“So shines a good deed in a weary world.” William Shakespeare 

It’s been a while since I’ve made an episode, but I want you know that I have been hard at work.  Safe Waters is taking off in a positive direction and I have reached new milestones in my healing journey.  Through deep meditation and breath work, I have been able to tap into a deeper sense of self and am finding my path in life.    While the journey of healing continues, I now walk more confidently and assuredly than ever before.  It is a beautiful place to be, and I am grateful for all the love, kindness, and support I have received along the way.  

Please leave comments or questions if you feel so inclined.  I would love to hear your feedback!

Thanks for listening, and take care of yourselves.

Theme music by David Brown of Wayward Blues - check him out at www.waywardblues.com and on Spotify

https://linktr.ee/sailors_disgrace

Note: The episode title picture is of me as a baby - I have recently found how to love that version of me and wanted to share with all of you.

“Strength in Healing” Safe Waters Motto

Humble, grateful, and proud - that is how I am feeling right now.  I am proud to announce that we have officially formed our non-profit, Safe Waters.  Currently, we have four members on the Board of Directors.  If you follow the podcast and group then you are already familiar with Joanne Cloud and Meghan Klement.  Our new friend, Emily Hand, is the President of Safe Waters and comes to us from Wisconsin.  

Please listen to the interview to get a run down of who we are, what our goals are, and how you can help!

I think our mission statement sums up what our goals are pretty well:

“Safe Waters is dedicated to providing a safe, supportive, and empowering space for Coast Guard members who have experienced sexual assault and harassment within the Service. Our mission is to foster healing, promote resilience, bolster prevention, and create a community where survivors are empowered to share their experiences and find solidarity.”

More information will come in the following weeks.  Our website is launching soon as well as our helpline.  We are also setting up methods to receive donations so you can help as well.

Thanks for listening, and take care of yourselves.

Theme music by David Brown of Wayward Blues - check him out at www.waywardblues.com and on Spotify

[https://linktr.ee/sailors_disgrace]

***Trigger Warning - This Episode Contains Content That is Graphic in Nature***

"God, it was good to let go, let the tight mask fall off, and the bewildered, chaotic fragments pour out. It was the purge, the catharsis." Sylvia Plath

I had the great honor of speaking at the Senior Executive Accountability Transparency Review Implementation Summit at Coast Guard Head Quarters a few weeks ago.  In short, I was able to share my full story and thoughts on Coast Guard culture to all the flag officers (Commandant included), Gold Badge Master Chiefs, and senior civilian personnel.  It was a truly humbling experience and I am in awe at how the universe puts us on the path we are intended to walk.

While I am hopeful that we are on the right track as a service, we are going to experience much pain and growth to get to where we need to be.  Congressional investigations are still pending as outlined in this article I mentioned during the episode: 

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/16/politics/coast-guard-sexual-assault-senate-records-invs/index.html

Please let me know what you think - is the Coast Guard and military in general heading in the right direction?  What else can be done to shift our culture?

Thanks for listening, and take care of yourselves.

Theme music by David Brown of Wayward Blues - check him out at www.waywardblues.com and on Spotify

https://linktr.ee/sailors_disgrace

Episode 3: Accountability and Transparency Review (ATR) Report

“It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities.” Josiah Stamp 

Episode three is a deep dive into the ATR report that came out earlier this week.  There are more questions than answers at this point with my main concern being the lack of real accountability for the people behind the Fouled Anchor report and its subsequent cover up.  

In personal news, I am working directly with the ATR team.  They are a dedicated team of professionals and are interested in using my story for Coast Guard wide training.  I am humbled and a little blown away by all the attention this is getting.  The fact that I started this podcast earlier this year just before the Fouled Anchor report was released and how it has all intertwined is beyond me.  Life is truly incredible.  

Also, one of the first action items on the ATR agenda is to host an executive summary in Washington, D.C. this coming February with Admirals, Gold Badge Master Chiefs, and SESs.  The ATR team wants me to speak at this summit so the attendees get a full account from a survivor.  I am honored to be invited to such a high profile event and won’t squander this opportunity to gain some insight on where we are headed as a service.  

Thanks for listening, and take care of yourselves.

