Vol. 2 Issue 9
WS Magazine
"I’ve learned not to take life for granted and not to sweat the small stuff. I wake up everyday with a grateful heart, always thanking God for choosing me to be a testimony for others. It’s my faith that has kept me going, along with my support. Cancer is a vile disease, it’s nasty and it doesn’t discriminate. I will be an advocate for the rest of my life. This disease will not beat me.".
October | 2018
Navy Veteran (AD) :
GEORGETT KERR
Breast Cancer Survivor
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24 Months | 12 Issues Published MANY more to go! Our Mission remains the same.... " Highlight, Celebrate, and Honor ALL Women Veterans"
It ALL started here....
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Inside Phenomenal WomenWhoServed
On the cover: Navy Veteran Active Duty & Cancer Survivor Interviewee
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Army Veteran Regina Dorsey
Once Dual Military now Single Military with 16.8 years of service. AGR SSG stationed at Fort Meade as a 92Y. Three children and one Granddaughter on the civilian side I am pursuing Modeling and have been featured in a few magazines.
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Army Veteran
Ariel Shivers-McGrew
An advocate for tactful disruption, impactful social enterprise, the independent but humble savage, and active learners- I am the Community Outreach and Support Manager at Bunker Labs, HQ, Director of Outreach at Veterans Leadership Council (VLC), and an active general member of the IL Veterans Advisory Council (IVAC). Previously served as Associate Director, Veterans Programs at Regional Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC)/Director, Women Vetrepreneurship Program (WVP) at the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) as a GrowthWheel trained business advisor, and a Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP) Lead Career Counselor all from humble beginnings as an LPC Intern with Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD). Author of Original Compositions by a Girl Named Nicky and Deeper Meanings by a Girl Named Nicky, Miss Black CA 2009 Top 10 Finalist, Miss Black Utah 2010 (Delegate at Large), an official Semi-Finalist for Miss Veteran America 2017 and Lead Contributor for the Global Military Woman Network. I hold a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) and national certification in nonprofit management and leadership (CNP) from the University of San Diego, and a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication with a philosophy minor from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Currently pursuing a Ph.D in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
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Women Gulf War Veterans : Book Anthology Vol. 1 Be Featured in the Inaugural Issue! Visit: www.WomenVeteransMagazine.org to register Today!
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Navy Veteran Jennifer Marshall Born and raised in Colorado, Jennifer joined the Navy at age 17. She served as a Logistics Specialist and deployed on the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) during Operation Iraqi Freedom. After nearly 5 years of service, she honorably separated as a Petty Officer 2nd Class. During her service, Jennifer earned a Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and her Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist designation, among other awards. Following the Navy, she attended Tidewater Community College where she was a member of Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society and graduated Magna Cum Laude. She then transferred to Virginia Wesleyan University where she majored in International Studies and Spanish, minoring in History. She is a proud member of Tri Sigma and Sigma Delta Pi. In 2018, Jennifer graduated with honors from American Military University with a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and is a member of the Criminal Justice honor society, Alpha Phi Sigma. Jennifer moved to Los Angeles in 2011 and began working in the entertainment industry. In 2015, she was appointed General Manager of Veterans in Media and Entertainment, a non-profit that connects veterans working in front of and behind the camera. She is also a proud member of the American Legion Post 43 in Hollywood. Jennifer volunteers with the award-winning non-profit Pin-Ups for Vets, an organization that supports both veterans and active-duty troops. Pin-Ups for Vets visits veterans in hospitals, nursing homes and wounded warrior detachments. Besides the volunteer work Jennifer has done with veterans, she has also been active in the animal rescue community, spent time in Uganda volunteering at an orphanage and day school and delivered meals for the SCV Senior Center. Jennifer currently lives in northern Los Angeles county with her husband and sons. She is dedicated to improving the lives of veterans by advocating on behalf of the veteran community—living her life with a deep respect for accountability, transparency and responsibility.
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Navy Veteran (AD):
GEORGETT KERR
Service Member | Breast Cancer Survivor I was born on January 28th, 1974, in Montego Bay Jamaica. I migrated to the US in 1990 along with my son, who was 3 months old at the time. I settled in New Jersey, where I went to high school and college. After I graduated college, I worked as a social worker and a kindergarten teacher. It was during this time in my life where I was searching for something challenging to do with my life, so within the space of 3 months I decided I was going to join to the Navy for that challenge and also to provide a better life for my son. I enlisted in the Navy November of 2002. I had no clue what to expect and I was apprehension as to whether or not I'd made the right decision leaving my son and enlisted at my age, but it was the best decision I made. My first duty station was in Bremerton WA, after that tour I went to a squadron located in Virginia Beach VA, then on to Norfolk VA, Great Lakes IL, and then back in Norfolk VA, and then to Yorktown VA which is where I'm currently stationed. Throughout my 15+ years in the Navy I've had ups and downs, but I wouldnt change a thing. On August 14, 2017 my whole life changed. I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. Its been a difficult year but I'm grateful to have come out a stronger and better person. I've always been a strong person, I've always been a fighter so this adversity was nothing different. With the support of my Navy family and my civilian family, I've been able to fight this battle knowing I'm not alone. I take nothing for granted, and I wake up everyday with a grateful heart.
