Joyce Heflin tells of her childhood, education, time in the United States Navy, and civilian life. Heflin discusses her career in the United States Navy and her various duty stations and jobs during the course of her service. A primary topic is her experience as a gay woman serving in the armed forces, along with some discussion of gender roles in the United States Navy in the late 1970s through mid 1990s. Other subjects include women's roles in combat, naval engagements in Grenada in 1983 and Beirut in 1982, Heflin's triathlon career, softball, and the 1993 March on Washington for gay rights.