Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Serve.
The Hurt of the Silenced
I am a Marine. I haven’t been in for too long and yet I have managed to see so many flaws in the system. My greatest concerns surround assault. By assault, I mean rape. I was assaulted in January of 2018. I was drinking, underage. As we service members are not only confined to do, but actually encouraged to do. I will not name names. I will only tell my story and the stories of those souls who have enlightened me with their harrowing and repulsive experiences. I reported my assault—immediately. I went to the ER, got the rape kit done, and made a report. This report became unrestricted due to the fact that a member of my command happened to be in the ER at the same time as me. I went to NCIS. I told them what happened but left out the damning detail that me and two of my peers were drinking alcohol. Prior to my interview with NCIS, I was told if anyone else got in trouble for what we were doing I would be in very, very hot water. So when NCIS found out I had lied about drinking they decided I had lied about everything else too. They said it was my fault for drinking with males. Keep in mind that they were the only people I had. I was the only female in my job field at that time. They also told me that I had only made a report because I felt guilty for cheating on my then-fiancé, so I reported it as an attempt to be transferred to his location. They blamed me for the entire ordeal. I will not lie. I did make a few mistakes. My first was trusting my brothers in arms. My second was drinking. My third was not keeping my knife on me so I could stab that bastard in the skull. Me and the two others were punished. My rapist was not. He did nothing wrong in the eyes of my superiors. I was made to be an attention-seeking whore looking for handouts. My friends deserted me. My unit exiled me. I was left alone. I have undergone intensive therapy for all I encountered before, during, and after the assault. But not all are so fortunate. One individual, whom I will call Bryan, was also raped. But his assault was not even looked into. It was disregarded because, in the eyes of the authorities, he was just a “fag” in the closet. He wasn’t even offered counseling. He is now in the brig for a drug addiction stemmed from the assault. Another named Mary was assaulted not once but twice. They moved her away from her station but let the rapist go because she was no longer there to fight for a conviction. My dear friend Tara was assaulted by what one would think was an upstanding member of society: a federal servant. That report didn’t even get past the local police because she didn’t have any signs of battery.
By Elizabeth Fraser7 years ago in Serve
“When the Smoke Starts to Clear...”
Mission Critical SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) for besties (mejores amigos/amgias)- Code blue/Código Azul: Los amigos (o amigas). Friendship sustaining activities/chats. Ex. include: Lunch/coffee; "Recoil therapy"; and album listening parties. Code orange/naranja: *Life* sustaining chat needed (The Fray). Helpful Hint: Listen *actively* (Do NOT talk over your buddy; do ask pertinent questions; and definitely offer empathy/sympathy). Code red/Rojo: "No sh*t", this is "Real World"; NOT an "Exercise." Ex. include: SOS-"Save Our Ship" (not technically accurate); BHD- Bravo Hotel Delta (emergency "landing"), wherein QRF (Quick Reaction Force) may/may not be on standby; and/or supplies/morale critical (low on water/ammo/food). Code yellow/amarillo: Love interests are involved/desired (positive light). Ex. include: "I have dates for the two of us"; "I need a date"; and "I have a potential for you." Code white/blanco: There's finna be "a beautiful death." Bring your tools and let's team up to "hammer" this problem out. (Sidenote- Violence as an absolute LAST resort.) Code black/negro: New life. Code purple/morado: General kudos are in order. Ex. include: Graduations; initial properties; Freedom from Uncle Sam. Code green/verde: General reference to La familia. Ex. include: "The Fam's throwing something. Hope to see you there." Code sky blue/azul cielo: "We need to settle this like Grunts and roll in the grass til we have a 'mutual understanding.'" Spoiler Alert: King T'Challa never yielded. (Sidenote- Do NOT kill your bestie in "ritual combat." Make each other tougher, bond, and commit to better communication in the future. [Side, Sidenote: General guidelines to follow at another time. For now, NO ankle locks.]) If either party is unable/unwilling to physically fight, prudent alternatives are acceptable; preferably Chess (the only game that really matters). Code brown/marrón: "We've been sh*t on" and/or "It's time to serve some knuckle sandwiches." (Same sidenote as Code White/blanco.) Code pink/rosa: Variable/Audible/Contingency plan #1 (Plan Bravo/B). Ex. include: "Pop smoke! It's too many of them." Or, "Our position is compromised! Back to Rally Point #4!" Code gray/gris: Variable #2 (like Code Pink, though less cool).
