Kori Cioca shares her harrowing journey from a hopeful Coast Guard recruit to a survivor of sexual assault. The toxic culture at her first posting led to a violent assault by a superior, leaving her with lasting physical and emotional scars. Despite enduring immense pain, the discovery of her pregnancy proved to be a lifeline. Now, her daughter Shea is inspired to advocate for fellow survivors, highlighting the urgent need for recognition and policy change regarding military sexual assault.
When I arrived at my first posting on a small Coast Guard station, everything was drastically different. The culture was toxic; men would openly read pornographic magazines in common spaces.
During the attack, he hit me so hard that he dislocated my jaw - an injury that still causes me pain 20 years later. Since then, I've dealt with immense pain, both physically and emotionally.
Finding out I was pregnant saved my life. After leaving the boat station where I was attacked, I moved out of state to Michigan, where I met my husband.
Despite my love for my husband, I was suicidal. I actively had a plan to overdose on pain medications.
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