Love my rifle more than you: Young and Female in the US Army

Love My Rifle More Than You: Young and Female in the US Army
Kayla WilliamsWeidenfeld and Nicholson
290 pages, $45

WORKING in a male-dominated environment can be an unusual experience. But you know it won’t be easy when you sign on the dotted line. As equitable an environment as Defence is, crazy stuff can still go on, and probably goes on in Defence departments around the world.

William’s book deals with all the situations you’d expect a female in her 20s to go through, including dealing with horny young guys and power-hungry SNCOs who would be nobodies in the civvy world.

Her book covers recruit training, language and intelligence training and her 12-month deployment to Iraq. She writes of the boredom and rewards of the operation, long hours on picket and duty, and the difficulties of dealing with locals and other US soldiers. The book is very easy to read and gives a bit of insight into a Middle East deployment.

– Lt Simone Heyer
Volume 11, No. 38, March 8, 2006

.