A Yeoman’s Fight for Care and Respect in the U.S. Navy

Heather (not her real name) didn’t join the Navy to push papers. She joined to serve her country. But in her words, “not to be treated like some secretary.” After sustaining a painful fall down metal stairs aboard a Navy ship – landing hard on her left side – Heather expected swift and serious medical attention. Instead, she waited five hours to be seen. When she finally was, she wasn’t rushed to the ER. She wasn’t even believed. Instead, she was brushed off, labeled “attention-seeking,” and told there was no sign of nerve damage, despite worsening symptoms in her left limbs.

What followed wasn’t just neglect. It was a pattern. A system trained to minimize injury, suppress dissent, and sideline the very women it claims to support.

“Hey Yotes” – The Culture of Casual Disrespect

Heather’s position as a Yeoman (admin role) is used as an excuse to minimize her contributions. She’s frequently summoned with, “Hey Yotes,” a nickname that strips her of professional dignity. The broader pattern of gendered roles in the Navy reinforces this: women in administrative roles are often perceived as support staff, not full-fledged sailors. She’s spoken up about this before, but it’s often brushed off as “overreacting” or dismissed behind closed doors.

“They treat me like a piece of office equipment that happens to bleed.”

Not Just Banter: The Quiet Collapse of Honor

Some will say this is just how it is. That everyone in the military goes through hazing. That this is normal banter. That Heather should toughen up, blend in, and learn to laugh it off.

But if that’s your defense… ask yourself this: What does it mean when an institution built on honor, respect, and duty treats its youngest and most vulnerable members as expendable targets for casual cruelty?

This isn’t about a joke gone too far. This is about institutionalized disrespect. A system that teaches new recruits they are worthless until they’ve proven otherwise, and then moves the goalposts every time they get close. For young women like Heather, who are trying to carve out a place in a rigid, male-dominated culture, the message is even louder: you’re lucky to even be here.

And when someone like Heather speaks up, it’s not just about her injury. It’s about the gaslighting that follows. It’s about the pressure to be silent. It’s about the echo chamber of power where those at the bottom are taught that they don’t matter – until they break, or until they leave.

If banter becomes the excuse for burying real harm, then it’s not culture, it’s cowardice. And the cost isn’t just morale. The cost is trust. The cost is people like Heather, whose strength gets crushed beneath the weight of tradition masquerading as toughness.

The Fall They Didn’t Want to See

While aboard ship, Heather fell down a flight of metal stairs, landing on her left side. Pain began immediately, especially in her left limbs – suggesting nerve involvement. Despite her pain, she waited five hours to be seen and was not referred to the ER. Medical providers downplayed her symptoms, refusing to escalate diagnostics or take her seriously.

Heather was advised that in order to receive care at an emergency room or any off-ship medical facility, she would require a referral from ship medical staff. This administrative barrier has delayed access to proper care, and Heather has complied with protocol despite worsening symptoms.

While she does not explicitly fear retaliation, the system’s restrictions and lack of responsiveness have left her with limited safe options for pursuing adequate treatment.

“I was hurting all over my left side, and they acted like I just wanted attention.”

“No Nerve Damage” – Denial Without Diagnosis

Heather continues to experience pain, with symptoms consistent with nerve damage. The Navy’s medical team has refused to conduct deeper diagnostics and insists there’s “no sign” of nerve damage. Despite this, she’s been prescribed muscle relaxers and yet still expected to work.

Heather is currently on limited duty, but the stipulations have not been respected. She has been required to stand for longer than the prescribed maximum of 15 minutes, even though it takes her that long just to reach her workstation. Additionally, she was prescribed Naproxen, despite having a known history of stomach ulcers. Her limited duty status was effectively canceled the moment she went on leave and has not been reinstated, leaving her without proper medical protection.

“I’m still in pain, but they act like if I don’t collapse, it must not be real.”

No Place for Women’s Health

Heather pointed out a broader issue: there’s little to no women’s health infrastructure where she’s stationed. She’s not alone in feeling underrepresented, under-supported, and unheard. Years of reports show a historic pattern in the Navy of undermining women’s health concerns, especially those that are less visible or involve chronic pain, trauma, or reproductive care.

“We’re told to be strong. But when we are, they ignore us. And when we show pain, they say we’re weak.”

When Loyalty Meets Neglect

Heather still believes in service, but she’s starting to question who’s really being protected. She’s made it clear: she’s not afraid to speak out, even if it means invoking the Whistleblower Protection Act. Her fight isn’t just for herself, it’s for every woman in uniform who’s been sidelined, silenced, or gaslit into silence.

When asked what justice or validation would look like, Heather said simply: “No more degrading of E1s to E3s.” She explained that ranks below E4 are sometimes referred to as “shit bags” – a culture of disrespect that discourages new recruits and may be contributing to the military’s ongoing recruitment challenges.

Outside of work, Heather has experienced an emotional fallout as well. She’s been unable to perform basic household tasks, like cooking or cleaning, after a full day of resting. These physical limitations have created a sense of inadequacy that feeds into a broader cycle of depression – an experience she believes is common among women in the service.

“Many women join to find their strength,” she said, “but instead, they find it’s stifled.”