Her Story: Sasha Downs
About Sasha
Sasha Downs, CVSO in Woodbury County, IA.
Born in West Covina, CA, but grew up in Sioux City, IA since fifth grade.
Sasha now lives on a small acreage in Hinton, IA with her husband and two children, son-12 and daughter-3 years old.
Shasha didn’t come from a family with a lot of money, so when she was trying to figure out how she was going to pay for college, her mom suggested that she consider the military.
Shasha started by joining the Navy, then moved to the Air Guard, and eventually found her place in the Army National Guard.
What started as a journey of means to fund her education, she never imagined that 17-years later, she would still be here and that her military service would become such a meaningful part of her life.
One of the best things that came from her time in the National Guard, Sasha stated, was ‘meeting her husband.’ “He has been my biggest supporter throughout every path I’ve chosen and has always given me the best pep talks. Anytime I felt like I couldn’t do something or didn’t think I could keep going, he was the person who reminded me that I could.”
Military Service
Sasha has served with the Iowa Army National Guard since 2007, with a brief break in service from 2015 to 2017. She began her career as a 42A, Human Resources Specialist, with her duty station in Sioux City, Iowa.
Then in 2010–2011, she deployed to Afghanistan, an experience that became an important part of her military journey and shaped her understanding of service and the those her fellow brothers and sisters in arms, past and present.
In 2015, Sasha and her husband were both serving in the military while raising their two-year-old child. With the demands of military service becoming increasingly difficult for their family, she made the decision to request a hardship discharge. Sasha separated from the military in August 2015. However, after about a year, she realized how much she missed the sense of purpose and connection that came with serving in the military, and decided to reenlist in December 2017.
After returning, Sasha was encouraged to pursue opportunities beyond what she had initially thought was possible. After conversations with her Squadron Commander and OIC, they encouraged her to attend Officer Candidate School. Sasha took that leap and attended OCS at Fort Benning, GA, commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in May 2021.
Sasha remained in the Human Resources field and now serves as a Human Resources Officer.
“Becoming an officer challenged me to grow in ways I never expected and taught me the importance of resilience, perseverance, and purposeful leadership.”
“My experiences have taught me that leadership is not about having all the answers; it is about continuing to show up, especially when things are difficult, and being there for the Soldiers who depend on you,” Sasha stated about her experience.
“Some of the most difficult experiences of my career have come through loss. I have experienced the deaths of six Soldiers killed in action and have faced the loss of as many as ten Soldiers to suicide.”
“Those are the darkest days, days when leaders are left to help pick up the pieces and try to put their troops back together while navigating our own grief.”
“While those experiences have been incredibly difficult, they have also given me a greater sense of purpose.”
“My career has provided me with a perspective on Soldier mental health that I am deeply grateful for, it has shown me that taking care of Soldiers is more than a responsibility, it is one of the most important parts of being a leader.”
Continuing the Mission
While attending her Basic Officer Leader Course, Sasha decided to apply for a position with the Woodbury County Veteran Affairs Office. Her thought at the time was simple, “I was already in the military, I enjoyed working with people, and I thought working with Veterans would be interesting and right up my alley.”
“I never could have imagined that applying for that position would become one of the best decisions I have ever made.”
Continuing to serve in the Iowa Army National Guard has been a tremendous asset in Sasha’s work with Veterans. Being a service member allows her to connect with younger Soldiers in a way that feels familiar and comfortable to them. Sasha has many clients who she knows personally, and they have told her that they feel more comfortable talking to someone they know and someone who understands the military experience firsthand.
Sasha stated, “I take their concerns seriously, particularly when it comes to injuries, and I want Soldiers to understand that seeking help does not diminish their service.”
“I also make it a priority to reach Soldiers before they ever need our services.”
During annual briefings, Sasha participates as a speaker and educates Soldiers about the Veteran Affairs Office, the services that their local CVSOs and VAMC’s provide, and how they can access the benefits they have earned.
Sasha stated, “I want them to know that there are resources available to them and that they do not have to navigate the process alone.”
“Being able to serve Veterans from the Vietnam era through the Gulf War and beyond has been incredibly rewarding,” Sasha stated. “I appreciate being able to listen to Veterans and help them navigate a system that can sometimes feel overwhelming or discouraging.”
“Many of the Veterans I work with have had questions that they felt were ignored, or they became frustrated with the process and decided it was no longer worth pursuing. Being able to sit down with them, listen to their story, and help them understand what options are available is one of the most meaningful parts of my job.”
Leadership & Service
“I feel very fortunate to have had a fairly positive experience as a female in the military. Throughout my career, I have never felt that opportunities were taken away from me or that I was passed over simply because I was a woman. Instead, my experiences have taught me to be more vocal, stand behind my ideas and opinions, and use my voice when I feel I need to be heard.”
“As the number of women serving in the military continues to grow, I believe having strong female leaders is incredibly important.”
“Women need to see other women in leadership positions and know that there are no limits to how far they can go in their careers.”
“Having a female leader can also provide a sense of comfort and personal connection, especially when navigating experiences that may be difficult to discuss with others.”
“One of the things I hope to provide through my work is that sense of comfort, when a woman comes into my office, I want her to feel safe enough to open up and talk about anything she may have experienced or endured during her military service, including trauma. I want her to know that she will be heard, believed, and treated with compassion.”
“If I can be an example to another woman that she can use her voice, pursue opportunities, overcome challenges, and continue moving forward, even when things are difficult, then I feel like I am making a difference. To me, leadership is not only about the position you hold; it is also about the example you set and the people who feel stronger because they had someone to look up to,” Sasha said.
A Few Fun Questions
What's your favorite ice cream flavor or go-to dessert?
“I love butter pecan or coffee ice cream. My go to dessert will always be chocolate chip cookies.”
One random fact about you:
“ I really enjoy playing pickleball and volleyball.”
Words of Wisdom
If you could leave your fellow women veterans—and the next generation of leaders—with one message, what would it be?
“To the women serving today and those who will serve tomorrow: use your voice, believe in yourself, and never limit what you think you are capable of achieving.”
“My military journey has taught me that being a woman is not a limitation, it’s a strength!”
“Be the leader you needed to see, be someone others feel safe turning to, and never underestimate the impact you can have simply by showing up, speaking up, and refusing to give up.”