Broken Systems, Broken Hearts: Lakeydra’s Fight for Her Life
Lakeydra, an Air Force veteran, shares her powerful story of survival through betrayal, MST, and profound grief after losing her sister. In this gripping episode, she exposes the toxic military culture of alcohol abuse, systemic silencing, and trafficking, while charting her hard-fought journey toward healing, advocacy, and reclaiming her voice.
Lakeydra found herself trapped in a trauma cycle of alcohol and MST in a new duty station. Her breaking point came when faced with an unexpected and tragic loss that set her up for the fight for her life.
Lakeydra’s story exposes betrayal, grief, and her inextinguishable inner-light that propelled her toward healing and advocacy.
“It was back to back.”
In this gripping episode of The Silenced Voices of MST, Air Force veteran Lakeydra continues sharing her deeply personal journey of survival, betrayal, profound grief, and transformation. Her story spans nearly drowning in military culture steeped in alcohol and silence, the trauma of military sexual assault (MST), and the unbearable loss of her sister. With unflinching honesty, Lakeydra recounts how these intertwined traumas nearly cost her everything—but also sparked her fight to reclaim her voice and help others do the same. This is a story of standing up after being held down by institutional neglect.
Lakeydra describes her next assignment in South Korea, a period marked by overwhelming peer pressure. The heavy drinking culture, normalized toxic behaviors, and relentless push to conform left her vulnerable and isolated. She was betrayed by her wingman—a moment that shattered her trust and marked the continuation of her experiences of MST. While trying to deal with feeling completely numb, Lakeydra pulls back the curtain on human trafficking within the military, detailing how senior leadership facilitated exploitation and turned a blind eye to widespread abuse. Seeing that she could do nothing to help the exploited women, Lakeydra withdrew further into herself. Her grief deepened with the sudden, devastating loss of her sister—a moment that left her in a spiral of depression, isolation, and self-harm. Facing both external betrayal and internal collapse, Lakeydra reached her breaking point, confronting a mental health crisis that felt insurmountable.
Toxic Cultural Shifts in New Environments
Lakeydra paints a vivid picture of arriving in South Korea, unprepared for the cultural and environmental changes that would redefine her military experience. She unpacks how the pervasive alcohol culture created an unsafe and high-pressure atmosphere, where refusal to participate meant ostracization and ridicule. The deep impact of toxic environments on service members' mental health and well-being is something that wasn’t discussed because it’s perceived as weakness and “not belonging”.
The Cycle of Trauma and Systemic Betrayal Continues
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Lakeydra reveals the full extent of her MST experience, starting with the betrayal by someone she thought she could trust, then understanding how the military’s own structures failed her at every turn. She shares difficult details about the pattern of abuse, the denial of justice, and her growing awareness of a hidden world of trafficking enabled by those in power.
What’s not widely known is these systemic failures and the dark undercurrents are still at play within our military.
Reaching Her Breaking Point
Lakeydra shares a defining moment in her life. Her heartbreaking account of losing her sister—a loss that compounded her trauma and left her feeling more isolated than ever. Her sister was present at Lakeydra’s basic training graduation, as mentioned in the previous episode. That was one of the last times she was full of happiness and pride in her abilities. She opens up about battling severe depression, experiencing harassment when she was at her most vulnerable, and making a serious attempt on her life. This is a searing look at the hidden toll these layered traumas take, not just in the moment, but for years after, and sadly, many do not get the chance to share their stories because of it.
Against all odds, Lakeydra found lifelines in community and advocacy. She describes the pivotal moment when an unfamiliar Master Sergeant came forward to support her, offering strength and understanding she had long craved. He helped her find help, ultimately saving her life. This surge of support reignited her will to fight—not just for herself, but for other survivors. Her commitment to building safe, empowering spaces for fellow survivors who are struggling to find hope has become the core of her mission.
“You have to remember your ‘why’.”
- Lakeydra
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Lakeydra’s experience is a rallying call to action. Her story exposes institutional betrayal, the hidden crisis of trafficking, and the devastating effects of unaddressed complex traumas. But take this to heart. Her story is an example of the almost miraculous healing power of support and community. Lakeydra’s journey shows that even in the darkest moments, there is still a dawn.
Links
This episode contains a few references to news articles and books that are listed below:
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Wounds to Wisdom: Healing Through Veteran and First Responder Narratives
If you need professional support. please contact:
☎️ SA Support for the DoD Community, contact the DoD Safe Helpline: https://www.sapr.mil/dod-safe-helpline
☎️ If you are in crisis or need immediate support, call the Veterans Crisis Line: 988, then 1
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Episode Trigger Warning Index
This episode contains references to the following topics. Please use this guide to skip if needed:
01:18 - 02:29 Alcohol abuse and toxic drinking culture
02:32 - 02:50 MST and military inaction
02:54 - 04:10 Peer pressure, bullying, isolation
04:23 - 05:39 Sexual assault, betrayal, victim blaming
05:42 - 06:18 Further assault, deepening trauma
06:25 - 07:23 Depression, reluctance to disclose
07:44 - 08:18 Human trafficking, leadership complicity
08:24 - 10:19 "Juicy Girls," survivor guilt
11:02 - 14:10 Sister’s death, harassment, self-harm, suicidal thoughts
17:34 - 18:39 Supporting another MST victim, starting advocacy
19:31 - 20:34 Survivor silencing, victim blaming
26:08 - 26:43 Transition out of service, overdose mention, ongoing healing
Takeaways from Part 2
Military culture and peer pressure has lasting psychological effects.
Alcohol abuse normalization creates and insulates unsafe environments, especially for those unprepared or influenced by previous traumas..
MST survivors face systemic silencing and deep betrayal.
Personal grief and loss amplify the mental health crisis among service members.
Human trafficking within the military requires urgent investigation and accountability.
Advocacy, peer support, and community are critical tools for healing.
Institutional reform and trauma-informed care are essential for true change.
Reflection Journal Prompt
Has someone unexpected shown up in your life when you needed them the most?
Spend a few minutes after listening to reflect or journal. What did you feel during this episode? What are you still thinking about? What systems need to change — and what part could you play in that change?
Join the Conversation & Amplify Survivors
Want to talk through your experience? Or support someone else in theirs?
Join our private Facebook group: The Advocates of MST
Don’t forget. This conversation matters. And MSTy showed immense courage by telling her story. Please help us make sure her voice travels further: Leaving a written review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts helps elevate the visibility of the show for more survivors suffering in isolation and pain. A simple review can change another person’s life forever.
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Although this podcast is a great resource, it does not and should not replace care from a medical professional. If you’re in crisis or need someone to talk to:
Call the Veterans Crisis Line — 988, then press 1
Or go to the nearest emergency room.
You are not alone. We believe you. You matter.
Next week, May 13, 2025, we speak with Gender Violence Institute founder, Chuck Derry, who offers insight into why MST has endured and exactly how to stop it.