This qualitative study explored the experiences of older U.S. women Veterans regarding their experiences and perceptions of their time in military service and its overall impact on their lives. Five women Veterans participated in interviews that were analyzed and resulted in four main themes: 1) family military history, 2) being treated differently and proving themselves, 3) making the most of opportunities, and 4) lasting personal strengths. Findings from this study highlight how, despite enduring negative experiences during military service because of gender, participants credited the military with having an overall positive impact on their lives in the long term. This study suggests that health care interventions and services that tap into positive aspects of military service, as identified by older women Veterans (i.e., personal strengths such as resilience and pride), may have the potential to promote the health and well-being of this population. Introduction: Women Veterans represent a growing and unique minority group among the older (aged >= 65 y) U.S. Veteran population. Research indicates that the impact of serving in the military on Veterans' health and well-being varies by gender. Limited research exists specific to women Veterans' experiences of their time in the military and its long-term impact on their health and well-being. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of older U.S. women Veterans regarding their experiences and perceptions of their time in military service and its overall impact on their lives. Methods: Data were gathered from five older women Veterans using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a thematic coding process. Results: Four main themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: 1) family military history, 2) being treated differently and proving themselves, 3) making the most of opportunities, and 4) lasting personal strengths. Discussion: Findings from this study show that despite enduring negative experiences during military service because of their gender, participants credited the military with having an overall positive impact on their lives in the long term. This study suggests that health care professionals would benefit from gaining an understanding of the historical narrative of women Veterans. Interventions and services that tap into positive aspects of military service, as identified by older women Veterans (i.e., personal strengths such as resilience and pride), may help promote the health and well-being of this population. Introduction : Les femmes representent un groupe minoritaire unique et en croissance au sein de la population des veteran(e)s etatsunien(ne)s age(e)s (age 3 65 ans). Les recherches indiquent que l'impact du service militaire sur la sante et le bienetre des veteran(e)s varie selon le sexe. Il existe peu de recherches sur les experiences particulieres vecues par les femmes au cours de leur service militaire et leur impact a long terme sur leur sante et leur bienetre. Cette etude qualitative s'interesse par consequent aux experiences et aux perceptions des veteranes etatsuniennes plus agees relativement a leur service militaire et a son impact global sur leur vie. Methode : Les donnees ont ete recueillies aupres de cinq veteranes agees au moyen d'entrevues semi-structurees, puis analysees a l'aide d'un processus de codage thematique. Resultats : Quatre themes principaux emergent de l'analyse qualitative : 1) le recit familial de la vie militaire, 2) la difference de traitement et la necessite de faire ses preuves, 3) tirer le meilleur parti des opportunites, 4) les forces personnelles durables. Interpretation : Les resultats de cette etude montrent que, malgre les experiences negatives qu'elles ont vecues pendant leur service militaire en raison de leur sexe, les participantes attribuent a leur service militaire un impact globalement positif sur leur vie, a long terme. Cette etude suggere que les professionnel center dot les de la sante gagneraient a mieux comprendre le recit de vie des femmes veteranes. Des interventions et des services tirant parti des aspects positifs du service militaire tels que determines par les veteranes agees (a savoir des forces personnelles telles que la resilience et la fierte) pourraient contribuer a la sante et au bienetre de cette population.
