A Veteran’s Story
When Raheem Reid, a RIC senior, reflects on his three-year tenure in the Navy, he speaks with pride about his accomplishments. However, he also carries angst about a part of his identity that was revealed while enlisted.
Nonetheless, Reid, 25, says without the military his life would have taken a decidedly different turn.
“It was 2019 and I was living with my father, and wanted better for myself,” Reid recalls. “This was an opportunity for a challenge. And I was motivated to not return home.”
After basic training and aviation theory studies, Reid went on to become a parachute rigger. A rigger’s mission is to keep the equipment used by pilots and aircrewmen safe in the event of emergencies.
“I loved my job,” Reid says. “Our motto was 'the last to let you down.’ If anything happens to a pilot flying and he or she must eject from a plane, that’s when our job comes in, to parachute the pilot down safely. We supported the pilots with parachutes, rafts and breathing equipment.”
Reid credits his time as a Navy airman with teaching him discipline, organization and the value of appreciation.
“Before the military, I was a people pleaser,” he says. “In the Navy, I became stronger, more responsible and a leader among my peers, teaching others how to work on the equipment we used.”
Reid says his tenure in the military became rocky after confiding to a supervisor that he is gay.
“After that point, things started to deteriorate,” Reid recalls. “Offensive things were said in my presence. I would come into work some days, and I could tell that people were huddled around talking about me. I felt ashamed.”
Reid was medically separated from the Navy due to his mental health being compromised.
Through psychology, he says he’d like to advocate for gay youth.
“I struggled with being gay,” Reid says. “I want kids growing up to know that they’re not alone. I’ve been there and can sympathize.”
Reid is currently working with RIC Professor of Psychology Melissa Marcotte on a research project that examines gaydar.
“The goal of my project is to answer this question: What makes people think they can make inferences about someone’s sexuality?” he says. “It will be interesting to see what our data shows.”
Marcotte says Reid is multifaceted in terms of what he brings to the table.
“Psychology is personal,” says. “It’s only recently that we’re starting to see different perspectives in the field from women, different sexualities and races. With Raheem’s military background, he’s bringing so many life experiences to the conversation. He has an ability to be perceptive about things that aren’t necessarily being thought about. I can’t wait to see him thrive.”
Reid plans to earn his master’s in psychology at RIC and then go on to pursue a doctoral degree.
“I want to be a counselor and do research on personality issues,” he says. “I’m interested about why people act the way they do and what triggers them.”
Despite a distasteful end to his time in the Navy, Reid says he still intends to encourage others to consider the military.
“I have a cousin who recently joined the Army, and another cousin is considering it,” he says. “I think they’re following my lead because they've seen how the military has transformed my life."