TODAY WAS THE DAY. I TURNED IN MY ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY ID IN EXCHANGE FOR MY NAVY RETIREMENT ID.
On the way to the Pass & ID office I started to cry. How in the world am I old enough to be getting a retirement ID card? I am 21 years old for goodness sake. How could this be happening to me? I still had time on my military contract.
I walked in and saw loads of old people waiting for their retirement ID. It made me feel worse. As they called my name, a friendly airman took me back to take my photo and get my info. She asked me why I was retiring. I told her I was getting a medical discharge. And of course she asked how I got a 50% disability rating… which is incredibly hard to explain. Especially to another female. I told her while I was in training I was told to take care of my shipmates. So I did. But that cost me almost my life. A fellow shipmate dragged me into the woods and beat me and then sexually assaulted me. Of course my command did nothing. But I tried to rise above it and got selected for officer training. Then I told her during a heavy training exercise while I was there, some shipmates didn’t do their part of their job and I ended up with a broken back and a severe concussion. And both those things alone, sent me to a medical board. During which process, a fellow Chief started getting too friendly with me and then for some reason started literally hitting me. He at least, got charged with physical assault. But I told the airman I would go back and do it again knowing the lives I saved. And I would not hesitate to try and rejoin if war broke out. There is some special connection about the military once you join that is rather quite beautiful.
Now my fellow S/O’s I ask of you this… please please please… talk to your husbands. Tell them to watch out for the women in the military. Because too many women I know suffered from this. And not many men step up to help. Please educate them on the signs that this could be happening, such as change in behavior, crying, suddenly not social, etc… Just one person… can make all the difference.
One way to really reach out is talk to the FRG. Because us females in the military don’t really get along with each other for some reason. Most of us anyways. But having a civilian buddy would really help. So share it around ladies! Make a difference!!