About Doris Sumner

I joined the Army at 18, completely unaware of the trailblazers who had fought for my opportunities. I knew little about the suffragettes who spent a century securing my right to vote or the women's movement that made it possible for me to serve—let alone as a truck driver in a male-dominated field. But I integrated successfully, embracing the culture and camaraderie of active duty. In my 20s, I reveled in the party-heavy, boys' club atmosphere, my alcoholism fueling a constant search for something better. That search eventually led me back home to Vermont.

Transitioning into the Vermont Army National Guard, I was nudged into an administrative role—an act of subtle sexism I didn't yet recognize. A decade later, I was appointed as the Equal Opportunity Officer for the Vermont National Guard. That’s when my perspective shifted. I began to see the systemic gender disparities, the quiet but persistent biases, and the outright sexism embedded in the institution.

When I retired in 2019 as a Chief Warrant Officer Four, I had earned awards and accolades for my efforts to combat the very culture that was harming service members. My team and I concluded that sex-based bias and gender discrimination were key barriers to success, leading to disrespect, dismissal, and even sexual assault. I realized I had to write a book about my journey—not just my own struggles and successes, but the broader battle to create change in a system resistant to it.

As an Equal Opportunity Officer, I could process complaints and help individuals heal, but I knew that wasn’t enough. I wanted to prevent harm before it happened. My memoir tells the story of what it was like to fight for change in an institution that refused to change itself.