Melissa and Anthony have a compelling story of perseverance, service, and love. Melissa was sexually assaulted as a Cadet at the Academy, and found comfort in a fellow Cadet Anthony. After falling in love with each other at the United States Air Force Academy while each of them competed in NCAA Division 1 Athletics, they discovered that they had an unplanned pregnancy.
Melissa was shamed for being pregnant while she was a Cadet, most notably by Col (Ret) Gail Colvin, who was one of the first women to graduate from the Air Force Academy. Melissa, being a Catholic, refused to have an abortion and wanted the responsibility of being a mother. Col (Ret) Colvin encouraged many women at the Air Force Academy to have abortions during her tenure there because it wasn't deemed as being "professional". Melissa recognized when she came back to be an instructor at USAFA that many Cadets struggled with unplanned pregnancies and were terrified of USAFA leadership because they felt they had no options. Melissa and Anthony have dedicated over ten years of their lives to changing that stigma at our Federal Service Academies.
Melissa and Anthony shared the strong desire to serve their country as commissioned officers, and give back to the Air Force Academy as instructors. While navigating the archaic rules of our Federal military academies, Anthony and Melissa had to endure significant hardship in order to keep their family together…all while upholding their oath as military service members. Join Melissa and Anthony on this special two part episode where we will discuss the challenges, legal implications, and story of exceptional resilience that led to the creation of the CADET Act, and why this important reform for our federal military academies effects us all.
Instagram: Adam.DeRito
Website: www.adamderito.com
Music: YetiTears
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