Women have served in the U.S. military as far back as the American Revolution. Today the number is higher than ever before and women have taken on new roles, such as ground combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Women now make up roughly 15 percent of the Armed Forces, and around 10 percent of those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Department of Defense (DoD). At least 135 women have died fighting these wars, according to icasualties.org.

Watch the video for an interview with Iraq war veteran Kayla Williams, author of “Love My Rifle More Than You: Young and Female in the U.S. Army” and a board member of Grace after Fire, an online social network for women veterans.