A decorated veteran with two decades in the U.S. Air Force, Amanda McCullough has spent her retirement from the military paying it forward to those who have served and continue to do so. Since 2023, she has been active as founder of Woman Veteran Calendar, a grassroots organization based in San Antonio, Texas that raises awareness for woman veterans, supporting, celebrating, and empowering them through photoshoots that show people that “Women Serve Too!” All proceeds from the calendar—so far up to $6,000—have gone to nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing woman veterans “community, resilience activities, and a safe space.”
Ms. McCullough was inspired to open her business due to her own experience as a retired veteran. Upon retirement, she felt a deep sense of alienation and struggled to find community, a common challenge faced by service members during the transition to civilian life. While there are many resources for vets, she noted that women are often more neglected in this regard, as her experiences at local vet organizations were disheartening. She would encounter “dirty looks” and assumptions that she was merely a spouse, which compounded over time, diminishing the recognition of their service. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 50% of eligible Woman Veterans do not receive the VA benefits they are entitled to and, tragically, they encompass the fastest growing demographic in suicide rates.
Through the organization, Ms. McCullough leads a board of remarkable women, including a vice president, secretary, wellness officer and treasurer. In addition, several members-at-large volunteer for various events, including its main one, the Military City USA Dining Out, which takes place June 13 every year in honor of Women Veterans Day. This dedicated group plays a vital role in keeping everything running smoothly.
At 18, Ms. McCullough joined the Air Force Reserve and within a year, so captivated by the military way of life, she became active duty by 19. Specializing in health care administration, she served as a Health Service Management Specialist in the Air Force from 2002 to 2023, during which time she was also active as a HIPAA Privacy Officer in the Air Force Medical Service and a Deputy Chief of Wing Protocol. Her assignments took her across the globe, including stations in South Korea, Germany, Texas, Georgia, Maryland and Colorado. She was deployed twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, where she served in combat. Her exemplary service earned numerous accolades, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. She has also been involved with the Veterans of Foreign Wars since childhood and is a Gold Star family member. Additionally, since 2016, she has been active as a freelance master resilience trainer.
Through all her career accomplishments, though, Ms. McCullough considers her most notable and most rewarding to be her journey as a single mother. Despite the challenges of military life and missing milestones back home, she has cherished the memories she has created with her children, especially while stationed in Germany and exploring Europe.
Looking ahead, Ms. McCullough strives to reduce the alarming mental health crisis among women veterans, envisioning a future in which they are no longer a rising demographic in suicide or homelessness. She also hopes to see sister veterans connect with their communities to receive the support they need and deserve, emphasizing that every veteran—regardless of gender, deployment status, or job—deserves acknowledgement and respect for their sacrifices.
Additionally, for future generations of professionals, she advised that there is never a perfect time to pursue one’s dreams. She noted that many individuals often feel the need to have everything perfectly aligned before taking the next step. However, she believes that when one feels a calling to do something and recognizes a need, “the right time is always now.” That is how she felt taking the leap to start the calendar—and as a result, she and her team have successfully built a community and established connections with countless women veterans. If she had chosen to wait for the ideal moment, Ms. McCullough wonders if it would have ever come.