Show SummaryOn this episode, we feature a conversation with Dr. Christina Armstrong, a clinical psychologist at the Office of Connected Care in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ central office. The Office of Connected Care focuses on improving health care through technology; Connected Care’s programs include My HealtheVet, VA Telehealth Services, and VA Mobile, and more. About Today’s GuestsChristina M. Armstrong, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist at the Office of Connected Care in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ central office. She is involved in development, evaluation and implementation of digital health technologies in clinical care. Previously, she served as Program Lead for an interdisciplinary Education and Training Program at the Connected Health Branch of the Defense Health Agency, United States Department of Defense. She received her doctorate and masters degrees in clinical psychology, specializing in neuropsychology, from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, and completed her post-doctoral fellowship in Military Research Psychology with the U.S. Department of Defense. In addition to leading education and training efforts, she provides subject matter expertise in the areas of clinical psychology including the psychological diagnosis and treatment of mTBI and PTSD, suicide risk and prevention, substance abuse, neuropsychological assessment, virtual reality, virtual worlds, wearable technology, big data, and the development of behavior change products by leveraging innovative technology solutions to improve mental health in the military community. Dr. Armstrong is licensed as a Clinical Psychologist in California and Washington State and serves on the Ethics Committee of the Los Angeles County Psychology Association. She also teaches graduate courses in ethics and law for mental health professionals at Pepperdine University and serves as an Associate Editor at the Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeVA’s Office of Connected CareVA Virtual Health Resource CentersPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor course Telehealth Services. In this course, you can learn how telehealth brings medical and mental health services directly to Veterans by using your computer or smartphone. You can see find the course here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Telehealth-Services    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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode, we feature a conversation with Corie Weathers, a military spouse and Licensed Professional Counselor. We discuss the importance of cultural responsivity in mental health and Corie's latest book, Military Culture ShiftAbout Today’s GuestCorie Weathers, licensed professional counselor (LPC), is a sought-after speaker, consultant, and award-winning author. Corie has focused her career for the last 20 years as a clinician specializing in marriage, the military culture, special forces, and leadership development. She has traveled internationally to visit troops and report on deployment conditions and has taught service families across the globe. In addition to providing subject matter expertise on military culture, Corie consults organizations and institutions on building trust, creating impactful programming, and working within a multi-generational team. Her advocacy has included being a part of Second Lady Karen Pence’s Military Spouse’s Employment Working Group and contributing to the passing of a Congressional Bill for licensure portability.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeCorie’s Web SiteCorie’s Book: Military Culture ShiftPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor the course, The Basics of Military Culture. In this four-part series, powered by PsychArmor in partnership with Comcast NBC Universal, you'll hear stories from six American service members about their experiences serving our country.  You can see find the course here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/military-culture-series   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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode, we feature a conversation with Dr. Tanya Hess, a Licensed Psychologist and Training Director for the Department of Veterans Affairs Coaching Into Care Family Call Center, a national telephone-based support service for family emmbers and others who want to help reluctant veterans access their VA health care benefits, particularly for mental health concerns. About Today’s GuestsDr. Tanya Hess has been doing therapy in the Philadelphia area since 2007. She trained in adult and child psychotherapy and psychological assessment at Emory University, The  University of Tennessee, and Pennsylvania Hospital. Her post-doctoral fellowship work was  in eating disorders and residential treatment at Renfrew Center. Since completion of her fellowship she has worked in treatment and outreach for the Veterans Affairs in Philadelphia, specializing in family engagement. Dr. Hess' research has included the interaction between emotion and personality and the use of therapeutic assessment as a treatment tool. Links Mentioned In This EpisodeCoaching Into Care Web siteEmail Coaching Into Care TeamCoaching Into Care on FacebookCoaching Into Care contact number: 888-823-7458, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time.PsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor the course, Coaching a Loved One Into Care. At times, it can be difficult to talk to a Veteran about seeking help. This course equips caregivers with tools to identify potential struggles, and better understand problems with traditional approaches like ultimatums and forceful discussions. You can see find the course here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/coaching-a-loved-one-into-care 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode, we feature a conversation with The Honorable Cheryl L. Mason, who served for nearly five years as the fourth Senate-confirmed Presidential appointee and first woman and military spouse Chairman of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). About