Breaking the Ranks with April Childers: A Female Navy Chief's Fight Against Military Misconduct and Male-Dominated Culture

In this episode of Trauma Intersections, host Courtney speaks with April Childers, a Navy veteran, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, and founder of HER Bougie Travel and the Middle Tennessee Veterans Coalition. After serving 20 years in the U.S. Navy as an electronics technician, April carried the lessons of resilience, leadership, and perseverance into a mission of helping others create meaningful lives beyond their challenges. April shares her experiences as a woman in the military, including the constant pressure to prove herself, gender discrimination, and witnessing sexual misconduct aboard Navy ships. She recounts a particularly troubling deployment where leadership failures enabled inappropriate behavior, ultimately leading to the removal of multiple officers. Drawing from her service as a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) representative, April also discusses the importance of advocacy, accountability, and supporting survivors. Today, April is passionate about helping people rediscover possibility and connection. Through HER Bougie Travel, she encourages women to prioritize themselves and embrace new experiences, while her work with the Middle Tennessee Veterans Coalition provides resources, education, and community support for veterans and their families. She also shares details about the coalition's upcoming Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall exhibition in Tennessee. Throughout the conversation, April highlights the importance of resilience, community, and creating moments that matter long after military service ends.   Timestamps Podcast Introduction (00:00:29) Host Courtney introduces the Trauma Intersections podcast and welcomes her guest and friend, April, a US Navy veteran. April's Military Background (00:01:41) April shares her role as an electronics technician in the US Navy, serving from 1994 to 2014. Being a Woman in the Military in the 90s (00:02:19) April discusses the challenges of being one of the first women on her ship and constantly having to prove herself. Gender Bias and Proving Credibility (00:05:15) April describes how women were often placed in admin roles and the importance of working alongside men to earn respect. Life on a Military Ship (00:10:05) April explains the tight quarters on ships and how male sailors were initially trained to avoid interacting with female shipmates. Female Camaraderie and Challenges (00:12:57) April discusses taking on a motherly role for younger female sailors and warning them about the new attention from men. Handling Sexual Misconduct (00:14:08) April shares a story of confronting a male colleague for making inappropriate comments to female sailors on her ship in Guam. Systemic Failures and Leadership Issues (00:17:10) April recounts a difficult experience on her last ship, where a lack of female leadership led to widespread misconduct. The Aftermath of Misconduct (00:19:03) April describes the emotional toll and feeling of failure after the ship's leadership was removed for inappropriate behavior. Becoming a Sexual Assault Prevention Representative (SAPR) (00:23:30) April talks about reluctantly taking on the SAPR role and the upsetting trend of supervisors preying on younger sailors. Coping Mechanisms for Trauma (00:27:55) April shares how she used running to cope and discusses changes in military policy to better support victims of assault. The Stigma of Mental Health for Veterans (00:33:54) April discusses how veterans often self-medicate and avoid asking for help until they are in a crisis due to stigma. Alternative Therapies for Veterans (00:37:03) The conversation covers non-traditional resources like equine therapy and "Guitars for Vets" that help veterans heal outside of therapy. Middle Tennessee Veterans Coalition (00:39:02) April introduces her nonprofit, which focuses on education, collaboration, and providing veterans with direct access to resources. The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall Event (00:41:20) April details an upcoming event her nonprofit is hosting, bringing the memorial wall to Dixon County, Tennessee. How to Get Involved (00:43:55) April provides contact information for her nonprofit, including its Facebook page and email, for those who want to help.   Powerful Quotes from the Episode April, "I felt like I was always having to reprove myself. Every time you transfer, you had to go through that and started over with your credibility, where a lot of the men walked in with it because they were a man." April, "That's how you earn respect from the men. You get out there and work beside them." April, "I'm biting my lip to keep from crying because I'm so angry." April, "I felt like I should have done more. I should have known. I felt like I let them down, and it broke my heart." April, "I love the military, but I also saw the dark side of it."   RESOURCES: Connect with April: https://theaprilchilders.com www.bougieit.com   Connect With Me: Courtney Copeland Website: www.thecourtneycopeland.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.courtney.copeland/ Resources and offerings: linktr.ee/theCourtneyCopeland FOLLOW THE PODCAST: Trauma Intersections on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.   "True leadership isn't about rank—it's about having the courage to speak up when others stay silent."   Podcast Produced and edited by the team at ResilientVoiceMedia.com Contact us for expert podcast production and support.