January 2019 Issue
5
Phenomenal WomenWhoServed!
Army Veteran: Dajon Ferrell Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Â Interview
WS Magazine
"Find people who understand. There is strength in numbers. The more I speak out, the more I find men and women who have been affected by MST. The more I speak out, the more I empower others to do the same".
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Inside Phenomenal WomenWhoServed
On the cover: Army Veteran: Dajon Ferrell
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ARMY VETERAN
Shivahn Rodriguez
My name is Shivahn, also known as SPC Rodriguez. I have been in the Army for 10 years. I ETS in May 2019, but it won't be the first time I will be a civilian after enlisting. I was a soldier's wife before enlisting in Ft Hood, TX in 2008, and served for about a year before stress forced me to get out on a pregnancy chapter in 2009. I went through a hard transition from a civilian to a soldier and a soldier to a civilian, but the hardest was being a (single) mother and a soldier simultaneously. I went through a nasty divorce and hardships, but that didn't stop me from reenlisting in 2010 into the Army Reserves. It wasn't active duty but it helped fill the void I was missing. I missed being a soldier. Since 2010, I have done a few stateside deployments and went through even more stress as a soldier and a civilian. I have worked full time, been unemployed, worked part time, and been to school full time all while serving monthly and being a single motherup until 2017. I graduated with my Associates of Science last year, finally after starting college in 2012. It wasn't easy, especially with a family. I remarried in April 2018, and had a baby with my Army veteran husband, in September 2018. Being a single parent in the Army wasn't the only challenge I faced. I have been injured quite a few times that has delayed my promotion, which has led me to make the decision to end my contract in May 2019. Transitioning from military to civilian life was challenging and I believe it still will be, but I'm sure with the family support I have now, it will be so much easier. www.WomenVeteransMagagazine.org
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Army Veteran
Dajon Ferrell Militarysexualtrauma (mst)interview
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Army Veteran :
Dajon Ferrell
Military sexual trauma (mst) interview WWS Magazine: What year did your assault occur? D. Ferrell: My assault occurred in Croatia during a Troop Reciprocal Exchange program. It was May 2010. I had another incident take place back stateside in a new unit March 2014, which compounded the effects from the assault. WWS Magazine: In what ways did your leadership support or fail to support you during this time? D. Ferrell: My direct leadership was supportive. They were the ones who told me I should report and they were helpful. It was other leaders who were not helpful. They said I was 'messing with an international partnership', because it was a Croatian General who did it. During parts of the investigation, following the 2nd incident, they didn't know what to do with me, so they had me report to a room by myself every day for 2 months. They brought me in to counsel me for 'not smiling enough.' I ended up trying to kill myself. My brother called my supervisor to tell him I was had been hospitalized and my phone was taken at the psych ward. The response was, "She needs a doctor's note. She can't just miss work." I was released on weekday at noon and they expected me to return to work, when I asked if I could return the next day as I just wanted to go home and get settled before returning to work. It led to me getting out of the military after 13 years of service. I couldn't take it anymore. WWS Magazine: Did military health professionals make this time worse or better? D. Ferrell: The VA was not helpful. I think they are better now. At the time, they wouldn't see me, because my case didn't happen in OIF/OEF. I would go to appointments and the front desk would challenge me being there every time. They'd get on the phone and announce that they had 'an MST here' so the whole room could hear. I had to get an EKG where you're sitting on a table in a bra. I asked the male nurse to close the door and he replied, "They've all seen those before." I had a stalker, who still finds me and makes suggestive comments. Waiting for depression meds and they would say, "They didn't make soldiers like you back in my day." It was a gross environment. I only went so I would be following the rules and hopes that maybe one day I would get a therapist who was good. I eventually found one, but the real help came through alternative healing modalities that I paid for out-ofpocket. WWS Magazine: What are 2-3 challenges you are or have faced over the years on account of this assault? D. Ferrell: Divorce because my husband thought I must've done something to deserve it. Hard time being intimate with partner. Panic attacks and hyper vigilant reactions, especially in crowded places. Left the military, which I thought would be my career. Struggled to find a job in the real world, so I've been self-employed since leaving the military.
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Interview continued : WomenWhoServed Magazine
WWS Magazine: What are 2-3 resources/programs you wish were made available to you during this time of trauma? D. Ferrell: Groups for female survivors, along with co-ed groups. Not super structured, but a safe place to come together and just talk. Weekend retreats - I ended up creating one for female veterans, as I wish I would've had that opportunity! More holistic healing modalities at the VA. They are doing more now, but when I was there, they only offered Cognitive Processing Therapy and treated the MST the same way they treated TBI. WWS Magazine: What have you done recently and in the past years to Advocate for MST? D. Ferrell: Founder of Woman Veteran Strong Host healing retreats for woman veterans Speak at women veteran conferences and events Teach at events hosted by Department of Veteran Affairs Peer Mentor for Wounded Warrior Project ****Few words of advice/encouragement for fellow Women Veterans who've endured MST. D. Ferrell: Find people who understand. There is strength in numbers. The more I speak out, the more I find men and women who have been affected by MST. The more I speak out, the more I empower others to do the same. Not everyone needs to share their story on a stage, but simply finding safe spaces to talk through your frustrations truly helps. There are also opportunities to share your story anonymously. Or even workshops that help you write your story out. Seeking help outside of the VA was super helpful for me. Yoga Nidra helped me sleep better. Meditation helps me function out in public. Reiki helps me work through the emotional wounds. Try different things. It's worth the investment.
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AIR FORCE VETERAN Rocio Kary
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AIR FORCE VETERAN Rocio Kary
Ten year Air Force Veteran as a mÊdica technician, twelve years federal service, currently Federal Independent Contractor. Volunteer for Girl Scouts as a teen leader and Gold Award Committee member and Arizona Ambassador to the Women’s Memorial at Arlington Cemetery. Mother of two beautiful teens and married almost twenty years to an Air Force veteran.
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NAVY VETERAN
Vini Eka Applegate
My name is Vini. I've been wanting to share my story for a while, but I waited since there are parts of my life that I cannot recall (and still can't). I grew up having a pretty normal life. My family is an "immigrant" family. We arrived here in the United States in 1990. Arriving here and trying to maneuver through a new life was pretty overwhelming: the weather, the seasons, the new language. I have so much to say about this daunting experience. However, being a child that's expected to do well, I dove into studying and learning. I was a sponge: I learned the English language in less than a year and taken out of my English as A Second Language (ESL) class. My sisters and I were in the same class (we are triplets and all joined the Navy at the same time) and not having them was another overwhelming experience since we did everything together in this foreign country. My parents moved here because this country offered opportunities. My naval career began in 1999...again the experience was unexpected and overwhelming, but again, I succeeded. I succeeded regardless of the rape I sustained. I was involved with many aspects of my command: I was color guard, I rose up the ranks easily, I volunteered endlessly. While my career was at its peak, my mental health decline, and I didn't understand the ill feelings I was having about myself. I was mentally struggling to keep myself afloat in this life.
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ARMY VETERAN Heather Rivera
I am 100% permanently disabled Iraq war veteran due to PTSD and other physical disabilities. These disabilities medically retired me from the Army in 2012. During my service time I served overseas for 13months in OIF III in Baghdad, Iraq where I was a supply clerk, assistant armor, and volunteered to go search Iraqi females at checkpoints and with a cavalry team for first elections where females could vote. The humvee I was in on a convoy was hit by the backlash of an IED and I received a combat action badge. I am originally from New Jersey and now currently live in Georgia with my husband. We are both combat veterans with PTSD and currently are trying to just figure out how to live out of the service, while volunteering for disabled American veterans chapter 46 to assist other veterans with disability claims. I have a bachelors degree in early childhood education, but my PTSD has kept me from teaching.
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by: Laura Kandewen
"Duffle Bag" Lined up against the inside of my duffle bag were my most prized possessions, five pairs of wool underwear and my Army’s issued brown t-shirts. I was surrounded by fear of the unknown, not sure what I signed up for. Regret was tapping me on my shoulder, but my duffle bag was still in my view about to take the road less traveled. I clicked my heels three times to see if I could find my way back home like Dorothy did in the Wizard of Oz, but no one came to save me. I cried! Along the unpaved road, there were many detours, and leaders telling me to go back to the starting line. Over and over I tried, and over and over I survived, and now its time to say goodbye. How do you say goodbye to a 22 year relationship, how do you divorce the love of your life, ok maybe just an on again-off again relationship. I often hear the words “thank you for your service," what people are really saying is thank you for going through the storm. Without you, my freedom would be jeopardized and limited to dictatorship. My heart aches when I read about you leaving your children in the arms of another so you can lace up your boots and march along, while singing your song. You sing happy birthday to your children from the computer screen while dust storms engulfs your vision. You give up or transfer custody of your children to dodge bullets while painfully trying to breathe. Thank you for the failed marriages your many deployments has left behind. Tell your children they are awesome for the five to ten schools they had to transfer from before their 18th birthday. And for that, I say you’re welcome! A couple months back, I laced up my tan worn out boots for the last time, securing my feet that had traveled through seasons of uncertainty and the unknown. I took my time, lace by lace, getting that perfect fit. I stood up, looked in the mirror at my face that had picked up some wrinkles and fine lines along the many four mile road marches, cadence calling, and field exercises. I walked without a purpose, slowly enjoying my final day as a soldier in uniform. A tear drop, that was what I felt running down my proud face; I made it. Good by my love, so long my ex…
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Navy Veteran
yvonne rea
Worked 15 years in Medical/Dental field. While serving at Camp Lejeune, NC, with the Marines in the 80's, me and over one million other soldiers and sailors and civilians were exposed to five+ different toxins in our drinking water, cooking water, potable water. Friendly Fire. And I was only just informed in 2014. To date they have only reached 150,000 out of over 1,000,000 casualties. My health was deteriorating, when pharmaceuticals and the MDs couldn't help I began researching other alternatives. My diagnoses for the next 20 years included issues with Thyroid, Sleep, Child born with CP due to extreme conditions of pregnancy. possibly due to toxins. (Son with Cerebral Palsy,) ALS, MS, Heart Attack, 2 Breast Surgeries over 15 lumps & bumps, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Later said to be PTSD. Today I have my certification in Bio Electromedicine & Nutrition along with specialty training & 1000's of hours of research in nutrition as it relates to disease. I still suffer from tremors and liver concerns, but am so much better that some of my previous diagnosis have been said to be an error in entry. I provide treatment services and wholefood nutritional products. I educate others through presentations about nutrition as it relates to the conditions they are suffering from. I am the Owner/Founder of 4abetteru2, I am creating a local Co-Op of Alternative Health Practitioners and those looking to find other alternatives to their health care. I also run a couple business groups, and volunteer my time offering my services at no cost to veterans and others I meet at various events. I know many other veterans are suffering from toxic exposure. I want to give them hope that there are ways to repair. Nutrition was the most impactful. Therapeutic doses of just the good stuff, I am living proof. Because I'm still searching for something to heal the damage done I continue to press in and educate myself and others on more ways to help the body with natural resources.
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