Today’s GuestsThe Honorable Cheryl L. Mason served for nearly five years as the fourth Senate-confirmed Presidential appointee and first woman and military spouse Chairman of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As Chairman, Ms. Mason led a team of approximately 1,200 personnel including Veterans Law Judges, attorneys, and operations and administrative professionals, and executed a budget of $228 million to meet the Board’s mission of conducting hearings and deciding appeals on benefits and services for Veterans and their families. During her tenure, the Board implemented several technological innovations to include the interactive decision template (IDT), CASEFLOW – a modernized end to end process of tracking claims and appeals through the Department, and Virtual Tele-hearings, which revolutionized the hearing process and improved both customer experience and employee experience by enabling Veterans to have hearings on their cell phones at locations of their choice. She expanded the corps of Veterans Law Judges, recommending and onboarding over 70 new Veterans Law Judges and expanding the Board’s budget by more than $100 million. She also championed and implemented the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) appeals process putting veterans at the center of the appeals process giving them choice, control, and clarity in the appeals process.Chairman Mason delivered results increasing and improving access and outcomes for veterans and their families by nearly doubling the number of hearings held and decisions issued in less than 5 years and driving the resolution of legacy appeals from over 472,000 to less than 96,000 during her tenure. Ms. Mason was recognized by Disabled American Veterans as the 2021 Outstanding Federal Executive and was a recipient of the FedHealthIT 2020 Leading for Impact: Women in Leadership Award. She was recently awarded the Hiring Our Heroes Bonnie Amos Lifetime Achievement Impact Award by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.Ms. Mason formerly served as the Executive Director for Veterans and Military Spouse Talent Engagement Program office for the Department of Veterans Affairs. In this position, Ms. Mason provided executive-level direction and expertise launching a marketing, outreach and training program VA-wide to over 400,000 people focused on building partnerships, training hiring managers and HR specialists, and promoting recruitment, employment, and retention of Veterans and military spouses in VA to support military readiness, financial stability, food security, suicide prevention, and the transition of service members and their families to veteran status. During her tenure, she doubled the number of recruitment events for VA, launched a tracking program to measure success, and implemented technology and streamlined processes to deliver clear and concise training materials throughout the VA and externally.Throughout her career, Ms. Mason held several positions at VA and other Federal agencies, including at HQ USAFE at Ramstein AFB, GE. Ms. Mason is the spouse of an Air Force veteran, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (retired), and is the daughter of a World War II Navy Veteran. She advocates for supporting and changing the culture and increasing awareness surrounding mental health and suicide awareness/prevention. Originally from Portsmouth, Ohio, Ms. Mason received her B.A. with Distinction in Political Science and Psychology from Ohio Northern University and her J.D. from Creighton University School of Law.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeCheri’s WebsiteCheri’s LinkedIn ProfilePre-order Dare to RelatePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor the course, Understanding the VA for You and Your Family. In this course, you will receive a comprehensive overview of the VA’s many available services, tools, and resources.  You can see find the course here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Understanding-the-VA-for-You-and-Your-Family 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode, we feature a conversation with Bruce Townshend, the Chief of Employer Engagement with Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an office of the Department of Defense that promotes understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employersAbout Today’s Guest Bruce Townshend, Chief, Employer Engagement, Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve (ESGR), Department of Defense Bruce Townshend is responsible for the planning, design and execution of proactive ESGR employer engagement initiatives to customers (Employers) and stakeholders (Guardsmen, Reservists and the Department of Defense). In this capacity he establishes frequent contact with corporate executives in a broad spectrum of industries, state government executives, mayors of major cities, and high-ranking military and Department of Defense officials to positively influence, motivate and persuade leaders - many of whom are uninformed or skeptical - on the merits of ESGR programs and services. Mr. Townshend is a native of Lowell, Massachusetts, where he enlisted in the Army in 1981 as a military policeman. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University in Boston, 1987. He was commissioned as an officer in the Military Police Corps through ROTC. He is a 2004 graduate of the Defense Information School as a qualified military Public Affairs Officer. He served a combined total of 28 years in the Army and Army Reserve, with assignments in Alabama, Virginia and Washington, and overseas assignments in Panama and Germany. He has served in Korea and deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 416th Engineer Command from Darien, Illinois, in 2003. For the final three years of his career, he mobilized with the Army Reserve and was a primary developer and implementor of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP) as a project and program manager up to his retirement in 2011. He worked for the Army Reserve YRRP as a contract program manager until coming to ESGR in November, 2017.Mr. Townshend and his wife, Robin, have five grown children and eight grandchildren. He is an avid poker player and is fiercely proud of his Scottish and Irish heritages. He has been to all 50 states. He and Robin currently reside near Front Royal, Virginia.