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Darker Than Navy Blue: A Sailor's Memoir of Tragedy and Healing
Strong's debut memoir retraces the motivations that drove her toward a desire to serve her country in the Navy -- a career stopped all too short after confiding to a chaplain about the string of sexual abuses from senior enlisted leaders who systematically target potential victims with predatory tactics of grooming and isolation—and the motivations that fueled a decade-long pursuit of the honorable discharge she was originally denied by the same corrupt leadership that victimized her. Her intimate and unflinching search for deeper personal truths leads toward a deeper inner awareness about the role of childhood trauma on young adulthood decision-making, and why victims of childhood abuse find it more difficult to report abuse by those who hold positions of military power. In "Darker than Navy Blue," Strong personifies the mettle of strength and fortitude perhaps necessary to break free, finally, of the victim cycle before the cycle irreparably breaks the spirit.
141 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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December 6, 2018I can't and won't rate my own story.
I will say that I lived every detail, and it taught me a lot about myself that I wouldn't otherwise know. I tried hard to write without grinding an axe, or trying to play a totally innocent individual. The military is a hard road for anyone to march - especially women. Out of 1.4 million active duty service members about 200k are women. Those are some tough odds in reality. Especially when the VA I takes report 1-in-4 women experience rape/sexual harassment and 1-in-25 men do.
But that I met and made the best friends a person could ever have until the day we die is the thing I am most grateful for. You all know who you are!
I will say that I lived every detail, and it taught me a lot about myself that I wouldn't otherwise know. I tried hard to write without grinding an axe, or trying to play a totally innocent individual. The military is a hard road for anyone to march - especially women. Out of 1.4 million active duty service members about 200k are women. Those are some tough odds in reality. Especially when the VA I takes report 1-in-4 women experience rape/sexual harassment and 1-in-25 men do.
But that I met and made the best friends a person could ever have until the day we die is the thing I am most grateful for. You all know who you are!
December 22, 2018
A brave recollection of difficult times. Makes one realize that "Join the Navy, See the World" and "It's Not Just a Job, It's an Adventure" are nothing more that slogans in recruiting advertisements and are not always the truth. I hope this book can help other female sailors who have endured similar treatment. No one should have to put up with these types of abuse especially in our armed forces.
May 14, 2018
I was fortunate the serve on the same ship as the author, and witnessed most of what she describes. I am also lucky to call the author a friend. As a senior NCO with nearly 23 years of service, it was difficult watching a friend go through what the author did on our ship. The abuse of power, sexual harassment, slut shaming, and sexism the author experienced is, unfortunately not uncommon for women in the military.
Because a woman chooses to sleep with someone, does not mean she is a slut and therefore handing it out. Women have needs similar to men; males tend to forget that. Several senior NCOs, above both the author and I, assumed that since the author had sex with someone, that she therefore should have sex with them.
Women walk a double-edged sword in the military. If she does not have sex, then she is an ice cold bitch or a closet lesbian. If she does sleep with someone, then she is a slut and any advancement or award she gets is because she spread her legs. Men get to screw around as much as they like and are often praised for their conquests. Because of how I watched the author and other women get treated in the military, I would discourage any women, especially my daughters, from joining the military.
The author declining to hand out sexual favors resulted in small-minded retaliation against her. The author was a very junior sailor, fairly fresh from her MOS school and not so important to the command that she couldn't have been released to go to the EOD.
Regrettably, I was not in a position of high enough authority to help the author and had my own problems with the chain of command which resulted in my leaving the Navy at 17 years of service. This command killed and ruined more careers and lives than I have ever seen in all of my years of service.
This is a brutal example of how poorly women are treated in the military in general. It is a quick and sad read of a young woman with so much potential wasted due to pettiness.
Because a woman chooses to sleep with someone, does not mean she is a slut and therefore handing it out. Women have needs similar to men; males tend to forget that. Several senior NCOs, above both the author and I, assumed that since the author had sex with someone, that she therefore should have sex with them.
Women walk a double-edged sword in the military. If she does not have sex, then she is an ice cold bitch or a closet lesbian. If she does sleep with someone, then she is a slut and any advancement or award she gets is because she spread her legs. Men get to screw around as much as they like and are often praised for their conquests. Because of how I watched the author and other women get treated in the military, I would discourage any women, especially my daughters, from joining the military.
The author declining to hand out sexual favors resulted in small-minded retaliation against her. The author was a very junior sailor, fairly fresh from her MOS school and not so important to the command that she couldn't have been released to go to the EOD.
