By: Nicole Callender, NFBPWC Military-Affiliated Women Chair 2024-2026, militarywomen@nfbpwc.org

This month we highlight veteran Amber Viola. While in the military she advanced  to  the  rank of Gunner’s Mate Second Class and was a Naval Military Training Instructor. During her service she also worked as a Department of Defense Sexual Assault Victim Advocate. While being a Victim Advocate, Amber realized that she wanted to spend her life serving people and her community. Once Amber left the Navy, she enrolled in Marywood University and completed both her degrees in social work. Amber recently published her first book, 72 Hours of Hell: My Time in the VA. She is currently the producer and host of Politics but make it Fashion podcast.

Veteran’s Day is November 11th. It is celebrated in honor of the armistice went into effect on the 11thhour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 to end “the war to end all wars”. At that time, it was called The Great War, now we call it World War 1. At the current day, we celebrate Veteran’s Day to honor the living veterans for their service and sacrifice.

November is also National Military Family Appreciation Month.

By: Nicole Callender Sedon
NFBPWC Military Affiliated Women Committee Chair 

My name is Nicole Callender Sedon and a member of the NFBPW Pennsylvania Affiliate.  I have accepted the opportunity to chair the Military-Affiliated Women Committee. In  2021 I retired from the Army National Guard, after two decades of service as a non commissioned officer in the Ordnance Corps., I am proud to be one of the 300,000 women  who are combat veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan during Operation Iraqi Freedom and  Operation Enduring Freedom. 

I am currently a Human Resources Specialist for the Department for the Army Civilian  Workforce, working remotely from my home in Northeast Pennsylvania. I share that home with my husband,  two children and four dogs. 

Women have over 200 years of history of military service, even if it wasn’t always recognized as such. I look  forward to using this platform to recognize women who have enlisted or commissioned into the services and the family and friends who have supported them. 

By: Alice Gallop West
NFBPWC Military Affiliated Women Committee Chair

MilitaryWomen@NFBPWC.org 

Military Affiliated Women – on the move….  

I had an awesome time attending the Camouflaged Sisters Military Women’s Writing Program hosted at Team Red White and Blue – TRWB at their Fire Base in Atlanta, on Saturday November 4^th.  Lila Holley the CEO and Visionary of Camouflaged Sisters presented BPW member Yvette Thomas the gift she won during our October webinar meeting. 

It was a great event and everyone in attendance enjoyed the food, fun and fellowship. As your MAW Chair, I enjoy getting out and about, connecting with our Veteran community and meeting all of you. 

Our next MAW webinar will be held on Thursday, December 28^th beginning at 8pm EST.  “Making the Most out of Your VA Education Benefit” The new year is fast approaching…. Have you considered returning to school? Or a Are you a Veteran or a family member of a Veteran who would like to return to school? Do you know about the resources and benefits of using your Post- 9/11 GI Bill or Chapter 33? What about Chapter 35 benefits? This will be a great opportunity to gain information on these programs and others.  See you in the zoom room on the 28^th of December.

Register here: https://www.nfbpwc.org/event-5512646

By: Alice Gallop West
NFBPWC Military Affiliated Women Committee Chair MilitaryWomen@NFBPWC.org

Reminder: Military Affiliated Women (MAW) Committee is open to all members of NFBPWC. We are a committee of individuals that are connected to military women. Are you a spouse of a military woman, a parent, a sibling, a cousin or just a friend…… we have a space for you!

By: Alice Gallop West
NFBPWC Military Affiliated Women Committee Chair

MilitaryWomen@NFBPWC.org 

Wow! It seems as though summer quickly passed us by and we are straight into fall. The session of MAW was powerful!! In August we hosted a great webinar entitled, “Veteran’ s Home Loan Benefits,” with guest presenter Mike Alberico of AMG, Alberico Mortgage Group powered by UMortgage. Mike lives in Raleigh, NC and provides mortgage products for both North Carolina and South Carolina. He has been working in the mortgage industry for many years, so he brings a great wealth of knowledge and information to purchasing property. One of Mike’s specialties is the VA Home Loan product, where he does a great job of educating borrowers and agents on the best way to maximize your benefits. This power packed webinar provided great information to Veterans and their family members. If you missed this webinar. I’ll be glad to send you a replay video, just send me an email to: militarywomen@nfbpwc.org and request the replay and I will be glad to forward the credentials to you. 

NEXT UP!! This is October in keeping with celebrating and honoring, National Women’s Small Business Month – our webinar topic is……. (drum roll please) ……. “The Veteran Entrepreneur.” Our webinar special guest and presenter will be ((drum roll and snare drum)) Chief Warrant Officer 4, Lilla Holley, US Army (Ret.). Lilla Holley is the visionary and brand author behind Camouflaged Sisters. Lila’s has “skin in the game.” She has been in business for over a decade managing and overseeing 2 small business products. You can read more about Lila and her amazing work by visiting the Texas Women Veterans web page: 

https://www.tvc.texas.gov/women-veterans/lilaholley/  

and 

https://camouflagedsisters.org/  

I am so honored that Lila has accepted my invitation to speak on the entrepreneur process and the uniqueness of Women + Veterans + Entrepreneurship. You do not want to miss this webinar. Reminder, Thursday, October 26th beginning at 8 pm EST in the zoom room. Registration is required and can be found on the Military Affiliated Women’s webpage. 

As always, you do not need to be a member of NFBPWC to attend this webinar. See you in the zoom room and enjoy this beautiful fall weather!! 

Reminder: Military Affiliated Women (MAW) Committee is open to all members of NFBPWC. We are a committee of individuals that are connected to military women.  Are you a spouse of a military woman, a parent, a sibling, a cousin or just a friend…… we have a space for you!

Military Affiliated Women Committee Report
By: Alice Gallop West, NFBPWC Military Affiliated Women Committee Chair

Reminder: Military Affiliated Women (MAW) Committee is open to all members of NFBPWC. We are a committee of individuals that are connected to military women.  Are you a spouse of a military woman, a parent, a sibling, a cousin or just a friend…… we have a space for you! 

Our Committee will meet every even month this year, contact the Committee Chair to find out how you can support this emerging NFBPWC program. Send your email to: MilitaryWomen@NFBPWC.org