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeESGR WebsiteState and Local ESGR ContactsPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor the course, Best Practices for Employer Support of National Guard & Reserve Members. This course is intended to help guide employers who hire or are looking to hire National Guard & Reserve members. This course will discuss best practices pertaining to recruiting, training, and developing family support policies. You can see find the course here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Best-Practices-for-Employer-Support-of-National-Guard-and-Reserve 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode, we feature a conversation with Betsey Mercado, the CEO of the Objective Zero Foundation, , a wellness technology organization that is Connecting the military community to mental health and wellness resources and to a network of peer and civilian supporters to prevent suicide through the Objective Zero App.About Today’s GuestsBetsey Mercado became involved in Objective Zero after seeing the positive influence that intervention had on veterans in crisis. Betsey has committed herself to making a difference in the lives of Soldiers, veterans, and their families. Her experience working with military spouses and leading multiple Family Readiness Groups supporting active duty units gives her a unique perspective that she brings to the Objective Zero team. She volunteers her time to assist with development of the Objective Zero mobile app, maintain the website, and manage Objective Zero’s administration. Betsey holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeThe Objective Zero Foundation WebsitePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor the course, Budgeting, Debt Management and Investing. This course provides steps to help you budget accordingly and manage debt as you progress towards financial wellness. You can find the course here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Budgeting-Debt-Management-and-Investing 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode, we feature a conversation with Lacey Lanford, a financial coach, veteran, and military spouse, about supporting service members, veterans, and their families with financial wellness. About Today’s GuestLacey Langford, AFC ®, is a financial coach, veteran, and military spouse who changes people’s mindset from being fearful of money to having control and confidence with it. Military and money are her jams. She’s an Accredited Financial Counselor ® with over 15 years of financial planning, counseling, and coaching experience.She’s the founder and CEO of the Military Money Show, a podcast dedicated to the military community with personal finance, and MilMoneyCon, a national conference and community for financial professionals united by military service. Lacey’s also the founder of LaceyLangford.com, a personal finance blog and coaching practice specializing in the unique world of the U.S. military communitiesLinks Mentioned In This EpisodeLacey’s Web siteThe Military Money Show PodcastMilMoneyCon WebsitePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor the course, Budgeting, Debt Management and Investing. This course provides steps to help you budget accordingly and manage debt as you progress towards financial wellness. You can see find the course here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Budgeting-Debt-Management-and-Investing 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode, we feature a conversation with Marine Corps Veteran and Veteran Advocate Dean Dauphinais. Dean is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, and is focused on supporting his fellow Native and Tribal veterans. About Today’s GuestsDean Dauphinais served in the United States Marine Corps from 1995 to 1999 with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. He is the President and CEO of Native Eco Solutions, a consulting firm that has a goal of connecting tribal communities with opportunities to improve the quality of life of their people by inspiring collaboration in Indian Country and matching Indigenous values with strong business fundamentals in order to improve tribal communities·      Enrolled Member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians·      Bachelor of Education degree - University of North Dakota·      AA Liberal Arts, Cankdeska Cikana Community College·      United States Marine Corps Veteran, Honorable Discharge·      National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), member·      California American Indian Business Chamber of Commerce, member·      Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce, member·      Government Contract Consulting, Project Management, Community Organizing, Veterans Advocacy, Nonprofit Leadership& Management·      Strong network for collaborations in Indian Country, Veterans’ Affairs and underserved communitiesLinks Mentioned In This EpisodeNative Eco Solutions (Dean’s Website)Dean’s profile on LinkedInPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor a course Why Collaboration is So Important in Supporting Military 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 see find the course here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/why-collaboration-is-so-important   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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode, we feature a conversation with Army veteran Dr. Edil Torres Rivera as he shares his military experience in the Army and his post-military career as a Counselor, Counselor Educator, and President of the American Counseling Association About Today’s GuestsDr. Edil Torres Rivera has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in multicultural counseling from the University of Connecticut, Storrs. He is a professor of counseling and the director of the Latinx Cluster initiative at Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas. Edil Torres Rivera is native Puerto Rican with a career of over 25 years