Join American Women Veterans as we host Kayla Williams, former US Army Sergeant and author of "Love My Rifle More Than You: Young and Female in the US Army" on July 6th from 6 - 8 pm at Liberty Tavern, 3195 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201, conveniently located across from the Clarendon Metro stop on the Orange Line.  Parking is available on the street or at one of the public parking garages in Clarendon as well.
 
Kayla Williams is a former sergeant and Arabic linguist in a Military Intelligence company of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) who served in the Army from 2000-2005. During her deployment to Iraq, Williams was at the forefront of troops' interaction with Iraqis while also navigating the challenges of being part of the 15% of the Army that is female. Kayla is the author of Love My Rifle More Than You: Young and Female in the U.S. Army, a memoir about her experiences negotiating the changing demands on today's military. Ms. Williams graduated cum laude with a BA in English Literature from Bowling Green State University, and earned her Masters in International Affairs with a focus on the Middle East from American University. Kayla is a Truman National Security Project Fellow and a member of the VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans. She currently lives near Washington, D.C. with her husband, a combat-wounded disabled veteran.

Kayla's very personal account of her experiences in the US Army, as one of few females to participate in the initial invasion in Iraq, is both raw and unapologetic. From her early experiences in uniform to the end of her deployment, Williams allows the reader to observe her growth and understanding, leaving us with an uncommon (in memoirs) impression of the development of her character and maturity throughout the book. For those of us who've experienced similar growth, her story is one that is both poignant and familiar.

For more information, visit http://awvbooksigning.eventbrite.com