Behind The Mission: Recent Episodes
Duane K. L. France
Because fewer than 7% of Americans have served in uniform, most Americans are unfamiliar with military service and culture. As a result, members of the military and Veteran community are at greater risk for disconnection and lack of belonging with the civilian community. PsychArmor’s mission is to bridge the military-civilian divide by educating and training a Nation. Each week, Duane France, a combat Veteran and Clinical Mental Health Counselor, will dig deep into the stories “Behind The Mission” - and create a conversation with organizations and leaders on how they are utilizing their expertise and networks to support the military-connected community.
Show Summary
On this episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Dr. Stephanie Renno, the Senior Director of Clinical Practice and Training at the Cohen Veterans Network, to discuss the CVN Measurement-Based Care Toolkit
About Today’s Guest
Dr. Stephanie Renno is the Senior Director of Clinical Practice and Training at the Cohen Veterans Network where she oversees the network-wide training of clinical evidence-based practices and processes and works directly to support each clinic in delivering state of the art clinical services to veterans and military families. An expert in treating Postraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Substance Use Disorders, Dr. Renno has trained clinicians worldwide in Cognitive Processing Therapy and Behavioral Couples Therapy for Substance Use Disorders.
She has worked in both government and not-for-profit sectors providing and overseeing mental health services for veterans, service members and their families. Dr. Renno received her DSW in social work from the University of Pennsylvania, her MSW from University of Chicago and her BS from University of Illinois.
Dr. Renno lives outside of Chicago with her husband and two young children and enjoys teaching fitness classes and reading in her spare time.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Cohen Veterans Network Web Site
CVN Measurement Based Care Toolkit
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor course, Barriers to Treatment. In this course, you will learn how how differences in military culture affect mental health and explains how to help military or Veteran patients overcome barriers to seeking treatment.
You can see find the course here:
https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/barriers-to-treatment
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor. PsychArmor is the premier education and learning ecosystems specializing in military culture content PsychArmor offers an. Online e-learning laboratory that is free to individual learners as well as custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
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PsychArmor on LinkedIn
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Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Show Summary
On this episode, we’re featuring a conversation Navy Veteran Lindsay Church, who goes by they/them pronouns, is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Minority Veterans of America, a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to creating an equitable and just world for the minority veteran community including veterans of color, women, LGBTQ+, and (non) religious minority veterans.
About Today’s Guest
Lindsay Church (they/them) is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Minority Veterans of America, a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to creating an equitable and just world for the minority veteran community including veterans of color, women, LGBTQ+, and (non) religious minority veterans. Lindsay has over a decade of experience rooted in military and veteran advocacy and grassroots organizing and has worked among numerous coalitions to usher in transformational policy changes and reforms. They have facilitated agency-wide cultural competency trainings and assessments to ensure organizations and governmental entities are able to serve their minority and veteran constituencies effectively, efficiently, and in a culturally informed manner.
Lindsay received their graduate degree, with a focus in international conflict and countering violent extremism, and their undergraduate degree, in Near Eastern Language and Civilization and Comparative Islamic Studies, from the University of Washington. They also hold an associate degree in Persian-Farsi from Defense Language Institute. Lindsay is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where they served as a Cryptologic Technician Interpretative.
Lindsay currently serves on the Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans, an interagency council charged with providing recommendations for public land managers and organizations to increase access to outdoor recreation for service members, veterans, and their families.
Prior to founding and leading the Minority Veterans of America, Lindsay served as the Assistant Director and co-founder of Student Veteran Life at the University of Washington. Their previous appointments include LGBTQ Commissioner for the City of Seattle, Co-Chair of Congresswoman Suzan Delbene's (WA-1) Veterans Advisory Council, steering committee member for Recreate Responsibly Coalition, and Co-Chair of the Military Advisory Council for OutServe-SLDN (now Modern Military Association of America).
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Minority Vets Website
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor Podcast episode with Dr. Samuel Odom and First Lieutenant Marlon Dortch, where we have a conversation about cultural diversity in military social work. In this episode, Dr. Odom, who is a veteran and former Military Social Worker, and Lieutenant Dortch, who is currently serving as a Military Social Worker, join the show to talk about the role of military social workers and the importance of diversity and inclusion from a military social worker perspective
You can see find the course here: https://psycharmor.org/podcast/dr-samuel-odom-and-1lt-marlon-dortch
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by Wounded Warrior Project who offers direct programs in mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care, along with advocacy efforts, that improve the lives of millions of warriors and their families. You can find out more about how they support veterans and access their programs at www.woundedwarriorproject.org
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Show Summary
Military Spouse Elizabeth Garcia, the Director of the Military Spouse Fellowship Program for Hiring Our Heroes, an initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation connecting transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses and caregivers with American businesses to create economic opportunity and a strong and diversified workforce.
About Today’s Guest
Elizabeth Garcia is the Director of the Military Spouse Fellowship Program for Hiring Our Heroes, an initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation connecting transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses and caregivers with American businesses to create economic opportunity and a strong and diversified workforce. In her role, Elizabeth focuses on strategic planning, team building, business development and strengthening partnerships.
Elizabeth is a seasoned military spouse of 21 years and currently serves alongside her active-duty husband, an Army Aviator, at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. She joined Hiring Our Heroes in September of 2017, helping to launch the pilot for the Military
Spouse Fellowship Program in Maryland. Over the past six years, she has launched other programs at Hiring Our Heroes and served in other roles to include Senior Program Manager for the Corporate Fellowship Program and Communications Director. Elizabeth serves as an advocate and subject matter expert on veteran and military spouse employment and educates on issues
impacting the military community.
Before her career at Hiring Our Heroes, Elizabeth was a communications professional and Emmy-award winning television news reporter, but, like many military spouses, experienced numerous military moves which negatively impacted her career. These experiences drove her to advocate for military spouses in their pursuit of meaningful employment opportunities.
Elizabeth has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Texas State University and serves as an Executive Advisor for the 25th
Infantry Division. She is the recipient of the State of Texas’s Yellow Rose of Texas Award and an inductee of the Honorable Order of Our Lady of Loreto. She resides on Oahu, Hawaii with her husband, RJ, and her daughter, Ella. Her son, Grant, is entering his plebe year at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Go Army!
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Hiring Our Heroes website
HoH Military Spouse Resources
Military Spouse Fellowship Program
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor Course 15 Reasons to Hire a Military Spouse As an employer, you are looking for untapped talent pools. One talent pool that can be overlooked is the diverse and highly educated group of military spouses. Take this course to learn the top 15 Reasons to Hire a Military Spouse.
You can see find the course here:
https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/15-Reasons-to-Hire-a-Military-Spouse
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by Wounded Warrior Project who offers direct programs in mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care, along with advocacy efforts, that improve the lives of millions of warriors and their families. You can find out more about how they support veterans and access their programs at www.woundedwarriorproject.org
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Show Summary
On this episode, we feature a conversation with Army Veteran, wounded warrior and Peer Support Leader with the Wounded Warrior Project, Keara Torkelson, as we discuss her experience as a woman veteran and an advocate for wounded warriors in her community and women veterans nationwide.
About Today’s Guest
Army Reserve veteran Keara Torkelson was getting ready to deploy to Iraq with her unit when a mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2009 turned her life upside down.
Keara was shot in the back, and a bullet grazed her skull. While she was down, she saw the lights from the gunman’s laser sight and expected to be hit again. Instead, she got up and found a way out, narrowly escaping further injury and possible death.
She lives with PTSD from that tragic day and wants to let other veterans know that no matter how they might have been injured, they are not alone.
“Asking for help does not make you weak,” Keara said. “It makes you stronger.”
When she found Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), Keara asked for and received the help she needed. But she had to take small steps in her healing journey.
Keara enlisted in the Army Reserve a few weeks after finishing high school. She knew she needed the discipline and was ready to serve her country. She was eager to get through the readiness process at Fort Hood and be on her way to Iraq with her unit.
Keara never got the chance to deploy because of her injuries. But neither did she have much downtime to process what happened. She returned to active duty and remained in the reserve for another two years before medically retiring at age 23.
“After the mass shooting, I had chronic headaches, and it was difficult for the doctors to figure out why,” Keara said. It took multiple visits to VA and private doctors to uncover and eventually remove metal fragments from her wounds. After retiring, Keara restarted her life with a healthier outlook.
“I changed my lifestyle to remove things from my household and my diet that could be harmful, but having purpose in helping other veterans through Wounded Warrior Project is what really helped,” Keara said.
She initially found WWP at a military event when she was still active duty and has been connecting with other veterans over the last 10 years.
“In the beginning, Wounded Warrior Project helped by getting me out of the house and back with other veterans where I could experience the camaraderie I was missing,” Keara said.
She remembers a WWP connection event at a shooting range. The stress of surviving the Fort Hood mass shooting was still raw.
“I overcame my fear with the support of Wounded Warrior Project teammates and other veterans who were there that day and who offered their support,” Keara said.
Through her personal growth and challenges of raising a young family, Keara continued seeking camaraderie with other veterans. She also made time to attend Project Odyssey®, a WWP mental health program that uses adventure-based learning to help warriors manage their invisible wounds and enhance resiliency.
“The things I learned at Project Odyssey were really helpful,” Keara said. “I kept using all the tools I learned until I felt I was in a good place in my healing. Still, I find that helping others continues to help me.”
To help other veterans, Keara volunteered as a peer mentor, and then she became a warrior leader — organizing connection events for other WWP warriors. Lately, she has been focusing her energy on virtual events that help women warriors get to know each other during fun activities.
Through the Women Warriors Initiative Survey, WWP found that 80% of the respondents reported feelings of loneliness. At the same time, research shows that 43% of WWP virtual event participants are women warriors.
Keara knows that post-traumatic stress can affect veterans of all backgrounds.
“My motivation to help other veterans is living the Wounded Warrior Project logo. I had my time when I was carried. And I want to help carry other soldiers.”
She’s led online classes on essential oils, meditation, and yoga and recently teamed up with another female veteran who is a chef to offer cooking demos from her kitchen.
Keara shares what has benefitted her journey, from meditation to finding new purpose. Warriors from all over the U.S. can tune in when the classes are virtual.
Keara is committed to helping sisters and brothers in arms stay connected, even finding time to lead virtual events during a recent family vacation. Support from her family, along with her connection to other veterans, help Keara stay focused on serving others and uplifting herself in the process.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Wounded Warrior Project Web Site
Wounded Warrior Project Programs
Wounded Warrior Project Veteran Peer Support Groups
Women Warriors Initiative Survey
Veterans and PTSD: Understanding Causes, Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the Women Veterans Course Series, a 6-part series powered by PsychArmor, in partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project, which explores the history, triumphs, and unique challenges of women in uniform throughout history while highlighting the valuable service of the fastest-growing group of Veterans.
You can see find the course here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/women-veterans-series
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by Wounded Warrior Project who offers direct programs in mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care, along with advocacy efforts, that improve the lives of millions of warriors and their families. You can find out more about how they support veterans and access their programs at www.woundedwarriorproject.org
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Show Summary
On this episode, we feature a conversation with Army Combat Veteran and Peer Support Leader with the Wounded Warrior Project, Michael Carasquillo, as we discuss his experience with Wounded Warrior Project Peer Support Groups, small, warrior-led support groups that connect veterans with each other in their communities.
About Today’s Guest
On September 9, 2005, Michael Carrasquillo jumped to the ground from a hovering helicopter in Afghanistan, looking to help his unit capture a high- value Al Qaeda official. But when his team was ambushed and one of his soldiers was injured, Michael ran to help — despite not having anywhere to hide from incoming bullets. He was shot five times and would spend the next two years in hospitals learning how to walk and use his hands again.
Unfortunately, his injuries were so severe that 100 percent of his medical care was geared toward physical healing. He was never tested for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI).
It was more than a year after Michael was medically retired that he and his wife realized something was very wrong.
“Everything seemed to be alright at first,” says Michael. “But I started to isolate and get really depressed. I had suicidal thoughts, and I started to do behaviors that, in my head, were irrational.”
Michael was on a dark downward spiral until he connected with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP).
“It started out as just a place for me to meet and talk to other warriors. At the time it’s a feeling of, ‘I’m the only one going through this, I don’t want people to see me like this.’ It’s a freeing experience to just talk. Veteran engagement was the gateway to bigger and better things.”
Michael started taking advantage of the free programs and services WWP provides. Warriors to Work helped him craft a resume and land a job he loves with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA).
Not only has Michael found a civilian career through WWP, he has also found a renewed purpose, helping other veterans in their transitions. Michael serves as a peer mentor to other veterans in different stages of their recoveries — bringing veterans together to help one another heal.
“In my life now, I feel like I’m in a very blessed position, and what I’d like to do is give back as much as I can. WWP helped me become the best possible version of myself.”
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Wounded Warrior Project Web Site
Wounded Warrior Project Programs
Wounded Warrior Project Veteran Peer Support Groups
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the Peer Leader Training Series, a 10-part series powered by PsychArmor, in partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project, which will explore the role of Peer Leaders in supporting their fellow Veterans. In this series, you will learn about becoming a peer support group leader, defining, establishing, and facilitating your peer support group, resolving conflict in your peer support group, ethics and boundaries, and more.
You can see find the course here:
https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/wwp-peer-leader-series
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Show Summary
On this episode, we feature a conversation with Brandi Carney, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Northwell’s United Behavioral Health Center for Military, Veterans and their Families, to discuss her work in supporting PsychArmor’s Hidden Helpers Facilitators Guide and Interactive Journal, which is designed to increase peer support among military-connected caregiving youth and reduce social isolation
About Today’s Guest
Brandi M Carney, LCSW, joined Northwell's Unified Behavioral Health Center for military, Veterans, and their families in December of 2021. Prior to that time, she spent 25 years at the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Ms. Carney served in a multitude of capacities within the VA, including inpatient units, Emergency Room Admissions Coordinator, Home Care, Outpatient Mental Health, and her final role serving 10 1/2 years as Northport's post 9/11 Caregiver Support Program Coordinator. Ms.Carney also served as a VISN 2 lead for the VA’s New York/New Jersey healthcare network.
Brandi received her Master's degree in Social Work from The State University of New York at Stony Brook, with a concentration in loss and recovery. She has served on the Red Cross mental health disaster team since 2001, deploying to the Family Assistance Center immediately following the events of 9/11. She has presented at the Red Cross’ national mental health conference as well as the National Conference for the National Association for Social Work.
Ms Carney teaches Veteran and Military Culture at Touro’s Graduate School of Social Work in New York City. She's regularly engaged in community outreach efforts as well as volunteering within many military organizations throughout New York .Ms Carney is trained in cognitive processing therapy, unified protocols for children and adolescents, EFT, and Transcendental Meditation.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Northwell Behavioral Health Unified Behavioral Health Center for Military Veterans and their Families
Hidden Helpers Facilitator Guide
Hidden Helpers Participant Journal
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor Course, Suicide in Military and Veterans. IN this course, Dr. Craig Bryan, a nationally recognized leader in the effort to reduce SMVF suicide, provides an overview of military suicide statistics and explains unique factors that may be related to increased rates in military suicide.
You can see find the course here:
https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/suicide-in-military-members-and-veterans
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Show Summary
On this episode, we feature a conversation with Justin Schmitt, Senior Deputy of Corporate Responsibility at USAA, a financial services brand dedicated to serving the U.S. Military Community. On this episode, we talk about one of USAA’s social support initiatives, Face the Fight, a coalition that is working to break the stigma surrounding suicide in the military community by raising awareness and fostering real, open conversations around support and hope.
About Today’s Guest
Justin Schmitt serves as senior deputy of Corporate Responsibility (CR) at USAA, a financial services brand dedicated to serving the U.S. military community. He leads a high-performing team that directs corporate citizenship investments to positively impact our nation’s military families and USAA’s local communities while helping to activate employee engagement, drive operational efficiencies, and elevate stakeholder engagement and connectivity. He serves as an officer of The USAA Foundation, Inc., and provides oversight of enterprise philanthropic investment policies, procedures, and related governance to ensure high standards of compliance and risk management associated with philanthropic investments.
Since 2015, USAA has more than doubled its annual philanthropic giving. Between 2015-20, USAA’s CR team directed more $200M philanthropically to nonprofit organizations; approximately 60% directly in support of currently serving military personnel, veterans, and their families. USAA’s corporate citizenship program achieves top quartile levels of employee engagement through innovative giving and volunteer programs. Annually, USAA employees contribute approximately $10M to nonprofits and log nearly 200K volunteer hours, results that reinforce the company’s values and put USAA in top-quartile levels of employee citizenship engagement.
In 2020, the USAA CR team deployed more than $40 million in grants to assist military families and local communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the innovative Military Family Relief Initiative. The team also developed a place-based strategy for a $50M, three-year (2020-22) commitment to advance racial equality in education and employment, with the desired end-state to close the racial earnings gap. USAA CR ranked No.1 In FORTUNE Magazine’s “Most Admired Companies List” and has received the nonprofit Blue Star Families’ Constance J. Milstein award for innovative military philanthropy.
Justin was a Mayborn Scholar at the University of North Texas, where he earned a Master of Journalism degree and taught undergraduate classes. He received a Bachelor of Arts in communication from Tarleton State University, part of the Texas
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Face the Fight Website
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor Course, Suicide in Military and Veterans. IN this course, Dr. Craig Bryan, a nationally recognized leader in the effort to reduce SMVF suicide, provides an overview of military suicide statistics and explains unique factors that may be related to increased rates in military suicide.
You can see find the course here:
https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/suicide-in-military-members-and-veterans
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Show Summary
On this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with Koby Langley, Senior Vice President for Red Cross International Services and Service to the Armed Forces, about the resources and opportunities to serve provided by the American Red Cross
About Today’s Guest
Koby J. Langley, JD, MPA Senior Vice President The American Red Cross
As Senior Vice President for International Services and Service to the Armed Forces, Koby Langley provides oversight and direction for American Red Cross programs around the world, with a focus on global elimination of measles and rubella, and international disaster preparedness, response, and recovery operations for communities in need. In addition, Langley oversees the worldwide support provided to service members, veterans and their families — the oldest congressionally chartered mission of the American Red Cross.
Working in coordination with the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network, the American Red Cross International Services provides critical support in Latin America,
Africa, Asia and Europe in some of the world’s most at-risk communities around the world. In addition, International Services helps to reconnect families separated by crises via participation in the global Restoring Family Links communication network, supporting almost 10,000 families a year. The Red Cross is also a key partner in the global effort to eliminate measles and Rubella, supporting 2 billion vaccinations since 2001.
Service to the Armed Forces provides critical services with a caring touch, from the moment a member of the military joins the ranks, throughout their military careers and long after they return home as veterans. Operating the largest integrated emergency and critical support case management system for military families in the world, the military counts on the Red Cross to provide emergency communications that link them with their families during a crisis – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Additionally, Service to the Armed Forces provides in-theater support to service members deployed overseas. Service to the Armed Forces leads volunteer activities on 180 locations on military installations, 171 Veteran Affairs facilities and provides Emergency Communication Assistance services to more than 80,000 Military members and their families a year.
Langley previously served as the Director of Wounded Warrior, Veteran and Military Family Engagement at the White House and the Senior Advisor for Wounded Warrior, Veteran and Military Family Initiatives for CNCS, leading the largest expansion of services, and grants for veterans and military families in Agency history.
In 2010 he was appointed to the Senior Executive Service at Department of Defense, where he worked as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary and Senior Advisor for the Office of Wounded Warrior Care and Transition Policy. In 2009, Langley worked as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Department of Veteran Affairs, leading strategic communications and several constituency-based strategic planning portfolios.
In 2008, Langley was appointed to the Presidential Review Team for the Department of Veterans Affairs. From 2006 to 2008, Langley was the managing member of a litigation firm and worked as a Veteran organizer for the successful Congressional race of the first Iraq War Veteran elected to Congress.
During his military service, Langley was appointed as the first in-theater Foreign Claims Commissioner for Iraq; developed and published the first Foreign Claims Act Standard Operating Procedure in Iraq, and paid the first civil reconstruction claims during combat operations.
Langley conducted over 100 Foreign Claims Act and Laws of Armed Conflict missions/convoys in Iraq, and served as an Operational Law Attorney and Prosecutor for the 82d Airborne Division. Langley also served as a Litigation Counsel for the Army where he practiced with dozens of attorneys in the Department of Justice, assisting in successful litigation of over 150 cases. He is published in numerous national news outlets, and has conducted visiting correspondent interviews for Fox News and MSNBC.
Langley is a two-tour combat Veteran and Bronze Star recipient for meritorious service.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
American Red Cross Website
American Red Cross Hero Care App
Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network
Red Cross Volunteer Opportunities
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the Behind the Mission Podcast Episode number 34 highlighting the American Red Cross Miltiary and Veteran Caregiver Network. On this episode, we have a conversation with Melissa Comeau, Marine Corps Spouse and Director of the American Red Cross' Military and Veteran Caregiver Network, an organization that offers peer-based support and services to provide connection between those providing care to service members and veterans living with wounds, illnesses, injuries and/or aging.
You can see find the episode here:
https://psycharmor.org/podcast/melissa-comeau
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Show Summary
On this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with Dr. Michael Kauth, Executive Director of LGBTQ+ Health, Office of Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, about the support available for LGBTQ+ Veterans in the Department of Veterans Affairs.
About Today’s Guest
Dr. Kauth was sworn in as the first Executive Director of the LGBTQ+ Health Program on August 29, 2022. He leads the development and implementation of health care policy and best practices for Veterans who have lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and similar identities (LGBTQ+) – a population who have historically experienced stigmatization, discrimination, and barriers to culturally responsive health care. Dr. Kauth has worked to develop routine data collection processes for sexual orientation and gender identity in VHA and the use of these data to understand and address health inequities experienced by LGBTQ+ Veterans. His goal is to incorporate attention to the needs of LGBTQ+ Veterans in every clinical service and benefit provided by VA so that an LGBTQ+ Health Program becomes obsolete.
Prior to accepting this position, Dr. Kauth served as Co-Director of the VA South Central Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for 18 years. The VA South Central MIRECC worked to develop new knowledge about mental health treatments and implement this new knowledge and innovative health care delivery for rural and other underserved Veterans.
In 2021, Dr. Kauth was named the Top Five Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champions at Baylor College of Medicine. In 2018, he received a Special Achievement Award from the Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality and the James Besyner Lifetime Achievement Award from Division 18 (Public Service) of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Kauth has published numerous scientific journal articles, book chapters, and books on LGBTQ+ health, sexual health, sexual attraction, and evolutionary psychology.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
VHA LGBTQ+ Health Program
LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator Locator
VHA Train
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor podcast episodes number 20 with Jennifer Dane and number 99 with Crystal Ellington. On episode 20, we feature a conversation with US Air Force Veteran Jenn Dane to talk about the Modern Military Association of America, the nation’s largest non-profit organization working to advance fairness and equality for the LGBTQ military and veteran community. And on episode 99, we feature a conversation with Army Veteran Crystal Ellington, a passionate advocate for those who historically been disenfranchised, systemically excluded, and institutionally oppressed. We have an important conversation about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the military and Veteran community, as well as the need for awareness and advocacy around sexual assault prevention.
