For Danielle DiPrima, a Marine Corps veteran and current Hope For The Warriors social worker, joining the military wasn’t about a lifelong dream of service; it was about creating opportunity.
Danielle’s journey began right out of high school. At just 17, she entered the Delayed Entry Program. Raised in a hardworking family where her parents juggled jobs to support her sister’s college education, Danielle decided to take control of her own future. “I just wanted to get out of my small town and have college paid for,” she said. It wasn’t about academics, it was about independence, self-reliance, and stepping into something bigger than herself. Initially assigned to a logistics role, she pushed for something with more impact and action, eventually becoming a military police officer. “It was so fun,” she said. “We did some wild, crazy things… but it was a good time.”
Over her five years of service, Danielle held several roles, including time with the Provost Marshal’s Office, counter-drug task force operations, and ultimately as a substance abuse control officer with the 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion. But as much as she loved her role, the work planted seeds that would grow into a new calling.
After responding to difficult calls involving service members in crisis, Danielle often found herself wondering what happened to the people involved. Were they okay? Did they get the help they needed? That concern stuck with her. One day, a social worker who had been on a call with her said, “If you’re calling to ask about this, you might be on the wrong side of the work.” That stuck too.
At the same time, her natural nurturing tendencies had already earned her the nickname “Sergeant Mom.” Her office was known as the place to go if someone needed to talk about their personal life, and she frequently stood up for junior Marines, advocating on their behalf. Her leadership even gave her a plaque that joked about their “love-hate relationship”—she was known for challenging things that didn’t sit right, and more often than not, she was right. “I guess I just leaned into what I was already doing naturally,” Danielle said. “It made sense to become a social worker.”
Now, as part of the Well-Being Team at Hope For The Warriors, Danielle brings that same energy, passion, and advocacy to service members and families navigating transition and recovery.
One powerful example of this came over the last few months when she worked with a veteran who was facing homelessness. Danielle recalls how the veteran, overwhelmed by the complexity of applying for benefits and managing basic needs, was faced with a devastating truth: homelessness was on the horizon. Through consistent support and resource coordination, Danielle helped secure housing, ultimately giving them a renewed sense of stability and purpose. “It’s moments like that,” she says, “when you see someone go from crisis to confidence, that’s why I do this work.”
Women Veterans Recognition Day: A Complicated Pride
When asked what Women Veterans Day means to her, Danielle was candid. “I love that it recognizes the unique experiences and sacrifices of women in the military,” she said. “But on the flip side, it can feel like it reinforces the divide. People say they want equality, and yet we’re still being separated in some ways.”
That tension reflects a reality many female veterans live daily, where they’re expected to perform the same as their male counterparts, yet often treated differently. “We are biologically different. That’s not a weakness, it’s a difference. And we bring different strengths to the table. When we embrace that, we make the military stronger.”
The Hidden Struggles of Women Who Serve
Danielle is open about the unique challenges women face in uniform, especially when it comes to balancing service with motherhood.
After giving birth to her oldest son, Carson, she had just six months to meet the Marine Corps’ strict physical standards again. “That’s when my eating disorder really took off,” she shared. “I was starving myself, working out for hours, and barely made weight.” The pressure to quickly return to peak performance, coupled with a lack of support for parents, pushed her to the edge.
She also pointed out the unrealistic expectations around childcare. “If your kid gets sick, they say, ‘What’s your family care plan?’ You’re told to leave them with someone’s wife you’ve never even met.”
While Danielle was fortunate to have mostly supportive leadership, she knows that’s not the case for many. In some branches, women are even discharged if they can’t secure childcare. In the Marine Corps, that’s not an option; you’re expected to find a way.
Supporting Women Veterans Beyond the Uniform
So how can communities and organizations truly support women veterans? “Inclusion,” Danielle said. “It starts with visibility. If you’re hosting an event, your marketing should include women. If you’re creating support groups, think about how you’re welcoming and representing female veterans.”
Speaking of support groups, Hope For The Warriors has an all-women’s peer support group that meets virtually every week. The group offers a safe, judgment-free environment where female veterans and service members can connect, share their experiences, and support one another through life’s transitions, whether that’s navigating life after service, managing family dynamics, or coping with trauma.
For many participants, this group has become a lifeline, a space where they can be fully seen, heard, and understood by others who’ve walked similar paths. “It’s not therapy,” Danielle explains, “but it is healing. Sometimes just being in a room with women who get it can be the most powerful kind of support.”
As a military spouse, a veteran, and a mom, Danielle understands what it takes to heal, transition, and thrive, and she helps others do the same every day. Her advice to other women veterans: “Your service matters. Your story matters. And there’s strength in asking for support. Don’t ever let anyone minimize what you’ve been through or what you bring to the table.”
We want to celebrate Danielle and every other female veteran on Women Veterans Recognition Day. Thank you for your service and for continuing to pave the way for future generations.
