War in the Feminine - They Fight for France

They are helicopter pilots, paratroopers, bomb disposal experts, base commanders or intelligence officers… But who are they really? How did they get there? How did they establish themselves in a man's world?

Dorothée Olliéric, senior correspondent, went to meet these women, who open up here about their vocation and the reasons for their commitment.

Their paths are often astonishing — they fear nothing and risk their lives for France. Still too few in number at the front line, they have nonetheless earned their place.

Célia recounts the tracking down of a jihadist hideout in Mali and the loss of one of her teammates; Élodie describes her difficulties readjusting to "real" life after returning from Afghanistan; Léa moves us deeply by sharing the loss of her partner during a terrorist attack in Burkina Faso; Juliette, a fighter pilot on overseas operations in Niger, fascinates us with her determination.

Their frank, free-spoken words bear witness to their exhilarating experiences in the field, without overlooking their lives as women — the difficulty of leaving a partner or children behind, and also the post-traumatic stress disorder that follows when tragedy strikes.

These unassuming heroines march with their heads held high, side by side with their brothers in arms, fighting for their country — and move us deeply in this book full of courage and passion.