in counseling. This includes 12 years in the United States Army. He currently serving as the President of the American Counseling Association (2023-2024).Dr. Torres Rivera research interests are in multicultural counseling, group work, chaos theory, liberation psychology (decolonial approaches), indigenous counseling, Puerto Rican studies, identity development, and gang/prison-related behavior. Specifically, his primary research focuses on complexity and how indigenous healing techniques are a necessary ingredient when working with ethnic minority populations in the United States. Dr. Torres Rivera has additional interests in studying the implications of social injustice and oppression in counseling and psychotherapy with ethnic minorities in the United States.His community work includes consultation services to the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Council in Nevada, visiting professor to the Universidad del Valle, Guatemala, and he was the director of the Graduate School of Education’s School Counseling Program in SingaporeLinks Mentioned In This EpisodeContact Dr. Torres RiveraThe American Counseling AssociationPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor a course from the Brain Health and Wellness Learning Series, Bolstering Resilience. This course, sponsored by the Wounded Warrior Project, highlights five factors of wellness: goal setting, mental health, nutrition, sleep, and exercise. You’ll learn why these supporting pillars are so important to overall well-being, their application in daily life, and how it’s never too late to make a lasting change. You can see find the course here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/WWP-BHW-bolstering-resilience 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode, we’re continuing to recognize the 10 year anniversary of PsychArmor with a conversation with PsychArmor’s CEO, Dr. Tina Atherall.About Today’s GuestsDr. Tina Atherall is a social innovation strategist with a concentration in nonprofit and education leadership. She is the CEO of PsychArmor leading a public health EdTech nonprofits 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 leadership and obtained her Doctor of Social Work (DSW) from the University of Southern California. Her recent work focuses on the 13 Grand Challenges for Social Work to eradicate the public health crisis of social isolation. Dr. Atherall is a George W. Bush Institute Stand-To Veteran Leadership Scholar.  She serves in an appointed role on the SAMHSA National Advisory Council and is a committee lead for the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Military Social Work Specialized Practice review committee.  Dr. Atherall has advanced certificates in nonprofit leadership, military social work, and is a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator.  She is an Associate Adjunct Professor at Columbia University School of Social Work, and Doctor of Social Work adjunct at Simmons University and the University of Kentucky online programs.   Board leadership roles include Board of Director participation at Mission Edge (San Diego) and Task Force Movement (Washington DC). Links Mentioned In This EpisodeBTM01 – Introduction to the Behind the Mission PodcastBTM50-Behind The Mission: Year in ReviewBonus episode: 9/11 Reflections with Tina Atherall and Elizabeth O’BrienPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor course: the VA Campus Toolkit. This course provides information that explains characteristics of current student Veterans, some of the common adjustments issues that are encountered, and a general explanation of invisible wounds of war and how they may affect the student. You can find the course here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/va-campus-toolkit 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode, we’re recognizing the 10 year anniversary of PsychArmor with a conversation with the founder of PsychArmor, Marjorie Morrison, who is currently the CEO and Co-Founder of Psych Hub.About Today’s GuestMarjorie Morrison is the president and CEO of Psych Hub, the premier online platform for impactful and engaging learning on mental health topics. A visionary and passionate pioneer in the mental health space, Marjorie co-founded Psych Hub with Patrick J. Kennedy in 2018 with a focused goal to combat both quality and access issues in behavioral health. Psych Hub certifies behavioral health providers into specialties using evidence-based interventions, allowing for more precision therapy with companion treatment tools for their patients. The Mental Health Ally Platform provides a host of eLearning opportunities for the layperson to learn how to assist those in need. Psych Hub’s public video library for people seeking to learn more about some of our Nation’s most vexing mental health challenges have had over three million views on their YouTube channel. Psych Hub is currently developing a registry of certified providers in specialty areas, making it easier to match those seeking treatment from a provider who has been trained to treat their diagnosis or symptoms. Psych Hub has over 700 partners that share their mental health resources touching every state in the US and every continent on the planet.Prior to launching Psych Hub, Marjorie was the founder and CEO of PsychArmor Institute, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, committed to bridging the military-civilian divide by developing, promoting, and distributing free online courses spanning a wide range of topics important to those who serve military service members and their families. Under her leadership, PsychArmor flourished and is now widely recognized as the trusted and leading expert for “Best-in-Class” resources regarding the understanding of and solutions to complex and unique military veteran issues. To date, PsychArmor has trained over one million people, gaining over 500 partners along the way. Marjorie’s focus on supporting members of the military and their communities was first developed in the field, after she spent a year writing and implementing a revolutionary proactive counseling program for the U.S. Marines. After working with 500 Marine drill instructors, her