Posted by Sam Patrick
on April 06, 2025
My name is Sam, and what I’ve endured at the hands of the British Army, Chloe Masters, and SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) is a story of systemic corruption, betrayal, and, above all, a broken system that refuses to protect the very people it is supposed to serve. It’s a tale that, sadly, reflects the wider issues many women face when they try to speak out against injustice, corruption, and abuse, especially within institutions meant to be there to protect us. But this isn’t just a story of victimhood; it’s a call to action, a demand for change. And this is why businesses like mine—Dope Soul Village—are needed to not only highlight the issues at great personal expense but to try and change them rather than just complain about them.
The Beginning of a Nightmare
My journey with the British Army began when I married my ex-husband, a British soldier, in June 2018. Soon after, we were posted to Germany where he served with the 1st Battalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (1 PWRR). I could never have imagined the nightmare that awaited me—a life where I would be belittled, bullied, and systematically destroyed, all under the watch of an institution that claims to protect and serve its people. I was already fighting battles behind closed doors, but when my ex-husband’s career became entangled in this web of corruption, the stakes were higher than ever.
From the very beginning, things were wrong. The bullying was immediate, and it wasn’t just from my peers in the military community—it came from those who were supposed to have our backs. When I attempted to start a business as a way to regain some sense of normalcy, I was met with nothing but sabotage. The military system was designed to break women like me, but what they didn’t expect was that I would fight back. I was made to feel invisible, just another casualty in a system that doesn’t care about anyone’s wellbeing except those at the top.
The Role of Chloe Masters and SSAFA
But the real turning point came when a fellow military wife, Chloe Masters, entered the picture. Chloe, who had previously been involved in several incidents of bullying against me, decided to escalate things. In late April 2022, I received a phone call from social services accusing me of abusing my husband. The claim was utterly baseless, but the consequences were dire. I had done nothing wrong, yet this false claim was the beginning of an avalanche of abuse. It wasn’t just the claim itself; it was the sheer lack of empathy from the very people who were supposed to be helping.
The social worker informed me that my husband was allegedly facing a court martial, an accusation that was entirely false. At the time, my ex-husband was appealing a charge under AGAI 81, a regulation used to prevent him from coming home to me while I was six months pregnant. I later discovered that Chloe Masters had been the one to call social services, not out of concern for our family but out of a twisted sense of power. This was her way of continuing to exert control, and she succeeded in doing so for far longer than I care to admit.
Throughout the ordeal, I sought help. Surely there was someone in the system who could see through the lies, someone who could hold the military accountable for their actions. But instead, I found only apathy and indifference. SSAFA, the charity that is supposed to support military families, became another tool of the system rather than a lifeline. I had expected help from an organization dedicated to assisting military families, but instead, I found myself ignored and dismissed. They failed to protect me, failed to support me, and most devastatingly, failed to see me as a person. Instead, I was treated like an inconvenience, a problem to be swept under the rug.
When I reached out to SSAFA for support, their response was a mix of ignorance and inaction. They were more concerned about their image than about helping the people who needed them most. The lack of care and the failure to act were glaring, and they showed me that, in the military community, it wasn’t the truth that mattered—it was the status quo. That was when I realized that the very institutions that were meant to help us were the ones perpetuating the cycle of abuse and betrayal.
The Bullying, Harassment, and Isolation
The bullying didn’t stop with Chloe Masters. It escalated, spiraling into a year-long ordeal where I was subjected to malicious false claims, more threats, and continued harassment. My ex-husband, who was also under constant pressure from his superiors, became a broken man. The weight of the military’s indifference and cruelty took its toll on him, and he began to unravel. His career was sabotaged; he was denied promotions, rejected from courses, and repeatedly told that he wasn’t “fit” for deployment. Yet, when he asked for support, he was met with hostility and silence.
In November 2022, I confronted Chloe Masters. I had reached my breaking point, and I wanted to end the bullying once and for all. Instead of support, I was met with police intervention and a false claim of malicious communication. This only added to the sense of hopelessness and isolation that had already taken root. The more I tried to speak out, the more I was punished.
My mental health deteriorated rapidly. I was surrounded by people who didn’t care, by a system that refused to acknowledge my pain. SSAFA, once again, failed to step in when I needed them most. Their indifference to my situation was more than just frustrating—it was devastating. I felt alone, trapped in a system that had no interest in protecting me or my family. I was just another woman in a long line of people crushed by the military’s unchecked power.
The Need for Change: Why Dope Soul Village Exists
This is where Dope Soul Village comes in. I’ve shared my story to shed light on the failures of the system, but I’m not just here to talk about the problem. I’m here to create change. Dope Soul Village exists to give a voice to women like me—women who have been silenced, ignored, and punished by the systems that are supposed to protect them. We aren’t just pointing out the problems; we are actively trying to fix them. The experiences I’ve gone through, the pain I’ve endured, and the strength I’ve had to find within myself have fueled my determination to make sure that no woman is ever left behind.
I founded Dope Soul Village to offer women the help that I was denied—real support without any strings attached. The road to healing and justice is long, but it starts with acknowledging the problem and taking action. Dope Soul Village is more than just a business; it’s a movement. We offer a platform for women to speak out, to share their stories, and to find solidarity in each other’s experiences. We aren’t just fighting for justice—we’re creating it.
At Dope Soul Village, we aim to provide a space where women can be heard, supported, and empowered. We sell feminist clothing and apparel that challenges societal norms and raises awareness about the issues we face, from domestic violence to military corruption and beyond. It’s about more than just wearing a slogan on a t-shirt; it’s about wearing your truth and standing up for what’s right. Every purchase, every message, and every piece of apparel helps fund our charity and further our mission to provide real help to women who have been let down by the systems that are supposed to protect them.
What You Can Do to Help
If you’ve found yourself in a similar situation—feeling silenced, dismissed, and broken by a corrupt system—Dope Soul Village is here for you. But we can’t do it alone. We need you. We need people to join us in this fight for change. You can help by supporting our mission, by wearing our clothes and sharing our message, and by speaking out about the injustices that need to be addressed. We need to create a community that isn’t just aware of the problem but is actively working to change it. Together, we can push for accountability, demand justice, and ensure that no woman ever has to go through what I did.
This is a call to action. The system won’t change unless we make it change. Join me, and together, we can make sure that every woman has the support she deserves. Dope Soul Village is here to stay, and we’re going to make a difference—one woman at a time.