You can see find these episodes here:
https://psycharmor.org/podcast/jennifer-dane
https://psycharmor.org/podcast/crystal-ellington
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Show Summary
On this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with Carl Cricco, Chief Executive Officer of K9s For Warriors, the nation’s largest provider of service dogs for veterans.
About Today’s Guest
Prior to joining K9s, Carl worked at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum as a senior vice president of marketing, ensuring the stories from that day were never forgotten. Living just blocks from the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, that day left an indelible mark, as it did for many. He has spent much of his career ensuring Americans never forget 9/11, and at K9s For Warriors, he is committed to ensuring those who fought in conflicts resulting from that day and others, are also not forgotten.
Before taking on the role of chief executive officer, Carl was the chief marketing and development officer at K9s for two years, effectively sharing the incredible impact of the K9s mission on both veterans and dogs — also increasing revenues by 70% in a one-year period. Carl has spent the last ten years in executive leadership, primarily in marketing with previous work featured by the Wall Street Journal and Advertising Week.
Early in his career, Carl worked at leading media companies, including ABC News. Cricco holds a B.A. from New York University and an M.B.A. from New York University Stern School of Business, where he specialized in marketing. He was born and raised in Hoboken, NJ, and although he misses his local Italian deli and not needing a car to get around, he wouldn’t trade the Florida sun to get those things back. He is a family man, spending much of his free time with his two-year-old son and amazing wife Emily.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
K9s For Warriors Web Site
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor course, How to Interact with Assistance Animals. This course is designed for the general population to learn about the different types of assistance animals (specifically focusing on dogs) and how to effectively interact with them.
You can see find this course here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/how-to-interact-with-assistance-animals
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Show Summary
On this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with Bruce Buckley, Chief Executive Officer of Soldier On, a 501(c)3 Nonprofit that provides veterans with shelter and support in an environment that offers dignity, integrity, and hope.
About Today’s Guest
Bruce Buckley is the CEO and President of Soldier On, Inc., a national provider of comprehensive services and affordable supportive permanent housing for homeless and at-risk veterans. Prior to becoming CEO, Bruce was the CFO from 2003-2016, under his management Soldier On has grown from a $600,000 annual budget to its current $20 million annual budget.
Soldier On provides services to roughly 5,000 veterans and family members annually through Housing First programs in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Bruce has helped to secure over $120 million in housing development resources since 2008 to build almost 400 units of housing for veterans in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. Funding sources include Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Historical Tax Credits, VAi2’s Innovation Initiative, Federal Home Loan Bank, HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Housing Innovations Fund (HIF),Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Berkshire Bank Financing, VA Capital Grant and Per Diem.
Bruce has led the charge in developing partnerships to expand Soldier On’s mission to end veteran homelessness. These partnerships include working with national affordable housing developers in New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts to provide safe, secure housing for veterans.
The expansion of partnering with other non-profits has led to increased wrap around services for the veterans and their family members Soldier On serves. This growth has substantially decreased the number of veterans returning to homelessness.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Soldier On Website
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor course, Why Financial Wellness Matters. Financial wellness is the peace of mind you have when you’ve balanced saving and spending. This course will illustrate some of the challenges military and Veteran families face and things to consider when on the path to achieving financial wellness.
You can see find this course here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/why-financial-wellness-matters
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Show Summary
On this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with Army Veteran Jim Zenner, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. We discuss the unique experience of serving one of the largest concentrations of veterans in the United States.
About Today’s Guest
James (Jim) Zenner most recently worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) as a Mental Health Program Manager III. In this capacity, Jim was responsible for the implementation and oversight of the Veteran Peer Access Network, and was the lead program manager assigned to collaborate with the Veteran Healthcare Administration, Veteran Benefits Administration, CalVet, and other federal and local agencies regarding veteran programming for LACDMH. In addition, Mr. Zenner is responsible for working with the philanthropic sector through a public private partnership with Southern California Grantmakers to bolster collective impact work through the LA Veteran Collaborative to help leverage private funding to expand social service capacity.
Jim’s prior experience includes working as a Peer Support Coordinator for the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, Director of Homeless Veteran Programs/Subject Matter Expert for Vets Advocacy, Associate Director of Community Programs for the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at the University of Southern California, Consultant for the Volunteers of America Incorporated, Assistant Director of Clinical Veteran Services for Volunteers of America Los Angeles, and a Consultant for Vets Advocacy Incorporated.
Mr. Zenner enlisted in the United States Army from April 2004 to April 2008, completed one deployment in support of Iraqi Freedom as an All Source Intelligence Analyst from 2006-2007 with 1-14 Cav, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division “Second to None.” Jim went on to serve in the United States Army Reserve from April 2008 to May 2011. He possesses a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from St. Martin’s University.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
LA County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Bob Hope Patriotic Hall
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is Behind The Mission Podcast Episode 10 featuring Army National Guard Chaplain and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Nathan Graeser highlighting LA County’s efforts to develop community collaboration for veteran support. In this episode, you can hear more about the Veteran Peer Access Network and the work that the county is doing to collaborate to support it’s military affiliated population.
You can see find this episode here: https://psycharmor.org/podcast/nathan-graeser
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Mary Reding is a government affairs exec with diverse private sector, non-profit, and public sector experience. Government experience includes leading the Office of Executive Councils and managing the development, implementation, and setting performance standards for management initiatives across the center of government through the ten C-Suite Executive boards including the President’s Management Council, Chief Financial Officers Council, Chief Information Officers Council, and the Performance Improvement Council. Mary now continues the #goodgov work at Grant Thornton Public Sector focusing on improving efficiencies for our Veteran’s community at the VA and across the Defense portfolio.
In addition to government service, Mary has a foundation in corporate law and non-profits serving as in-house counsel for Pebble Beach Company (www.pebblebeach.com) and leading international IT transformation team for Aviva Corporate (www.aviva.com).
Mary started advocating for licensing accommodations in 2010 and created the Military Spouse JD Network in 2011 and served as the founding President. Lobbying efforts were recognized by the DC Women’s Bar (awarded the DC “Star of the Bar”) and by the American Bar Association (honored w/ Grassroots Advocacy award for MSJDN).
The development of the workforce matters to Mary and she has mentored rising stars in business, in the military community, and in government through the creation of the CXO Fellows program and Homefront Rising. In 2018, Mary was selected as a Presidential Leadership Scholar building a bi-partisan community to solve our nation’s most important problems. And… she has the best volunteer job ever – Girl Scout troop leader.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Military Spouse JD Network
Military Spouse JD Network Foundation
Home Front Rising
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course, Legal Issues and Documents Caregivers Need. This course provides ideas for the kinds of legal issues a caregiver will want to be aware of, what conversations to have with your service member or Veteran, and what documents caregivers might need to have handy for long-term care.
You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/legal-issues-documents-caregivers-need
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Abby Malchow is the Sr. Business Development Manager of Small Business Partnerships for Small Business Empowerment at Amazon helps drive the success of small businesses and underserved business populations (including minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses). Additionally, Abby serves on the Global Board of Directors at Amazon for Mental Health & Well-Being (MHW) as the Director of Corporate Strategy. Abby helped launch MHW in April 2020 as Amazon’s 13th Affinity Group and in nine months MHW grew by a rate of 600% and currently has over 18K members from 27 countries across the globe. Prior to joining Amazon, Abby worked at Intel Corporation and is a retired U.S. Navy Chief and combat veteran, serving more than 20 years in the military.
Abby has been a passionate advocate for veteran suicide prevention since 2014 when she was one of the 22 veterans selected by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) to advocate to Congress for support of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for America’s Veterans Act, which was signed into law by President Obama on February 12th, 2015. Additionally, she is a 2018 alum of the inaugural cohort of President George W. Bush’s Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program where she worked in collaboration with Intel’s “AI for Good” team on developing Machine Learning (ML) models on social media platforms to provide targeted suicide prevention to veterans. More recently in 2020, she led a project at Amazon in collaboration with the AWS ML Solutions Lab which built a ML model for RallyPoint that will allow them to quickly identify posts that indicate a high risk of self-harm to enable potentially life-saving intervention.
Abby is a graduate of the University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business, where she earned a Master of Business Administration degree. She also holds a B.B.A. (cum laude) in Business Administration from the University of San Diego.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Amazon Small Business Partnerships Contact Email
Amazon Small Business Impact Report
Amazon Small Business Storefronts
Amazon Small Business Academy
Amazon Seller University
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course, Supporting Veteran-Owned Businesses: Supplier Diversity, In this course, you will learn strategies and best practices to implement Veteran supplier diversity in your business or organization.
You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Supporting-Veteran-Owned-Businesses
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Dave began his military career as a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and of the US Army Ranger School. He then served two tours in Europe during which he was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as an armor platoon leader. Dave's last active duty Army position was as an Assistant Professor of Military Leadership at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It was while he was at MIT that he found the value of social media, leading to his cofounding of a consulting firm to help people leverage social media tools more professionally. He authored The Power in a Link: Open Doors, Close Deals, and Change the Way You do Business Using LinkedIn (Wiley 2011) and cofounded a software company to help people use business software better at scale. Dave joined RallyPoint as President & COO in the summer of 2016 and became CEO and a board director in September of the same year. He also currently serves as a board advisor to the Wounded Warrior Project and Vets in Tech.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
RallyPoint
Outreach email to RallyPoint
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course, Making Connections and Networking, presented by Medal of Honor Recipient Captain Florent Groberg. Regardless of military background and experience, this course helps service members, veterans, and their families learn how to network in their new communities.
You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Making-Connections-and-Networking
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s GuestFrank Larkin is a national advocate for veteran suicide prevention and military traumatic brain injury research. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the Feherty’s Troops First Foundation and the National Warrior Call Day campaign. Frank is also aligned with several other non-profit organizations working to positively impact the health and survivability of our veterans and first responders. He recently served as the vice president for corporate development at SAP National Security Services. Frank was the 40th United States Senate Sergeant at Arms. As chief law enforcement and executive officer of the Senate, the Sergeant at Arms enforces rules of the Senate; provides a range of technical and administrative services to Senators in their Washington D.C., and state offices; and maintains security in the Capitol and Senate office buildings. He had direct oversight of the US Capitol Police Department, a 2200-member agency, and led numerous national security events.
Frank was a member of the federal Senior Executive Service for almost 15 years, serving as both the Acting Director and the Vice Director of Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) and Director of the Counter IED Operations-Intelligence Integration Center (COIC) within the Department of Defense. He led the integration of technical capabilities, information analysis and human resources against the global IED threat and terror networks.
Frank served for more than two decades as a special agent and senior leader in the United States Secret Service (USSS). He conducted complex criminal investigations and protected four US presidents, until his retirement as the Deputy Assistant Director for Protective Research and the agency’s Chief Technology Officer.
In the private sector, Frank continued to support the defense and intelligence communities. He recently was the Vice President for Corporate Development at SAP National Security Services. In the past, he was the Director for Program Management & Leadership for the Raytheon Company and Senior Program Manager at Lockheed Martin’s Defense & Intelligence Solutions.
A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Frank served as a special warfare operator in the Navy SEALs. After his military service, he was a uniformed patrol officer with the Norristown (PA) Police Department, a homicide detective with the Montgomery County (PA) District Attorney’s Office, and a Maryland State Trooper-Flight Paramedic. He has been a nationally licensed paramedic for 40 years and still serves Maryland as a volunteer firefighter-paramedic for the City of Annapolis.
Frank holds a BA degree in criminal justice and a MS degree in public administration from Villanova University. He is the recipient of numerous awards, to include the USSS Valor award, the Department of the Army’s Exceptional Civilian Service award and the Superior Civilian Service award.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
National Warrior Call Day Campaign
National Warrior Call Day Resolution
Veteran Crisis Line
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Course Catalogue. In this course listing, you will find 19 different courses for those interested in learning more about how to make an impact with regards to suicide. Courses include information on grief and trauma, developing a crisis response plan, and the gatekeeper training S.A.V.E.
You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/collections/suicide-prevention-intervention-and-postvention
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
Katie R. Ross, MSW, is the Director of Veterans Services at Summit BHC and creator of their specialized services for the military community, known as Tactical Recovery. She worked in program management for the U.S. Navy for ten years before beginning in direct care as a clinical social worker at the Hampton VA Medical Center’s Suicide Prevention, Intimate Partner Violence, and Military Sexual Trauma units. She was also pivotal in establishing the country’s first residential treatment center to exclusively serve military youth.
Katie is a multigenerational member of the military community, spouse of a recently retired 20-year veteran, former Ombudsman, Chair and creator of Nexus: Hampton Roads’ collaborative for Military & Veteran service providers, and Chair of the VISN 6 Clay Hunt Act Community Outreach Team. As a national advocate and concierge of treatment resources for the military and veteran community, she is driven to improve the lives of those who have served.
Katie Civiletto Stenger is the Operations Director and Force Multiplier for Summit BHC’s Tactical Recovery Program. She is a proud Army Spouse and lives in Southern Oregon with her husband, their son, 4 bonus kiddos, and two pups.
Katie has spent the past decade working in the veteran and military mental health space, focusing on mental health and substance abuse treatment, mental wellness, and emotional wellbeing. Katie forged her career in this space, she started working as a case manager and moved into program implementation and design. She now works with 20 Summit facilities to enhance Tactical Recovery’s Program integrity. Katie is an alum of Cornell University’s Sloan Program in Health Administration.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Summit BHC Tactical Recovery Program
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor Veteran Ready Program Join the nearly 200 organizations nationwide that leverage the PsychArmor educational platform to ensure staff and volunteers are better prepared to interact with and support military and Veteran communities. PsychArmor certificate programs help improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase revenue for our partners. PsychArmor currently offers four industry-specific curriculum tracks with the option to customize the curriculum to fit your unique needs.
Industry-specific learning pathways include:
· Healthcare
· Higher education
· Nonprofit
· Employers
You can find a link to the resource here: https://psycharmor.org/services
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Jaime Chapman is one of the original Co-Founders and Chief Operating Officer of the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce. Her professional background is as a Sr. Military Talent Program Manager for Amazon Web Services and as a human capital entrepreneur where she successfully placed over 1,600 jobseekers in careers, creating an economic impact totaling over $112 million. Jaime has achieved recognition for:
· #1 Military Spouse Owned Business Overall Award by Military and Veterans Choice in September 2019 at the Military Influencer Conference in DC.
· 2020-2021 Armed Forces Insurance US Army Garrison Wiesbaden Military Spouse of the Year Award.
· 2022 Fort Hood Local Business Person of the Year, Alignable
· Scholar, George W. Bush Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program, Class of 2021.
Jaime served in the Army Reserves for 6-years, and is currently an active duty Army spouse with her family stationed in Texas. She is a proud advocate for the military community, actively working to reduce military spouse unemployment and underemployement. In addition to her work at the Military Spouse Chamber, Jaime provides professional speaking and consulting services for organizations who are looking to hire, retain, and promote military spouse and veteran talent.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce Web Site
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Supporting Veteran-Owned Businesses: Supplier Diversity In this course, you will learn strategies and best practices to implement veteran supplier diversity in your business or organization. You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Supporting-Veteran-Owned-Businesses
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Mark Harper is CEO of We Are The Mighty (WATM), a digital publisher and entertainment lifestyle company creating authentic content that celebrates the military community. WATM’s website receives more than 16M monthly page views, and has over 1.5M followers across social media platforms. Additionally, WATM provides a range of agency services for major Hollywood studios, Fortune 500 companies, veteran-backed businesses and nonprofits reaching the military community.
Harper joined the U.S. Air Force after commissioning through ROTC from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY. For most of his Air Force career, Captain Harper was the Video Flight commander of the 1st Combat Camera Squadron deploying twice for OPERATION IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM. At Combat Camera, he led combat-ready photojournalists providing the world insight into military operations, contingencies, exercises, weapons tests, and humanitarian relief operations.
After leaving the Air Force in 2007, Harper held numerous marketing and business development positions in the entertainment industry, including for Paramount Pictures where he developed digital marketing campaigns for Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Star Trek, and at Technicolor providing marketing and business development for various business lines including their Animation & Gaming department. Harper earned his MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management where upon graduation he co-founded Audeze, a high-growth consumer headphones startup funded by Warner Music Group. After leaving Audeze, Harper joined We Are The Mighty for the launch of the company in 2014.
Harper lives near Joshua Tree National Park with his Marine veteran wife Natasha and is an active member of the Television Academy (Emmys).
Links Mentioned In This Episode
We Are The Mighty Web Site
Military Influencer Conference Web Site
We Are The Mighty on Facebook
We Are The Mighty on Instagram
We Are The Mighty on Twitter
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Leadership Skills that Drive Impact.This course is designed for community leaders interested in learning how to use collective impact principles to foster collaboration and increase impact for service members, Veterans, their families, and their caregivers
You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/leadership-skills-that-drive-impact
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Kelly Finn Störmer is the Executive Director of Combined Arms Institute which elevates the military & veteran-serving ecosystem of support through professional development, collaboration and research. Combined Arms ensures that no veteran or military family member falls through the cracks by streamlining the connection for servicemembers, veterans and their families to services in the communities where they live. Combined Arms powers the Texas Veterans Network and is expanding to states across the nation through partnership.
She holds a BA from Villanova University and an MBA from The George Washington University. Kelly served as Surface Warfare Officer and received her commission through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. She had two sea assignments in San Diego and served as the White House Liaison to the Secretary of the Navy, and as a White House Social Aide during the Bush Administration. After active duty service, Kelly worked as a consultant for McKinney Rogers building high performance cultures in Fortune 500 organizations. Kelly is a 2020 Presidential Leadership Scholar, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, recently retired military spouse and a mom to three boys.
She has been working in the veteran nonprofit sector for over 10 years to streamline the answer to the question "Where do I go for help?" for veterans and military families.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Combined Arms Web Site
The Combined Arms Institute
Create a Combined Arms Profile
Become a Member Organization
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Making Connections and Networking. Regardless of your military background or previous work experience, PsychArmor’s course, “Making Connections and Networking,” helps service members, Veterans, and their families learn how to network in their new communities.
You can find a link to the resource here:
https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Making-Connections-and-Networking
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Richard Casper is a United States Marine Veteran, Purple Heart recipient, Artist, and Entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and Executive Director of CreatiVets, a non-profit that provides art, music, and writing programs for wounded veterans with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries.
Richard was named a CNN Hero in 2022 and named TIME magazine's Next Generation Leaders in 2017. He is the feature of TIME’s documentary Evidence of Things Unseen, and recognized by President George W. Bush and The Bush Institute for his passion and work helping combat veterans. He was one of thirty-three scholars chosen to be in President Bush’s inaugural Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program.
Richard served in the USMC from 2003-2007. During the first portion of his enlistment, Casper served as Presidential guard at Camp David. Later in 2006-2007 during his tour in Iraq, Richard survived four IED blasts which left him with a left-traumatic brain injury and witnessed the death of his friend which caused his post traumatic stress. After nearly giving up, he discovered art and song-writing as therapeutic forms of expression, and went on to attend and graduate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. From his experiences, he later created art and songwriting programs for CreatiVets to help other combat wounded veterans heal.
Richard has taught art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Virginia Commonwealth University, Belmont University, and the University of Southern California. He is a keynote speaker, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He resides in Nashville TN with his wife Ashley and son Barret
Links Mentioned In This Episode
CreatiVets Web Site
CreatiVets on Instagram
Rose On Your Stone by CreatiVets
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Traumatic Brain Injury. TBI is considered a signature wound of the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and its prevalence in military service members and Veterans makes it an important topic to review for those who support veterans.
You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Traumatic-Brain-Injury
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Erin Fletcher, Psy.D. serves as the Warrior Care Network Director for Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). In this role, Erin ensures synergy across all WWP mental health programs.
Erin collaborates with the four Academic Medical Centers that compromise WWP’s Warrior Care Network to foster Network alignment regarding program implementation and delivery. Warriors taking part in WCN receive a year’s worth of mental health care during a 2-3 week intensive outpatient program, using evidenced-based treatments with alternative therapies.
Erin has over 15 years of mental health experience working with adults in a variety of treatment settings. Prior to working for Wounded Warrior Project, Erin served as the Clinical Director of an intensive outpatient treatment program for adults with anxiety disorders.
Erin holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and master’s degree in clinical psychology from The Illinois School of Professional Psychology, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in social work from Niagara University.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Wounded Warrior Project Web Site
WWP Warrior Care Network
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor Brain Health & Wellness Learning Series - Suicide Prevention. This course series is sponsored by Wounded Warrior Project. This series removes the stigma often attached to suicide and casts a light on the unique risks and cultural factors that contribute to suicide in the Veteran population. You’ll gain access to important statistics, tools and resources proven to prevent suicide, in addition to role plays that demonstrate effective responses to someone in need.
You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/WWP-BHW-suicide-prevention
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Show Summary
On this episode, we feature a conversation with Army veteran and military spouse Meg O'Grady, Senior Vice President for Military and Government Programs for the National University System.
About Today’s Guest
Meg O’Grady has more than 25 years of experience creating outreach, transition, education, entrepreneur, and employment programs that engage the military community, transitioning service members, employers and federal agencies. She is the Senior Vice President for Military and Government Programs for the National University System where she leads a team that helps service members, military spouses and government organizations reach important milestones in their education and careers. She has led programs, campaigns and strategic partnerships across the highest levels of the armed forces, government, and corporate America.
As a senior leader in the U.S. Department of Defense, she was instrumental in creating the Spouse Education and Career Program which included launching the Military Spouse Employment Partnership with the White House Joining Forces Program in 2012. As an executive at First Data Corporation, she worked together with Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families to develop and launch the Coalition for Veteran Owned Business, a coalition of Fortune 500 industry leaders committed to providing innovative solutions and thought leadership to grow and support veteran owned businesses in communities throughout the nation. Most recently at the U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), she supported the Office of Strategic Outreach as the National Veterans’ Employment Manager.
Meg holds a Master of Education degree from National Louis University and was a member of the Class of 1990 at the United States Military Academy where she was an All-American swimmer. She has contributed to numerous articles and publications.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
National University System Web site
NU Military and Veteran Programs
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Advising military students on higher education. In this course, you’ll take a brief look at higher education and transition information for military students and be able to help them understand their higher education options.
You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Advising-Military-Students-on-Higher-Education
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Colonel (R) Sean Ryan is the Director of Communications for the Army Emergency Relief, the
Army’s only nonprofit organization serving active duty Soldiers, retirees and their families. Sean retired from service after nearly 30 years of active duty military experience and was the
official military spokesman for the Combined Joint Task Force-Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) in
Baghdad, Iraq, including four other combat tours in the Middle East. He worked extensively in the public affairs and international communications field informing the public on combat operations and how to defeat international terrorism.
Sean was the public affairs officer for Space Command, 1st Infantry Division, and 10th Special
Forces among other positions. He was an Army Fellow at Google in Mountain View, California,
working in Corporate Communications and is a recipient of the General Douglas MacArthur
Leadership award representing Unites States Europe.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Army Emergency Relief Website
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Budgeting, Debt Management, and Investing. PsychArmor provides a number of different courses releated to financial literacy, and this course provides learners with steps to help them budget accordingly and manage debt as they progress towards financial wellness.
You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Budgeting-Debt-Management-and-Investing
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Rebecca Nowatchik is a facilitator, community organizer and proud Air Force spouse who believes that military families have a critical role to play to preserve and deepen our democracy at this moment in our country’s history. Rebecca cut her advocacy teeth 20 years ago organizing for labor rights and LGBTQ families and has extensive background managing successful campaigns focusing on worker safety and community health. Her work has been featured by publications such as Grist, Mother Jones, Bill Moyers, and Al Jazeera. Rebecca holds a Masters in Nonprofit Management from Canisius College.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Secure Families Initiative Web Site
Long Term Impact of Military Service on Families Article
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Leaning In: Investing in a Challenging Relationship. Being in a relationship with a service member or veteran can be challenging. This course is designed for partners of service members or veterans and provides information to help identify challenges in relationships, promote healthy behaviors through communication, and stress reduction skills.
You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/leaning-in-investing-in-a-challenging-relationship
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
As the Executive Director of the Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP), Brian Jenkins draws on global experiences in community-building and social entrepreneurship. Under Brian’s leadership since 2019, ASAP has increased the annual number of veterans served by 75%, grown the organization's revenue by 54%, expanded ASAP Chapters from two cities to four, and launched a virtual program to provide access to ASAP classes to veterans and service members anywhere in the world.
Brian has worked with and consulted for social impact and community building ventures globally. He holds a certification in Nonprofit Executive Management from Georgetown University and a B.A. with honors from the College of William & Mary, where he was a Meyers-Stern Scholar
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Armed Services Arts Partnership Web Site
Live Shows featuring ASAP workshop attendees
ASAP on Twitter
ASAP on Facebook
ASAP on YouTube
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Making Connections and Networking.Regardless of your military background or previous work experience, PsychArmor’s course, “Making Connections and Networking,” helps service members, Veterans, and their families learn how to network in their new communities.
You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Making-Connections-and-Networking
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Aimee Johnson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has more than 20 years of experience, from direct clinical practice with youth, families and adults in crisis and working with military service members, Veterans and their families. Aimee has worked both in the private sector and for the federal government, most recently at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs where she led a portfolio of work to include short-term strategies to reach high risk populations. She serves as a national subject matter expert with specific focus on firearm suicide prevention and lethal means safety strategies, creating and launching media campaigns, building, leading and implementing public private partnerships and leveraging innovation to bring new strategies to the field of suicide prevention.
The work that Aimee does is personal. Her late grandfather and his brother survived the Holocaust after losing their immediate family and many others. American service members liberated them after a miraculous escape from the Nazis. Aimee has always felt a need to be of service to our American military, Veterans and service members from any country who embody freedom and democracy. Those who serve for a mission greater than self give so many people another chance at living. She believes that people in crisis deserve another chance at life. She experienced her first suicide loss in high school and has always felt that people who are in crisis don’t want to die, they want the pain they are experiencing to end. Helping people over the course of her career find hope and recovery has been an honor.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Aimee’s Web Site: Aimee J Consulting
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Suicide Prevention and the Safe Storage of Firearms in the Military-Connected Community: Conversations for Everyone. This course provides critical information for members of every community about the safe storage of firearms. When people are in crisis, honest conversations about accessibility to lethal means for suicide are vitally important. This short course, jointly narrated by four people from different cultures – including military Veterans, non-Veterans, gun owners, non-gun owners, and clinical psychologists – aims to reduce the hesitation we often feel in talking to those we are worried about, through education. Everyone who is worried about someone in their lives should feel confident in having frank, open conversations about firearms and their safe storage – and know with certainty that those conversations save lives.
You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/suicide-prevention-and-the-safe-storage-of-firearms-conversations-for-everyone
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Jeremy Butler is the CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the premier veterans advocacy and support organization that connects, unites, and empowers post-9/11 veterans through education, advocacy, and community. An experienced national security, military affairs, and non-profit management advisor, Jeremy joined IAVA with 15+ years of experience providing substantive and strategic counsel to leaders in high-profile government and private sector offices, including the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. He is a Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy Reserves with 20 years of uniformed service and is a graduate of Knox College and the U.S. Naval War College.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
IAVA Web Site
IAVA Policy Agenda
IAVA QRF program
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Navigating the Prostate Cancer Journey: Empowering Veterans and Caregviers with Precision Medicine. This course is designed for caregivers who are supporting veterans being treated for prostate cancer to help them to advocate for the best quality care and standing by them during a challenging treatment regimen.
You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/navigating-the-prostate-cancer-journey-empowering-veterans-and-their-caregivers-with-precision-medicine
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Umar Latif, MD is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology with board certification in General Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine. He was selected as a George W. Bush Institute Scholar as part of the 2021 Stand-To Veteran Leadership program in service of improving veteran outcomes.
Dr. Latif currently serves as the National Medical Director of Help for Heroes, a multisite specialty program he helped design as co-founder, to meet the clinical needs of active-duty service members, veterans and first responders who are dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues. He also works as the Medical Director of Carrollton Springs Hospital and has a private practice at The Noesis Clinic: an adult and geriatric outpatient private practice that specializes in early detection of Alzheimer’s dementia and TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation).
For a decade prior to this, Dr. Latif co-founded and served as the Medical Director of Freedom Care at UBH Denton, which he helped develop. Under his leadership, this program grew into a multi-location inpatient psychiatry program specializing in PTSD and dual diagnosis treatment for active duty military members and veterans referred from 120 plus national & international installations.
His other professional roles in the past have included the position of Medical Director of the Telepsychiatry program at Dallas VA Medical Center, and faculty appointment as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Dr. Latif completed his residency training at Wayne State University in Michigan and postgraduate fellowship training at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He also earned a certificate in “Executive Healthcare Leadership” from Cornell University.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Hope for Heroes Program
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Barriers to Treatment. In this course, you will learn how differences in military culture affect mental health and how to help service members or veterans overcome barriers to seeking treatment.
You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/barriers-to-treatment
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Elisa V. Borah, MSW, PhD is a research associate professor at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, and Director of the Institute for Military and Veteran Family Wellness, a joint initiative of the Dell Medical School Department of Health Social Work and the Steve Hicks School of Social Work.
Dr. Borah conducts research to identify, implement, and evaluate treatments, programming and community supports for military members, veterans, spouses and their families. Current research efforts include assessing the value of structured peer support for military spouses to improve their quality of life, access resources and increase social support. She also studies self-care practices among military spouses and how best to support their transition needs after military life. Dr. Borah’s current research includes development of methods to engage concerned significant others in veteran suicide prevention practices and research as well as delivery of education and training to community-based organizations in suicide prevention. Dr. Borah founded and directs the Veteran Spouse Network (VSN), originally launched through an Engagement Award from the Patient Centered Outcome Research Institute (PCORI). The VSN is designed to build and support communities of veteran spouses and to provide peer support programming with trained peers. Dr. Borah chairs the Military Social Work & Behavioral Health Conference at The University of Texas at Austin. She previously served as director of research at the Ft. Hood site of the STRONG STAR PTSD Research Consortium, a Department of Defense-funded research consortium at UT Health San Antonio.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Institute for Military and Veteran Family Wellness,
Veteran Spouse Network
Military Social Work & Behavioral Health Conference
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Making Connections and Networking. This is one of the things that Dr. Borah and her group are doing, establishing connections between military and veteran spouses. Regardless of your military background or previous work experience, this course can help service members, Veterans, and their families learn how to network in their new communities.
You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Making-Connections-and-Networking
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Shannon Razsadin is an active duty Navy spouse, mom, and the executive director of the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN). Shannon’s leadership, authenticity, fresh approach, and focus on collaboration have set MFAN apart as an organization focused on making an impact and as a trusted conduit to military families globally.
Under Shannon’s leadership, MFAN has become a premier, respected nonprofit leader in a crowded and sometimes confusing network of military and veteran service organizations.
Shannon and the organization’s advisory board have deep relationships and experience with community, state, and federal leaders; national nonprofit and for-profit organizations; and community service providers. She was recently selected through a competitive process to serve as one of the three civilian advisors to the Secretary of Defense on the Military Family Readiness Council. She is regularly called on by national and local media to weigh in on military-related topics, including CBS, CNN, and FOX.
Shannon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Merrimack College, as well as a Masters in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration from The George Washington University.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Military Family Advisory Network Web Site
Military Family Food Insecurity Coalition
Military Family Financial Readiness Coalition
Military Housing Round Table
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course 15 Reasons to Hire a Military Spouse. Employers are looking for untapped talent pools. One talent pool that can be overlooked is the diverse and highly educated group of military spouses. Take this course to learn the top 15 Reasons to Hire a Military Spouse.You can find a link to the resource here:
https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/15-Reasons-to-Hire-a-Military-Spouse
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Jen Goodale separated from the Marine Corps in 2009 after seven years of active duty service. Upon graduation from the University of North Carolina in 2002, she was commissioned as a second lieutenant. After completing Basic Communications Officers Course, she was assigned to 9th Communication Battalion in Camp Pendleton, Calif. As a platoon commander, Goodale deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In her final assignment, she served at Marine Barracks Washington as a member of the 8th & I parade staff and a project manager at the Marine Corps Institute.
In 2013, Goodale joined the Member Products and Services team at MOAA. In this role, she focused on engagement with the currently serving community and fundraising to support MOAA initiatives and programs. In 2016, she began supporting The MOAA Foundation as an independent contractor. Since that time, she has become passionate about improving military spouse employment opportunities through her work with the “Keeping a Career on the Move” Military Spouse Symposia series. In 2021, Goodale was selected to serve on the advisory board for the Military Family Advisory Network.
Goodale is a North Carolina native and has a bachelor of arts degree in interpersonal and organizational communication studies from UNC-Chapel Hill and a bachelor of science degree in nutrition from Arizona State University. She is married to an active duty Marine, and they have two daughters and two dogs.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
MOAA Web Site
MOAA Legislative Action Center
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Leadership Skills that Drive Impact. This course is designed for those who are interested in learning how to use collective impact principles to foster collaboration and increase impact for service members, Veterans, their families, and their caregivers.You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/leadership-skills-that-drive-impact
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Will Huff served for over 23 years in the U.S. Army as an Army Officer. He achieved the rank of Colonel and served fifty-four months deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition to his military service, Will is a graduate of Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island and the National War College in Washington, D.C. Following his Army career, Will worked in the Towson University Athletic Department and spent the last three years as Deputy Athletic Director-External Operations. Will joined Soldiers to Sidelines in June 2020 and is now the Director of Partnership for the 501c.3 supporting Veterans, Service Members, and Military Spouses into sport coaching.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Soldiers to Sidelines Web Site
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Veteran 201: Profession Vs. Occupation. This course highlights the similarities and differences between military and civilian employment and reveals how many military jobs can translate into different professions in the civilian world. You can find a link to the resource in our show notes. https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Veteran-201-Profession-vs-Ocupation
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
As Executive Director, Besa brings leadership at NMFA along with her personal experience as a military spouse to this incredible team. Besa is an award-winning journalist and marketer whose passion for our military began during her time as a reporter and television news anchor. From Jacksonville, North Carolina to Kosovo, her assignments opened her eyes to the post-9/11 military experience, and its cycles of deployment, redeployment, and constant transition. She also covered highly-contentious Congressional hearings and the impact military life has on families, including the effects of water contamination aboard military bases. During Besa’s time covering Camp Lejeune, she met a guy named Dave, whom she decided to marry despite warnings to “never marry a Marine.” Now 15+ years later, they live on Capitol Hill with their 3 kids.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
National Military Family Association Web Site
Military Teen Experience Report
Basic Needs Allowance Legislation
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Veteran 201: Military Families. The life of a military family can be chaotic and stressful. This course provides some insight into the unique challenges faced by military families, and you can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/veteran-201-military-families
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
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PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Dr. Davis is a subject matter expert on Military, Veteran, Family (MVF), Caregiver & Survivor support through successful, sustainable services. Dr. Davis is currently working with the Department of Defense in the area of Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) and Caring for Military Families, Elizabeth Dole Foundation. She was educated at the University of Southern California. She is the former Deputy Undersecretary Of Defense for military community and family policy and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for manpower and personnel policy, to the position of Senior Vice President for Defense and Intelligence.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Military and Veteran Caregiver Experience Map
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors Institute for Hope and Healing
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Why Collaboration is So Important in Supporting Mitliary members, Veterans, Their Families, and Caregivers. This course is designed for community leaders interested in exploring some key components to a successful collaborative journey. You will learn how collaboration can provide the structure needed to impact the lives of military-connected people. You can find a link to the resource in our here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/why-collaboration-is-so-important
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Alex Balbir serves as the director for Independence Services. Prior to joining Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), he served as a health care consultant supporting the Department of Defense Military Health System and as the deputy director and chief of operations for clinical research at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence. Alex is a Navy reservist, serving as a health care administrator in the Medical Service Corps.
He obtained his doctorate of philosophy in public health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, focusing his research on sleep disorders in brain injury. He also has a master’s of business administration from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, focusing on organizational management and entrepreneurship.
Alex connects, serves, and empowers warriors in his role as independence services director.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Wounded Warrior Project Web Site
WWP Independence Program
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course How to Talk to Someone with a Disability. As you’ve heard in this episode, a significant number of service members leave the military as a result of catastrophic injuries or illnesses, and this course is designed to equip volunteers with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively and confidently communicate with someone who has a disability. You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/how-to-talk-to-someone-with-a-disability
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Ever since her late husband, LT (SEAL) Brendan Looney was killed in Afghanistan on September 21, 2010 and awarded the Bronze Star with Valor, Amy Looney has served as an inspirational champion for families of fallen service members, military families, veterans, and American troops. Serving as Vice President of Travis Manion Foundation, Amy leads a national movement focused on empowering veterans & families of the fallen to foster the next generation of leaders in the mission to unite communities to strengthen America's national character. She is dedicated to carrying on the legacy of her late husband and friend, Travis Manion, who are buried side by side in Arlington National Cemetery. A personal tragedy fueled an impassioned advocate to inspire, motivate, and empower individuals, communities, and a nation, to honor the fallen by challenging the living.
A consistent voice to the national conversation and advocacy of veterans & families of the fallen, Amy is frequently invited to address national audiences on Fox News, CNN, CBS, TED-X, in written publications such as the Washington Post, and multiple personal appearances spanning the US. She is the co-author of the newly released book, The Knock at the Door.
Amy received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Johns Hopkins University and her Master’s in Public Administration from George Washington University. Amy currently resides in the Chicago area with her husband, Joel, and their two daughters, Grace and Alana.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Travis Manion Foundation Web Site
The Knock at the Door
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Why Veterans are an Invaluable Resrouce in the Community. In this course, community leaders will learn about why taking the time to embark on a collaboration journey can ensure that veterans and their families unlock their full potential and apply their invaluable skills back into their communities.
You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/why-veterans-are-an-invaluable-resource-in-the-community
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Michael Genovese is the chief medical officer of Acadia Healthcare, the largest stand-alone provider of behavioral healthcare in the United States. Acadia operates a network of 238 behavioral health facilities in 40 States and Puerto Rico.
Dr. Genovese is serves on the CMO Corporate Council of the Joint Commission and is Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, a member of the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
Dr. Genovese co-founded the multidisciplinary medical practice Long Island Mind and Body in New York while practicing as an attending physician at NYU/Winthrop University Hospital. He was a fellow at the NYU/North Shore University Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Program, and he completed his residency training at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
Before beginning his medical studies, Dr. Genovese earned a Juris Doctor degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He is a member of the New York Bar and the American Bar Association and is an advocate for attorneys and first responders seeking treatment for addiction and co-occurring disorders.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Acadia Healthcare Military & Family Support Services
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Substance Use Disorder in Military and Veteran Populations. Dr. Genovese has a background in treating substance use disorders and the topic was discussed on this week’s show. This course is one that is specifically for healthcare providers in helping them understand how substance use disorders can be identified and addressed. You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Substance-Use-Disorder-in-Military-and-Veteran-Populations
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Jenna Pryor serves as the Director of Programs at PsychArmor. In this role, Jenna leads the implementation and evaluation of PsychArmor’s educational programs and training on military culture. Jenna coordinates with the clinical, customer success, and content development teams to design and implement education and training resources for individuals, organizations, and community initiatives. In previous roles, Jenna managed research projects focused on economic mobility within the formerly incarcerated population with the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
As an MSW intern for a small non-profit that provides peer support services for formerly incarcerated individuals, she co-designed and implemented a community education series to increase awareness for and create change around barriers preventing the formerly incarcerated population from gaining meaningful employment, housing, and other basic needs. Jenna currently holds a Master’s degree in Social Work, concentrating in social policy and evaluation, from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Michigan State University. Jenna is also the daughter of an active duty United States Marine and knows firsthand the challenges and strengths associated with the military-connected community.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
PsychArmor’s Custom Learning Pathway Development Program
Episode 36 – The Fire Watch Suicide Prevention Program
Episode 60 – The Stack Up Overwatch Program
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor Training Partner Page where you can learn more about how PsychArmor creates and builds custom learning pathways to meet your organization’s needs. PsychArmor can built training packages that provide your users an annual subscription to on-demand, 24/7 access to bundles of courses, engage in custom course development, have access to live speakers and webinars, and receive educational consultation to meet your learning goals. You can find a link to the resource here: https://psycharmor.org/services
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Susie Dicker Sitzer is an experienced organizer, connector, and public relations maven, who is highly dedicated to the mission of helping others. She has over two decades of experience leading teams in philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, communications, talent management, and more. Susie has most recently served as the Executive Director of Drawn from Valor, an award-winning non-profit digital-first content studio devoted to empowering kids and their families to understand and manage their mental and physical health conditions. Susie has a B.A. in Communications from the University of Pittsburgh and lives in Southern California.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Tales of the Golden Acorn Preview
Tales of the Golden Acorn Overview
Winnie the Pooh Article
Winnie the Pooh Journal Article
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course, 15 Things Military Kids Want You To Know. This short on-demand video brings the voices of military-connected youth to life, and allows us to take important steps toward cultural humility when interacting with these resilient and amazing kids. You can find a link to the course here:
https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/15-things-military-and-veterans-kids-want-you-to-know
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Paul Fukuma is the Chairman and CEO of Taji 100, a nonprofit that hosts a virtual fitness challenge in February of every year. Paul is a fourth generation US Army veteran, and has deep ties to the military and a profound respect for all who have served their country. His great grandfather served in WWI, both grandfathers in WWII, father in Vietnam, and he served in Iraq.
Paul was a competitor in the first TAJI 100 in 2010. When he returned to the civilian world, he wanted to continue that athletic motivation and camaraderie that he grew so found of. He picked up the TAJI 100 torch and ran with it. The first stateside TAJI 100, in 2011, was a mere 12 people and miles were tracked with pen and paper. Since then, TAJI 100 has grown to levels far beyond his dreams and continues to show even greater potential.
Paul is a Sunnyvale, CA native. Ever since high school, he has worked in professions that helped others. He started out as a lifeguard/swim instructor, migrated through positions such as EMT, combat medic in the military, and a San Jose Police Officer. Now he is very proud to serve the city of Sunnyvale, CA as a Public Safety Officer. As a Public Safety Officer, he is a full time police officer, fire fighter, and EMT.
Running is a relatively new love in Paul’s life, but it is a passion that will stay with him forever. He has completed numerous 5Ks, 8Ks, 10Ks, and a hand full of half marathons. There was a time in his life where running a single mile would make him gasp for air and clutch his chest. Paul believes that, like most things in life, running is something that takes practice, patience, and motivation.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
TAJI 100 Web Site
TAJI 100 Facebook Page
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course, Social Isolation and Loneliness. At PsychArmor, we know that social connections are vital to your health; in this course, you will learn about new ways to achieve social connection, learn about resources, and develop a plan to engage and connect in a safe way. You can find a link to the course here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/social-isolation-loneliness
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Cat Corchado is the Community Relations and Partnerships Ambassador at the Women Veterans Network (WoVeN). She volunteered and was chosen as one of the original Peer Leaders with the WoVeN program in 2017. She has helped lead many in-person and online peer groups and she ran one of the first WoVeN online Peer Leader Trainings. She is an advocate and champion for all women Veterans and helps them to navigate the transition process from active duty to civilian, which is why WoVeN was a perfect fit. Prior to her position with WoVeN, Cat retired from the US Air Force in 2000 where she spent her entire career in Communications and Project Management. Outside of work, Cat has spent over 37 years in the fitness industry as a Personal Trainer and Pilates Instructor. She loves to spend time with her husband and dog, Brady, and also loves to be outside in the sun and at the beach. Cat has been and will continue to be an advocate for women Veterans through the WoVeN program.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
WoVen Web Site
Sisters-In-Service Podcast
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course, Women Who Serve. Presented by Margaret Riley, a U.S. Army Combat Veteran, this course series is an overview of the contributions women have made to our military forces and is intended for those who want to better understand women's role in our military. You can find a link to the course here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/women-who-serve
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Josh Protas is the Vice President of Public Policy and heads the Washington, D.C. office for MAZON. In this role, which he assumed in 2012, Josh coordinates and implements MAZON’s advocacy agenda, including efforts to protect and strengthen the federal nutrition safety net, with particular emphasis on the food security needs for seniors, veterans, and military families. Josh has extensive experience working at Jewish communal agencies at both the local and national level including as Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council at the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and as Vice President and Washington Director for the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. He previously served as a member of the board of directors for the Coalition on Human Needs and currently participates as part of the Vote Advisory Council for Food Policy Action. Josh earned his M.A. in Western American History and Public History from Arizona State University and his B.A. in American Studies and French Literature from Wesleyan University.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
MAZON Web Site
Food Insecurity in Military Families
Food Insecurity in the Veteran Population
Summary of MAZON Report: Hungry in the Military
Full Hungry in the Military Report
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course, Food Insecurity: Bringing Solutions to the Table. The course is intended to help you understand how food insecurity happens and offer solutions to this problem. By the end of the course, you should be able to understand what food security means; Recognize how Veterans and their families can become food insecure; and Determine ways you can help Veterans in your community be food secure. The course is introduced by Senator Tammy Duckworth and You can find a link to the course in our show notes. https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Food-Insecurity
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Carie Rodgers, Ph.D., ABPP, currently serves as Chief Program Officer at PsychArmor Institute, and is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCSD School of Medicine. Prior to joining the team, she was the Associate Director of the Education & Dissemination Unit at the VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health in San Diego, California.
She has served as a National Trainer for the VA’s Cognitive Processing Therapy initiative and as a consultant for the National Center for PTSD. She has provided training and consultation to hundreds of mental health providers in the VA and the Department of Defense, as well as in the broader community. Dr. Rodgers was also a Consultant for the VA’s national roll-out of Prolonged Exposure Therapy and was the Director of the VA San Diego Military Sexual Trauma Program. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2000 from the University of Oregon, and completed her internship and postdoctoral training at UCSD and the San Diego VA. A licensed Clinical Psychologist in the state of California, Dr. Rodgers is also Board Certified in Clinical Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Dr. Rodgers’ Profile on PsychArmor
Kirkpatrick Training Model
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course, 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know for Healthcare Providers. This course was created to educate Healthcare Providers who care for our military Veterans. PsychArmor asked hundreds of Veterans what they wanted civilians, employers, educators, health care providers, and therapists to know about them, and we share them with you in this course. You can find a link to the here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/15-things-veterans-for-healthcare-providers
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Kristin A. Meekhof is an author, life coach, writer and obtained her M.S.W. from the University of Michigan. She has more than 20 years of clinical experience. A nationally recognized expert on resiliency and gratitude, her best-selling book, A Widow’s Guide to Healing, was inspired by her own personal experience with widowhood, grief, and healing. A Korean-American adoptee, she was left on the streets of Korea as an infant. She came to the US in 1974 and became a naturalized citizen. She is a life- coach with clients throughout the United States. As a confidential advisor, she privately works with some of the most influential people in media and politics. Kristin graduated from Kalamazoo College with a BA in psychology, and received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan.
In September of 2021, Kristin created a mental health video for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. In March of 2020, Kristin created a wellness guide for Katie Couric’s newsletter to help keep people calm during this time of social distancing. The guide is available on Katie Couric’s YouTube Channel and on Kristin’s Medium profile. Also, for Katie, Kristin wrote “8 Ways to Manage Your Coronavirus Related Anxiety” which was featured in CNN’s Newsletter as well. Kristin was interviewed as a wellness expert on CNN’s New Day morning show (live) on March 19, 2020. Later that year, she contributed video content to the PIxar/ University of Michigan Coursera collaboration.
Kristin created and curated content for Deepak Chopra’s 31- Day Gratitude Journal and was named an “Architect of Change” by Maria Shriver. Kristin has spoken at Harvard Medical School, the United Nations and the University of Michigan Medical School. She was a panelist at the Parliament of World Religions.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Kristin’s Web Site
Kristin’s Amazon Author Page
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course, Good Grief. This is a course that can help those experiencing grief and loss; Grief is not only experienced with death, it can also occur with job loss or severe changes to physical well-being. The purpose of this course is to recognize loss and identify what is learned as a result of that loss. You can find a link to this course through this link: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/good-grief
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Email PsychArmor
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Ken Davenport is the co-founder and CEO of Mission Edge, a social enterprise providing consulting and strategy services to nonprofits and social impact organizations. Prior to starting Mission Edge, Ken was a serial entrepreneur who started and ran a number of successful companies in the healthcare and data analytics field. Ken is passionate about veteran entrepreneurship and teaches the Boots to Business course for the Institute of Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University and has been an instructor for the veteran transition program with Four Block. Ken is a past board member at the Travis Manion Foundation, a past board member at San Diego Social Venture Partners, and remains an active seed investor and mentor to numerous start-ups. Ken is the author of two speculative fiction novels and has a BA in Political Science from UC San Diego, a Master’s in International Management from the School of Global Policy and Strategy (UCSD) and a Master's in International Relations from the London School of Economics.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Mission Edge Web Site
Ken’s Web Site
Ken’s Amazon Author Page
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course, Volunteer Opportunities with Veterans. If you find yourself interested in supporting those who served and those who care for them, this course will guide you through the process of identifying and securing opportunities to volunteer with veterans, so you too, can find ways to give back to those who have served in the armed forces. You can find this course through this link: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Volunteer-Opportunities-with-Veterans
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Dr. Qwynn Galloway-Salazar is a veteran of the United States Army (01-06) and spouse to a retired combat Veteran. Her work has spanned the last 20 years, supporting our Nation’s Military and Veteran communities. As the founder of In Their Honor, LLC, Qwynn serves as an End-of-Life Doula and Trainer. This Spring, she is slated to roll out state-specific training for End-of-Life Professionals supporting Veterans and their Caregivers; and training specifically geared towards the Veteran Caregiver community. In addition, serving as the Co-Principal Investigator of the Brooklyn College Veterans History Project, Qwynn conducts oral history interviews of Veterans, listening to how Veterans make meaning of their experiences and sharing with larger audiences. She believes, as a society, the way we make sense of the Veteran experience shapes the care and support future generations of Veterans receive.
While blending her heart work with her head work, her doctoral dissertation entitled “Post-9/11 Women Veterans’ Experiences Transitioning Into the Civilian Workforce” landed her the opportunity to serve as a qualitative researcher for the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), § 9104, Study on Unemployment Rate of Women Veterans Who Served on Active Duty in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001. Along with co-authoring a chapter on “Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue” in Veteran care providers.
Qwynn earned her Ph.D. from Walden University, specializing in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Professional Counseling and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. She serves on the Board of Directors for the American Association of Suicidology and the Advisory Board of the Veterans Studies Association.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
In Their Honor Web Page
Dr. Galloway-Salazar’s LinkedIn Profile
Dr. Galloway-Salazar on Facebook
Send Dr. Galloway-Salazar an Email
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is two PsychArmor Courses: a two-part series of courses entitled No Veteran Dies Alone Volunteer Training. In part one, learners are introduced to hospice and palliative care, and in part two, you will learn how to prepare yourself for serious illness, dying, and grief. You can access these courses through the following links:
https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/no-veteran-dies-alone-volunteer-training-part-1
https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/No-Veteran-Dies-Alone-Volunteer-Training-Part-2
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Steve Dilley, MFA, founder and Executive Director of The Veterans Art Project, has 35 years collaborating with the military on creative Artistic engagement projects, expressing emotions, documenting experiences, and sharing ideas. After 9/11, Steve was moved to help Veterans, active duty and spouses through Art making. He has a profound weight of responsibility to reach out and help other people through Art and the process of Art making, and believes it is urgent to help our contemporary military population to share all the benefits that a life of Art making gives. In addition to running the day to day programs at VETART, Steve is an Associate Professor of Art/Sculpture at Grossmont College in El Cajon, CA.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Veterans Art Project Web Site
Virtual Interview Gallery from Pop-Café Events
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course, Trauma Informed Interactions with Veterans. This course defines trauma, discusses how it presents itself and is specifically designed to help volunteers interact with Veterans dealing with trauma that affects their health and/or ability to function. You can check out the article through this link: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/trauma-informed-interactions-with-veterans
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Zach is a Retired US Coast Guard Officer who worked in IT security and engineering for most of his civilian life. As the parent of an autistic child, he developed skills and an affinity for working with people who have special needs. This grew his passion for helping others and that lead him to peer support and suicide prevention. He always knew he had a calling helping people and he found it in Stack Up.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
The Stack Up Web site
The Stack Up Overwatch Program
The StOP Discord Channel
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week a research article published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology: Community Case Study: Stack Up’s Overwatch Program, an Online Suicide Prevention and Peer Support Program for Video Gamers. Published in 2021, this article will provide a deeper understanding of the Stack Up Overwatch Program and the educational support that PsychArmor provides. Check it out through this link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7990882/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Col. Denise “Deno” Cooper, Ph.D., is a U.S. Air Force Wounded Warrior who worked with PsychArmor as part of the OSD employment education initiative program. Col. Cooper is now an Organizational Behavior Consultant for PsychArmor. A part of PsychArmor’s Program department, Col. Cooper also brings nearly three decades of Air Force leadership experience to the organization. She also coordinates our external evaluation and assessment program.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Dr. Cooper’s LinkedIn Profile
From We Will to At Will: A Handbook for Veteran Hiring, Transitioning, and Thriving in the Workplace by Justin Constantine
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week the PsychArmor course What You Should Know about Transition. Transitioning from military service can be difficult. It is more than just hanging up your uniform and putting on civilian clothes. In this course, you will receive a brief overview of resources and tools to consider during your transition. If you or someone you know is about to or has recently transitioned from the military into post-military life, check it out through this link: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/What-you-Should-Know-about-Transition
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Following in the footsteps of a family dedicated to military and spiritual service, Lauren Postler strives to apply the principles of servant leadership in all her endeavors.
With more than 15 years of experience in strategic planning, change management, capacity building and collaborations for nonprofit organizations and Fortune 500 businesses alike, Lauren brings a wealth of knowledge, a dynamic skill set and a passion to her work with mission-driven organizations. Her previous involvement in fundraising with leaders in the oil & gas industry and background as a social worker has lent itself to both a “grass-roots” and “big picture” approach helping entrepreneurs build their brands and raise capital to fuel their cause.
Lauren has been honored with numerous awards for her professional acumen, most recently as one of the "Top 50 Women Leaders of Houston for 2022" for her role as the first Vice President of Growth at PsychArmor. She is grateful for any recognition that draws attention to the important work the organization does bringing education, engagement, and evaluation to e-learning for the military connected community.
An active servant in the philanthropic community, she is also devoted to numerous commitments as a board member and volunteer for area nonprofits. This currently includes leading People for Liberty, a 501(c)4 nonprofit, and service to the community of veteran & military-connected entrepreneurs as a City Leader for Bunker Labs in Houston, Texas, in honor of her family's long-standing history of service to our country.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Lauren’s profile on LinkedIn
George W. Bush Institute Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week the PsychArmor course Collaborative Table: Who to Invite and How to Engage. This course is designed for those organizations who are looking to ensure that they have a diverse group of voices and experience in their planning and decision-making process. Collaboration between individuals and organizations at the community level is an important aspect for supporting the military affiliated population, and no single individual or organization can do it alone. You can access this course through this link: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/collaborative-table
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Art delaCruz served honorably for over 22 years in the United States Navy and enjoyed a career that included a broad range of assignments. Art commanded a Navy strike-fighter squadron, spent one year with McKinsey & Co. as a Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow, served as a Topgun instructor, and made six combat deployments.
After retiring, he spent two and a half years in the aerospace and defense sector in the roles of business development and strategy and planning. He maintains a honed "quick reaction" capability by attempting to keep up with his wife, four kids, golden retriever, and labrador retriever puppy.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Team Rubicon USA
Team Rubicon on Twitter
Team Rubicon on Facebook
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is a previous podcast episode featuring Mary Beth Bruggeman, Executive Director of The Mission Continues. Similar to this week’s episode, Mary Beth talks about supporting veterans while also supporting communities that veterans live in. You can check out that episode through this link: https://psycharmor.org/podcast/mary-beth-bruggeman
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Jerome Tennille is the Manager of Social Impact & Volunteerism for Marriott International. Jerome is also an independent consultant and advisor in the subject matter of Sustainability and Social Impact. Prior to that Jerome held the position of Senior Manager of Impact Analysis and Assessment for Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a national organization that offers help, hope, and healing to all those grieving the death of a loved one serving in America’s armed forces.
Jerome also served on the board of directors of Peace Through Action USA for four years and also serves on the PsychArmor Institute Advisory Committee for the School of Volunteers & Nonprofits. Jerome holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in operations management and a Master of Sustainability Leadership (MSL) from Arizona State University. Jerome is designated as Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) and is also a veteran of the US Navy.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Jerome’s Web Site
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is a previous podcast episode featuring Kathy Roth-Duquet and Sinclair Harris as we discuss the Racial Equity Initiative of Blue Star Families. In this episode, we talk about the importance of DEI for military families and how to apply these principles to your organization. You can check out that episode through this link: https://psycharmor.org/podcast/kathy-roth-duquet-and-sinclair-harris
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Roxana Delgado, Ph.D. is a health scientist, an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine, General and Hospital Medicine Division. She is also the Elizabeth Dole Foundation research advisor for the Campaign of Inclusive Care and one of the investigators at the VA Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research. Dr. Delgado developed the “Military and Veteran Caregiver Portfolio,” a research platform that addresses the short and long-term health-related outcomes of caregivers of wounded, ill, and injured service members and Veterans. Her research focuses on predictors and health outcomes in military caregivers, with emphasis in long-term trajectory of disease and illness.
Dr. Delgado’s professional experienced was inspired by her firsthand personal experience as the wife of a combat wounded veteran and Purple Heart Recipient. She is a nationally recognized speaker, author, researcher and avid advocate for traumatic brain injury and caregiving. She serves in various advisory boards to inform national policies and programs for Veterans and caregivers. A 2015-16 Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow representing the State of Texas. She is passionate in what she does and her goal is to dedicate her life and profession to contribute to science and helping wounded, ill and injured Veterans and their caregivers discover ways to thrive.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
The RAND Caregiver Study
Dr. Delgado’s Caregiver Suicidal Ideation Research
Elizabeth Dole Foundation Web site
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course, VA S.A.V.E.: Preventing Caregiver Suicide. After taking this course, you will develop an understanding of the increased risk for suicide we see in military and Veteran caregivers, identify the signs of an at-risk Veteran caregiver, and know steps you can take to help a Veteran caregiver. You can check out the course through this link: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/va-save-preventing-caregiver-suicide
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
As Senior Vice President of Advancement, Josie Beets works closely with the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Trustees to integrate communications and fundraising to support United Through Reading’s mission delivery. She leads a team of development and communications professionals who together provide program support through alliance strategies, marketing and campaigns, special events, gift development, and donor stewardship.
Josie has more than 12 years of experience in the nonprofit and public sectors. Before joining the staff, she served UTR in a different role, as Vice Chair of the United Through Reading Board of Trustees. Josie comes to UTR from SAFE Project, where she served as Senior Director of SAFE Communities, leading the organization’s signature national initiative to end the addiction epidemic, community by community. She previously managed the President’s Management Council, which advises the White House and Office of Management and Budget on government-wide management policy. Josie also previously served as the Public Policy Director for the Tennessee Bar Association.
Josie is an attorney, an Army spouse, and mom to two insatiable readers. In 2013, Josie discovered United Through Reading when her spouse was deployed to Afghanistan. Since then, her family has used UTR to stay connected through deployments and other military-related separations.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
United Through Reading Web Site
Download the UTR App
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course 15 Things Military and Veteran Kids Want You to Know. Similar to PsychArmor’s cornerstone 15 Things Service Members and Veterans want you to know, this short on-demand video brings the voices of military-connected youth to life, and allows us to take important steps toward cultural humility when interacting with these resilient and amazing kids. You can check it out by going to this link: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/15-things-military-and-veterans-kids-want-you-to-know
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Lornett Vestal was born and raised in Chicago, IL. He joined the United States Navy at the age of seventeen. He served four years honorably and was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. He’s traveled to various countries including Ecuador, Mexico, Brazil, Estonia. He has a BA in Sociology from Northern Illinois University and a Master’s Degree in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago. He spent several years working in education and social work at Chicago Public Schools and non-profit organizations through the City of Chicago.
Lornett is currently the Lead Campaign Representative, Sierra Club Military Outdoors. In that role, he works with Sierra Club staff, volunteers, and outside community and nonprofit organizations to build the Military Outdoors program in Georgia and throughout the United States. His hope is to create several active outings groups over the next two the three years.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Sierra Club Military Outdoors Web site
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course on Intimacy and Emotional Disconnect in Military Populations. This course investigates links between emotional disconnection and relationship intimacy issues that are often seen among Veteran and active duty military couples. There are a number of reasons why service members and veterans may disconnect from those they care about, and you can learn more about those reasons through this course. You can check it out by going to this link: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/intimacy-and-emotional-disconnect-in-military-populations
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Scott Tirocchi is the division director for Justice For Vets (JFV), a division of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP). He served in the U.S. Army reserves and the Rhode Island Army National Guard for 21 years. His occupational specialty was being a military police officer. While deployed to Afghanistan from 2003 to 2004, he served as commander for the training and doctrine component of Training Assistance Group II to the Afghan National Army. He retired at the rank of major. Scott has an employment background rooted in treatment and criminal justice. He is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with certifications in clinical trauma and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). He was previously employed with the Rhode Island Judiciary, serving in a dual capacity as deputy director for their district court's pretrial services unit and program coordinator for their veterans treatment court. Scott has been a behavioral health clinician in correctional and hospital settings as well as various community behavioral health organizations throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. He has Master of Arts degree in Human Development and a Master of Science degree in Human Services.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Justice for Vets Website
What is a Veterans Treatment Court video
Veteran Court Mentor training and professional development
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the series of courses on Military Culture. From the cornerstone PsychArmor course 15 things veterans want you to know, to working with veterans as a community member and basic information about how to communicate with veterans who are disabled or trauma exposed, these courses are designed to help you understand and interact with veterans more effectively so that you can provide whatever support they need. You can access this course series through this link: https://learn.psycharmor.org/collections?category=military-culture
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Betty Rhoades joined the HillVets Foundation in December of 2019 as the Executive Director. Betty lives in Washington, DC – just steps from the HillVets House! – with her husband, her rescued pit bull, Jack, and her “quarantine kitty,” Rex. Betty’s husband, Jason, was one of the original class of HillVets Fellows; he worked in Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick’s office and then moved on to achieve success in federal government, consulting, and private legal practice. Betty has seen firsthand how HillVets changes people’s lives for the better, and she and Jason have been enthusiastic supporters ever since.
Betty began her career with the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Presidential Management Fellow in 2005. Subsequently, she served as a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) agent, SAH Coordinator, then Assistant Valuation Officer at the Atlanta Regional Loan Center. She was selected as the Chief of SAH in January of 2013. Betty’s dedication to Veterans led to record numbers of SAH grant approvals and also to her eventual promotion to Executive Management Officer (Chief of Staff) to the Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity in 2016. Betty came to HillVets from Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors, where she served as Director of National Capital Relationships since 2017. She has been serving the military/veteran community for more than 15 years, during which time she has published numerous articles and presented at a variety of conventions and events.
Betty earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2005 with a Concentration in Business Transactions. While in law school, she served on the staff of the Tennessee Law Review and received the National Association of Women Lawyers award and a Dean’s Citation for Excellence in Community Service. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Georgia, where she graduated cum laude, with honors, in 2002. She was also inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
HillVets Web Site
HillVets House Fellowship
HillVets LEAD Program
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is Episode 13 of Behind the Mission, a conversation with Rye Barcott and Maine Congressman Jared Golden. On this episode, Congressman Golden and Mr. Barcott, both Marines, join the show to talk about With Honor, an organization that supports cross-partisan collaboration in federal politics, and civic engagement and public office as a way for veterans to continue to serve after their time in the military. You can find a link to the podcast in the show notes https://psycharmor.org/podcast/rye-barcott-and-congressman-jared-golden
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
Dr. Tina Atherall brings her vast experience and leadership in the military non-profit community and academia to PsychArmor. In 2006, she co-founded Hope For The Warriors, an organization dedicated to serving combat wounded servicemembers and their families. Scaling a grass-roots effort to a national platform, she worked extensively with various levels of military leadership, agencies, corporations, and communities educating and advocating for critical support for those who have served and their families. She has embedded her career in the field of social work innovation and leadership and obtained her Doctor of Social Work (DSW) from the University of Southern California. Her recent work focuses on the 12 Grand Challenges for Social Work to eradicate social isolation specifically the challenges of military family social isolation. As an adjunct faculty, her love for PsychArmor began while utilizing the PAI educational videos to enhance teaching social work practice with military and their families to Masters of Social Work students in New York City.
As PsychArmor’s CEO, Tina will continue the mission of bridging the military-civilian divide. She has fresh ideas to strengthen PsychAmor’s pivotal role as the “go to” place for employers, healthcare providers, educators, volunteers, municipalities, service providers, government workers, caregivers and communities to learn about how to better serve our military Veterans.
Carole Turner joined PsychArmor in her 29th year as a military spouse, having moved 12 times (so far) and supporting family readiness activities at 2nd Bn, 5th Marines; 3rd Bn, 7th Marines; the Fifth Marine regiment; MCAGCC Twentynine Palms and the First Marine Division. Carole attended the University of Maryland, graduating in 1990 with a B.A. in English and a B.S. in Journalism. Early work experiences include a communications position at a credit union, editor of several trade publications, and art director of a specialty car magazine. In a search for a career better suited to life as a Marine Corps spouse, Carole went back to school and earned a teaching certificate and a Masters of Education, Curriculum and Instruction, from George Mason University in 1997.
Carole began volunteering with Hope for the Warriors in 2008 then transitioned to a part-time Public Relations position. Most recently, she spent five years as the Communications Director of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Arlington, VA. She spends as much time as she can with other military spouses, reflected in her volunteer roles including board positions on the JAFOWL (Joint Armed Forces of Washington Luncheon) committee, the Navy Marine Corps Ball Committee, the Desert Leadership Seminar, the Leadership Education Seminar, and multiple local spouse organizations. Carole currently resides aboard Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in Oceanside, CA but remains ready for the next move.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
PsychArmor Podcast Page
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Dr. Becky Porter joined MCEC® as the President and CEO in 2019 following her retirement from active duty service with the U.S. Army.
Becky is a 1983 Distinguished Military Graduate from the University of Washington and holds a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in clinical psychology from Fielding Graduate University. She earned her Master of Arts in counseling psychology from Chapman University and a Master of Science in national security and strategic studies from the National War College. She also earned an executive certificate in nonprofit management from the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy in 2020.
She is a board-certified clinical health psychologist, a fellow of the American Psychological Association, and a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit. Her awards and recognition include: The Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Military Psychology, the Legion of Merit (3 awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal (6 awards). Additionally, she also holds the Army Surgeon General’s “A” Proficiency Designator as recognition of her significant contributions to the U.S. Army Medical Department.
Becky’s military career spanned more than 30 years, and she served in all three components of the U.S. Army with the Washington National Guard, the U.S. Army Reserves, and on active duty. She retired at the rank of colonel. She is a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and former special assistant to the U.S. Army’s 34th Chief of Staff, Gen. Eric Shinseki.
Her assignments included: Germany; Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii; the Pentagon; the United States Military Academy; Walter Reed Army Medical Center; and the Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical, Bethesda, Md.
She commanded the Dunham U.S. Army Health Clinic, Carlisle, Pa.; the DiLorenzo TRICARE Health Clinic at the Pentagon; and Public Health Command Europe.
Becky and her husband John, also a retired U.S. Army officer, live near Fort Hood, Texas.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Military Child Education Coalition Web Site
Purple Star School Initiative
Military Student Consultant Call Center
Episode 17: Michelle Norman and the Military Exceptional Family Member Program
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the course series for kindergarten through 12th grade educators who support military children. Do you have a military child in your classroom? Do you want to create a classroom that can support the unique needs of military children as they manage transitions due to frequent moves? These free courses are for educators who support military connected school-aged children.
These courses are available for any educator who teaches military connected kids. In order to ensure our courses are relevant, PsychArmor works with nationally-recognized subject matter experts to create and deliver online courses about issues that teachers need to know. These courses guide educators to identify unique aspects of military life especially as military children transition to new schools. Teachers can take these courses to find ways to navigate the unique challenges to enrich these students in the new classroom. You can access this course series through this link: https://psycharmor.org/k-12/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
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Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Bill Braniff is an Army veteran and Director of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) and a Professor of the Practice at the University of Maryland. He previously served as the director of practitioner education at West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center and an instructor in the Department of Social Sciences, as a foreign affairs specialist within the National Nuclear Security Administration, and as an Armor Officer in the United States Army. Bill is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Study. His father served in the New Jersey Army National Guard, and his maternal grandfather volunteered for U.S. Army service alongside his brothers during WWII.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
We the Veterans Web Site
BTM Episode 39: Veterans in Journalism with Zack Baddorf
BTM Episode 46: Military and National Defense Journalism with Thomas Brennan
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the course, How to Connect With a Checked Out Veteran. This course provides information to help family and caregivers identify if a Veteran is checked out or emotionally disconnected. It explains how to rebuild an emotional connection, how to recognize and avoid common mistakes when engaging with checked out Veterans, and understand how to approach the Veteran. You can find a link to the course by going to this link: https://psycharmor.org/courses/connect-checked-veteran/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
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Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Jen Wilson was born and raised in Louisiana, the product of a National Guard town and the proud granddaughter of a D-Day & Battle of the Bulge survivor. Like many Americans, Jen's worldview shifted dramatically after September 11, 2001. While sitting in her dorm room at LSU on that fateful day, even though she'd never been to New York and knew no one there, she made the decision to move to NYC. She quickly earned a position at NBC's corporate fitness facility as their Senior Fitness Specialist. While training and rehabilitating their employees and their on-air talent, she also began concurrently learning the art and logistics of television production. Arguably, her favorite production experience came while traveling the nation and the world with Al Roker and his show, "Wake Up with Al", affording her the opportunity to be on the Vancouver and London Olympics production teams. She went on to be a freelance producer for NBC News, MSNBC, The Weather Channel, The TODAY Show, NBCSN, CBS, CBS Sports, ITN Productions, Keystone Productions, The Triumph Games, and SNY.
It was her grandfather’s legacy that instilled in her an appreciation for service members and their sacrifices. Then came 9/11. And it was the men and women she and her brother grew up with that went to Iraq and Afghanistan. They reignited the fire in her to serve those who answered our Nation’s call to arms. She was a co-founder of the NBC Veterans Network at 30 Rock during her tenure at NBC, and it was in that role that she met Chris Page. Soon thereafter, together, they founded Army Week Association.
As the Army Week Association Chief Operating Officer, she maintains close working relationships with local, state, federal, and international governments, and military contacts to ensure an effective and efficient bridge of the civil-military divide. It is in this role that Jen has been working tirelessly for months on the evacuations of Americans and our allies out of Afghanistan from her living room in Manhattan.
She is an accomplished producer, a published author, a successful entrepreneur, and an American Patriot.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
The Army Week Association
News Article on AWA’s work in Repatriation of Afghan Allies
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the course Why Veterans are an Invaluable Resource in the community. The military and veteran communities are rich with qualities unique to their character and military experience. In this course, community leaders will learn about why taking the time to embark on a collaboration journey can ensure that veterans and their families unlock their full potential and apply their invaluable skills back into their communities. You can find a link to this resource by following this link https://psycharmor.org/courses/why-veterans-are-an-invaluable-resource-in-the-community/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Thomas Brennan is the Founder of and Executive Director for The War Horse. Prior to studying journalism at Columbia University, he was a sergeant in the Marine Corps and served as an infantryman in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thomas is the co-author of Shooting Ghosts—A U.S. Marine, a Combat Photographer, and Their Journey Back from War. His bylines have appeared in Vanity Fair, Center for Investigative Reporting, and The New York Times.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Thomas Brennan’s Web Site
The War Horse Web Site
Shooting Ghosts: a U.S. Marine, a Combat Photographer, and Their Journey Back from War
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the course Telling Your Story. This course provides a compelling glimpse into the lives of four United States military Veterans. Narrated by David Vobora, CEO and co-founder of the Adaptive Training Foundation and former NFL Linebacker, this course offers service members and Veterans insight into talking about their military experience. Join Charles Tawiah, Marcela Torres, Dr. Jeffrey Mann, and Marcus Chischilly as they share personal stories surrounding their military experience and their transition to the civilian community. Each Veteran offers a unique perspective on the transition journey and helpful tips for making your transition successful. You can find the course by going to this link: https://psycharmor.org/courses/telling-your-story-2/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Charles Tawiah is a United States Navy Veteran. He served from 2013-2017 as an Aviation Boatswain's Mate Crash and Salvage Firefighter on the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN75). Charles was deployed twice with the Harry S. Truman to the Mediterranean Arabian Gulf; Operation Enduring Freedom (JUL2013-APR2014) and Operation Inherent Resolve (NOV2015-JUL2016). Charles comes from a military family where his father, retired Senior Chief, served 26 years in the Navy and his mother, a 26 year military spouse. Charles lives in San Diego, California with his fiance, Mirna, and their Yorkie, Cochise. Charles and Mirna are amateur bodybuilders working passionately to become professionals in the sport. They have plans to one day open up their own gym! Charles has a daughter named Vivian, and a stepson named Vincent. Charles also has immense gratitude for the work that he does in support of a local nonprofit in San Diego known as, PsychArmor. Overall, Charles states that he is a man on a mission to influence the world in all ways positive and loving
A retired Marine and current Marine Corps spouse, Shavon (Shay) DeBarr brings years of lived experience in military communities to her current role as a spokesperson for End Family Fire’s Lethal Means Safety campaign. Shay enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1995 and attended boot camp at MCRD Parris Island, SC. Originally trained as an Avionics Technician, she eventually made a lateral transfer to Career Planning, retiring in 2015 as a Gunnery Sergeant. Her personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two Gold Stars. She currently serves as a Human Resources Specialist at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center 29 Palms, where her energy and enthusiasm continue to have a positive impact on employment opportunities for Veterans and military spouses.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Service Never Stops PSA Campaign
Service Never Stops Videos on YouTube
National Military and Veterans Crisis Line
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the Behind The Mission episode featuring Dr. Heidi Kraft, Dr. Ted Bonar, and Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, BTM05 – Firearms and Suicide Prevention. In that episode, we talked about their collaborative work in addressing firearms and suicide in the military affiliated population, as well as a partnership with STackUp.org where they provided a talk on veterans, suicide prevention, and safe storage on a Twitch Stream event. You can listen to the episode by following this link: https://psycharmor.org/btm05/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Beth Conlin is the Senior Program Manager of Military Spouse Programs at Amazon. An Army spouse, Beth has been working to improve employment opportunities for military spouses since an overseas move in 2013 forced her to quit her job, putting both her professional development and family stability at risk. Initially, Beth started working on the unemployment crisis for military spouse alone from Germany. From educating employers, recruiting spouses, and directly placing spouses into long term careers, Beth has intimate working knowledge of the obstacles and has developed solutions to help reduce employment challenges.
Recognized as a subject matter expert, she has contributed to panel discussions, authored op-eds, and been called on to support various members of Congress with military spouse initiatives. Now at Amazon, Beth is working to connect this untapped talent pool to the workforce inside Amazon as well as build strategic partnerships that will elevate the impacts this group has and ultimately end the recession our military spouses face. Outside of her work for Amazon, she is an advisor to MilitarySpouseJobs.org and the Military Officers Association of America, is the Chairwoman of the board for the newly founded Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce, and sits on several DoD and White House working groups focused on reducing employment challenges.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Amazon Military Jobs Website
Amazon Military webinar series
Project Juno Overview
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course 15 Reasons to Hire a Military Spouse. Employers are often looking for employees who are loyal, dedicated, and understand the big picture. Military spouses possess these qualities in abundance. From multitasking, adaptability to contributing your diversity and inclusion program and military spouse friendly culture, in this course, 15 Reasons to Hire a Military Spouse, you will discover a whole demographic that will enrich your company and improve your bottom line.
Ms. Kaprece James, who has insight and expertise from many roles including director and board chair – she is the founder and CEO of Stella’s Girls, a global organization that implements innovative leadership programs for women and girls around the world – discusses the benefits of hiring a military spouse.
Dr. Tina Atherall, CEO of PsychArmor Institute, proudly gives an introduction to this course, as it is the final addition to our Military Spouse Employment portfolio, sponsored by Prudential. Be sure to check out the other courses in this portfolio as well, to understand the dedication and rigor Military Spouses apply to their career development. You can access the course through this link https://psycharmor.org/courses/15-reasons-to-hire-a-military-spouse/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Michele Spires is ACE’s acting executive director for Learning Evaluations, the national leader in recognizing and validating learning and competencies to connect students, workforce, training providers, and universities. In this role, she provides leadership to innovate new and transformational opportunities for ACE and its membership.
With more than 25 years of wide-ranging experience in post-traditional and workforce education, Spires is actively engaged in
tackling critical topics that range from the evaluation of educational experiences that occur outside the traditional classroom, credit for prior learning, military culture, military transcripts, competencies, credentials, transfer credit, and trends related to workforce education and training. She coauthored, Recognition of Learning Across Military and Corporate Settings. Connecting individuals to education and career pathways is her passion!
Spires holds a BA in French (SUNY Plattsburgh) and an MS in Educational Leadership (Troy University). She has also completed post-graduate courses with a focus on adult education and curriculum (Nova Southeastern University) and is the proud spouse of a veteran who served 22 years in the United States Air Force.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
American Council on Education
The ACE Military Guide Online
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
Course Choosing College and a Major. Each year, more than 200,000 service members leave the military in pursuit of higher education. This course discusses the array of options available to service members, Veterans and their families when selecting a major and choosing a school that aligns with their needs. An overview of the many tools and resources available to aid in their decision is provided. This course is narrated by Jared Lyon, president and CEO of Student Veterans of America, a U.S. Navy Veteran and longtime advocate for higher education. Lyon has served as the Vice Chair for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran’s Advisory Committee and commissioner for the American Council’s Education Commission for Education Attainment and Innovation. You can check out the course by following this link: https://psycharmor.org/courses/choosing-a-college-and-major/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Stephanie is a Population Health Strategy Lead for Humana’s Veteran Bold Goal, a population health strategy focused on both community and business integration to improve the clinical and social health outcomes of veterans and their families. Her career developed out of her passion to serve and invest in the military communities she has lived in for 20+ years as a military spouse. She navigated career progression while balancing the demands of wartime military life - including 11 moves and her husband’s eight deployments (three to Iraq, one to Afghanistan, and four to the Pacific). Joining Humana in 2017, she was a Market Development Manager for their National Guard and Reserve Program and an Operations Manager for Humana Military’s Office of Population Health, addressing the social determinants of health impacting TRICARE beneficiaries.
Prior to Humana, career highlights include the launch and sustainment of the Marine Corps’ first professionalized Family Readiness Program, facilitating the Readiness and Deployment Support program for Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, and serving as the Hawaii State Consultant for the Department of Defense funded program, Military OneSource, where she developed and implemented a state plan to address the gaps in services and needs of local military populations. In 2016, she received recognition as the Military Spouse of the Year for Marine Corps Base Hawaii for her body of work supporting service members and families throughout her professional career combined with her dedicated volunteer efforts with numerous Military and Veteran Support Organizations.
Stephanie earned her bachelor’s degree in Communications, with an emphasis in Public Relations, and a master’s degree in Administrative Leadership. Following her husband’s retirement from the Marine Corps, the family relocated to Redlands, CA where she enjoys all things outdoors - especially hiking, traveling the world with her husband (USMC Retired) and their two daughters, home improvement projects, and supporting the needs of veterans and their families.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Veterans and Humana
Far From Alone Web site
Humana and Population Health
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the PsychArmor Course, Accessing Health Care. Transitioning from military service to the civilian sector affects the type of health care that is available to service members and their families. This course offers service members, Veterans, and their families an overview of the types of healthcare available as part of their Veteran status. Narrated by Congressman Patrick Kennedy, founder of the Kennedy Forum and mental health advocate, this course identifies the types of coverage available through TriCare or by choosing your own private insurance. This course also discusses the Executive Order signed by President Trump in January 2018 that supports Veterans with mental health and suicide prevention resources and aims to provide seamless access to these services for Veterans in their first year after separation from military service. You can access this course by going to the link in the show notes. https://psycharmor.org/courses/accessing-health-care/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Chris Spencer – Director of Operations, Oracle Corporation, is a passionate servant leader focused on bringing people together to help develop people solutions that keep things moving. With 30 years of experience building and leading teams, Chris is driven to think critically about process efficiencies and how what we do affects the way we should be doing it. Chris’ current role is helping lead the global onboarding effort within Oracle. He also leads the planning team for a campus hiring program for the US-based sales organizations. His passion lies, however, in co-leading the Oracle veteran employee resource group, MAVEN – Military Affiliated Veteran Employee Network, where he can wrap his skills, day job, and purpose into one intended outcome.
Chris joined Oracle in 1996 after separating from active duty with the US Army. Starting as a contractor within the marketing organization, he established relationships across many lines of business to begin creating his network and eventually landed a permanent role supporting sales. This was his early lesson of how important relationships are for success. This offered Chris the opportunity to learn and grow from within and establish his own career path with the support of others.
Outside of being actively involved in his family’s lives, Chris’ center of attention in his current life stage is continuing to deliver value within the veteran affiliated community.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Oracle Corporation Web Site
Military and Veteran Careers at Oracle
Chris Spencer on LinkedIn
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the PsychArmor Course, Building a Veteran Employee Resource Group (ERG) Do you want to increase Veteran retention or recruitment within your organization? Are you looking to bolster your company's community outreach programs and build a military-friendly culture? Employee Resource Groups may be the key to achieving these goals. This course discusses the steps to successfully building an Employee Resource Group and the benefit these groups provide to the employee, employer and your organization on a broader scale! You can access this course by following this link https://psycharmor.org/courses/building-veteran-employee-resource-group/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Jonathan Crandall served eight years in the United States Marine Corps. Crandall served as a Team Leader for the Scout/Sniper Platoon of Third Battalion, Sixth Marines (3/6). Following his time with 3/6, Crandall was assigned to the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) training unit as their Chief Instructor for the Designated Marksman Course. After his 4th MEB assignment, Crandall returned home to Syracuse, NY where he served the remainder of his time with Echo Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalion. While in service, Crandall earned the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Combat Action Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and Armed Forces Service Medal, among others. Upon completion of his. military obligation, Crandall continued service in Iraq as a Private Military Contractor for the U.S. State Department providing protective security for diplomats working as Provincial Reconstruction Teams.
Following his time overseas, Crandall worked as a Corrections Officer before determining that his life direction was not of the standard he wanted to uphold. Crandall graduated with his Bachelor's degree in Social Work and now lives a fulfilling life as the Veteran Outreach Coordinator at the New York Council on Problem Gambling (NYCPG).
Links Mentioned In This Episode
New York Council on Problem Gambling
National Council on Problem Gambling
See if your state has a Council on Problem Gambling: List of Resources By State
Problem Gambling in the Military Affiliated Population: Operation Responsible Gambling
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the PsychArmor Course, Supporting a Veteran in Crisis. This course is designed for organizations to educate them on the differences between their Veterans and civilians and ways to support their Veteran when they may be struggling. Topics include how to recognize the warning signs that a Veteran may be heading for a crisis, how to approach a Veteran in crisis, and what steps to take to help a Veteran during an acute crisis situation. You can access this resource by following this link: https://psycharmor.org/courses/supporting-veteran-crisis/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Zack Baddorf is the executive director and founder of the non-profit organization Military Veterans in Journalism. Baddorf is a national security and foreign policy professional with more than 15 years experience on the frontlines of the world’s conflicts, including Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central African Republic, Crimea, Kashmir and the West Bank.
Baddorf works for the Department of Defense conducting public affairs on high profile mission. He also runs a small business providing strategic communication services.
Additionally, Baddorf teaches at NYU's global affairs program on disinformation. In his work at a DC think tank, he countered ISIS and al Shabaab propaganda by strategically challenging extremist narratives through video and other mediums.
Baddorf previously served in the U.S. military and in the U.S. Peace Corps in Romania. He worked for the U.S. Special Operations Command in Afghanistan doing lessons learned work. He worked for Internews in South Sudan doing media development work. His journalistic work has been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, AP, and many other publications.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Military Veterans in Journalism Website
Zack Baddorf’s Website
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the PsychArmor course series on Creating a Career Skills Program. A career skills program is a vocational and technical training program used for transitioning Veterans to a civilian workforce. Military experience already equips Veterans with a broad range of talents including organizational skills and a team-oriented mindset. This course series will help you understand the major benefits of creating a career skills program to leverage Veterans’ experience, know the labor requirements for unpaid internships, and recognize the best practices and guidelines for creating such a program. This course demonstrates why career skills programs are a great way to create a pipeline of skilled, ready to work talent for your hiring needs. You can access this course through this link: https://psycharmor.org/courses/creating-career-skills-program/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Ms. Christensen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has spent her career supporting families in healthcare settings. Ms. Christensen began her career in pediatric oncology and palliative care, at Oregon Health & Sciences University and then at Stanford Children’s Health. Her career with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began when the Caregiver Support Program (CSP) was implemented in 2011.
Since that time, she has been dedicated to carrying out the mission of the VA CSP, supporting the health and well-being of caregivers who care for our Nation’s Veterans. Ms. Christensen was responsible for the initial stand up of the program at the VA Portland Health Care System. She developed local operations and supportive programming, including the introduction of whole health coaching for caregivers. In addition, she served as the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) for the VISN 20 Northwest Network for 6 years, providing leadership for the CSP in Alaska, Washington, Oregon & Idaho. She was selected for the role of CSP Leadership Council Chair in 2017. In that role, she oversaw 4 committees as they worked to develop communications, technology, procedures, and education for the program. In 2018, she was assigned to the Caregiver Support Program Office as a Special Projects Coordinator, assisting with projects related to the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers expansion under the VA MISSION Act of 2018.
Ms. Christensen now holds the role of Clinical Program Coordinator for VA Central Office’s Caregiver Support Program where she assists with the development and guidance of field operations for the program. Her current work also includes enhancing the Program of General Caregiver Support Services across VA, which supports caregivers across the care continuum through education, coaching, support, skills training, outreach, and connection to resources. Ms. Christensen is also the VA lead for the Campaign for Inclusive Care initiative, a systematic approach to integrating caregivers as partners in Veteran healthcare teams.
Ms. Christensen earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Seattle University in 1997 and a master’s degree in Social Work in 2002 from the Graduate School of Social Work at Portland State University. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Oregon. She is also a George W. Bush Institute Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program Scholar. Leah has spent her career supporting families in health care systems, previously as a clinical social worker in pediatric oncology and palliative care. She is the proud daughter of a Vietnam Veteran and the granddaughter of World War II Navy Veterans. She is passionate about supporting the families of those who have served.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
VA Caregiver Support Program
The Campaign for Inclusive Care
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the PsychArmor the webinar series Conversations with Caregivers. The Conversations with Caregivers Series, sponsored by USAA, is an opportunity to virtually engage and learn with military & Veteran caregivers about difficult issues that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this series, PsychArmor brings together subject matter experts from around the country, both professionals and military & Veteran caregivers with lived experience, to share their knowledge and expertise in these difficult conversations. These events are intended for military & Veteran caregivers to learn together, discover new resources, change the narrative of their own experiences, and build resilience. You can get to the webinar series by going to this link: https://psycharmor.org/usaa-webinar/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
Dr. Matthew A. Miller, PhD, MPH, is the National Director, Suicide Prevention Program, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He leads a team dedicated to the implementation and reinforcement of evidence-based community and clinical interventions addressing suicide prevention. Previously, he served as the Director of the Veterans Crisis Line and under his leadership, the VCL became the world’s largest and most efficient suicide crisis call center.
Dr. Miller is an Air Force Veteran. He served as a Clinical Psychologist and the Chief of Mental Health at a Joint Services Pilot Training Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and was responsible for overseeing mental health operations for all active duty service members and dependents, as well as head of the installation’s suicide prevention program.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
VA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
2021 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report
Episode 3 of the Seeking the Military Suicide Solution with Dr. Miller
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the PsychArmor course series for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. Suicide in America is a critical issue, with high rates in service members, Veterans, and their families. Asking the right questions and feeling confident about how to help are the first steps in preventing someone from dying by suicide. We hope these courses will help you to be a lifeline and be there for someone in need.
With generous funding from the NFL Foundation, PsychArmor Institute presents a portfolio that promises to provide vital education and information about Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention for healthcare providers, service members, Veterans, families, caregivers and the community-at-large. You can get to this course series through this link: https://psycharmor.org/suicide-prevention-intervention-postvention/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
Nick Howland is CEO of The Fire Watch, Florida’s fight to end veteran suicide. Nick is a Navy veteran, defense industry executive, husband and father of two boys. After serving 4 years as a Naval Officer, Nick spent the next 20 years leading U.S. defense manufacturing businesses focused on protective products for soldiers, airmen and sailors, including body armor, life rafts and tactical boats. In late 2019, Nick helped found The Fire Watch. Having spent a career working to save the lives of soldiers and sailors, Nick now works to save the lives of veterans.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
The Fire Watch Web Site
Watch Stander Training Program
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the Veteran Ready Organization Certificate Program. Nearly 200 organizations nationwide utilize PsychArmor’s educational platform to ensure staff and volunteers are better prepared to interact with the military and Veteran communities. PsychArmor certificate programs help improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase revenue for our partners. Their cost effective certification programs allow organizations to share PsychArmor courses, track completions, and become “Veteran Ready,” with a digital certificate and badge they can proudly showcase on their website. To be part of the national effort to assist to our military connected community, and to see the growing registry of Veteran Ready organizations, contact PsychArmor’s Learning Engagement & Partnership Manager by going to https://psycharmor.org/certification-for-organizations/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
Dr. Joseph Geraci, PhD, retired from the U.S. Army as an Infantry Lieutenant Colonel after serving for 20 years and deploying as a combat leader with elite Special Operations/Ranger, Airborne, and Infantry units to Afghanistan four different times since 9/11. While in uniform, he also served as an assistant professor at the U.S. Military Academy in both the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership and the Department of Military Instruction. One of his last positions in the U.S. Army was serving as an Infantry Battalion Commander in which he was directly responsible for the health, welfare, and combat readiness of his soldiers. He received his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Teachers College at Columbia University. He teaches military psychology to graduate students at Teachers College, and was a co-founder of the college’s Resilience Center for Veterans and Families. He serves within the VISN 2 MIRECC as a licensed psychologist and is focused on studying and developing interventions that mitigate the significant suicidal risks that our Modern Warriors (some of them being his former soldiers) face as they attempt to reintegrate back into their civilian communities after military service. Within the MIRECC, he leads two national VA programs (Veteran Cultural Competence training and the Expiration Term of Service Sponsorship program evaluation).
