Connecting with a Fellow Veteran to Find Healing


As a strong, independent woman serving in the military, Nikita never expected she would need to be on the defense while surrounded by her colleagues, but one night in 2008 proved her wrong.

While preparing for a new position 11 years ago, Nikita became close with those taking the training alongside her. Towards the end of their program, they all decided to walk to a nearby bar to celebrate their achievement. While there, a man approached Nikita who shared that he too was in the military and was training at the same base as her. Nikita was polite, but returned to her group of classmates.

At the end of the night when Nikita and a friend were heading back to their hotel, the same man from the bar pulled up in a car outside with a friend and offered them a ride. Nikita’s friend was acquainted with the men, so she felt it was safe to get in the car.

When they returned to their hotel, they all went to Nikita’s room. Nikita went to the bathroom, but when she came out, the man was in her face screaming at her before slamming her against the wall and touching her inappropriately. Thankfully her friend and the other man were in the room to intervene, but on his way out the door, the man who attacked her said he’d be back to kill her.

Feeling unsafe in her room, Nikita called a male classmate to come pick her up. They returned to his hotel room where he has her sleep on the bed. Instead of sleeping on the couch, her classmate gets into the bed with her and begins assaulting her. Nikita asked him to stop, but he doesn’t listen, he doesn’t stop.

Nikita shared these experiences with her supervisors and was given two options: file a report that would lead to an investigation and delay her moving on to her next post, or finish training and move to Germany to continue her job without pressing charges. Wanting to move on with her life, Nikita took the second option.

For years, Nikita was burdened with nightmares and flashbacks of this evening. The trauma was impacting her daily life, even making it difficult to keep up with her bills. Once she received a notice for eviction, she knew she couldn’t handle this by herself. She called 2-1-1 and was able to connect with a fellow veteran. That veteran, Manny, connected Nikita to veteran specific services and trauma counseling so that she could begin to heal from the night that changed her life so many years ago.

Nikita learned the sexual assault was not her fault. She also gained financial stability with a new job at the Crisis Center, where she too is able to provide one-on-one support to fellow veterans.

Watch Nikita’s full video HERE .