Links to the full ATR review and associated documents:

https://www.uscg.mil/alwaysready/

Theme music by David Brown of Wayward Blues - check him out at www.waywardblues.com and on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/0KgZ83CWsea30o358XU3S9...

⁠https://linktr.ee/sailors_disgrace⁠

“Men are not punished for their sins but by them.” Kin Hubbard

Season 2 continues with a discussion on some of the news surrounding Fouled Anchor.  There are a few examples of former high ranking officials falling from grace, but is that enough?  Also, the current Commandant, Admiral Fagan, has ordered a full review of the Coast Guard’s sexual assault and harassment program with a 90 day Accountability Transparency Review.  I submitted a response a few weeks ago and will have a phone interview with Headquarters next week.  I will follow up in a future episode and let everyone know how it goes.

As mentioned in this episode, below are links to the relevant news stories:

Admiral Ray Steps Down from Loy Institute: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/08/19/coast-guard-academy-official-linked-sexual-misconduct-coverup-resigns.html

Captain Sulmasy Resigns as Head of Nichols College: https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/21/us/glenn-sulmasy-coast-guard-investigation-invs/index.html

Admiral Fagan Orders Top Down Review of SAPR Program: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/07/19/coast-guard-orders-top-down-review-after-failure-respond-sexual-assault-reports-academy.html

Theme music by David Brown of Wayward Blues - check him out at www.waywardblues.com and on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/0KgZ83CWsea30o358XU3S9?si=e8jb3BEJS2yvBirLqR8-PQ

 ⁠https://linktr.ee/sailors_disgrace⁠

"Shameful deeds are taught by shameful deeds." Sophocles

Welcome to season two! Join me as I dive in to the recent Fouled Anchor investigation report. Nearly two decades of negligence and poor leadership at the Coast Guard Academy are brought to light in a CNN report and it is not pretty. I analyze each section of the report and share my insight as to why this report was buried by senior Coast Guard officials for nearly three years.

Please provide your feedback on this episode. What are your thoughts on Fouled Anchor? Send a message here or interact with our Facebook Group.

Click here for a full copy of the report:

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23873916-operation-fouled-anchor-report

Theme music by David Brown of Wayward Blues - check him out at https://www.waywardblues.com and on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/0KgZ83CWsea30o358XU3S9?si=e8jb3BEJS2yvBirLqR8-PQ

https://linktr.ee/sailors_disgrace

Welcome back to the podcast! Season 2 is underway and I am excited to post new content very soon. I have some interviews lined up which I am really looking forward to sharing with you all. Also, there has been a lot of developments regarding Fouled Anchor and the impact it has made on the Coast Guard. We will dig deep on this story and discuss the ramifications it has had on the service as a whole.

Furthermore, I am looking for ideas, content, and voices! Anyone that would like to contribute to the podcast, please let me know! The community is growing and the support has been nothing short of amazing. Thank you to everyone that stuck it through the first season. The support of friends, family, shipmates, and strangers has been truly humbling and I am grateful beyond words for all of you.

Take care of yourselves and standby for more content in the very near future!

https://linktr.ee/sailors_disgrace

“One of the biggest defects in life, is the inability to ask for help.” Robert Kiyosaki 

Finally accepting that the Coast Guard investigation was at an end and that the perpetrators would not be held accountable, I was able to slowly start the healing process.  Therapy began to marginally improve my situation.  The daily struggle to survive became less excruciating and I felt that I was ready for group therapy.  Sharing my story for the first time in a semi-public forum was a breakthrough in my healing process.  

Just when things were starting to get better, another major setback occurred when I was diagnosed with cancer.  With the help of a fantastic medical team, I was able to identify that my cancer started forming around the time of my initial breakdown in late 2016.  Realizing the impacts stress can have on our physical bodies is profound, and I spent most of 2018 fighting for my physical and emotional well-being.

Theme music by David Brown of Wayward Blues - check him out at https://www.waywardblues.com and on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/0KgZ83CWsea30o358XU3S9?si=e8jb3BEJS2yvBirLqR8-PQ

Thank you for listening and please leave comments and suggestions here or on the Facebook group and Instagram. 

https://linktr.ee/sailors_disgrace