Links Mentioned In This Episode
VISN 2 MIRECC Cultural Competence Training
VA’s Expiration Term of Service (ETS) Sponsorship Program
RAND Report on overcoming stigma against help-seeking for mental health
Articles related to Purpose and Meaning in Post-Military Life
Theater of War on the Head Space and Timing Podcast
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the course on military culture, Veteran 101. This course is intended for anyone with little to no background or understanding of military culture. Topics include information about the training involved for a service member, some basic military terminology, and an overview of important policies that guide our military. The goal of this course it to provide a better understanding of differences between military culture and civilian culture. You can this course here: https://psycharmor.org/courses/veteran-101-military-culture/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
Tina Atherall, DSW, LMSW, brings to PsychArmor her vast experience and leadership in the military non-profit community and academia. In 2006, she co-founded Hope For The Warriors, an organization dedicated to serving combat wounded servicemembers and their families. Scaling a grass-roots effort to a national platform, she worked extensively with various levels of military leadership, agencies, corporations, and communities educating and advocating for critical support for those who have served and their families. She has embedded her career in the field of social work innovation and leadership and obtained her Doctor of Social Work (DSW) from the University of Southern California. Her recent work focuses on the 12 Grand Challenges for Social Work to eradicate social isolation specifically the challenges of military family social isolation. As an adjunct faculty, her love for PsychArmor began while utilizing the PAI educational videos to enhance teaching social work practice with military and their families to Masters of Social Work students in New York City.
As PsychArmor’s new CEO, Tina will continue the mission of bridging the military-civilian divide. She has fresh ideas to strengthen PsychAmor’s pivotal role as the “go to” place for employers, healthcare providers, educators, volunteers, municipalities, service providers, government workers, caregivers and communities to learn about how to better serve our military Veterans.
Elizabeth O’Brien was appointed CEO of the Freedom Learning Group in April 2020.
In the last six years, O’Brien has served in significant leadership roles as a Senior Director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program, and as Chairwoman for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs, the first military spouse to be appointed to that role.
As Senior Director at HOH, O’Brien evolved the military spouse program’s event-centric focus to become a national comprehensive resource at the forefront of military spouse workforce development for over one million military spouses. In addition to overseeing the program’s research and strategic operations, she led the growth of the Military Spouse Employment Advisory Council (MSEAC), a coalition she grew in five years comprised of more than 35 companies with a combined market value of over three trillion dollars to include Amazon, Booz Allen Hamilton, Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce. The MSEAC focused on creating innovative workforce development strategies through upskilling and reskilling a chronically unemployed and underemployed workforce. O’Brien has worked closely with current and past administrations to advance the narrative around military spouse workforce development solutions; most recently co-chairing the release of “A Collective Effort: Workforce Development Solutions for the 21st Century Military Spouse” with Mrs. Karen Pence, Second Lady of the United States.
Prior to joining the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, O’Brien spent over a decade coaching college women’s basketball at the United States Military Academy at West Point, Hofstra University, and The University of Hawaii.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
PsychArmor: About Us
Freedom Learning Group Web Site
Statement by President Bush in His Address to the Nation, September 11, 2001
Leadership Under Fire Podcast: Remembering John Vigiano Part 1
Leadership Under Fire Podcast: Remembering John Vigiano Part 2
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
Melissa Comeau is a Marine Corps spouse, director of the American Red Cross’ Military Veteran Caregiver Network, and a writer. She is known for her book “Sleeping with the War,” published in 2015 by the War Writers’ Campaign. The book offers a family and caregiver perspective on life after combat.
She served as an Arizona Fellow for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and in that role was honored to help bring to fruition the Hidden Heroes Congressional Caucus for Military and Veteran Caregivers. She is a recognized advocate for the military and veteran community and continues to support caregivers in her current role with the American Red Cross’ Military Veteran Caregiver Network.
Before joining the network, Melissa served as the executive director of Lives of Promise, a San Diego-based nonprofit that supports military families facing a PTSD diagnosis. She has also offered peer support to Marines and their families at the Wounded Warrior Battalion – West.
Melissa has a background in accounting and IT project management. She lives in Texas and is married to a U.S. Marine who was medically retired after nearly 13 years of service, including four combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
American Red Cross’ Military and Veteran Caregiver Network Web Site
Rand Corporation Hidden Heroes Report
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the series of courses for military and veteran caregivers and families. Sponsored by The USAA Foundation, Inc., PsychArmor offers courses to help caregivers balance their duties and need for self-care. This library of 45+ courses provides information, resources, and strategies on how to manage the demands and stressors of caregiving. You can access these courses by going to https://psycharmor.org/caregivers/ or through the link in the show notes.
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
JAKE DUKES: Jake joined the Camp Southern Ground team in March of 2018. He is a leadership coach, speaker and author who served for many years on executive teams of large churches focused on developing staff and overseeing campus operations. Now he uses his unique blend of business and ministry experience to develop future strategy for Camp Southern Ground and help facilitate a strong leadership culture among the staff. Jake brings his passion to every project and he’s not afraid to help teams break free from the rules they’ve inherited and push past the status quo. Jake lives in Senoia with his wife Jackie and four daughters.
CHRIS MURPHY: Chris “Murph” Murphy served nearly seventeen years of active duty as a Marine, deploying into combat zones multiple times in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and instructing during his non-deployable time in service. After being medically retired in 2014, Murph has focused on peer-to-peer mentoring through an organization he founded to serve veterans in life after combat. Life took an unexpected turn along the path and he found himself involved in veteran programs at Camp Southern Ground in Fayetteville, Georgia. In a series of events that equal “you wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” he and his family now live ten minutes outside of the camp, continuing to support the wellbeing of veterans after military service
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Camp Southern Ground Web Site
Camp Southern Ground: Warrior Week
Camp Southern Ground: Warrior PATHH
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the course Posttraumatic Growth After Loss. Suicide loss is a complicated grief journey for many, but with the right support, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) has observed that suicide loss survivors are uniquely poised for posttraumatic growth. Join Dr. Shauna Springer representing TAPS as she discusses how the TAPS’ Suicide Postvention Model’s third phase, posttraumatic growth, has affected one particular survivor. Through telling the story of TAPS Peer Mentor and retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 3, Jon Ganues, Sr., “Posttraumatic Growth After Loss” explains how opportunities for growth are possible even after devastation. At the end of the course, you will be able to: 1.) Describe the concept of posttraumatic growth as a potential outcome of a healthy healing journey after suicide loss and 2.) Identify two specific ways that survivors may experience positive growth in their lives following suicide loss. You can take a look at this course by checking out the link here: https://psycharmor.org/courses/posttraumatic-growth-after-loss/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
Mary Beth Bruggeman spent 8 years as an active duty Marine combat engineer. After leaving active duty, Mary Beth worked for iRobot Corporation for 4 years, advancing their work on counter-IED robotics, spent time as a stay at home mom and Marine wife, and then started and grew a fitness and nutrition coaching business. Mary Beth joined the Mission Continues team in 2015 as the Executive Director for the Southeast Region. In 2019, Mary Beth assumed the role of President of The Mission Continues. Mary Beth has degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy (BS) and Georgetown University (MPP), and is a Bush Institute Stand To Veteran Leadership Program alum. She lives in Fairfax Station, VA, with her husband Brian, a retired Marine, and their three kids, two cats and velcro Vizsla dog.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
The Mission Continues Web Site
Operation Enduring Service
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the course Why Veterans are an Invaluable Resource in the Community. The military and veteran communities are rich with qualities unique to their character and military experience. Community leaders will learn about why taking the time to embark on a collaboration journey can ensure that veterans and their families unlock their full potential and apply their invaluable skills back into their communities. You can take a look at this course by checking out the link here: https://psycharmor.org/courses/why-veterans-are-an-invaluable-resource-in-the-community/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
Becky Scheusner is a multi-faceted professional leading with an altruistic mission to do the most good for the most people.
Primarily Becky works in Business Development for WWC Global - a small, Women-owned government contracting firm based in Tampa that specializes in providing practical, innovative, and budget-conscious business solutions to the government.
Becky has also served in several volunteer roles focused on the military-affiliated community including Lead for the Hampton Roads Military Spouse Professional Network - winning the Hiring Our Heroes 2020 Network of the Year award - as well as founding the MHA Gap Initiative.
Prior to that, Becky served 11 years in the U.S. Navy as a Musician and in 2018, she earned her BA in Urban Studies from Brown University. She finds great fulfillment in raising her two boys, gardening, and making meaningful connections!
Ms. Suzanne Novak, President, ERUdyne Inc has extensive real-world emergency management and disaster response/recovery experience, working with all levels of the government (Federal, Tribal, State and Local) as well as Private Sector. She applies this knowledge and experience when developing training courses and emergency management exercises for her clients. Ms. Novak has served as the Private Sector Subject Matter Expert on numerous National Level Exercises including NLE 2011, Capstone 2014, and NLE 2018. Additionally, she has provided support to numerous other regional and state exercises in multiple roles. Her company ERUdyne, also develops exercises and training geared towards Senior Leaders responding to crisis management situations. In 2018 during a real-world response, she led a team of Rapid Responders
dispatched to Puerto Rico to support a client responding to Hurricane Maria. Ms. Novak led the operation from ERUdyne’s Business Resilience Center in Kilmarnock VA. Ms. Novak sent the team to Puerto Rico with enhanced technology capabilities to support the client which included drones, satellite communications, mobile radios and other equipment needed to maintain communications and provide situational awareness near real time based on island conditions.
Ms. Novak provides consulting services to public and private sector clients in support of their business continuity/emergency management and response and recovery efforts (planning, exercises, and operational reviews). Additionally, she provides strategic consulting to small businesses with technology-based products/services developed to improve homeland security and emergency management practices (mitigation, prevention/protection, response and recovery). In this role, Ms. Novak also serves as the Subject Matter Expert on all National Security and Emergency Management projects. Ms. Novak is developing a Private Sector driven Exercise Framework as well as a Recovery Focused model to assess long term recovery impacts on business and the community (rural, urban, and suburban).
Ms. Novak led the effort to launch ERUdyne’s Drone Flight School in 2018, which became the UAS Academy in 2020, focused on training public safety, military in transition and veterans, and other students interested in obtaining their commercial drone pilot’s license (Part 107 certification). She remains an integral part in the program development and course delivery focused on crisis management and emergency response. Ms. Novak led the ERUdyne team’s effort to enter the Drones as a Service market and in November 2019, ERUdyne was one of four companies in Virginia, out of fifteen total, that won the UAS Services nationwide contract led by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the National Association of State Procurement Officials.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
MHA Gap Initiative on LinkedIn
MHA Gap Initiative on Facebook
Hampton Roads Veterans Career Compass
ERUdyne on LinkedIn
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the course series on Veterans and Higher Education. Eighty five percent of student Veterans are older than 24 and almost half of student Veterans are parents. In addition to their military background, these students enter higher education with very different needs than traditional college-age students. These higher education courses are designed to help learners better understand some of the challenges returning service members face in academia, as well as to provide information regarding how to help ease the transition.
These free courses were developed for educators of student Veterans. In this category, one can find our cornerstone course “15 Things Veterans Want You to Know,” as well as modules that address the basics for lecturers, professors, instructors, advisors, and support staff who teach, support and engage with student Veterans at colleges, universities, and trade schools. Check out the link to the course series here: https://psycharmor.org/higher-education/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
A vocal advocate for the public support of our military community, Mr. Teravainen assumed his position as President and CEO in February 2014 after serving as a board chairman, director and volunteer since 2009.
In this role, Tony oversees the positioning of STEP as a successful, trusted and viable partner to Southern California and Washington State’s military population. Under his guidance, STEP has assisted more than 5,100+ military and veteran families in financial crisis move to self-sufficiency through financial counseling and $2.2 million in issued grants – with a 90% effectiveness rate.
Being the son of a career Air Force father, Tony knows firsthand the hardships young military families endure. Additionally, a medical condition abruptly ended his career as a U.S. Navy submariner, thrusting him into a difficult transition to civilian life. Tony is driven to serve our young military families as in them he sees himself, his parents, and his veteran brother.
Mr. Teravainen left his consulting position at Booz Allen Hamilton to become STEP’s full-time CEO, where for five years he consulted on strategy and process improvement. Prior to that, he spent seven years running his portfolio of small businesses, 12 years in manufacturing leadership at Sony Electronics, Inc., and eight years in the operations, repair and project management areas of the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Nuclear Power Program.
In addition to his representing Disabled Veterans as a Commissioner on San Diego’s Citizens Equal Opportunity Commission, he serves as Chairman of San Diego County’s Military & Veteran Advisory Council. He also currently sits on the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Defense, Veteran and Military Committee, and held past leadership positions with San Diego Military Family Collaborative, Veterans Community Connection, San Diego Veterans Coalition, and the San Diego Coast Guard City Committee.
Mr. Teravainen holds undergraduate degrees in business management and nuclear engineering, a master’s degree in Executive Leadership from The University of San Diego and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Liberty University. Tony has received multiple awards and recognition for his efforts to serve his community, including 2018 Top Veteran Nonprofit CEO and 2020 Top 50 CEO’s in San Diego. He holds professional licenses in Six Sigma, Project Management and Change Management, holds one U.S. patent, is a TEDx speaker, and frequent panelist discussing military and veteran policies and issues.
Married to Jaclyn with two daughters and a son, Tony resides in the Highland Valley area of San Diego County where he enjoys ranching his livestock and tending to his orchards
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Support the Enlisted Project Web Site
Military Financial Well-Being White Paper
Tony’s TED Talk
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the course series, Courses for Financial Wellness. Thanks to PsychArmor’s partnership with Prudential, this portfolio of Financial Wellness courses covers key consideration factors, manageable budgeting best practices, and engaging resources to help military-connected individuals progress towards financial wellness. Explore the range of topics strategically designed to span across generations: kids, adults, and retirees. You can see the courses through the link in the show notes. https://psycharmor.org/courses-for-financial-wellness/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Rocio Galarza serves as the Vice President in the U.S. Social Impact department at Sesame Workshop. In this role, she manages the development of educational content and research for a wide range of multimedia projects.
As an expert in early childhood educational development and the needs of young children, she works with advisors to ensure that the content of Sesame Street’s outreach initiatives is age-appropriate, appealing and effective in motivating families to use their everyday routines as learning moments for young children.
Galarza previously served as the Senior Education and Research Specialist for Sesame Workshop’s International Research group, where she managed the development of educational content and research for different multimedia projects with partners in Colombia, Mexico, Kosovo, and Russia. She has also collaborated in research conducted with partners in Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
Before joining Sesame Workshop, she worked for New York University, assisting in project development and management of after school programs. She has also served as Assistant Director of an after school program in New York City. She holds a masters of Arts from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Sesame Street for Military Families
Sesame Street In Communities
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the courses for K through 12 educators who support military kids. Do you have a military child in your classroom? Do you want to create a classroom that can support the unique needs of military children as they manage transitions due to frequent moves? These free courses are for educators who support military connected school-aged children. The following courses are available for any educator who teaches military connected kids. In order to ensure our courses are relevant, PsychArmor works with nationally-recognized subject matter experts to create and deliver online courses about issues that teachers need to know. These courses guide educators to identify unique aspects of military life especially as military children transition to new schools. Teachers can take these courses to find ways to navigate the unique challenges to enrich these students in the new classroom. You can check out this resource by going to https://psycharmor.org/k-12/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
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Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Michael McDowell currently serves as the President/CEO for Valor Club USA developing a comprehensive living and learning community built to support the unique needs of transitioning service members around the country. McDowell served as the Executive Director of The Soldiers Project, a national organization offering free, confidential, and unlimited mental and behavioral health for post 9/11 veterans and their loved ones, and Director of Operations for the Cohen Military Family Clinic at the University of Southern California. A retired Marine Corps officer, McDowell served as a field artillery and civil affairs officer with numerous platoon, battery, and battalion-level commands before he departed from active duty service in August 2016.
He has extensive professional and academic training in organizational leadership, operational planning, and strategy development. McDowell holds a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership (2020) and a Masters in Business Administration (2015) from the University of Southern California (USC). McDowell recently completed his latest research examining the knowledge, motivation, and organizational influences associated with the military transition in December 2020. His expertise includes learning psychology, human performance technology, and developing innovative, empirically-based organizational solutions for companies and learning institutions serving service members, veterans, and other underserved populations.
McDowell also serves County Supervisor Kathryn Barger as her Los Angeles County Veteran Commissioner and board member with the VA Community Veteran Engagement Board (CVEB) supporting the Greater Los Angeles regional area. McDowell has published numerous articles as an author and keynote speaker.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Valor Club USA Web site
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the courses for transitioning service members and their families, many of which address some of these issues. Each year, more than 200,000 service members leave the military for the civilian sector. Navigating this transition can be complex, but these short, self-paced videos will benefit service members and families alike in successfully navigating their journey. Sponsored by the Schultz Family Foundation, these courses are for any service member, Veteran, or family member making the transition from military service. Whether you are separating or retiring, this portfolio of courses will provide you the education, tools, and resources you need along the way. Beginning with the course “How to Build a Successful Transition Plan,” you’ll learn that there is no one right way to transition and that each journey is unique. Your transition plan may be different from others, but each course in this portfolio was designed to assist you along the way and we hope that you find them beneficial. On behalf of the Schultz Family Foundation, PsychArmor® Institute is proud to offer these courses as a guide for service members and their families during their transition into civilian life. You can check out this resource by going to https://psycharmor.org/courses-for-transitioning-service-members-their-families/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Mark Casper is the President and Executive Director of Tech For Troops (T4T) a non partisan, non profit based in Richmond, VA. Tech For Troops Mission is dedicated to empowering Veterans with computers, skills, and Information Technology (IT) work force training. While located in Richmond, Tech For Troops has National reach.
He believes that working computers can provide a new life to struggling veterans rather than being discarded. Many veterans face two significant barriers when competing in the modern workforce: the lack of a computer and the lack of the skills needed to effectively use that computer. Under his guidance, Tech For Troops gifts refurbished computers and instituted a Veteran Improvement Program to teach computer literacy.
He is a United States Marine Corps veteran and a career IT expert who focused on large-scale government and civilian IT projects. and has worked with Northrup Grumman, Capital One and as a contractor CPIC planner for the Veterans Affairs
Mark was the owner of a small consulting firm until Tech For Troops recruited him. Married for 35 years to his soulmate, a father of two young women and a proud “grampy” to two amazing grand-daughters, Mark has found his place in life (for work) at Tech For Troops.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Tech for Troops Web Site
Tech for Troops on Twitter
Tech for Troops on Facebook
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the course series on internet literacy for veterans, sponsored by Internet Essentials by Comcast. The internet has changed how we communicate and share information. There’s a wide array of resources for Veterans and their families on the internet. With the generous support of Comcast Internet Essentials, PsychArmor created a series of courses with instructions on how to access and use them. Learn how to find support programs in your community, access medical services and VA benefits, find jobs, and prepare for employment in this series of short courses. You can check out this resource by going to https://psycharmor.org/internet-literacy-for-veterans-courses/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Elizabeth O’Brien was appointed CEO of the Freedom Learning Group in April 2020.
In the last six years, O’Brien has served in significant leadership roles as a Senior Director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program, and as Chairwoman for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs, the first military spouse to be appointed to that role.
As Senior Director at HOH, O’Brien evolved the military spouse program’s event-centric focus to become a national comprehensive resource at the forefront of military spouse workforce development for over one million military spouses. In addition to overseeing the program’s research and strategic operations, she led the growth of the Military Spouse Employment Advisory Council (MSEAC), a coalition she grew in five years comprised of more than 35 companies with a combined market value of over three trillion dollars to include Amazon, Booz Allen Hamilton, Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce. The MSEAC focused on creating innovative workforce development strategies through upskilling and reskilling a chronically unemployed and underemployed workforce. O’Brien has worked closely with current and past administrations to advance the narrative around military spouse workforce development solutions; most recently co-chairing the release of “A Collective Effort: Workforce Development Solutions for the 21st Century Military Spouse” with Mrs. Karen Pence, Second Lady of the United States.
Prior to joining the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, O’Brien spent over a decade coaching college women’s basketball at the United States Military Academy at West Point, Hofstra University, and The University of Hawaii.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Freedom Learning Group Web Site
Freedom Learning Group on Twitter
Elizabeth O’Brien on LinkedIn
Employment Opportunities at Freedom Learning Group
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is resource of the week is the course that Elizabeth presents, The Job Search for Military Spouses. In this course, Liz shares a process for creating an effective job search strategy with the goal of finding meaningful employment in today’s market. At the end of this course, you should be able to: describe the types of preparations to make before starting the job search, determine which aspect of a job is most important to you, identify places to start your search, and list specific military spouse resources that can help you in your job search. You can find the course at https://psycharmor.org/courses/the-job-search-for-military-spouses/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Danielle Applegate is the Director of Veteran and Military Engagement for Cerner Government Services. Prior to joining Cerner, she served as the Vice President of VetsFirst at the United Spinal Association, a VA-certified Veteran Service Organization. She was the first National Outreach Coordinator for the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Center for Women Veterans, where she created and led groundbreaking women Veteran initiatives and nationwide VA programming. Ms. Applegate also founded Applegate Solutions, a successful Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Woman Owned Small Business that provided management consulting and subject matter expertise to an array of clients including the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs, as well as private and nonprofit organizations.
