Woman Soldier Tells Her Story

Being a woman soldier deployed to another country can be difficult. Especially when that count...  More »

Being a woman soldier deployed to another country can be difficult. Especially when that country is in the Middle East. Jan Carter is part of the North Dakota National Guard's 34th Engineer Brigade that returned from Iraq this week. Carter and fellow troops completed more than 180 construction projects. While stationed in Iraq she was part of the group that built the first federal prison. North Dakota soldiers also developed safe drinking water, dependable electricity, and built schools and clinics for the Iraqi people. Carter says respect in Iraq doesn't come easy for a woman. She says Iraqis were surprised to see a female with weapons. (LTC. Jan Carter/NDNG 34th Engineer Brigade) At first they didn't want to respect me, but they knew because of my position that I meant Business and started to respect me and it's a cultural change for them. This isn't the first time Carter was deployed to the Middle East. She was also stationed there during Desert Storm on a medical mission.  « Less