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Q & A | Georgett Kerr WWS Magazine How long have you served? GK: I’ve been in the Navy since November of 2002, so almost 16 years. WWS Magazine: Why did you decide to join the Armed Forces? Do you have family members who serve or have served? GK: I decided to join the Navy because I wanted to do something better with my life and provide a future for my son. When I decided to join it was on impulse. I was living in New Jersey working as a kindergarten teacher, and even though I loved the job and what I was doing, I didn’t love the pay. I had a lot of issues going on and I saw the Navy as a way out, best decision I made. No one in my family has served I’m the only one. As a matter of fact I knew just one person that was serving, but I wasn’t familiar with the Navy prior to joining. WWS Magazine: When were you diagnosed with Breast Cancer? Does Breast Cancer run in your family? GK: I was diagnosed with breast cancer August 14, 2017. I’m the only female in my family on both sides to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Both of my grandmother passed from cancer, but it was throat cancer. They were smokers for a majority of their lives. WWS Magazine: Were there any symptoms? GK:I had no symptoms to indicate I had the disease. The only thing that happened that prompted me to get tested were little dark spots in the left side of my bra. I just thought I’d spill something on myself, but I noticed it a few more times and that’s when the alarm bells went off. I did a self examination of my left breast, found the lump and scheduled an appointment to have it checked out. Had my first mammogram and a biopsy was taken and it was determined that it was cancer. WWS Magazine: What are 2-3 major challenges you've faced or currently facing? GK: Challenges that I faced or I’m facing. My first challenge was accepting that I had this disease and life as I knew it, would never be the same. I had to lean on my faith and believed that I was going to beat this disease and not question God as to why me. The challenges I’m facing now, is just trying to be patient and not rush to get back to my old self. Breast cancer ravished my body. It took my breast, my hair and my health. I gained over 50lbs since being diagnosed and since chemo. I’m self conscious about my weight but I realize I’ve been through hell and back so I need to not be so hard on myself.
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Georgett Kerr - continued WomenWhoServed Magazine
Q & A | Georgett Kerr
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WWS Magazine: Has your branch of service and or Command been understanding during this journey? Are they providing needed support? GK: My command have been very supportive. I’m allowed the time I need to go to my appointments and assist in whatever I need to combat this disease. Like myself they want me to get better and know that being healthy is my number 1 priority. My Navy family has been very supportive of me, whether it’s a phone call or a text or a visit, or just giving me moral support when I’m feeling down. It’s a great feeling to not have to worry about how I’m going to pay for my surgeries or my medication, because they’re women out there not only battling breast cancer but also battling on whether to eat or buy medication. So I’m truly blessed. The thing that I’ve learned throughout the past year, is that I’m stronger than I gave myself credit for. I’ve learned not to take life for granted and not to sweat the small stuff. I wake up everyday with a grateful heart, always thanking God for choosing me to be a testimony for others. It’s my faith that has kept me going, along with my support. Cancer is a vile disease, it’s nasty and it doesn’t discriminate. I will be an advocate for the rest of my life. This disease will not beat me.
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Army Veteran AYANNA BANKS A woman of faith, U.S. Army disabled Veteran, survivor of domestic abuse, mother, caregiver, Serial Entrepreneur, Ayanna’s message is healing, inspiring and redemptive. Ayanna currently lives in beautiful San Antonio, Texas. When she’s not writing, coaching or speaking, you can find her in the kitchen cooking up a new recipe, dancing to oldies but goodies music with her daughter and dog or snuggled up in her favorite chair with a good book and a cup of hot chamomile tea. Her motto is: Your past does not Define your future….it Refines it!
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Army Veteran Laura Kandewen Award Winning. Best Selling Author. Veteran. Entrepreneur. This is Laura Kandewen, she was born in Kingston, Jamaica and migrated to the United States with her family in 1988. Against her parents’ wishes, she joined the Army right out of high school, and began her military career at Ft Jackson, SC. After serving for seven years on Active Duty, Laura received the call that she would be deploying to Iraq along with members of her unit. Surrounded by sand and loneliness, her profound love of words surfaced, inspiring her to become an author in the midst of the unmerciful desert storms. Her love for words grew, which prompted her to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Writing from Drury University. In the midst of a war, Laura was carving out her writing style, studying her craft, and staying alert for the known adversaries. Laura Kandewen began to shape a writing career of her own. Having written multiple short stories and read her fair share on the art of writing, she wrote her first book of poetry, A Soldier’s Heart. With limited resources in Iraq, Laura managed to write and self-published her first poetry book under her publishing company, Lyrical Soldier Publishing. The desert land and the possibility of death gave Laura insight into emotions and character development, “Living day by day with your weapon by your side, and driving in an open desert field highlighted just how fragile life really was,” Laura explains. Laura went on to become the recipient of the Editors’ Choice Award from the International Library of Poetry for 2003 and 2004 for outstanding achievement in poetry. Laura's latest release, "'Til Death Do Us Part: The dramatic story of love and death", quickly rose to Amazon International Best Seller status. Having just retired from the Army, Laura is continuing her literary career and launching the "Soldier Girl T-Shirt" line. Laura's vision for Soldier Girl TShirt is to inspire everyone to live their best lives. In the end, we are all Soldiers on the battlefield in search of our true destiny.
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VWISE20 Graduate Air Force Veteran: Crystal Fairley
VWise20 was a great experience for me. I learned tools to help grow my business. I was inspired to achieve more after hearing stories from other successful entrepreneurs. I grew my Network with other business owners and Influential people. I was also able to participate in the Business Showcase. I served 4 years in the Air Force as a Aircrew Life Support Journeyman. Some of the highlights from my military experience: I was stationed in Grand Forks, North Dakota I had the opportunity to work with the B1B and KC-135 tanker. I also completed land, artic and water survival trainings. One of the greatest things I think I have learned from the Air Force, which I still incorporate in my life today is the motto, "leave it better than you found."
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