A fourth-generation Veteran with dual-military parents, Danielle enlisted at the ripe old age of 17 in the United States Army and served for five years; her duty included a tour in Korea. Due to service-connected injuries, she left active duty and utilized Vocational Rehabilitation services and the Montgomery GI Bill to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources and Business Administration, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts, and a certificate from Georgetown University in Nonprofit Executive Management. As a distinguished military and Veteran community subject matter expert and advocate, she has served on the Advisory Council for Final Salute, on the Women Joining Forces Council for Business and Professional Women’s Foundation, the American Legion’s Small Business Council, and the Camp Lejeune Community Action Panel. A self-professed data nerd who enjoys absorbing as much information as possible, she resides in Alexandria, VA where she is currently being raised by a son and daughter who are convinced that they know it all.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Cerner Military and Veteran Support
VA’s I Am Not Invisible Campaign
VA/ DoD Electronic Healthcare Record Modernization
VA Center for Women Veterans
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is resource of the week is PsychArmor’s S.A.V.E. training. This course was developed in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs and is presented by Dr. Megan McCarthy, Deputy Director, Suicide Prevention. You will develop a general understanding of the problem of suicide in the United States; understand how to identify a Veteran who may be at risk for suicide; and, finally, know what to do if you identify a Veteran at risk. Each of us has the opportunity to be that one person who makes a difference--the person who asks the question that can save a Veteran's life, or the life of anyone struggling with the thoughts of suicide. Using the simple steps of S.A.V.E., we can all make a difference. You can find the course at https://psycharmor.org/courses/s-a-v-e/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Shauna ‘Doc’ Springer is a best-selling author, frequently requested keynote speaker, and one of the world's leading experts on psychological trauma, military transition, suicide prevention, and close relationships. She is the author of WARRIOR: How to Support Those Who Protect Us and the co-author of BEYOND THE MILITARY: A Leader’s Handbook for Warrior Reintegration. A Harvard graduate who has become a trusted Doc to our nation’s military warfighters, she navigates different cultures with exceptional agility. As Chief Psychologist for Stella, she advances a new model for treating psychological trauma that combines biological
and psychological interventions. Doc Springer is a licensed psychologist who is frequently sourced by the media for her uniquely perceptive insights on trauma recovery, post-traumatic growth, psychological health, and interpersonal relationships, developed from two decades of work at the extremes. Doc Springer’s work has been featured in multiple media outlets, including CNN, VICE, NPR, NBC, CBS Radio, Forbes, Business Insider, Military Times, Military.com, Gun Talk Radio, Coffee or Die Magazine, Havok
Journal, THRIVE GLOBAL, Police1, Anxiety.org, Washington Post, and Psychology Today.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Shauna’s Web Site
WARRIOR: How to Support Those Who Protect Us
BEYOND THE MILITARY: A Leader’s Handbook for Warrior Reintegration.
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is resource of the week is a Q&A with Doc Springer. In this resource, she discusses how the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivor’s Suicide Postvention Model helped suicide loss survivor and Marine Corps Veteran Dana O’Brien address his grief. Through telling O’Brien’s story, the course, “Treating Grief in the Veteran Population,” provides practical ways to help Veterans express their grief and loss. You can check out the Q&A by going to the link in the show notes. and you can find a link to it here: https://psycharmor.org/qawithtaps/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content.
PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation
with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor
for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
Isa Marie McIntyre
Isa Marie served in the Army for 8 ½ years as a Multiple Launch Rocket Systems Repairer, completing two tours to Iraq and serving a total of 27 months in combat. During her first deployment, she conducted convoys in Ramadi, Fallujah, and Baghdad, receiving a combat action badge after coming under direct enemy fire.
In 2012, she became caregiver to her husband Alejandro Jauregui after he stepped on an improvised explosive device while on deployment in Afghanistan, resulting in the loss of both of his legs and a moderate traumatic brain injury. Isa Marie was so overwhelmed by the support and generosity her family received from nonprofit organizations, that she was honored to join the staff of Farmer Veteran Coalition, a national nonprofit dedicated to serving veterans in agriculture. Isa Marie’s role as Project Coordinator allows her to use customized project management techniques to ensure the execution of grant deliverables, improve work efficiency and increase organizational effectiveness.
Isa Marie has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior and recently completed The Mission Continues’ Women Veteran Leadership program. She is currently working on her Project Management Professional Certification and Salesforce Administrator Certification.
Doris Mold
Doris Mold is the President of Sunrise Agricultural Associates, LLC, an agricultural consulting firm. Doris is an Agricultural Consultant, Agricultural Economist, Educator, Advocate, and Catalyst, as well as a farm co-owner/operator. Wearing multiple hats like many women in agriculture has informed her of the challenges and stressors that face many in agriculture. Doris's consulting practice has included a broad range of work, including but not limited to management, business and economic analysis, farm stress, business, feasibility and transition plan development, coaching, evaluation, marketing, advocacy, leadership, education and organizational development. She also teaches Farm and Agri-Business Management at the University of Minnesota (U of MN) for MAST International.
Doris is passionate about agricultural leadership development and especially the mentoring of up and coming agricultural leaders. She co-founded the Women's Agricultural Leadership Conference series which is in its 21st year of quality programming, leadership development, mentoring and networking. Doris serves on the Annie's Project - Education for Farm Women National Board. She has a keen interest in developing a better understanding of the roles that people play in production and broader agriculture and has conducted research on the changing roles of women in agriculture.
In 2016 Doris was appointed to serve on an expert national Panel on Improving Data Collection and Reporting about Agriculture with Increasingly Complex Farm Structures convened by the National Academy of Science and sponsored by the USDA. In 2015 she served on an expert national Panel on Statistics on Women and Beginning Farmers in the USDA Census of Agriculture. In 2017 Doris was asked to serve on a follow-up to the 2015 panel on Women and New and Beginning Farmers the NASS Expert Panel on the Publication of Agriculture Census Data on Farm Operator Demographics. Doris served six years on the Agricultural Statistics Advisory Committee for NASS and chaired the committee for three years. She also served on the Agricultural Advisory Committee for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
The Farmer Veteran Coalition
Homegrown by Heroes Designation
The Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the course series on Military Culture. Sponsored by the Wounded Warrior Project, these courses are available for anyone who works with, lives with, and cares about the Veteran community. At PsychArmor®, they believe that educating individuals about the unique needs of military connected people in our country can change perceptions, create powerful connections, strengthen communities, and help our nation’s heroes access resources that allow them to thrive.
This course series includes their cornerstone course “15 Things Veterans Want You to Know,” as well as modules that address the basics such as “Veteran 101: Officer vs. Enlisted,” and “Veteran 201: Military Families.” These are informative courses on military culture that address relevant issues facing our Veterans and their families today, and you can find a link to them here:
https://psycharmor.org/military-culture-school/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
Michelle Magee
Michelle Magee serves as the Private Grant & Development Coordinator at Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region. In her role, Magee manages a portfolio of more than 60 grants annually that help support the organization’s $27 million budget. Prior to joining Habitat Charlotte Region, Magee spent nearly a decade in the nonprofit sector working with local organizations and served in various capacities, including program management, volunteer coordination, and events. Magee graduated from the University of North Carolina Asheville with a bachelor of arts degree in Creative Writing.
Michael Delarosa
Michael Anthony Delarosa is the Director of Habitat for Humanity International’s Veterans Build program. Since joining Habitat for Humanity in 2017, Michael has played a pivotal role in designing and cultivating some of the most innovative partnerships, including collaborations with veteran organizations, federal, state and local government entities, and other non-profits to create sustainable impact for active, transitioning and veterans deserve a safe, decent, and affordable place to live. Michael served as a U.S. Marine in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Hurricane Katrina.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Habitat for Humanity International’s Veterans Build Initiative
Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is resource of the week is the PsychArmor Course Understanding Why Collaboration Is Important In Supporting The Military Affiliated Population. This course is designed for community leaders interested in exploring some key components to a successful collaborative journey. You will learn how collaboration can provide the structure needed to impact the lives of military members, veterans, their families, and their caregivers. Watch this course to assist in your collaborative journey as well as hear examples of how others have used collective impact principles to better their community. You can find the course by following this link https://psycharmor.org/courses/why-collaboration-is-so-important-in-supporting-military-members-veterans-their-families-and-caregivers/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Dr. Kratzer is the Regional Education Coordinator for the University of Charleston, West Virginia, in the School of Business and Leadership. He represents the Leadership Department through building and maintaining relationships with students and strategic partners, identifies opportunities for program growth and coordinates recruitment events to attract prospective military-connected students and other constituents. Additionally, he is a professor in the graduate program for the School of Leadership.
Dr. Kratzer is a consultant with the American Council on Education (ACE). At ACE, he has been a faculty assessor for over six years, assessing military workplace learning and official training courses to determine if there is college-level learning equivalencies that can be recommended for the award of credit. His work directly impacts the college opportunities for service members in every branch through identify Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), which is documented on their Joint Service Transcript (JST). In addition to serving as a faculty evaluator, he works with colleges and universities to help them understand how they can best use ACE credit recommendations in their undergraduate degree programs.
Dr. Kratzer retired from the Kentucky Air National Guard in 2015, after over 35 years of service in the Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard. He deployed in 2012 to Kandhar Province, Afghanistan, with the Army National Guard Agri-Business Development Team, working with Afghan farmers.
He received his B.S. in Management/Human Resources from Park University, an M.Phil. in Military Strategy from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS) at Air University, an M.A. in Christian Education from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Kratzer earned his Ph.D in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development from the University of Louisville.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
The American Council on Education Military Guide
Recognition of Learning Across Military and Corporate Settings
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is resource of the week is the PsychArmor Course Series for Ill and Injured Student Veterans Seeking Higher Education, Sponsored by Paralyzed Veterans of America. In this two-course series, Shaun Castle, Deputy Executive Director for Paralyzed Veterans of America, discusses the benefits of having a college degree in addition to military training and Maureen Elias, an Associate Legislative Director of Government Relations at Paralyzed Veterans of America, discusses how ill and injured students can seek appropriate assistance and support through their school’s accessibility or disability office. You can find out more by going to the link here: https://psycharmor.org/press-release-strategic-partnership-campaign-mmaa-p-a/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Jennifer Dane is a veteran of the United States Air Force who served as an intelligence analyst focused on geopolitical relations, terrorism, and threat vulnerability issues. Jennifer currently serves as the Executive Director of the Modern Military Association of America - the nation’s largest non-profit organization working to advance fairness and equality for the LGBTQ military and veteran community. She currently serves as a founding board member of Partners in PROMISE and is a Vet Policy Fellow.
She has earned a diversity and inclusion certificate from Cornell University, an associate degree in Intelligence Studies from the Community College of the Air Force, a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Bethel University, a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from Arizona State University, Master of Arts in Educational Policy from The Ohio State University and is a Public Policy and Social Change PhD student at Union Institute and University. Jennifer also has a wide range of diversity, equity, and inclusion, consultancy and training experience having worked with the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Uber, Synchrony, Capgemini, HBO Max, NBCComcast, the National Diversity Council, and various organizations and people. She is passionate about her commitment to leaving the world a better place than it was before she was born.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Modern Military Association of American Web Site: https://modernmilitary.org
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is resource of the week is the partnership announcement between PsychArmor and MMAA. This groundbreaking partnership not only enhances the mission and vision of both MMAA and PsychArmor but also clearly lays the foundation to ensure the LGBTQ voices are heard. PsychArmor has spent over seven years cultivating a repository of over 200 educational courses and training modules focusing on the military-affiliated community. Now, PsychArmor’s courses will be more inclusive to the needs of LGBTQ servicemembers, veterans and their families. You can find out more by going to the link in the resource section of the show notes. https://psycharmor.org/press-release-strategic-partnership-campaign-mmaa-p-a/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Mark William Balmert is retired United States Navy rear admiral. His last command was the joint Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Strike Group 3. He retired from the Navy in 2008 and joined Northrop Grumman as a Strategic Senior Consulting Manager.
Balmert was born in Fort Madison, Iowa. He participated in the Navy Reserve Officer Training program (NROTC) at the University of Notre Dame, and graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. He earned a Master of Science in Financial Management from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1985. He is a 1989 graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College He also attended the National Securities Management Course at the Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse University.
Balmert was commissioned as an Ensign in December 1977 through the NROTC program.[1] He attended Surface Warfare Officers School and then began his first sea assignment in 1978 aboard the USS Lynde McCormick (DDG 8). He served as the Engineering officer aboard the USS Fife (DD 991) from 1986 to 1988, and aboard the USS Merrill (DD 976) as Executive Officer from 1991 to 1992. CDR Balmert commanded USS Chandler (DDG 996) from 7 August 1996 to 18 December 1998,[2] winning the Battle Efficiency Award, and Destroyer Squadron 7 during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom as Sea Combat Commander for the Constellation Battle Group.
Balmert also served as Chief Staff Officer of Destroyer Squadron 13; Assistant Surface Operations Officer for Commander 7th Fleet; Flag Secretary for Commander 3rd Fleet; Operations Officer for Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group 1; Commander Expeditionary Strike Group 5; and as Commander Expeditionary Strike Group 3. He was succeeded as commander for ESG3 on May 22, 2008 by Rear Admiral Kendall L. Card. RDML Balmert's final assignment was as Commander, Amphibious Group Three.
Balmert was nominated for promotion to the rank of rear admiral (lower half) in April 2004. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 2008.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
San Diego Military Affairs Council Web Site: https://www.sdmac.org
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is resource of the week is the Psycharmor course Where Are You on the Collaboration Journey? This course is designed for communities interested in learning how to use collective impact principles to foster collaboration and increase impact for service members, Veterans, their families, and their caregivers. The goal of this course it to provide you with information regarding the phases of a collaborative effort, as well as additional tools to sustain impact. This course will help you define where you are on the collaborative journey and what is needed to move forward. You can find the course by going to https://psycharmor.org/courses/where-on-collaboration-journey/
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Schmiegel is the CEO of Operation Gratitude, whose mission is to forge strong bonds between Americans and their Military and First Responder Heroes through volunteer service projects, acts of gratitude, and meaningful engagements in communities nationwide. Since 2003, Operation Gratitude has mobilized millions of volunteers nationwide and impacted over 3 million deployed Service Members, their children left behind, and First Responders, Recruit Graduates, Veterans, Wounded Heroes and their Caregivers, as well as COVID-19 Frontline Responders. Schmiegel’s role is to oversee strategic planning and build national partnerships to further Operation Gratitude’s reach as a preeminent military support organization while expanding hands-on volunteerism to help bridge the civilian-service divide in communities across America.
Prior to Operation Gratitude, Lieutenant Colonel Schmiegel founded Hiring Our Heroes – a nationwide grassroots campaign run through the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation to help veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment in hundreds of cities across America. Since its inception, Hiring Our Heroes has held more than 1,000 job fairs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and on military installations overseas. To date, more than 500,000 of our nation’s heroes have been hired as a result of the program. He went on to serve as the first-ever President of Thanks USA, expanding the scope of its mission from providing post-secondary, need-based scholarships to military spouses and children to include Pathways for Patriots, an innovative program to provide meaningful employment for the scholars upon graduation.
LtCol Schmiegel is a Class of 1989 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel after 20 years on active duty. In addition to an early combat tour to Kuwait for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Schmiegel served as the principal adviser to the NATO commander from 2003-2006, deploying to over 50 countries in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Schmiegel also wrote the strategic plans for NATO’s training mission in Iraq, its increased presence in Afghanistan, and disaster relief operations for Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Pakistan. In 2008, Schmiegel served as the military assistant to the special envoy for Middle East Regional Security and deployed to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where he worked with Israeli and Palestinian authorities on the peace process.
Kevin lives in Arlington Virginia with his wife Laura. When he is not working, he focuses all of his time and energy on their five children and two dogs.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Operation Gratitude Web Site: https://www.operationgratitude.com
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is resource of the week is the course Myths and Facts of Military Leaders. When you think of a military leader, what comes to mind? There are several stereotypes and myths regarding military leaders that are common Among those who don't have a connection to military personnel and culture. This course identifies. four of the most popular myths about military leaders and how they don't align with the reality of working alongside service members and veterans. Tom Creiger, veteran and chief operating officer of PsychArmor also covers how the training that military personnel have received has endowed them with a set of skills and responsibilities that make them an asset to the workplace. Find the course at https://psycharmor.org/courses/myths-facts-military-leaders/.
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Michelle Norman is a Navy spouse of over 25 years and mother of a 17 year old daughter with cerebral palsy. She is the Executive Director and Founder of Partners in PROMISE, a non-profit organization focused on educating, advising and advocating for exceptional military families and their education. After years of successfully advocating and winning multiple legal cases to ensure her daughter receives the minimum education required by law, Norman was contacted by multiple military families across the country dealing with similar problems in public schools. Realizing that so many children will benefit from her dedicated efforts, the Virginia Beach resident has become a passionate advocate for military children with special needs and their families. Michelle has been recognized for her military family advocacy efforts with the 2020 Heroes at Home Military Spouse of the Year Award for Hampton Roads and 2019 AFI Navy Military Spouse of the Year Award.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Partners in Promise Web Site
The Trust Your Gut Webinar Series
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the PsychArmor series of Stress First Aid Courses for Caregivers. Many caregivers are not just caregivers for their wounded, ill or injured service member or veteran, but a caregiver for their special needs child, as Michelle is. The Stress First Aid series is a set of seven courses that discusses the various stressors that caregivers are presented with on a daily basis and details the importance of self-care. Dr. Patricia Watson of the National Center for PTSD presents tools and coping mechanisms caregivers can use by highlighting five core essential elements. Psycharmor hopes that these courses will aid the great resilience our caregivers demonstrate constantly as they tirelessly attend to both the visible and invisible wounds of our American heroes.
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
As President of Axon, Luke Larson is responsible for leading the company's day-to-day operations and overseeing all aspects of the company. Luke joined Axon in 2008 and has filled a variety of executive and management roles since then, becoming President in April 2015. Prior to joining Axon, Luke served two tours in Iraq as a Marine Corps infantry officer and was awarded the Bronze star with V for valor on his first tour. Luke graduated from University of Arizona on an NROTC scholarship and has an M.B.A. from Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Axon’s Website
Axon Aid
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the PsychArmor Veteran Ready Certificate Program. Nearly 200 organizations nationwide utilize PsychArmor’s educational platform to ensure staff and volunteers are better prepared to interact with the military and Veteran communities. PsychArmor certificate programs help improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase revenue.
Psycharmor’s cost effective certification programs allow organizations to share PsychArmor courses, track completions, and become “Veteran Ready,” with a digital certificate and badge they can proudly showcase on their website.
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Hannah Hutler-Boyd is the builder of the Camp Corral programs where she diligently focuses on how best to empower children of wounded, ill, and fallen military heroes. During her seven years with Camp Corral, she consistently increased the number of children served, built strong partnerships with ACA Accredited camps, and required the highest quality of services to be delivered to military-connected families.
Now with a strong foundational program, Hannah focuses on the science of empowering military-connected children and their families as she spearheads the kick-off of deeper, more transformative program development with emphasis on research studies, holistic services and advocacy efforts.
Hannah holds a M.S. in Camp Administration and Leadership from Touro University and a B.S. in Youth Programming and Camp Management from University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, Hannah brings a deep understanding of the camping industry as well as recreation and enrichment programming to the team. She serves as the subject matter expert on camp, recreation, and child and youth programming and advocates on behalf of military-connected children and their families.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Camp Corral’s Web Site
Life Tools for MilKids Announcement
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the PsychArmor course Supporting Children Who Support Veterans. If a child helps out with caregiving for a parent or other Veteran family member who is ill or injured, who gives that child extra support? These children are often overlooked. The goal of “Supporting Children Who Support Veterans” is to give you some information and resources to help you find ways to support a child if they are assisting with caregiving for a family member, or if they are helping with other chores or responsibilities as a result of having an ill or injured family member. Although the children may be small now, PsychArmor hopes that this course provides some building blocks to address any parenting challenges that may occur as children mature.
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Steve Schwab is a national leader and voice for the nation’s 5.5 million military and veteran caregivers and their families. He has closely advised senior leaders in every sector, addressed audiences across the country, and testified before Congress about the challenges faced by America’s military caregivers and how our nation can do more to support these incredible Hidden Heroes.
As CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Steve spearheads the country’s preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring military and veteran caregivers. Previously, as Executive Director, Steve led the Foundation’s staff, programs, development, and partnerships, managing the launch of the Hidden Heroes campaign, establishing the Hidden Heroes Cities program, and successfully championing the expansion of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers to caregivers of every war era. In 2018, Steve led the Foundation’s inaugural signature fundraising event, Heroes and History Makers: An Evening with Elizabeth and Bob Dole.
Steve also chairs the Board of Directors of PsychArmor, the nation’s premier non-profit for providing free education and support for all Americans to engage effectively with the military community. Previously, Steve was head of external affairs for the National Cathedral, overseeing fundraising, marketing, and communications.
Steve came to the Washington, DC area after serving in three senior leadership roles in his hometown of Rochester, NY. He was Vice President for Development at the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra after serving as Deputy Chief of Staff to Rochester, NY Mayor Robert J. Duffy and just prior as head of corporate development and relations for Rochester Institute of Technology. Steve started his career in New York City where he first worked in politics and then served subsequently as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Development for the New York City Partnership and Chamber of Commerce.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Elizabeth Dole Foundation
Hidden Heroes Web Site
PsychArmor Board of Directors
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the PsychArmor Caregiver Binder and Award program. Sponsored by the USAA Foundation and in collaboration with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's Hidden Heroes campaign, PsychArmor offers a caregiver support program that provides resources and recognition to those caregivers who support those who served.
After completing the program requirements, which includes taking courses specifically designed for caregivers and joining the Hidden Heroes community, participants will receive a caregiver's experience binder and a certificate signed by Senator Elizabeth Dole and PsychArmor CEO. Tina Atherall. These resources and recognition are provided free of charge and are a small token of appreciation for those who care for those who served.
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Rye Barcott is co-founder and CEO of With Honor, a cross-partisan political organization led by veterans focused on promoting and advancing principled veteran leadership to reduce polarization in the U.S. Congress. Previously, he co-founded and led the clean energy investment firm Double Time Capital, and co-founded the non-governmental public health organization Carolina for Kibera in Nairobi, Kenya. His memoir, It Happened on the Way to War, juxtaposes military service and social entrepreneurship. Barcott serves on the boards of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, the National Democratic Institute, and the U.S. Institute for Peace. He chairs the board of Carolina for Kibera.
Congressman Jared Golden represents the Second District of Maine in the United States Congress, where he serves on the Small Business Committee and the Armed Services Committee. He grew up in Leeds, a small town in Androscoggin County. After enlisting as an infantryman in the Marines, Golden deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan before returning home to Maine. Congressman Golden currently lives in Lewiston with his wife Isobel.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
With Honor
Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation
Congressman Golden’s Web site
For Country Caucus
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the PsychArmor Course series, the course series for Communities Serving Veterans, sponsored by National Veterans Intermediary and the Bob Woodruff Foundation. Many Veterans make a smooth transition into civilian life and have the resources and networks they need to thrive, but there are others who could use our help. To address the needs of Veterans and their families, thousands of nonprofits, government agencies, and private organizations stand ready to offer services and support at the local and national levels. Sponsored by National Veterans Intermediary (NVI), these PsychArmor courses provide a smart and useful framework for guiding social movement. This effective framework is inspired by collective impact theory and informed by the culture and values of the military and Veteran Community. These courses will teach you an overview of collective impact, as well as leadership strategies for increasing collaboration and activating community support for Veterans and their families.
