Army Values: & Frat House Rules

Synopsis

When We Boarded The Plane From Baghdad, We Did Not Leave The Enemy Behind. They Sat In The Seats Beside Us.' I Have Heard My Brothers And Sisters In Arms Express This Sentiment Which I Had Believed Was Mine Alone. Hearing My Feelings Echoed By Others Re-enforced My Lesson Learned; The Realization Is That Enemies Come In All Sizes, Shapes, And Uniforms, Including Our Very Own Green. I Did Not Know That The Organization I Held In Such High Esteem, So Steeped In Values, Would Prove Betrayal And Hypocrisy Were Of The Highest Values. My Journey Shines A Light On A Dirty Little Secret: The Touted Rules Are Neither Enforced Nor Respected. When They Are Enforced, It Is With Selective Justice. If You Had Told Me That I Could Be Court-martialed For A Personal Liaison, I Would Never Have Believed You. I Would Not Have Been Willing To Believe That My Beloved And Sanctified Army Could Ever Turn On Me As It Did. After Enduring A Year In Iraq, Under An Oppressive, Toxic Command, For Me, Little Mystery Remained Behind The Green Curtain. We Are Led To Believe Our Military Is Comprised Of The Most Selfless Individuals - Willing To Put Their Lives On Hold To Serve The Flag; Willing To Pay The Ultimate Price If Need Be. And There Are Many Of This Breed Serving, Without Question. But There Also Exist Those Who Seek Only To Elevate Their Own Status And Control Others Through Fear And Intimidation - And They Take A Devastating Toll On Our Forces. As A Woman Who Entered Military Service At The Advanced Age Of 42, My Perspective On Deployment And Military Engagement Is Unusual. My Ideas And Ideals Were Already Deeply Rooted, Yet I Found I Not Only Had More To Learn, But That There Are Many Who May Never Learn. Many Of The Problems Facing Our Military, Including Sexual Harassment And Assault, Ptsd, And Suicide, Could Be More Preventable If We Could Eliminate The Toxic Environment Created Under Some Command Structures. This Narrative Nonfiction/memoir Is The Story Of My Experiences, Beginning With The Catalyst For My Entry To The Military And Through Basic And Advanced Training, A Tour Of Duty In Iraq, My Own Court-martial After Falling In Love With A Member Of A Nato Training Mission, And Finally My Return Home To What May Never Feel Like Home Again.