Merci McKinley – MST Survivor/Advocate and Policy Influencer

Merci McKinley is a retired Staff Sergeant from the United States Army. She served as a Logistician in both garrison and combat operations. Merci has deployed to various combat operations in support of Iraqi Campaigns and Operation New Dawn. She is an advocate who aligns herself with those in position to influence policies that affect veterans. As a survivor, Merci utilizes her experiences to help shape policies for survivors of military sexual assault and intimate partner violence.  Her advocacy has influenced policies for active duty servicemembers, and veterans that became public law under PL 115-232 and PL 116-92. Since 2018, Merci has been consulted by members of the Senate Armed Services Committee and House Armed Services Committee to influence the National Defense Authorization ACT.  She has worked with Women Veterans Rock to advocate on behalf of the Deborah Sampson Act. Her advocacy has garnished support from the Maryland Women Legislative Caucus to develop legislative measures for women veterans, and establishment for the study of Regional Women Veteran Centers in Maryland.  Merci has voluntarily participated in doctoral studies, and research studies for the development of programs and services for female veterans with military sexual trauma. She has assisted the 2021 Department of Defense Independent Review Committee on Sexual Assault to revise policies to be inclusive of Trauma Informed Care and improve on Victim Care and Support Services. 

  Merci readily encourages, and network with others to develop programs within their state to provide services and support for women veterans.   Merci has written in several anthologies in support of giving women a voice. She is the Author of “The Harvest” that empowers women through adversity, the songwriter of Silent for Too Long, a poet,   and the author of “You Can” which motivates children through poetic verses.   Merci is a member of the Service Women Action Network and frequently participate in the Annual Public Policy Day organized by Women Veterans Rock.

SWAN – https://servicewomensactionnetwork.org

Women Veterans Rock – https//:www.womenvetsrock.org

Book – The Harvest

Available on Amazon  and Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0721HG984/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_glt_VYXSVRJJSN3ZZTX8C4TQ