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Silence can be a survival skill, especially when the system around you feels like it will punish the truth. We sit down with Paula J. Kemp, a U.S. Navy combat veteran who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom as a combat photographer, to talk about what happens when the uniform you love becomes the setting for military sexual trauma (MST) and the long shadow it can cast afterward.

Paula walks us through the real-world barriers that keep survivors from reporting: rank, credibility, unit loyalty, fear of retaliation, and the worry that speaking up will end your ability to do the job you trained for. We also go deeper on culture and leadership, why accountability is not “anti-military,” and how prevention and reform have to be more than check-the-box programs if we want readiness, integrity, and trust inside formations.

Then we get practical. Paula shares how a VA disability claim opened the door to naming MST, getting into therapy, and eventually building a battle buddy style peer support approach to help other veterans navigate the VA healthcare system and claims process. We talk about a powerful tool she champions, the MST personal statement, and why putting your experience on paper in your own voice can reduce re-traumatization during appointments and compensation exams. Finally, she explains the mission behind Unjustly Served, co-authored with trauma clinician Marshall Kirkpatrick, and how pairing survivor stories with clinical insight helps families, providers, and leaders connect the dots.

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