It's most likely because I was a woman, I was older than the average person and I wasn't the beautiful doll they would have liked. I've had physical injuries too. When you have them, you're worth nothing, and it's very difficult to get treatment. We're told it's all in our heads. We're given Tylenol, Advil, Motrin or Antiphlogistine, and told to deal with it.
For example, I was told, “You, Cyr, you are going to stay here, because you have experience in the unit, in your section. The new kid doesn't know anything, so he can't handle things.” So he's going on a mission. He'll get the medal. As for me, they told me I was going to stay behind, I was going to slog 12 or 13 hours a day, because it takes people to make up for the labour shortage, and I'd get nothing.
At the end of the day, when you get out of the forces, you feel a bit like an imposter as a veteran, because in people's minds, veterans are people who have been on missions. In the eyes of some members of the Canadian Armed Forces, if you haven't taken part in missions, you're not a veteran.