innovative program continued at Camp Pendleton, where she had access to hundreds of Marines to interview, work with, and learn from. This implementation research was utilized to create a groundbreaking solution to approach military mental health care. Marjorie is a CA Licensed Marriage Family Therapist, a CA Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, a PPS-credentialed School Psychologist, and the author of The Inside Battle: Our Military Mental Health Crisis. As a renowned subject matter expert, she has been featured numerous times by national media giants such as BBC, NBC, FOX, CBS, CNN, and NPR, along with being a contributing writer for multiple outlets including TIME, Newsweek, The Daily Beast, and Huffington Post. Morrison has received numerous awards for her advocacy and leadership. She is a native of California who currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee and is the mother of three adult children. Links Mentioned In This EpisodePsychArmor: Who We ArePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor course: The Myths and Facts of Military Leaders.This course identifies four of the most popular myths about military leaders and how they don’t align with the reality of working alongside Veterans and Service members. You can see find the course here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/The-Myths-and-Facts-of-Military-Leaders 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Shawn Moore, the Financial Wellness program Manager for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and founder of Caregivers on the Homefront, both roles where she is passionate about advocating for military and veteran caregivers. About Today’s GuestsShawn Moore serves as the Program Manager, Financial Wellness for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation where she supports financial and employment related initiatives, to include the Employer Task Force and emergency financial relief offerings. Shawn is an Alumna 2017 Dole Caregiver Fellow for Missouri, and has also assisted with the Foundation’s Respite Relief program.Prior to becoming a caregiver to her husband who served for 23 years in the U.S. Army, Shawn served as a police officer for nearly 15 years with Kansas City, Missouri. She then obtained a Master of Social Work degree from Park University and is a Licensed Master Social Worker in both Missouri. Prior to joining the Foundation, Shawn founded Caregivers on the Homefront where she stood up for mental health programming for veteran and military caregivers and their children.Shawn is passionate about advocating for military and veteran caregivers and utilizes both her lived experience and education by presenting to national audiences on how communities can best support the family members of our veterans. She has served on panels with the Veterans Administration, presented with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the National Alliance of Caregiving, and has shared her story on PBS News Hours, TODAY Show, and MSNBC.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeElizabeth Dole FoundationEDF Hope Fund for Critical Financial AssistanceCaregivers on the HomefrontPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s 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 see find the course here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/va-save-preventing-caregiver-suicide 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Rosie Gagnon, a military spouse and mother who is running 100 one-hundred mile ultramarathons to raise awareness about military and veteran suicide prevention after losing her son, USMC PFC James Dexter Morris, to suicide in 2018. About Today’s GuestsNanette Rosie Gagnon is a military spouse, mother of 8, sheep farmer, artist, beekeeper, and ultramarathon runner residing in Berryville Virginia, After losing her oldest son, PFC James Dexter Morris to suicide on Feb 25, 2018, she began running 100-mile ultramarathons in his memory and has set out to complete 100 100s for veteran suicide awareness.Links Mentioned In This Episode1 Hundred 100s For Dexter Facebook Page1 Hundred 100s for Dexter Web SiteWarrior 100 ChallengePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis 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/finding-stability-after-suicide-loss   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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn 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 ToolkitAbout Today’s GuestDr. 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 EpisodeCohen Veterans Network Web SiteCVN Measurement Based Care ToolkitPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode, we’re featuring a conversation about suicide prevention with representatives of The Fire Watch, a state-wide suicide prevention program in Florida that provides training to community members about how to identify and support service members and veterans who may be at risk for suicide. My guests today are Nick Howland, a Navy Veteran and CEO of The Fire Watch, and Ryan Haczynski, a suicide loss survivor and Citizen Watch Stander with The Fire Watch program. About Today’s GuestsNick Howland is Executive Director 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, and in 2022, he was elected to the Jacksonville City Council, At Large Group 3, serving all of Duval County. Ryan Haczynski is a former educator who spent two decades in the classroom impacting the lives of others. He now leads a small team as the Director of Protocol Relations at Lucky Friday Labs, a blockchain infrastructure provider in the Web3 industry. He has both former and current military members in his family, and serves as a Citizen Watch Stander with The Fire Watch organization. Links Mentioned In This EpisodeThe Fire Watch Web SiteWatch Stander Training ProgramPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the one of the many PsychArmor courses that support education related to suicide, the PsychArmor course Suicide in Military Members & Veterans. Dr. Craig Bryan provides an overview of military suicide statistics and explains unique factors that may be related to increased rates in military suicide.You can  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. 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn 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 GuestLindsay 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 EpisodeMinority Vets WebsitePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis 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-dortchThis 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryMilitary 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 GuestElizabeth 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 MilitarySpouse 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 issuesimpacting 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 25thInfantry 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 EpisodeHiring Our Heroes websiteHoH Military Spouse Resources Military Spouse Fellowship ProgramPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn 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 GuestArmy 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 EpisodeWounded Warrior Project Web SiteWounded Warrior Project ProgramsWounded Warrior Project Veteran Peer Support GroupsWomen Warriors Initiative SurveyVeterans and PTSD: Understanding Causes, Signs, Symptoms, and TreatmentPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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.Prod...

Show SummaryOn 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 GuestOn 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 EpisodeWounded Warrior Project Web SiteWounded Warrior Project ProgramsWounded Warrior Project Veteran Peer Support GroupsPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis 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-seriesThis 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn 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 isolationAbout 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 EpisodeNorthwell Behavioral Health Unified Behavioral Health Center for Military Veterans and their FamiliesHidden Helpers Facilitator GuideHidden Helpers Participant JournalPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn 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 GuestJustin 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 EpisodeFace the Fight WebsitePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn 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 CrossAs 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 EpisodeAmerican Red Cross WebsiteAmerican Red Cross Hero Care AppRed Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver NetworkRed Cross Volunteer OpportunitiesPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn 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 EpisodeVHA LGBTQ+ Health ProgramLGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator LocatorVHA TrainPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn 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 EpisodeK9s For Warriors Web SitePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn 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 EpisodeSoldier On WebsitePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with Lori Adams, the Veterans Policy Director and National Labor Exchange Senior Advisor with the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, the national organization representing all 50 state workforce agencies, D.C. and U.S. territories. These agencies deliver training, employment, career, business and wage and hour services, in addition to administering the unemployment insurance, veteran reemployment and labor market information programs. About Today’s Guest Lori Adams is NASWA’s Veterans Policy Director and National Labor Exchange (NLx) Senior Advisor. Her duties include coordinating activities of the NASWA Veterans Affairs Committee, working with state veteran representatives as well as US Department of Labor Veterans Employment & Training Service (USDOL VETS), planning the agency’s annual Veterans’ conference, promoting awareness of the National Labor Exchange, and managing NASWA’s partnerships with Hilton Honors and Grow with Google. She joined NASWA in 2015 after 26 years with Iowa Workforce Development, where she was a case manager, Regional Manager, Bureau Chief and Division Administrator/Workforce Services. As Division Administrator, she was responsible for program and service oversight at all of the state’s American Job Centers. Lori has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State University, and is a Certified Public Manager. Links Mentioned In This EpisodeNASWA Web SiteU.S. National Labor ExchangePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is PsychArmor course, Using The National Labor Exchange To Find Veterans To Hire. In this course, employers will learn how to utilize the national labor exchange to amplify their online recruiting strategy, gain access to special talent pipelines, and how to utilize other trusted partners to reach the maximum number of job seekers.  You can see find this episode here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Using-the-National-Labor-Exchange-to-Find-Veterans-to-Hire 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn 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 EpisodeLA County Department of Military and Veterans AffairsBob Hope Patriotic HallPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this Bonus Episode of Behind the Mission, we join with wear blue: run to remember to share stories of active remembrance in support of the annual wear blue: run to remember Memorial Day Run, a nation-wide event happening in-person in communities across the country and virtually.  About Today’s Guest On 9 March 2010, wear blue: run to remember was founded following the redeployment of 5-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team to their home station of Joint Base Lewis McChord. While deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the 1-17 Infantry Battalion, Buffalos, sustained significant combat losses and casualties. During that deployment, a small group of 5-2 wives and battalion staff met weekly to run, creating a support network for one another during this challenging and heartbreaking deployment. wear blue co-founder and current Executive Director, Lisa Hallett, lost her husband, CPT John Hallett, when he and three other soldiers were killed on August 25, 2009, while returning from a goodwill mission in Southern Afghanistan. The Hallett children were young when John was killed - 3 years, 1 year, and only three weeks old. John never met his youngest child. A lifelong runner, Lisa turned to running and community to navigate this incredibly difficult time, and work through her grief and loss.When the brigade returned, Lisa and fellow Army wife, Erin O’Connor, turned this small group into a nationwide organization that now helps thousands across the country heal from the devastating effects of the loss of a military loved one.The original wear blue runners wore blue Buffalo PT (physical training) shirts when they were running together while their spouses were deployed from 2009-2010. Blue shirts are now worn as a tribute to the  5-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team.When an individual dons a wear blue: run to remember shirt, they are indicating their support of our service members, veterans, and their families, and their commitment to ensuring that our fallen service members will always be remembered.Today, wear blue honors all members of the military  who pass away while in service and has evolved into a powerful network of currently serving, veterans, military families, Gold Star and surviving families, and community members.Links Mentioned In This Episodewear blue: run to remember Web SiteMemorial Day Run Web Site 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with Army Veteran Phyllis Wilson, President of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation. We talk about the important contributions of women in the U.S. Military and the Military Women’s Memorial in Arlington, Virginia About Today’s Guest Phyllis Wilson served 37 years in the Army as a Military Intelligence (MI) Voice Intercept Operator. She has served around the globe – visiting more than 35 countries – in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and North America.She has been mobilized numerous times to shoulder the duties of defense of the nation and has deployed to Iraq several times as an Intelligence Analyst with Special Operations.Chief Warrant Officer Five Phyllis J. Wilson served as the most senior Warrant Officer in the entire United States Army Reserve, and a key member of the Executive Team managing an organization of more than 200,000 personnel with an annual operating budget of more than $8 Billion.She was a Senior Military Fellow with the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Strategic Studies Group focused on Global issues 2050 and beyond.Phyllis is a Registered Nurse and holds two Master’s degrees, two Bachelor of Science degrees, and a certificate in Non-Profit Management from Duke University. She attended the Defense Language Institute for both German and Spanish. She is a graduate of the Program in Advanced Security Studies at the George C. Marshall Center and School in Garmisch, Germany. She has received numerous military decorations and awards ranging from the Legion of Merit to the Army Parachutist Badge. She has been inducted into the Army Women’s Foundation Hall of Fame and the U.S. Veterans Hall of Fame.She is President of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation – the only major national memorial honoring the 3 million women who have defended America from the Revolutionary War to today. The Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, has appointed her to the Reserve Forces Policy Board. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Policy Vets and the Association of the United States Army (AUSA). She is also a Senior Fellow at AUSA. Phyllis serves as an Army Reserve Ambassador for Maryland which is afforded the rights, privileges, and protocol status equivalent to that of a 2-Star General Officer.Phyllis is a member of The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Order of the World Wars, Association of the United States Army, Association of the United States Navy, Women Marines Association, Reserve Organization of America, Military Women Across the Nation, Army Women Veterans Association, Military Officers Association of America, Disabled American Veterans, Air Force Association, U.S. Army Warrant Officers Association, the Mayflower Society, the Daughters of the American Revolution, National Defense Industrial Association, and Women In Defense.In March 2020, Phyllis was named a Power Player of the Week on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace. View the video Here.She has eight children. Four of her sons are in the military and all are combat veterans. She has fifteen grandchildren and one on the way – October 2023!Links Mentioned In This EpisodeMilitary Women’s Memorial Web SitePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor course, Women Who Serve. This course is an overview of the contributions women have made to our military forces. This course is intended for those who want to better understand women's role in our military.  You can see find this episode here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/women-who-serveThis 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with Angela Johnson, Founder and Executive Director of Valor Village, a program that provides no cost overnight lodging, resources, and peer support to loved ones who have traveled to Southeastern Virginia to visit an incarcerated veteran. About Today’s Guest Angela Johnson is the founder and Executive Director of Valor Village™ Foundation, the nation’s first Justice Staytion®, providing no-cost overnight lodging, resources, and peer support to loved ones who have traveled to southeastern Virginia to visit an incarcerated veteran. Her vision, turned reality, empowers family members and justice-involved veterans to maintain their critical connections to promote wellness and reduce vulnerability to recidivism.As the mother of a formerly incarcerated disabled Army veteran, Angela is proximate to and impassioned by her work as a social