(not so) Average Jane

Yellowstone Valley Woman Magazine By: Julie Koerber
January/February 2024 Issue

On the Front Lines

Combat Veteran Dallas Knight reflects on the Iraq War and how it’s led her to fight for good.

Two years ago, Dallas Knight brushed the dust off a leather-bound journal, unsure if she wanted to relive her handwritten memories. Inside were 88 entries that detailed her days during the initial months of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Just 18 years old back in 2003, Dallas served in the 72nd Military Police Company.

It was her unit that provided protection just outside the walls of the Abu Ghraib prison, described as Saddam Hussein’s former torture chamber. In 2003, it was reclaimed by the U.S. military and rebuilt by Dallas’ unit to house high-level prisoners of war.

Dallas landed in Iraq because she had dreams of working for the Drug Enforcement Administration. Before she could apply for a job with the DEA, she needed a bachelor’s degree and some real-world experience. She thought the military would give her a chance to get both.

“What I didn’t realize was how ‘real life’ the experience would end up being,” Dallas says.

Krystyna Lauren – Fearless AF Podcast
November 28, 2023

Army Veteran Dallas Knight’s Fight Against Sex Trafficking and Personal Trauma

As your podcast hosts, we sat down with an incredible guest this week. Meet Dallas Knight; an ex-army combat veteran, an intelligence analyst with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and a survivor of a toxic marriage. With her resilience and determination, she found her way back to herself and embarked on a path of healing.

Dallas shares her powerful story from serving in Iraq to combating suppressed emotions, and her journey of self-discovery and self-love.

Keeping the conversation centered around understanding ourselves better, we dove into the importance of introspection and self-reflection. Breaking toxic patterns takes courage, and facing our mistakes is integral to our growth and healing. As Dallas shared her journey, we also got to talk about the harsh realities of transitioning from wartime to civilian life and the untold stories of suppressed trauma that veterans carry with them.

This episode takes an unexpected but vital turn as we discuss the impact of trauma on our voice and self-perception, with Dallas opening up about her involvement in the Skull Games – a unique organization committed to combating sex trafficking. She also reveals her plans for a retreat exclusively for female combat veterans, aiming to offer them a safe space for therapy, self-exploration, and embracing femininity. To top it all off, we address the dire need for representation of female combat veterans’ stories and the immense importance of empathy and support for survivors of grooming and exploitation. Tune in for some truth bombs and powerful insights in this enlightening episode.

Billings, MT – November 10, 2023
By: Aaron Flint

A WOMAN AND A WARRIOR, MONTANA VETERAN TURNS MEMOIR INTO BOOK

A Montana woman not only wrote a book about her experiences as a soldier in Iraq, she also started a podcast that is helping other female veterans open up about their experiences.

Dallas Knight is the author of a book called “Shattered Reflections” and the host of the “Not So Average Jane” (NSAJ) podcast.

Dallas Knight: “The majority of the book was actually written 20 years ago, because it’s the contents of a journal that I kept during my time in Iraq. And it was 2021, I found myself basically at the bottom of the barrel. I was in a very deep, dark place trying to crawl my way out…part of my healing journey started to uncover things that I had basically put in what I call a black box in the back of my head and neglected for 19 years.”

In addition to her book, Knight says the podcast is a great way to connect with her fellow female veterans.

Dallas Knight: “After the journal, I realized that there were probably a lot of other combat women who were either stuck in their journey and didn’t really have a place- a safe place, a secure place- to share their story. And I wanted to be able to give that to them. So really that’s the focal point of the podcast. I essentially have a very vulnerable conversation with other female combat veterans and we just happen to be recording it.”

Billings, MT – October 3, 2023
By: David Nordel

Kangaroo Leadership Podcast Episode #7: I won’t be silenced – a female soldier’s journey unveiled.

I had the pleasure of hosting Dallas Knight on my podcast. Her extraordinary journey spans from a dedicated Army combat veteran to a visionary executive in the corporate world. Transitioning seamlessly from military service, she embarked on a remarkable career as an Intelligence Analyst with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Her unparalleled dedication earned her an appointed role within the DEA, where for nearly a decade, she relentlessly dismantled criminal syndicates, disrupting intricate narcotic operations. Transitioning to the corporate sector, she emerged as a technology company executive, spearheading patented innovations to conquer industry challenges while ensuring customer satisfaction and driving overall success. Dallas Knight’s unwavering commitment, from battlefield to boardroom, exemplifies an indomitable spirit dedicated to bettering the world.

Glendale, AZ – October 1, 2023
By: Arizona Daily Independent

Captivating Memoir “Shattered Reflections” Offers Raw Perspective on 2003 Iraq War

In “Shattered Reflections: A Female Soldier’s Unveiled Truth,” readers are invited to step into the unfiltered world of war through the courageous lens of a 19-year-old girl thrust into a combat zone.

Authored by military police officer and combat veteran Dallas R. Knight, her memoir follows her journey as she endures an array of missions, including the rise of the infamous Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq 2003. The tell-all journal exposes the day-to-day struggles, the chaos of war, and the occasional moments of mirth amidst adversity.

BILLINGS, MT – September 21, 2023
By: Mitch Bohn, Wide Left Sports Podcast

Interview with Combat Veteran and Author, Dallas Knight

Listen as we interview author Dallas Knight about her upcoming book Shattered Reflections

BILLINGS, MT – September 20, 2023
By: Dianne Parker

Billings Army combat veteran launches book about life as female soldier in Iraq

A Billings combat veteran is unveiling a female soldier’s truth in a new tell-all book called ‘Shattered Reflections.’ It’s helped her heal from trauma in the battlefield 20 years later, and now she hopes it can help others heal too.

Grapevine, TX – September 19, 2023
By: Manny San Pedro

From Combat to Intel: Dallas Knight’s Personal Odyssey

Experience Dallas Knight’s personal odyssey in this revealing interview. Dallas Knight shares her inspirational story about her incredible journey from her military officer career in the US Army to becoming an integral part of an intelligence unit for the DEA. Her passion for law enforcement analytics and her drive to learn and expand her portfolio led her to the corporate side of the field where she hopes to develop the technological side to provide better tools for analysts in the field. Dallas speaks about authoring her first book “Shattering Reflections”, depicting insights into breaking through the emotional trauma of her experiences through publishing a journal written by her 19-year-old self while serving in Iraq.