Dana Singletary

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Segment Synopsis: Singletary was born at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana because her father was stationed there. When she was young, her father was transferred to Italy where they lived for four years. After Italy, the family moved to Vance Airfield in Oklahoma, and then back to Barksdale. Her father was strict and pushed her to do well in school, as well as get a scholarship from playing softball in high school.

Keywords: Barksdale Air Force Base; Italy; Vance Air Force Base

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Segment Synopsis: Singletary received a scholarship to Louisiana State University in Shreveport. During her first semester, she was unable to keep her grades high enough to maintain her scholarship, at which time she decided to join the military. She went to basic training in March of 2001.

Keywords: basic training; college

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Segment Synopsis: Singletary went to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, for basic training. She recalls the experience being a culture shock. Previously, her recruiter had told her that there was no availability in tech school for med school, but that Singletary should join as general and that she would be given the job that she wanted. She was assigned to medical administration.

Keywords: Lackland Air Force Base; San Antonio Tx; Warrior Week

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Segment Synopsis: Singletary was sent to Wichita Falls, Texas, for Technical School. The newcomers had to go through different phases upon entering tech school. Each phase would be less strict than the previous. Singletary talks about the atmosphere of tech school, from the pranks played on newbies to the sexism that was a part of the everyday culture.

Keywords: phases; Wichita Falls, Tx

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Segment Synopsis: During Tech School, everyone has to fill out a "dream sheet" of places they would like to be stationed. At the bottom of her list was Barksdale Air Force Base because it was close to her family; however, that is where she was sent. She was familiar with the base because her parents had access to it. She feels like it was not a good thing that she ended up at Barksdale.

Keywords: Barksdale Air Force Base; dream sheet

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Segment Synopsis: In response to 9/11, Singletary and her unit were deployed on September 30th, 2001. She went to Kessler Air Force Base in Mississippi, where she was stuck for two weeks. Then it was on to Germany and finally to Shakisa Air Base in Bahrain, where she lived in tent city, sharing a tent with fifteen other women. Singletary discusses what it was like to live at Shakisa- the promiscuity, cats everywhere, prayers at six every morning, and the competition between the different military branches.

Keywords: Bahrain; Medical decontamination; Shaikh Isa Air Base

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Segment Synopsis: Singletary discusses the problems she faced in the military. She joined the Air Force to be able to pay for college, yet six months after joining her paperwork still hadn't been completed. In another instance, she and a male coworker were both up for a promotion. While she had more accolades, he was awarded the promotion.

Keywords: college; sexism

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Segment Synopsis: A Master Sergeant invited Singletary to his apartment under the pretext of discusses massage therapy. Once she was there he molested her. His punishment was to be sent to Korea, which was the last thing he needed in order to raise in rank. Singletary talks about this being the moment she realized that no one was looking out for her and that the military wasn't there to help her.

Keywords: master segerant; molestation

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Segment Synopsis: After experiencing trauma, Singletary began to hangout with civilians and eventually tried pot. When an ex- boyfriend of hers turned her in, she was given the option to get a cut in rank or get a general under honorable discharge. She chose to leave the military.

Keywords: marijuana; trauma; under honorable discharge

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Segment Synopsis: After taking the general under honorable discharge, the military immediately cut ties. Due to the type of discharge, Singletary was not eligible for any kind of assistance such as tuition forgiveness or the GI bill. She went from having a disposable income to trying to live off of a part-time job. She mentions feeling like she didn't have a purpose anymore.

Keywords: GI bill; tuition assistance

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Segment Synopsis: Singletary urges those considering joining the military to ask questions. Do not go in blind. Talk to as many people who have experience dealing with the military as possible.

Keywords: