Group helping female veterans adjust to life after war

In the DFW Metroplex, there are almost 15,000 women veterans under the age of 45. Nationwide, there are more than 700,000. 

"The model is an older male. If you go to the VA, again, a lot of what you'll find is -- are you the spouse? Are you the dependent? They don't realize that, no, in fact, I am the veteran," said Michelle Rosales Kneubuhl, an outreach coordinator for Grace After Fire, an organization helping women re-adjust to life outside the military.

With the recent exodus from Iraq, Kneubuhl expects to see a surge in the number of women veterans dealing with the physical and psychological toll of war. "They'll need some time of assistance to get back into society," said Kneubuhl.

Women veterans, it turns out, have issues all their own. Studies show they are twice as likely as civilian women to be unemployed, and almost three times as likely to commit suicide. As many as one in five may have suffered sexual assault.

Long-serving institutions like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are struggling to adapt their services for women. An estimated 40 percent of VA homeless shelters cannot accept them, and VA hospitals are often criticized for offering insufficient OB/GYN services and childcare.

Founded by women veterans, Grace After Fire has built a network of organizations to meet their special needs. "There's a lot of individuals who want to help," said Kneubuhl.