By Nefarious Darrius7 years ago in Serve
10 Ways War Has Changed Through History
Whether we are considering the present tension in the Middle East, World War I, or the conquest of Alexander the Great, people should understand that war is as much a part of humankind as is needing food and water to survive. Despite your opinions, if Caveman A had beat Caveman B over the head with a rock instead of Caveman B hitting Caveman A with a rock, our entire genealogy could be so wildly different than it is today—you or I might not even be here. These territorial, race, religious, or ideological disputes have paved the way many countries have formed alliances, broke alliances, built their economy, or changed in several different ways. Because humankind has developed in so many drastic ways, the ways war has changed through the years has evolved with it. The differences are staggering too; no longer are we running down our enemy for miles upon miles and stopping the fight at dusk just to pick it up again tomorrow. Read on to find out some of the ways this catastrophic human invention has developed over the span of our existence.
By Ryan Whitaker7 years ago in Serve
Living the Life of a Military Girlfriend
This is my story. So hello, my name is McKenna. I am 18 years old, and I am currently in a relationship with a soldier deployed thousands of miles away from me. Some people are probably already thinking, how do you do it? Or poor you good luck getting through it. Funny thing is, sometimes I ask myself that same question everyday. I figured, writing this and sharing my day to day struggles with you all could help other women going through or will be going through the same thing I am currently. My boyfriend left a month ago, two days after my birthday and it still hasn’t really hit me yet that he’s truly gone. It’s a sticky situation with what information I give out, so let’s just say he’s going to be gone for awhile. Him and I have only been together for eight months, so this is quite the test for our relationship. I’ve had all kinds of things thrown out at me. All the sympathy, doubt, advice, etc. Everything you can think of I’ve heard so far. All the good luck to you, it won’t work out, oh you poor girl. It’s quite a lot to take in, also it doesn’t make anything better or worse. So most likely just saying nothing is the best response. When he told me two months into our relationship he was going to be deploying in the next few months I felt like my heart had completely shattered. I got into this new relationship feeling like I found everything I’ve ever wanted and more in a man and then I find out he’s leaving for months on end to go serve his country. How are us as women supposed to respond to something like this? That’s great? I’m so happy for you! Wow? We don’t even know what to say because in that moment we don’t even know what we’re truly feeling. There is so much physical and mental preparation for something like this. You also have to ask yourself if this relationship is something you seriously want to pursue, and is this worth waiting for? I feel like I had so many thoughts going through my head I couldn’t think straight. I’m two months into this amazing relationship with this great guy and he’s leaving in a few months to go halfway across the world. What am I suppose to do? Start over? No, I wasn’t that weak. I wanted this, I was happy. God just handed me a handful of things I didn’t know how to carry yet. Although it’s still rough carrying the weight of this sometimes, I’m doing it. I had mentioned earlier there is so much physical and mental preparation for something like this and I meant it. As much as you prepare for someone you grow to love to go away, it’s never enough preparation to say goodbye. I tell myself that I’ve been through a lot and this is just another mountain that I have to climb over, but sometimes it feels like the hardest one yet and it’s almost impossible. For any women who have been through this, you know what I mean. Long days, long nights, a lot of tears, a lot, and many mixed emotions. One thing I try to continue telling myself through these months he is gone is that this too shall pass. Nothing lasts forever, in some cases that’s a good thing. As for this deployment, that’s a great thing. I told myself this time in my life is where I can work on myself while the man I love travels the world. I can figure out who I wanna be and what I want to do with my life. I promised myself the day he came home I would have money in the bank, a good job, and a good head on my shoulders. I guarantee I can guess what half of you are thinking already reading through this. You’re 18, you are so young! Why commit yourself at such a young age. My only response to that, is I was forced as a child to grow up too fast. I have seen and lived through so much, that all I want anymore is to get my career started and settle down with someone who loves me just as much as I love them. So, just know that’s why I am where I am and am waiting for who I am waiting for. Throughout this deployment, so far, I have been so blessed with the most amazing supportive people. I can’t tell you how lucky I am to have his family by my side to go through this with. I can’t imagine things otherwise, but for those who don’t have that extra support. Don’t give up, it’s worth it. Call me crazy for being a month in and writing a story on something I haven’t even gotten halfway through yet, but I know what I’m facing. I know what to expect and I know what I signed up for. We as women know that once we go without seeing our soldier for days, weeks, months, some even years. We come to appreciate what we have so much more, every hour and everyday with them is just another blessing. As hard as it can be to be without him sometimes, I wouldn’t have things any other way. The most rewarding feeling for us, is the day they come home and we finally can say we did it. We welcome our soldiers home with open arms. Don’t give up ladies, keep your head up. Nothing lasts forever, and that includes these deployments.
By McKenna Vinson7 years ago in Serve
How Criminal History Can Affect Military Enlistment
"Criminal record" doesn't usually sound great to any employer, and the armed forces have especially high standards of morality. They are also given a lot of liberty to decide who they accept or deny. But "criminal record" can also mean a whole lot of things, and there's a big difference between minor traffic offenses and major felony offenses. But when you're looking to join the military services, there are a lot of factors to consider. So here's what you need to know about how your criminal history can affect military enlistment, and what your chances are of actually joining the military.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Serve
Advice About Joining the Military. Top Story - September 2018.
A couple days ago I had a cousin that I don’t often talk to reach out to me on Facebook. After pleasantries she got to the real reason she sparked our conversation asked me if I could do her a favor. Her boyfriend has been thinking about joining the Navy as a Nuke Engineer; he wanted an opinion that didn’t come from a recruiter's mouth. That was something I could sympathize with, as someone who made the mistake of going in blind as a bat and trusting my recruiters' words like they were gold. I ended up in and out of the most exhausting, confusing, dangerous, and life changing four years of my life, and I wish I had twenty more to give.
By Michelle Stone7 years ago in Serve
10 Signs You Would Do Well in the Military
When considering a life of military service, it is important to know if you are prepared to live up to a different standard of fortitude. It takes far more than love of country alone to serve. Other than sheer patriotism, there are inherent signs that one would do well in the military. While physical and mental strength are certainly a given, one must be able to stretch these and other skills to their breaking point. Like a professional athlete, one must possess an unnatural acuity in a number of physical attributes. As such, it is important to define the necessary attributes you should display if you are to show signs you would do well in the military.
By Fred Eugene Park7 years ago in Serve
10 Awesome Military Traditions from Around the World
The military is a fertile breeding ground for official and unofficial traditions. The United States is particularly renown for its unusual traditions, but there are so many other countries with current and historical traditions that must be seen to be believed. From Scandinavia to Pakistan to Japan to New York, here are some of the most interesting military traditions from around the world.
By Joseph D. N. Kendrick7 years ago in Serve
10 Wild World War II Stories You Never Read About
World War II history reads a lot like an action-adventure story. There are bad guys, good guys, a fight to help save people from genocide, and tons of amazing tales of intrigue, espionage, and valiant acts during war.
By Skunk Uzeki7 years ago in Serve
10 Allegedly Haunted Military Bases
Though there is never conclusive proof, legends and eyewitness reports overwhelmingly indicate that ghosts and entities result, most often, from violent and premature deaths. Disturbing events of the past lead to strange occurrences in the present. Many such haunted sites include mental institutions, hospitals and clinics, and of course, battlefields and military bases. With respect to this last category, reports of haunted military bases have been heard across the country, and the world. The reports range from specific individuals whose violent or tragic deaths we have corroborated reports of, to simply creepy occurrences of objects moving on their own, winds blowing with no windows open, and brief glimpses of unknown individuals that disappear in a heartbeat. There's no denying that many disturbing things have happened at military bases throughout the world, and it seems, to many, that unfortunate souls still roam the halls, rooms, and streets where they died.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Serve
Spouse’s Guide to Surviving Air Force Basic Training
When my husband came to me at 32 years old and said, “I think I want to join the Air Force,” I will admit I may have spit soda out of my nose and laughed so hard I peed a little. Then, I realized this man was dead serious. I couldn’t imagine why he would want to do such a thing at his age. But, after talking to a recruiter, taking the ASVAB test (that thing is hard if you have been out of school for 14 years) and signing all the papers, reality set in.
By Elizabeth Mayer7 years ago in Serve
Things You Should Never Say to a Military Wife
When discussing military life with military wives, there are some things you should never say to a military wife. Military spouses do not have it easy, and every single one will feel the same way about surviving deployment in their own way. They deal with many month deployments where they are separated from their loved ones, and the military family is put under a lot of stress and hardship. When speaking to military wives, there are certain things you shouldn’t ask or inquire about. It’s important to have the guidelines down ahead of time, especially if you aren’t familiar with the military lifestyle.
By Morgan E. Westling7 years ago in Serve
