New Book
Jakia Lindley
Author, military veteran, and survivor.
War at Home: A Call to Reform the Military Justice System and to Give Voice to the Ones Who Need to
Break the Silence, Destroy the Stigma and End the Cycle of Abuse
Available Now
War at Home is not just a book. It is the beginning of a movement. Help raise awareness and initiate change
- Discover exclusive stories, facts and pictures that weren’t included in the book;
- Share your own story of survival with Jakia;
- Get updates on Jakia’s Activism activities and news about the book;
- Learn how to join the movement and be an agent of change.
Jakia’s Mission Statement
Break the silence, Destroy the stigma, End the cycle of abuse.
I did not recognize ABUSE when it first appeared,
because I could not imagine one soul hurting another.
I did not retreat from ABUSE when it grew;
rather, I washed my face, readied my smile, and wore camouflage armor.
I did not run from ABUSE when it persisted,
choosing instead to blame myself and to see the best in you.
When I finally stood strong against ABUSE,
it was not because I hated you.
I did it because I realized, at last, I deserved better.
Jakia’s examples of domestic violence, sexual abuse, discrimination, and abuse of power, proves that
fighting back and healing starts with something as seemingly small as standing up for ourselves.
Jakia’s Area of Expertise
Jakia is a certified Department of Defense Sexual Assault Victim Advocate and is committed to providing a high-quality response to sexual assault survivors. Her current role is to assist local military families and eligible dependents through the process of filing reports of sexual assault. She has 40-plus hours of continuous training and has assisted numerous survivors.
As a certified Master Resiliency Instructor, Jakia has more than four years of experience mentoring and coaching military members in nine areas that enhance resilience. This work encompasses creating airmen who possess a solid mental, physical, social, and spiritual well-being. Each of these areas are designed to offer strength-based, positive psychological tools.
Jakia
My name is Jakia Monee Lindley. For years I kept my secrets quiet. But the time has come for me to speak. No, I cannot speak for every member of the service, nor will I try to. But I will tell you about the unresolved trauma I brought into my own military service. I will detail the harassment I faced as a woman in the Air Force, and the abuse I suffered when I obeyed the order of “if you see something, say something.” I will share about the domestic violence I experienced at the hands of my ex-husband, a fellow airman. I will be open about the system that sucked the will to live from me.
In sharing my story, War at Home, I relived several painful personal experiences in the hopes of breaking the silence, destroying the stigma, and ending the cycle that is too common for those in toxic, abusive relationships. I believe that by working together, we can forge a stronger, more positive culture, one that makes the world safer for us as well as future generations.
The Book
Trauma from abuse can crush your spirit unless you confront your enemies. After years of stuffing her emotions, putting on a happy face, and enduring hardship like a good airman, Jakia Lindley realized she needed to stand toe-to-toe against her foes. She needed to fight back.
War at Home is a candid, vulnerable account of the way the sexual, misogynistic, and racist violence of the military seeped through Jakia’s entire life. As a woman serving in the military, Jakia faced discrimination, harassment, and abuse from those in power, and, as a woman of color, she was met with outright racism. In this raw, inspiring memoir, Jakia’s retelling of the wars she’s been through proves that fighting back and healing starts with something as seemingly small as standing up for ourselves.