Army veteran Lindsey Schmidt, nicknamed ‘Xena’ by Green Berets, trades combat gear for pinup glamour while honoring female veterans nationwide today!!
Army veteran Lindsey Schmidt, once nicknamed “Xena” by Green Berets during missions in Iraq, is trading combat gear for vintage pinup glamour.
After nine years in the Army, Schmidt is now appearing in the 2027 Pin-Ups For Vets calendar, using her new role as a model to spotlight female veterans and raise awareness for a nonprofit supporting military communities.
Lindsey Schmidt earned the nickname ‘Xena’
Schmidt served as an Arabic linguist and interrogator in Army Special Operations and deployed to Iraq. She also accompanied Green Berets, known as Operational Detachment Alpha teams, on missions where her language skills gave her a unique role.
At the time, Schmidt was the only woman in her battalion, and she said she initially faced resistance from some soldiers who questioned whether she belonged on deployment.
But her persistence eventually changed opinions.
During one deployment, a soldier who had previously opposed having her around borrowed her helmet. When he returned it, “Xena” had been painted across the back — a reference to the fictional warrior princess.
The nickname soon spread among the troops after Schmidt accompanied Green Berets on missions and proved herself in the field.
Army veteran used Arabic skills on missions
Schmidt’s role went beyond simply accompanying the teams.
Because she spoke Arabic, she could communicate directly with Iraqi women and children during missions. She explained that cultural barriers sometimes prevented male soldiers from speaking with women, making her presence particularly valuable for gathering intelligence.
She recalled Iraqi women quickly recognizing that she could speak their language and asking her questions about the American presence and what was happening around them.
One interrogation also left a lasting impression on Schmidt.
After seeing a detainee captured during a mission, she later confronted him during questioning when he gave what she believed was a false account of his detention. Schmidt revealed that she had actually witnessed his capture.
The veteran recalled pulling back her hair and reminding him that she had been there. She said his reaction showed that he recognized her immediately, changing the tone of the interrogation.
‘Xena’ embraces her feminine side
Years after serving in combat zones, Schmidt is showing another side of herself.
For the Pin-Ups For Vets 2027 calendar, she traded her military uniform for a vintage-inspired pinup look complete with red lipstick and glamorous styling.
Schmidt said the experience was meaningful because military service can sometimes make women feel disconnected from their femininity.
She described joining the calendar as an opportunity to celebrate accomplished female veterans while showing that strength and femininity can exist side by side.
The calendar features 13 female veterans photographed in World War II-inspired styles.
Pin-Ups For Vets supports veterans
The calendar is part of the work of Pin-Ups For Vets, a nonprofit founded by Gina Elise in 2006.
The organization raises money to support hospitalized and deployed troops. Its efforts include hospital visits, care packages, rehabilitation equipment and assistance for veterans experiencing homelessness or transitioning into housing.
According to Fox News, the organization has donated nearly $140,000 worth of rehabilitation equipment to veterans and military hospitals and has visited more than 25,000 ill and injured veterans at more than 135 hospitals and state veterans’ homes.
Lindsey Schmidt reflects on military service
Schmidt said her military experiences changed the way she views everyday freedoms.
She pointed to ordinary things many Americans may take for granted, including being able to drive independently, vote, work, own a home and have financial independence.
For Schmidt, returning from the Middle East gave those freedoms a deeper meaning.
She also hopes her story will encourage other women to recognize the opportunities available to them and appreciate the independence they have.
From Green Beret missions to pinup modeling
Lindsey Schmidt’s transformation from an Army linguist and interrogator known as “Xena” to a 1940s-inspired pinup model may seem unexpected, but she sees both chapters as connected.
Her military career allowed her to serve alongside Green Berets and use her Arabic language skills in situations where they were particularly valuable.
Now, through Pin-Ups For Vets, she is using her story to support fellow veterans and highlight the women who served.
For Schmidt, the glamorous photoshoot represents more than a dramatic change of wardrobe. It is another way to celebrate her military service, her femininity and the freedoms she says she learned never to take for granted.
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