Update: What I thought was PTSD was actually CPTSD and chronic lead poisoning. PTSD sucks. No doubt about it. I can go from doing fine to wanting to die in a New York minute. Do I act on it? No, but I definitely want to escape the pain every once in awhile. Some days I … More PTSD and Military Injustice: Breaking the Silence
Uniform Betrayal: Rape in the Military
The Wounded Platoon: How a platoon of soldiers, changed by war is battling mental health disorders that many blame for their violent, self-destructive behavior.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins spoke on the Senate floor today in strong support of legislation coming before the Senate that would address the crisis of sexual assault in the military. “Since 2004, I have been sounding the alarm over the military’s ineffective response to the growing crisis of sexual assault in the … More Senator Collins speaks in support of efforts to address military sexual assault
“It’s Against Our Policy” was originally published on March 5, 2014 How many jobs have I worked at where “It’s Against our Policy” ended it all. The ironic thing: nothing is ever in writing, standards have not been set (or the boss can do whatever but control you), and once you agree to volunteer, you … More Workplace Abuse and Bullying: My Story as a Veteran Advocate in the “MST Community” (2014)
If only these same ‘advocates’ spent this much time working on passing laws and helping troops. I didn’t know that if I worked hard and did the right thing that it made me a target in this so called movement. This is especially amusing because they have got it all conjured up in their minds … More Invisible War Actors & Ass Kissers Devise Plan to Accuse Advocates of “Bullying”; Protect Our Defenders Takes Credit for All Crime Bill They Didn’t Want, Then Stole and Perverted (2013)
Original Title: Update on the Military Justice Improvement Act (September 20, 2013) In January, veterans were able to address the House Armed Services Committee regarding crime and non combat death in the military. The testimony was on the heels of what was referred to in the media as the “Lackland Sex Scandal.” The veterans specifically emphasized that crime … More Reporting Military Crimes and Preventing Retaliation: A Call for Legal Reform (September 20, 2013)
Jennifer got Onyx in May 2013 at a program for veterans called K9s for Warriors. Not only was Onyx an awesome companion during some of the most difficult times in our lives but the woman who ran K9s for Warriors with her son was a loving person we all referred to as “mom.” She really … More A Quiet Lifeline: How Onyx Helped Us Survive Relentless Online Bullying; Jennifer, Lee and Onyx Go For a Jeep Ride in Western Maine (August 10, 2013)
There are dates that don’t pass quietly. They return each year with weight—carrying memory, love, and a kind of ache that never really leaves. My dad’s birthday is one of those days. In 2013, Lee and I chose not to spend it in silence or avoidance. Instead, we drove to Sunday River Ski Resort in … More The Power of Shared Memories: Jennifer and Lee Celebrate William R. Stowell’s Birthday at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine (March 21, 2013)
Now That Women Are Cleared For Combat, How About A Rape-Free Workplace? January 24, 2013—the day Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Martin Dempsey signed a memorandum allowing women to serve in combat for the first time in American military history—may one day be looked as a milestone for gender equality … More Now That Women Are Cleared For Combat, How About A Rape-Free Workplace?
Jennifer and Lee 