03/19/19 – 6:52 P.M.

U.S. Senator Martha McSally came forward about being sexually assaulted while serving in the military, but she isn’t alone. Hancock County Veterans Service director Nicole Coleman was drugged and raped at a unit party. She explained that many women find it difficult to come forward and that if she wouldn’t have if she remembered the event at the time, she wouldn’t have either.

She said that there was a lack of trust of the system that the issues would be addressed. She added that coming forward can also be traumatic.

Coleman said that there is much being done to address sexual harassment in the military, though, and she remains optimistic.

Coleman explained that during her time in the Air Force she was subject to a lot of sexual harassment. She said that she has spoken with many female service members today and things are getting better, but that there is still room for improvement.