The race has only begun following the publication of a report that heavily criticised the Defence Forces.
That's according to Yvonne O'Rourke, a retired Captain in the Irish Air Corps and a member of the Women of Honour group.
She was speaking after the IRG-DF report called for a statutory inquiry to be set up into allegations of bullying, harassment and sexual assault in the organisation.
The Government has agreed to progress its 13 recommendations as a priority.
Ms O'Rourke told The Pat Kenny Show she was only 17 when she joined the Defence Forces in 1991.
"When I went into the cadet school, I went in there full of energy, full of enthusiasm", she said.
"I was an athletic person... I really wanted to do something that was challenging.
"When I arrived into The Curragh, it is a culture shock.
"They have to discipline you, so you understand that certain things have to come with that".
Discrimination case
Ms O'Rourke said part of the culture shock was having her head shaved, being subject to room inspections and doing combat runs.
She ultimately took a case for discrimination.
"I did take a case of discrimination; I was, unfortunately, sexually abused," she said.
"I clearly outlined to them in 2013 that I firmly believe I had been discriminated against when I did become pregnant.
"I received two weak appraisals... in 2012, one week apart, which both clearly stated that I was weak at a time when I had availed of all my maternity leave, most parental leave [and] some annual leave.
"So I had taken a lot of leave during that time, but clearly I had to challenge that and I did".
'Mobbing'
Ms O'Rourke said found herself singled out.
"Once you complain, or once you raise your head over the parapet, very quickly then we have this concept called mobbing.
"You become kind of pinpointed... and I learnt this thereafter, an officer was told by a senior officer not to be seen with me if she wanted to go further.
"Unfortunately this is the hard reality on the ground.
"Obviously, for me, there was discrimination [and] it was linked to me being pregnant at the time".
'We have only started'
Ms O'Rourke said they will now focus on the statutory inquiry.
"We need to get back into the room with Micheál Martin, and we need to actually sit down and discuss - and ensure - that the terms of reference will be what is needed," she said
"This is not going to be easy, we know we have only started the race now.
"We know we fought a bit of a fight there, but we know that we have a whole marathon to run.
"We want the process to be clear, open and transparent and we need to be involved in every step of this process," she added.
Listen back to the full segment below:
