A 21-year-old Edmonton woman who dreamed of working alongside her mother as a Canadian Forces medic says her dream was shattered when a fellow soldier allegedly raped her.

And now she's calling on the military to reform the way it handles sexual assault cases.

On the evening of July 29, 2004, then Pte. Jasmine Santonne says she was celebrating the end of a military training course with her fellow reservists, including her mom, and instructors at Debney Armoury on Roper Road when her life took a shocking turn.

It was during those celebrations that Santonne says she was raped.

The events that she says ensued have Santonne calling for changes to how sexual assault allegations are handled within the Canadian military.

"Officers in the course really need to have their training down because no one knew what to do," she said.

"I was told to seek medical attention before I went to the police. Then, at the base, the nurses explained they didn't do rape kits, so I had to wait until they were all done for the day before they would take me to the Royal Alex.

"The site nurses didn't have a kit and said the police had to bring it."

Some 17 hours after the alleged attack, Santonne says she was finally assessed by a doctor.

An official with the Canadian Forces Investigation Services was unavailable for comment yesterday on the military's protocol pertaining to sexual assault complaints.

Now, Santonne claims she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has no intentions of pursuing a career with the military, adding she initially entered the reserves because she was anxious to serve her country and see the world.

"For me, it's now a lost cause," she said.

She does, however, want to bring attention to her ordeal to prevent it happening to other women.

"Soldiers should know their rights and be careful," she said.

"Bad things do happen in the military and you can't just assume you're safe there."

She also wants women who have been sexually assaulted not to be afraid to press charges.

"(Victims) will often think it's their fault, especially if they've been drinking - but that's not the case at all," she said.

MCpl. Orman Savage, 36, is charged with one count of sexual assault.

The trial is set to continue on March 15.