Connect with fellow Veterans in sisterhood & camaraderie
Launched in 2018, the Military Sisterhood Initiative (MSI) is a national peer support network of and for women of the military. In effect, it's a network built on the tried and true military concept of having your sister's "six".
About MSI
Founded in 2018, MSI is rooted in the enduring military principle of having your sister’s six - fostering connection, trust, and mutual support among women who serve and have served. As a project of Challenge America, MSI offers meaningful opportunities for connection through creative arts, shared experiences, and community engagement, strengthening bonds and building a supportive sisterhood that extends beyond service. Designed by military women, the Military Sisterhood Initiative aspires to connect and empower every military sister in the country. With a growing community of more than 6,000 members, MSI members support one another while building strong, lasting connections through shared experiences in mental health, MST, PTSD, art, cooking, and more. MSI is a project of Challenge America, inspired by the vision of U.S. Army Veteran Zaneta Adams - attorney, speaker, nonprofit founder, consultant, and Family Court Referee.
MSI Workshops & Events
Guided by the creative vision of members, volunteers, and community partners, the Challenge America team creates meaningful opportunities for connection within the MSI community through engaging content, the creative arts and community experiences, including therapeutic music and visual arts workshops, concerts featuring Challenge America Songwriters, discussion groups, MSI Book Club, and informational sessions.
MSI Book Club
The MSI Book Club is a well-established community of women Veterans that has been meeting for several years. Gathering twice a month on Mondays, members discuss a selected book, connect with one another, and enjoy time together. All women Veterans are welcome to join through the MSI community, even if they haven’t read the book. Bring along your favorite books and join your sister Veterans for meaningful conversation and camaraderie!
Thanks to the generous support of our donors, MSI Sisters are able to receive donated copies of books to participate in the Book Club. Your contribution can make a real difference - a donation of just $10 could help ensure an MSI Sister can join in, connect with the community, and share in the experience of reading a book in community. We are deeply grateful for your support!
Impact
6,000+ Members
25 Countries
Every U.S. State
50+ Workshops & Events in 2025
Member Features
MSI Sister Diaries is a space for sharing and discovering the stories that shape who we are. This ongoing series invites members of the Military Sisterhood Initiative to share their personal stories and to read reflections from fellow MSI Sisters. Submissions are free-form and come from any chapter of life - before, during, or after military experience - and are not necessarily service-related. Over the years, the stories shared through Sister Diaries have opened powerful doors to connection, community, camaraderie, and reflection. Every story shared deepens our bonds and reminds us that our experiences - while unique - are often deeply rooted in connection. Your story matters, and your military sisters are ready to hear it.
MSI Spotlight is a space for members to share more about who they are, what they love, and what the Military Sisterhood Initiative means to them. Presented in a written, interview-style format, these features offer a more lighthearted and personal look at the women who make the MSI community the vibrant, supportive, and special space that it has blossomed into over the years.
MSI Sister Diaries: I Hold Water - Oluwatoyin Hines
Some MSI Sisters recently participated in Challenge America's very first Virtual Music Therapy Retreat, where they had the opportunity to discover the healing power of music and write their experiences into song with professional Songwriters. The following song and its explanation were written by Army Veteran, Oluwatoyin Hines.
Today's entry is about healing from holding secrets. Please take care while reading and reminiscing.
MSI Sister Diaries: Gwyneth Holladay
In this MSI Sister Diaries entry, MSI Sister Gwyneth Holladay shares a deeply personal and eye-opening journey through loss, bureaucracy, and perseverance. Her story is a powerful reminder of the resilience of women Veterans and the importance of being seen, heard, and believed.
Today's entry has a trigger warning attached to it. There will be talk about loss of life. Please take care while reading and reminiscing.
MSI Sister Diaries: Not The Only One - Anonymous
This anonymous MSI Sister Diary entry is a beautiful reminder of the power of vulnerability and hope. Through her experience at the Challenge America Virtual Music Therapy Retreat, this MSI Sister challenged herself to open up in a new way - using songwriting not to dwell on hardship, but to focus on resilience, light, and moving forward. Guided by intention, humor, and the belief that no one faces darkness alone, her lyrics offer comfort, perspective, and a gentle reminder that even in the hardest moments, hope is always within reach.
Today's entry has a trigger warning attached to it. There will be talk about mental health and life's hardships. Please take care while reading.
MSI Sister Diaries: We Are Moving Mountains by Shannon von Driska
This MSI Sister Diaries entry shares the story of a member of our community who chose to speak about a deeply painful experience. It is offered with care and intention - to honor her courage, to acknowledge the realities many women carry quietly, and to remind us that no one is alone. We share this story not for shock, but for connection, healing, and the strength that can come from being believed and supported.
Today's entry has a trigger warning attached to it. There will be talk about sexual assault. Please take care while reading and reminiscing.