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Dr. Samuel Odom is President of the CRISP Board of Directors. He is an Adjunct Professor at Tulane University School of Social Work and a former professor in the Millie M. Charles School of Social Work on the campus of Southern University at New Orleans where he served as Faculty Senator and Faculty Senate Secretary.
A native of Brewton, Alabama, he joined the United States Army in 1986 as a Forward Observer, Field Artilleryman, later becoming a Logistician and ultimately earning an Army ROTC Commission as a Medical Service Officer where he worked in Behavioral Health for more than ten years. Dr. Odom served as a Company Commander for the 377th Theater Sustainment Command. Dr. Odom is a US Army Combat Veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom /Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dr. Odom served 24 in the United States Army with deployments in Southwest Asia and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Expert Field Medical Badge, Global War on Terrorism, Army Achievement Medal with Two Oak-leaf Clusters and several other awards.
He earned a BA degree in Philosophy at Dillard University, a Master of Social Work degree at Southern University at New Orleans and he earned a PhD in Counseling at the Harold Abel School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Capella University. Dr. Odom is currently or has held memberships in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), National Association of Social Workers, Council on Social Work Education, Academy of Certified Social Workers, American Psychoanalytic Association, Association of Military Surgeons United States (Life Member), American Philosophical Association and Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons.
He is a member of the American Red Cross Regional Board of Directors (New Orleans). He served on the ABO Board for the City of New Orleans. Dr. Odom is a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. where served as a board member of the Southwestern Province (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas). He is currently the C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conference National Chairman for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
1LT Marlon Dortch commissioned in 2017 and earned a MSW in the Army – University of Kentucky program in 2019. He earned a MEd from Iowa State University in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and a BA in Sociology from Norfolk State University. He is currently in the Army’s Social Work Internship Program at Fort Bliss, Texas under clinical supervision with Senior Leader Sustainment Program at the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. Prior to the Army, 1LT Dortch worked in higher education as a student affairs practitioner, teaching and presenting at national conferences on politics related to race, gender, and identity.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy
Tulane University School of Social Work
Dr. Odom on Twitter
1LT Dortch on LinkedIn
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the PsychArmor Course, Telling Your Story. This course provides a compelling glimpse into the lives of four United States military Veterans. Narrated by David Vobora, CEO and co-founder of the Adaptive Training Foundation and former NFL Linebacker, this course offers service members and Veterans insight into talking about their military experience.
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
A Mississippi native, Jerry Maniscalco first picked up a guitar at 16 and he has been writing and performing original music ever since. In 2003, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 2007 and entering service as an SH-60B Seahawk pilot. During his time in the Navy--including 3 deployments and a remote tour--he found that music allowed him to unwind and escape. Jerry recorded two songs on Operation Encore’s debut compilation album, the upbeat “Wake Up,” and Operation Encore’s unofficial anthem, “We Are.” He rejoined Operation Encore for their second album with “Waiting," written from the perspective of a pilot's spouse waiting for her husband to return home. Jerry continues to write music and play locally in the Jacksonville, Florida area.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Jerry Maniscalco on Facebook
Operation Encore
Jerry’s Music on Spotify
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the course What You Should Know About Transition. In this course, service members and Veterans receive an introduction to the transition process and the many tools and resources available to assist them throughout their transition journey.
Dr. Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense, and Howard Schultz, Co-Founder of the Schultz Family Foundation, provide service members and Veterans with personal insight on the importance of building a transition plan, preparing a personal financial plan, and many other factors associated with transition from military service to the civilian sector. Sponsored by the Schultz Family Foundation, “What You Should Know about Transition” serves as an overview for a portfolio of courses available to help service members, Veterans and their families succeed during their transition.
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Nathan Graeser is both a Social Worker and an Army Chaplain in the California National Guard. He serves on numerous local and national boards and is a national expert on policies and
programs for supporting service-members transitioning out of the military. He has led multiple Veteran initiatives including Warrior Bards, the Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative and, most recently with Southern California Grantmakers to build the first county-wide Veteran Peer Access Network. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, he has worked tirelessly to counsel hundreds of veterans and their families who return home from war. He obtained a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, a Masters in Social Work, and a Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California. Most recently, he was called up for the protests in downtown Los Angeles and a Balkan deployment with the 79th Infantry Brigade in December 2018. He lives in Highland Park in an eco-friendly house with chickens, bees and three small humans ages seven, four, and two. His rock star wife, Rachel, makes it all possible.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative
Los Angeles Veteran Peer Access Network
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the series of courses for communities serving veterans. This series of courses provides guidance on leadership and collaborative strategies for community impact. To address the needs of Veterans and their families, thousands of nonprofits, government agencies, and private organizations stand ready to offer services and support at the local and national levels. Sponsored by National Veterans Intermediary (NVI), the PsychArmor® courses provide a smart and useful framework for guiding social movement. This effective framework is inspired by collective impact theory and informed by the culture and values of the military and Veteran Community. These courses will teach you an overview of collective impact, as well as leadership strategies for increasing collaboration and activating community support for Veterans and their families.
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
RanDee McLain is a proud US Navy veteran that spent time in Iraq, Kuwait and Spain. After being medically separated in 2009, RanDee went on to earn a B.S in Criminal Justice from SDSU in 2012 and her Master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Military and Veteran’s programs from USC. After a difficult transition, RanDee decided to make a career of serving her fellow veterans and their families. Her passions include serving post 9-11 veterans, specifically those that are justice-involved and/or those who have difficulty transitioning.
RanDee serves on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Veterans Coalition and the San Diego Enforcers. RanDee is currently assisting with the San Diego Federal Veterans Treatment Court as the mentor coordinator and trainer. In her spare time, RanDee is on faculty with Justice for Vets and the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) where she teaches Veteran’s Treatment Courts, DUI Courts and Drug Courts across the country. RanDee writes a monthly mental health column for Homeland Magazine and SD Veterans Magazine . In 2014, RanDee was named the San Diego County Veteran of the Year.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Courage 2 Call
Justice For Vets
National Association of Drug Court Professionals
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the PsychArmor course What is a Veterans Treatment Court? Justice For Vets is dedicated to transforming the way the justice system identifies, assesses and treats Veterans who are involved in the justice system due to mental health disorders, trauma, and substance use. In this course, Veteran Mentors will learn about the Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) program, the VTC team composition, and the phases associated with the VTC program. You can find a link to this courts in the show notes.
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
A national policy leader with over 20 years of experience, Dr. Keita M. Franklin is the Chief Clinical Officer at Loyal Source Government Services – the nation’s leading healthcare solutions provider – and also serves as the Co-Director of the Columbia Lighthouse Project, a Columbia University NY State Psychiatric Institute initiative focused on preventing suicide risk.
Prior to joining the Loyal Source team, Dr. Franklin was a senior executive at PsychHub, and both the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD). In her government work, she frequently represented the DoD and the VA during testimony in front of both chambers of Congress and advised the Office of the President, the Domestic Policy Council, and the National Security Council. During her tenure, Dr. Franklin led enterprise-wide programming for Veterans, military service members and their families. She has also consulted with numerous entities on issues related to military and veteran mental health, suicide prevention and children and families.
Dr. Franklin holds a PhD in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University and an advanced certificate from the Center for Advancement of Research Methods and Analysis (CARMA). She also earned certificates from Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education on “Leading Large Organizational Change” and “Women in Leadership,” as well as the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School course on “Executive Leadership.”
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Dr. Franklin’s LinkedIn Profile
The Columbia Lighthouse Project
Loyal Source Government Solutions
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is the PsychArmor course 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know. This is the cornerstone course for PsychArmor and was created to educate anyone who works with, lives with, or cares for our military Veterans. PsychArmor asked hundreds of Veterans what they wanted civilians, employers, educators, health care providers, and therapists to know about them. These comments were used to create the topics of this course including 5 Questions You Should Always Ask Veterans, 1 Question You Should Never Ask Veterans, and 15 Facts that promote greater understanding of our Veterans.
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
Kathy Roth-Douquet is an advocate for the role of the military in civil society; she is an author, nonprofit leader, attorney, and former government official. Kathy is the CEO of Blue Star Families, the largest Chapter-based nonprofit organization serving active duty of all branches, Guard and Reserve, wounded, and transitioning veterans and their families. Blue Star Families mission is to strengthen military families and our nation by connecting communities and fostering leadership to millions of people.
Kathy Roth-Douquet received her B.A. from Bryn Mawr College, her MPA in International Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University where she held a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, and a JD from the University of San Diego School of Law, Magna Cum Laude and the Order of the Coif. While serving at the Pentagon as Principal Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Acting) she received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service for her work on defense reform. She is also a recipient of President George H. W. Bush’s Daily Point of Light Award, and most recently received the Chief of Staff of the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Award.
Kathy is a commentator on patriotism, civil-military affairs, the value of service, and the experience of military families. She has appeared on the Today Show, Fox and Friends, CNN, NPR, has been a frequent contributor to USA Today, and is a frequent public speaker. She is an author, most notably of “AWOL: The Unexcused Absence of America’s Upper Classes from Military Service and How it Hurts Our Country” (Collins, 2006). She is a practicing attorney, a member of the Small Business Association Advisory Board, and is Co-chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center Defense Reform Task Force. She is a military spouse of 18 years, four deployments, and 9 moves. She lives with her husband and two children in Northern Virginia.
Sinclair Harris serves as LMI’s director of business development for the Department of the Navy. He retired as a rear admiral after a 34-year career in the U.S. Navy. His service culminated as the vice director for operations to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During his distinguished career, he led joint, combined, multinational, and interagency organizations both at sea and ashore across all aspects of defense, including full spectrum operations, program management, strategic planning, and execution. He was also commander of the U.S. Fourth Fleet, leading U.S. Naval forces assigned to U.S. Southern Command.
Mr. Harris has been published in numerous journals on the topics of surface warfare, combat logistics, irregular warfare, and leadership. He earned a BS in economics from James Madison University, an MS in operations research from the Naval Postgraduate School, and an MS in defense and strategic studies from the University of Madras, India.
Mr. Harris voluntarily serves as president of the National Naval Officers Association, national vice president of the Navy League of the United States, past chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association Expeditionary Warfare Division, member of the board of directors for the Surface Navy Association, and member of the Northern Virginia Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Blue Star Families Web Site
Blue Star Families Racial Equity Initiative
Blue Star Families Racial Equity Committee
DEPLOY Fellowship Programs
RADM Harris’ Bio
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week are the PsychArmor courses on military culture and awareness. Military service members, Veterans and their families live and work in communities across our nation. However, because fewer than 7% of Americans have served in uniform, most who have never served are unfamiliar with military culture and don’t know how to effectively engage with the Veteran community.
Sponsored by the Wounded Warrior Project, military culture courses are available for anyone who works with, lives with, and cares about the Veteran community. By following the link above, you can see the cornerstone course “15 Things Veterans Want You to Know,” as well as modules that address the basics for civilians such as “Veteran 101: Officer vs. Enlisted,” and “Veteran 201: Military Families,”
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
Kaprece James is a Social Entrepreneur, Humanitarian, Founder & CEO, Women & Girls Advocate, Best Selling Author, and an International Leader. Mrs. James has served her community volunteering and working in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. She started two nongovernmental organizations in Liberia, West Africa and has assisted many other nonprofits with building their programs nationally and internationally. Mrs. James has a Master’s in Public Administration with a specialty in Nonprofit Management & Leadership. She is also a proud HBCU graduate of Savannah State University with a BS in Political Science.
As a Marine Spouse, Mrs. James has been serving the military community for 14 years in the roles of Environmental Compliance Officer, Family Readiness Officer, Life Skill Trainer, and a mentor to both service members and their spouses. During the last 14 years as a military spouse, Mrs. James has served on the Marine Spouses Officers Boards, held several positions for the Okinawa National Naval Officers Association, served as an Ambassador for Okinawa, and highly sought out speaker for several military panels. Mrs. James has loved serving her military community both in the US and abroad. Last year, Mrs. James was named the 2019 Armed Forces Insurance Naval Postgraduate Military Spouse of the Year.
As CEO, Mrs. James is the current Founder of Stella’s Girls, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit and recognized Liberian nongovernmental organization, that focuses on the empowerment and leadership development of girls and women in the United States, Japan, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Uganda. Mrs. James also is Owner of DKJ Global Consulting where she serves as a consultant and grant writer to nonprofits and small business owners.
Mrs. Kaprece James has received numerous awards for her dedication and leadership to the local and military community. One of her highest awards received is the Lifetime Achievement Award for completion of 24,000 volunteer service hours presented by President George Bush in 2008. Mrs. James is married to Major Rodney James, USMC, currently a guardian of an amazing 5-year-old girl, and they have one fur baby, Serena.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Stella’s Girls Web Site
Kaprece James Web Site
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week is 15 Reasons to Hire A Military Spouse. Employers are always looking for untapped talent pools. They stretch their recruitment efforts in every direction to find the best players for their team. One talent pool that can be overlooked is the diverse and highly educated group of military spouses. From a wealth of volunteer training experience to flexibility and resiliency, employers will find a rich, and valuable pool of talent that will serve their organization with passion and loyalty. You can find a link to this training in the show notes.
This PsychArmor courses on Military Spouse Employment is sponsored by Prudential Financial. Prudential, a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has done extensive work to help military talent connect to quality jobs and help military families achieve financial security. To learn more, visit www.prudential.com/veterans
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guests
Dr. Heidi Kraft
Heidi Squier Kraft received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the UC San Diego/SDSU Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology in 1996. She joined the Navy during her internship at Duke University Medical Center and went on to serve as both a flight and clinical psychologist. Her active duty assignments included the Naval Safety Center, the Naval Health Research Center and Naval Hospital Jacksonville, FL. While on flight status, she flew in nearly every aircraft in the Navy and Marine Corps inventory, including more than 100 hours in the F/A-18 Hornet, primarily with Marine Corps squadrons. In February 2004, she deployed to western Iraq for seven months with a Marine Corps surgical company, when her boy and girl twins were 15-months-old. Rule Number Two is a memoir of that experience.
Dr. Kraft left active duty in 2005, after nine years in the Navy. She currently serves as Chief Clinical Officer at PsychArmor Institute, a national non-profit that provides free online education for those who live with, care for, and work with military Veterans. She is frequently invited to speak at conferences and panels on combat stress, stigma and caring for the caregiver. She is a lecturer at San Diego State University, where she teaches Stress, Trauma and the Psychological Experience of Combat, Health Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Infant and Child Development. Dr. Kraft lives in San Diego with her husband Mike, a former Marine Harrier pilot. Her twins Brian and Meg, who have no memory of their mother’s time in Iraq, are college freshmen now.
Dr. Ted Bonar
Ted C. Bonar, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist and a nationally recognized trainer and speaker at conferences and universities. An independent professional based in Columbus, OH, he operates a successful private practice and is known as a Subject Matter Expert in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide, and matters related to military and veteran mental health concerns. He serves on the Healthcare Advisory Committee for PsychArmor Institute, and was previously the Chief of Continuing Education Programs at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) where he oversaw and implemented training programs focused on common military-related behavioral healthcare concerns, evidence-based treatment of PTSD, and suicide prevention and treatment. He is also a National Trainer trainer in Mental Health First Aid.
Dr. Bonar has spoken at over 200 universities, national conferences, and continuing education events, including special projects for Brady United, PsychArmor Institute, the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO), the American Association of Suicidology (AAS), the National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah, PsychHub, Inc., and the National Council for Behavioral Health. Dr. Bonar has held clinical positions at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago, The Ohio State University Counseling and Consultation Service, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Counseling Center, and private practice in both Bethesda, MD and Columbus, OH. Dr. Bonar was awarded the 2013 Distinguished Alum award by the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University/Chicago.
Dr. Kyleanne Hunter
Dr. Kyleanne Hunter is an Assistant Professor of Military and Strategic Studies at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). She is also a Nonresident Fellow at the Brute Krulak Center for Innovation and Creativity at Marine Corps University and a Senior Adjunct Fellow at the Center for New American Security (CNAS). Kyleanne is the former Chair of the Employment and Integration Subcommittee for the Secretary of Defense’s Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. Her research focuses on military gender integration and defense policy, with an emphasis on military effectiveness in irregular warfare. She is the co-director of the CNAS-sponsored Athena Leadership Project, which studies the impact that women (both in the military and elected office) have had on the conduct of the Global War on Terror. She has authored several government policy reports, peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and has a forthcoming book. Her work has also appeared in popular press such as New York Times, Washington Post, War on the Rocks, and she has appeared as a subject matter expert on multiple TV new programs.
Prior to earning her PhD, Kyleanne was a Marine Corps Officer, serving multiple combat tours as an AH-1W “Super Cobra” attack pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan, and as the Marine Corps Legislative Liaison Officer to the House of Representatives. She was part of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Inaugural Class of Women Trailblazers and member of the board of advisors for the Stanley Center funded IMPACT: Peace program.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Stack Up
Veterans, Suicide Prevention, and Safe Storage Twitch Stream
Dr. Hunter’s USAFA Page
Dr. Bonar’s Web Page
Dr. Kraft’s PsychArmor Page
Clinical Readiness Project
Brady
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
The PsychArmor resource for this week are the courses related to suicide prevention, intervention and postvention. Suicide in America is a critical issue, with high rates in service members and Veterans. Asking the right questions and feeling confident about how to help are the first steps in preventing someone from dying by suicide. We hope these courses will help you to be a lifeline and be there for someone in need.
With generous funding from the NFL Foundation, PsychArmor Institute presents a portfolio that promises to provide vital education and information about Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention for healthcare providers, service members, Veterans, families, caregivers and the community-at-large.
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
About Today’s Guest
Benjamin Pomerance, Esq., is the Deputy Director for Program Development for the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services. In this role, he serves as the Deputy General Counsel for the agency, as well as working as the agency’s Legislative Liaison and overseeing several of the Division’s programming initiatives. His work focuses on advocacy and assistance for Veterans, Servicemembers, and their families on a wide range of federal and state issues.
Benjamin graduated as the salutatorian of his class from Albany Law School in 2013. While at Albany Law, he founded and directed the school’s Veterans’ Rights Pro Bono Project, for which he received the “President’s Pro Bono Service Award” from the New York State Bar Association. He served as the Executive Editor for Symposium for the Albany Law Review, led the school’s student chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and published a report about human rights concerns confronting America’s aging prison population as an Edgar & Margaret Sandman Fellow with the Government Law Center.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
New York State Division of Veterans Services
New York State Bar Association Committee on Veterans
Albany Law School Veterans’ Pro Bono Project
PsychArmor’s Veteran Ready Lawyer Training Announcement
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
BTM03 – Jim Beamesderfer – Prudential Financial Military Spouse Employment and Financial Management Courses
Show Summary
On this episode of Behind the Mission, Army Veteran Jim Beamesderfer, Vice President of Veterans Initiatives at PsychArmor sponsor Prudential Financial, joins the show to talk about the importance of military spouse employment and financial readiness for military families.
About Today’s Guest
Jim Beamesderfer oversees Prudential Financial’s Diversity and Inclusion activities, including work with other internal partners on communications and philanthropic initiatives. He also runs their VETalent program, which partners with the nonprofit Workers Opportunity Services to recruit, train, and hire Iraq- and Afghanistan-era veterans and military spouses. In that role, Jim has led development of our military spouse employment program and expanded VETalent to other companies around the country. In June 2019, Jim was appointed co-chair of the US Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Employment Council.
Before joining Prudential in 1997, Jim served as a captain in the U.S. Army for six years after earning a B.A. in mechanical engineering at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. He remains an active member of the Rutgers Business School Military and Veterans Advisory Board.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Prudential Financial Veteran Services
PsychArmor Financial Wellness Courses
PsychArmor Military Spouse Employment Courses
Foundation for Women Warriors
This Episode Sponsored By:
Prudential Financial. Prudential, a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has done extensive work to help military talent connect to quality jobs and help military families achieve financial security. To learn more, visit www.prudential.com/veterans
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Jill E. Bormann is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, a Clinical Professor and Research Health Scientist. She developed the Mantram Repetition Program – a spiritually-integrated health program for symptom and stress management. She received the prestigious “Edge Runner Award” from the American Academy of Nursing for innovation in nursing. She also received Excellence in Research Awards from the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses. Over the span of 20 years, she has conducted federally funded research on the health outcomes of the Mantram Repetition Program in various groups including family caregivers of Veterans with dementia, Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), healthcare employees, adults living with HIV/AIDS, homeless women for insomnia, and first-time mothers. Research results provide growing evidence that the Mantram Repetition Program provides a portable “pause button for the mind” that is convenient, invisible, inexpensive, non-pharmacological and complementary to mainstream medicine. In addition to serving on the PsychArmor Institute’s Caregiver Advisory Board, she is a consultant and collaborates with colleagues across the country to further research and dissemination of the Mantram Program in various populations.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
PyschArmor’s Mantram Repetition Training Course
Dr. Bormann’s Web Site
More Information about Dr. Bormann’s Work
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by USAA.
USAA, USAA Bank and The USAA Foundation, Inc. strive to increase positive impact by providing financial support to organizations that align with their corporate responsibility focus areas. In local communities where USAA has a significant presence of employees, they provide financial support to causes that address needs that align with their local focus areas. You can find out more about the work that they do at www.usaa.com
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
About Today’s Guest
Tina Atherall, DSW, LMSW, brings to PsychArmor her vast experience and leadership in the military non-profit community and academia. In 2006, she co-founded Hope For The Warriors, an organization dedicated to serving combat wounded servicemembers and their families. Scaling a grass-roots effort to a national platform, she worked extensively with various levels of military leadership, agencies, corporations, and communities educating and advocating for critical support for those who have served and their families. She has embedded her career in the field of social work innovation and leadership and obtained her Doctor of Social Work (DSW) from the University of Southern California. Her recent work focuses on the 12 Grand Challenges for Social Work to eradicate social isolation specifically the challenges of military family social isolation. As an adjunct faculty, her love for PsychArmor began while utilizing the PAI educational videos to enhance teaching social work practice with military and their families to Masters of Social Work students in New York City.
As PsychArmor’s new CEO, Tina will continue the mission of bridging the military-civilian divide. She has fresh ideas to strengthen PsychAmor’s pivotal role as the “go to” place for employers, healthcare providers, educators, volunteers, municipalities, service providers, government workers, caregivers and communities to learn about how to better serve our military Veterans.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
PsychArmor: About Us
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory that is free to individual learners as well as custom training options for organizations.
Join Us on Social Media
PsychArmor on Twitter
PsychArmor on Facebook
PsychArmor on YouTube
PsychArmor on LinkedIn
PsychArmor on Instagram
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com