then Racquel used the GI bill to become a corporate attorney. Racquel commented after shopping at Walmart in the early 90s,”we never had choices like that at the PX/BX/Navy Exchange.” I wonder what her reaction would be shopping at Macy’s…
FormerCo-worker said
Racquel Orenick is a fraud. She is not an “average civilian jane”. Racquel received her undergrad degree, then on to the Navy based on her knowledge of knowing Russian and German languages. After her stint in the Navy, she went to law school on the GI Bill. Now she works as a corporate attorney for healthcare organization tied to the CCHIT corrruption that is all over the news.
http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/critics-charge-himss-cchit-connection-too-cozy?page=0,2
GIVE ME A BREAK! Racquel does not represent the common person. She is a high-priced attorney in “Crook” County, IL. Racquel has lied to the government and state/Federal agencies. As a Veteran and attorney, she should know better than to lie to the government. She should not post on the website and lie about her experiences. She has MANY underlying issues that should be addressed, no question about that.
Racquel Orenick said
Andrea,
I’m glad you decided to publish your derision for my experience so that others could see exactly why the BPW Foundation is doing the work it’s doing to help women transition from the military to the civilian world. When our own military families can’t be sensitive to how overwhelming it is to transition, how are we supposed to thrive in the civilian world?
For the record, I did not have the luxury of the Pensacola Exchange when I was overseas or ON A SHIP. I also transitioned directly back to the US from several years overseas. Your comments seem thoughtless at best and ignorant at worst; I wonder if your Navy pilot husband would be embarassed for his shipmates to read what you wrote. I’m thinking he might.
Thank you YWM and BPW Foundation for your Dear Jane campaign and for publishing my comment, especially if it helps even just one other woman veteran.
Racquel Orenick
Sandra Willis said
Racquel,
I cannot believe you called Andrea “ignorant”! You are not an “average civilian Jane”. I read the link above, you are the one who should be EMBARRASSED. You are NOT a model Navy Veteran. As a lawyer, you should know better than to attack someone simply because they expressed their reaction to your comment. Maybe being a lawyer has made you hard…
Your reply comment, “When our own military families can’t be sensitive to how overwhelming it is to transition, how are we supposed to thrive in the civilian world?”, was much more informative than your Dear Jane comment. Had you written that to begin with, you would not have received such a negative response.
I had the same initial gut reaction when I read your Dear Jane letter, “So What? Surely there are better stories for the public to read than this one”.
Levi Mark said
Racquel,
Maybe being in the military has made you FAT and HARD. Seems like an oxymoron might apply, you know, fat and hard together? But then we all know you are as big as an ox and as dumb as a moron (oxymoron).