Women in the Armed Forces: A Century of Service

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LESLIE NICOLE SMITH Leslie Nicole Smith, a medically retired Army Captain, graduated from Marymount University with a degree in Communications and received her commission from the Army ROTC program at Georgetown University. Leslie was assigned to the Nuclear Biological Chemical Corps and later attended the Army Defense Information School to serve as a Public Affairs Officer. Leslie held a variety of positions including NBC Instructor and Media Liaison with the Military District of Washington during the sergeant major of the Army court-martial at Fort Belvoir. Leslie was featured on the official U.S. Army Uniform Poster and deployed to El Salvador for Task Force New Hope to support Hurricane Mitch recovery efforts. Leslie deployed to Bosnia in 2001 with the 29th Infantry Division during Operation Joint Forge. She developed a blood clot and returned two weeks before the end of her deployment. Leslie was admitted to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for complications from exposure to a chemical agent or toxin. Leslie lost her left leg below the knee and vision leaving her legally blind.

Leslie forged ahead and passionately advocates for veterans and wounded, ill, and injured warriors.

She served as a Secretarial Appointee on the VA’s Advisory Committee on Women Veterans. Leslie participates with the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program and testifies for the Vision Loss and Prosthetics programs. She is a member of the Council of Advisors for the U.S. Army Heritage Center Foundation and serves as an Ambassador for the Gary Sinise Foundation and the Travis Manion Foundation. She is a member of the Wounded Warrior Project National Campaign Team. Leslie is a spokesperson for many organizations including Canines for Veterans, USO, Fisher House Foundation, and the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. She is the national spokesperson and co-founder of Fatigues to Fabulous, a nonprofit that assists female veterans. In 2007, Leslie served on the Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors established by President George W. Bush. Issac is her loyal and dedicated service dog. Issac enables Leslie to live life with confidence, independence, and a ‘Paw-sitive’ Attitude of Gratitude!

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Women in the Armed Forces: A Century of Service

Published on Mar 20, 2018

Faircount Media Group

Women in the Armed Forces: A Century of Service publication captures the history of 100 years of women in the military, both formally and informally, dating back to the American Revolution. Through recounts of people and events, Women in the Armed Forces includes articles about each of the U.S. military branches and highlights how women strived to serve and their willingness to do so. From their days of primarily working in administrative support and nursing duties, women have expanded their roles to commanding troops on the ground, in the air, and on the seas and from the highest offices to serving in military service occupations that were once off limits to females. For 100 years, women have met the call of duty, exceeded expectations, and will continue to serve their country for the next hundred years.