He was discharged, but no real punishment. Then he began texting me stating “you ruined my life,” and more. But this situation ruined me.

** This anonymous U.S. Coast Guard Survivor Testimonial was originally submitted to “The Pettiest Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard” on Facebook in May of 2024 and re-published by MLAA. MLAA does not know the identity of the author and has not verified any of the claims or allegations made in this testimonial. Light formatting changes for readability, or redactions for PII may have been applied before publishing. **

Thank you for sharing your story. To provide a bit of context, I am a lesbian and I'm extremely open about it. I'm currently a BM3 and my time in the Coast Guard has been traumatic, to say the least. In boot camp, they promise "you will be safe," but that was a lie.

While injured and in the holding regiment, there was a female recruit who would sexually harass everyone by staring at them while they were showering or getting dressed, and make comments about everyone, including myself. She then decided at some point that she was going to put her hands on me. She claimed she "aimed to hit my lower back," but we all can guess how that went. Luckily, I had an amazing shipmate who went and told the CC, who then had the recruit removed from the barracks, investigated, and then processed for discharge. During her time of investigation, she cornered people and spread lies about myself and others. She was never held accountable and a few months after discharge, was let back into boot camp. That was my first glimpse of seeing corruption in the system.

Following boot camp, I went to BM-A school. I met up with old shipmates who I was in boot camp with and we went to a beach nearby. I met up with a Tinder date who was a female. On the way there, we drank a lot. By the time I got to the beach, I was trashed. Like legit stumbling. Probably not my best look. Anyways, I met up with the date and we all hung out on the beach. One of the males who came with us kept making comments to me and the Tinder date like "when are we having a threesome" and weird shit like that. I tried to avoid it.

We went to a restaurant then all went back to base. I was in the back seat of a car with the same guy who was making the comments. I was sobering up and felt like shit. I laid down on the seat. The other non-rate in the back seat kept making moves towards me and I kept saying no. Then he decided to ask me to kiss him, have sex with him, and all other sorts of sexual advances. I said no and that I was gay. He said "you're only gay because you haven't had the right dick yet." Following that, he decided to grope me, multiple times. Then decided to put his hand around my neck and try to get in my pants. At that point, I felt so helpless. I didn't understand why the two other people in the vehicle didn't say anything. Then again, it seemed like this was planned.

Once we got back to base and I got out of the car, my assaulter said "don't report me," then followed me to my room begging me to have sex with him. I kept saying no and told him to go to his room in the barracks and sober up. After I got to my room and closed the door, I was so alone. I was confused and didn't know what to do. I just sat in the shower for hours then went to bed once I found the strength in me to get up.

The next day, I called one of the people who went in another car who I thought I was close with. She told me it was like him to do this stuff and not to report because it could ruin his career. I was pissed off. On top of the trauma, I was pissed. I ended up going to an urgent care and telling them I was sick so I didn't have to go to work for a few days. Luckily, they granted me the time. I couldn't get out of bed. I was going through every emotion and I was so alone. If it wasn't for my roommate at the time showing up, I probably wouldn't be here. She was super supportive and truly helped me through.

I ended up calling 5 different numbers to get in contact with the SARC and a VA. I had a restricted report for 1 day and then he called me. He asked if I had reported him and if I hated him. I immediately switched it to unrestricted and launched the investigation. They interviewed everyone, then once they tried to interview him, he stormed out and they got a military protective order against him. He violated that multiple times. I turned him in and they just told him to stop. He never did. He intimidated me and made me feel like garbage. I was terrified. I wasn't allowed to go to the galley at certain times because of him.

During this time, I got a therapist who told me to try breathing. Fuck that. Worst advice I've ever gotten. During BM-A, I truly enjoyed drill and took on marching the company. This didn't last long because every time I would start marching, I would get violently ill from the anxiety. I lost everything that brought me joy at Yorktown. During this same time, I began to have gastrointestinal issues.

Once I left A-school and reported to my new unit, I reached out to the VA to let her know what happened and that it was still an open case. She told me it might be a good idea to let my chain here know as well. I reached out to my chief and talked to him. I told him what was going on and all he said was "okay" and left. He left me feeling so vulnerable and alone. I learned later on that he told the chiefs mess that he wanted me off the boat. I didn't know what I did to deserve it.

I got the news that the investigation was closed and he was discharged. No real punishment. I was crushed. During the time at my unit, I started receiving texts from my assaulter after he had been discharged stating "you ruined my life" and more. This situation ruined me. I was unable to function. Everything took a hit from this. I was destroyed but tried to continue to do well. I was fully qualified and was driven to excel as a BM. The BMC who I had disclosed my assault to had started to exclude me from many things and harass me. From BM quals to pro dev opportunities. It was miserable.

All I wanted was to be treated equally and fairly. I was never given that opportunity. However, I still see good in the Coast Guard. I still want to be in regardless of all of my trauma. There are amazing people as well, from my VAs, SARC, and roommate who listened to me and supported me. There's good in the CG, it just needs to be found.

You're good to post this whenever.