Regrettably, I was not in a position of high enough authority to help the author and had my own problems with the chain of command which resulted in my leaving the Navy at 17 years of service. This command killed and ruined more careers and lives than I have ever seen in all of my years of service.
This is a brutal example of how poorly women are treated in the military in general. It is a quick and sad read of a young woman with so much potential wasted due to pettiness.
December 17, 2018
Darker than Navy Blue: A Sailor’s Memoir of Tragedy and Healing Nicole Strong
I connected with the author through Goodreads and immediately bought an eBook, as we have both published under “memoir.”
This book tells a harrowing story based on the author's experience in the Navy in the early 2000s. Through newspapers and the media, I’m aware of sexual misconduct, but it was Strong’s book that I recognized the extent and appalling treatment of women under such circumstances.
Sexual assault is part of acceptable cultures within the forces. The central component of Strong’s story is the “Captain Mast,” a public ceremony based on rumor and innuendo aimed at humiliation of any involved. Such ceremonies, I previously thought, only belonged in authoritarian regimes. Obviously, I was wrong.
I believe this book should be in every recruiting office in the country. Her story calls into question the abuse of power by those in authority, from those in command to fellow recruits to the chaplain.
There are some people with ethical values in the forces, and Strong takes pains to point out that she gained many skills during her time, but the downside for her came at a huge, unimaginable, and to me, an unacceptable price.
This book should not be the end of the story, but one which I believe should question the experiment of placing men and women together in the armed forces. It is not a question of equality, but rather one of culture.
Strong entering the Navy was, I believe, closer to being thrown into a lion’s den—and telling the lions not to eat her while stared at her drooling.
The cost of placing women in such positions puts them in danger, even in 2018, even in an era of the #MeToo movement. After reading this book, I would never allow my daughter or female friend to go into the forces. Sexual assaults are too numerous with little to no recourse for the perpetrators, thus no consequences and no changes. A powerful book which should be read by many!
I connected with the author through Goodreads and immediately bought an eBook, as we have both published under “memoir.”
This book tells a harrowing story based on the author's experience in the Navy in the early 2000s. Through newspapers and the media, I’m aware of sexual misconduct, but it was Strong’s book that I recognized the extent and appalling treatment of women under such circumstances.
Sexual assault is part of acceptable cultures within the forces. The central component of Strong’s story is the “Captain Mast,” a public ceremony based on rumor and innuendo aimed at humiliation of any involved. Such ceremonies, I previously thought, only belonged in authoritarian regimes. Obviously, I was wrong.
I believe this book should be in every recruiting office in the country. Her story calls into question the abuse of power by those in authority, from those in command to fellow recruits to the chaplain.
There are some people with ethical values in the forces, and Strong takes pains to point out that she gained many skills during her time, but the downside for her came at a huge, unimaginable, and to me, an unacceptable price.
This book should not be the end of the story, but one which I believe should question the experiment of placing men and women together in the armed forces. It is not a question of equality, but rather one of culture.
Strong entering the Navy was, I believe, closer to being thrown into a lion’s den—and telling the lions not to eat her while stared at her drooling.
The cost of placing women in such positions puts them in danger, even in 2018, even in an era of the #MeToo movement. After reading this book, I would never allow my daughter or female friend to go into the forces. Sexual assaults are too numerous with little to no recourse for the perpetrators, thus no consequences and no changes. A powerful book which should be read by many!
August 13, 2019
This author delivers a powerful story of many "covered up" truths and what she endured during her time as a Navy Sailor. What a disgusting display by the officers in charge as they abused their powerful positions. As the story unfolds you plainly see the trickle down "affect" as men as well as women abuse the power given to them. They took this honor and made a mockery our of it destroying many lives along the way. Shame on Them!!! Nicole Strong broke the silence and became a voice for the voiceless in this complex system. Thank you for sharing your story and bringing awareness to this strong and powerful subject. Abuse comes in many ways, shapes and forms and we must be vigilant to continue to raise awareness.
August 24, 2019
Raw and real trauma and healing
Miss Strong shares her journey with transparency and authenticity. It takes a lot of courage to come forward and speak your truth. I hope her book helps many people with their pain or sexual trauma. This is a book that is much more than a sad story – – it has the perfect ending. She’s a striver!
Miss Strong shares her journey with transparency and authenticity. It takes a lot of courage to come forward and speak your truth. I hope her book helps many people with their pain or sexual trauma. This is a book that is much more than a sad story – – it has the perfect ending. She’s a striver!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews