Kristy Carr

I joined the Army to prove my strength as a woman, and improve the financial status of my marriage at the time, to an Army veteran. My experience in BCT was fulfilling, but difficult because I could not accept the immaturity of others, as I was 23 and a 2 year college graduate at the time, it was difficult to be treated like a fresh out of high school 18 year old. In AIT I began experiencing panic attacks at Ft. Gordon. I went through all routes: 1st Sgt, CO, Chaplin, Mental Health, they all told me that I was faking it and just wanted out, and told me to either get pregnant or desert. I tried everything to get help, I liked the Army, I liked the friends I made, I liked the comradre. After a couple months of agony and getting my rank docked from E3 to E1, I finally gave in and left post a couple times, they sent me to Ft. Knox where they still would not let me go, so I left post there too and travelled the west for a month, returning to get my other than honorable discharge moving along. To this day, over 10 years later, I still feel bitterly betrayed. It turned out I had an overactive thyroid causing ALL of my anxiety issues, easily treated with a daily medicine. They could have listened and not written me off. I've forgiven those that were in command, sadly this was only the beginning of the deplorable treatment of our active duty soldiers and veterans, and it's UNACCEPTABLE! Something must change, we are not disposable!