Battling Trauma: One Spa Day at a Time

Cinthia Melendez, United States Navy

WARNING: This story includes references to Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

First stop was bootcamp in Illinois which became an experience that will stay with me forever. Being in A-School was a reminder that I was moving forward to do my job as an engineer in the fleet. I had never been happier to go out that first day in the big city of Chicago and enjoy the outdoors without having to sleep in the engineering barracks for the entire weekend. My friends and I searched for the best pizza in town and it was such a delight to finish off that pie together.

We got back to our hotel and we met a higher-ranking military member who was staying in the same hotel as us. He invited us to a party in his room, so we hurried up and got ready. Mostly men were there, besides me and about 3 other women. Everyone had a drink in hand and soon I had one too. But I started feeling tired and drowsy. When I looked down, I realized that I had not drunk enough of my drink to be drunk so I was confused. I felt more drowsy...they offered to take me to my room...I suddenly felt like I was not able to walk on my own so they guided me to the room...I blacked out from there…I later woke up in my bathtub naked...there were people sleeping in the bed...I didn't know any of them and I was confused and still drowsy. I realized that I was drugged.

This was when I experienced Military Sexual Trauma (MST). Unfortunately, I'm not the only one. According to the Pentagon's annual report on Sexual Assault and Prevention in the Military, 36,000 servicemembers experienced unwanted sexual contact in 2022, an all-time high number. Typically, the assault is on women by someone with a higher rank. But I didn't know any of this at the time. All I knew is that I felt violated, and I came back to the barracks early to sleep for two days straight. I didn't know who to trust and never told anyone. I've held this in for a long time.

What got me through MST was knowing that I had an opportunity that many didn’t have. I was born in Mexico, so I had to keep moving forward in order to give my daughter the best future possible. I also had many opportunities like working as a Hospital Corpsman and enjoyed working in the Brig. I have many great memories that will last a lifetime. My time in the Navy was not all bad because when it was time to get off the ship, I helped many women take care of themselves by making them feel beautiful. I did everything from hairstyles, make-up, manicures, eyebrows, and helped them with skin troubles. I even dressed them up for special occasions and brought in my sewing machine to sew uniforms.

I especially loved taking care of the women who I knew had gone through a similar experience as my own. What I did for them made them feel better. I understood then that when I left the military, I would become a cosmetologist. And so I did! I also went to massage and esthetician school, learning so much, and it all came so easy to me. I've enjoyed doing skincare so much that I started my own business. Currently, I am working on my own skincare line by making sunscreen, face oils, and body creams. What keeps giving me my strength is God and with Him all things are possible, and by working through my own traumas, I am lucky to help others overcome their own.