I grew up as the youngest in a very large and very religious family. I was taught to respect my elders and do what they told or asked me to do. I had very little sexual experience.

I had been raped two years before and became pregnant from that rape; I lost the baby. I enlisted in order to leave home and leave that pain behind. My recruiter told me I had to have sex with him or he couldn’t get me the job I wanted.

My recruiter had sex with me in his office on several occasions. I told him I didn’t want to, but he wouldn’t listen and raped me. I didn’t scream or cry but I said, “No.”

I hated myself after that for a very long time because I should have known better. That was in 1987, and this is the first time I’ve ever spoken about it.

I eventually volunteered and worked as a victim advocate for victims of sexual assault while on active duty.