Last week, I was mentioned in a newspaper article. Or, rather, I wasn’t mentioned.
The article talked about me and one of the worst experiences of my life, but described me only as “the wife of a fellow soldier”. I had a really strong response to this. I had to go for a hard run before I could begin processing it. I slept on it and received support from…
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The Battle to Deliver Aid into a War Zone
In a war zone, it’s hard to deliver aid to people who need it most. Same as with a natural disaster – earthquakes and floods – the donations pour in, but it is very difficult to effectively use those funds on the ground. When you donate money to an NGO, some of it is eaten…
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I’ve been asked what I would like to hear in the apology to survivors of Military Sexual Trauma tomorrow
Just a couple of weeks ago, the official date was set for the formal apology to survivors of Military Sexual Trauma. Since then I’ve been asked, and thought a lot about, what I hope to hear. What I’d like to hear is a fullsome and accurate understanding of the harm that has been done to…
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As someone living with PTSD, I can tell you it affects all your close relationships.
In September, I participated as a panel member for Part II of the Military Sexual Trauma Symposium: Services and Supports for People Affected by MST. I took part in a 20-min overview discussion of the impact of trauma on military families and friends. I’ve embedded the video recording down below. When someone is suffering with…
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Leaders, please stop hurting us so we can finally heal
This past spring, I came forward with my husband to talk about our own experience with Military Sexual Trauma because we wanted to highlight the issues within the system that were denying justice to victims of abuse. People can’t heal from trauma in a context of injustice. We need the system to become trauma-informed, and…
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What is the cost to trauma survivors when we are working toward culture change?
Until recently, I hadn’t realized that someone might label me a survivor of Military Sexual Trauma (MST). Although this description might be technically accurate, it feels pretty new and it’s not internalized as true for me. Labels are tricky like that. Anyway, it’s a category I’m often assigned to since I told my story. I…
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Dr Mary Honan interviewed me about surviving military sexual trauma
Dr Mary Honan interviewed me for her podcast in June 2021 (video below). It has taken me a while to post it because I wanted to include this little summary and time got away on me this summer. She asked about my experience of being a woman in the military, surviving the [often toxic] hierarchical…
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Our definition of Justice needs to encompass these additional aspects
In 2013, I woke up to a man sexually assaulting me in my own bed. He was a senior officer in the military. Over two years later, I made a statement to the police. It may seem like a long time to wait, but less than a quarter of sexual assaults are ever reported at…
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Why culture change takes courage
Lately I’ve been writing about how we need to think about leadership in new ways. Forget the old model of heroic leadership and the Great Man Theory. We need leaders who foster a sense of safety and belonging so that all the best ideas can be brought to the table. Leaders who create an environment…
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In the two weeks since one of the hardest chapters of my life was made public
This article was originally posted on my LinkedIn profile. It has been two weeks since one of the hardest chapters of my life was made public in a CBC interview. Since then, I have become even more deeply involved in a national conversation that was already profoundly important to me. I have received hundreds of…
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Annalise 