Did not think I was worthy of the Veteran title!

Ok I know this sounds weird, but let me explain. In 2001 I was already briefed that I would be sent to basic training on the 6th of June located in Fort Jackson, South Carolina for nine weeks. Every three weeks was a new color represented by the American flag, so we would start with Red week, then White, last Blue week in which we do our last ruck match and the next day we graduate from basic. Once I graduated I would need to travel to my AIT (advanced individual training) duty station which happened to be located below South Carolina, in other words Georgia. My parents had attended my graduation and were going to transport me to Fort Gordon, Georgia, also known as the Signal Corp. base. For my dad, it was just a glance at memories he had in the past when he was also stationed here. My MOS (military occupational service) was at the time a 31 Lima, but now it is known as a 25 Lima. School for this would take 7 weeks and would finish on the 10th of October.

From here I had a month of leave and instead of flying home, my dad and I drove from Georgia all the way to New Mexico in a truck. Great thing was knowing that I got discounts for being a veteran, well more when your active duty. So getting a hotel for the evening was easy and reasonable. Once I got home I started my hometown recruiting, which was a requirement before going to my next duty station. I would not be leaving until November and aside from spending time with Arthur, I was getting ready for my first flight overseas to South Korea. The place I would find out that I am just another target for being me and being attractive, even when I did not think I was. After I got to Camp Casey, I had a roommate and a week after arriving is when my tragic event would happen. At the time I was a Private E-2 and then it happened. A couple weeks later I would be promoted to Private First Class, known as E-3. After I was promoted I kept thinking to myself, did they just promote me because of what they did to me?

That was the mindset I kept for years after getting out, also not thinking I was worthy of calling myself a Veteran, because after my rape the Army just discarded me as a piece of trash, who is now traumatized more than ever. I will of course follow this with a video to explain in more detail just the way it felt and I know that I am not the only one that has had this problem. First it is not easy to report what has happened, but then it sucks all together when they dismiss your trauma and kick you out as someone that could not handle military life, which was not the case. I state this because I would not be here to tell my story. I always had moments when I would go suicidal, but never carried it out, because I would realize that I am stronger than they think and I would have probably went far if I stayed in. One thing I wanted, I even told my First Sergeant that I would stay if he would get rid of one of the soldiers that is just pathetic, along with getting my Specialist and one more year in Korea.

My section Sergeant, Staff Sergeant Johnson would go to the First Sergeant with this idea and they were willing to do it, but I just decided I needed to get out, but until that day would come I was in therapy every week on Wednesdays in Camp Casey, because after I became the only female left my other section Sergeant when I was in Casey, Sergeant Johnson as well helped to get me transferred to Red Cloud. This is where I would meet the people that would help me get past everything and protect me from those that wanted to come after me. This is where I found my true battle buddies and Negron you have always been there and for you I will always be there when you need me. After years of getting used to being known as damaged goods, I would finally accept the fact that I served my country, plus passing basic was what made it a fact that I earned my Veteran title. For this I also have family that hates that I continued my military career. I won’t lie I miss being in the Army, but I am a VETERAN!