Abstract
The purpose of this research was to examine the reintegration experiences of female service members who deployed in a Post 9/11 war and identify with the LGBTQ community. The study employed a mixed methods survey to gather information from two female service members regarding their identification with the LGBTQ community before, during, and after deployment as well as their challenges and supports post deployment. Reponses from the survey were analyzed and coded to develop themes. The themes that emerged included pre-coming out, coming out, and post coming out. These theme outlined how the coming out process aligned with the deployment experiences of participants. Participants consistently identified frequent challenges during reintegration in balancing multiple roles, relationships, and mental health as well as receiving support from military leadership, peers, and military and civilian organizations. Future research is needed to better understand this unique population and provide direction for policy and social work practice.