justice leader. She brings a wealth of expertise and a record of accomplishment from having served in previous roles as Washington Bureau Research Manager, Sr. Research Analyst, and Sr. Project Manager for major news outlets and non-partisan advocacy enterprises.Planning and executing the delivery of state and federal policy news and resources to consumer audiences solidified her devotion to creating solutions that address complex human rights and social justice issues through education and engagement. Angela has led a technology team to ensure proper communication capabilities for war correspondents embedded with military units in Afghanistan and Iraq. She has conducted primary research supporting groundbreaking exclusive reports and studies. Throughout her career, Angela has informed the public about issues that impact our liberty and quality of life. She believes that indifference to America's failure to right the criminal justice system, and the harm that results from not doing so, can progressively be eliminated through compassion created by collective knowledge. She holds a Master of Science degree in Information Science from CUNY at Queens College and certifications in diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership, project management, and business process management.Her professional awards include a Pulitzer Prize for her contribution to spot news reporting, social impact innovation awards, and a Publisher’s award. She is a Prison Fellowship Justice Ambassador and an active member of several regional collaborative community councils, including the Reentry Council’s Veterans Justice Subcommittee.Angela is also an active team member on the home front, enjoying new adventures with and learning lots from her husband, three children, and grandkids.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeValor Village Web SiteThe Veterans Justice Commission Web sitePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is Episode 52 of the Behind The Mission Podcast featuring Scott Tirocchi, the Division Director for Justice for Vets. In this episode, you can learn more about supporting veterans in the criminal legal system and learn about Justice for Vets, the nation's leading organization advancing the importance of veteran treatment courts as programs to support these veterans. You can see find this episode here: https://psycharmor.org/podcast/scott-tirocchi 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with Dr. Georgine Nanos, a board-certified family physician and the owner of the Kind Health Group. Dr. Nanos is a provider of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive and non-medicinal procedure that has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD in military, veteran, and first responder clients. About Today’s Guest Dr. Georgine Nanos, MD, MPH is a board-certified family physician and the owner of Kind Health Group, a concierge primary care and accelerated TMS practice in the setting of a luxury medspa in Encinitas, California. Dr. Nanos holds a Bachelor's Degree from Colgate University, a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Boston University, and a Doctor of Medicine Degree from George Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Nanos has been practicing medicine for over 20 years in San Diego and has expertise in treating a wide range of medical conditions in patients of all ages. She has been awarded and recognized by her peers as a Top Doctor of San Diego for over ten years. She also serves as the medical director of Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa and is a medical contributor to numerous local and national TV, radio, and print media outlets. Dr. Nanos is passionate about the power of preventive health and has recently been recognized for her work with Accelerated TMS, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, for the treatment of anxiety and depression. Dr. Nanos is committed to promoting health and wellness and empowering everyone to take an active role in their own healthcare.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeKind Health GroupAbout TMS (Kind Health Group)International Clinical TMS SocietyStanford Protocol for TMSPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the course Invisible Wounds at Home: Understanding Invisible Wounds. In this course, you will learn about four of the unseen wounds of military service, and be introduced to our series that includes specific courses on myths and facts about PTSD, Depression, TBI and Substance Use Disorder  You can see find this episode here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/invisible-wounds-at-home-understanding-invisible-wounds 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with Marine Corps Combat Veteran Dante' Bickham, Illustrator of PsychArmor's Military Culture Course Series sponsored by Comcast About Today’s Guest After transitioning from service, Marine Corps combat Veteran Dante Bickham got a degree in graphic design and animation, but he was truly an illustrator at heart. “When I was in college, my instructor would say that Illustrator should always be the title behind my name,” says Bickham. Working on the PsychArmor military culture series put him in the role of illustrator for the first time, allowing him to do what he loved, as well as reference his time in the military, drawing on photos and memories of friends as he worked to bring the service members to life. It was also a stress reliever for him around his day job as a graphic design instructor and the stress of buying and moving into a new home. “It helped remind me of the hard work that I had put into the military.” The courses were accurate in their descriptions and character depictions, says Bickham. “I could tell that Veterans were involved in the scripting.”Links Mentioned In This EpisodeDante’ Bickham on InstagramPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the military culture category of training on PsychArmor’s Website. This category contains eleven different courses that include 15 Things videos highlighting veterans, military and veteran children, and caregivers, as well as facts about wounded warriors, women in the military, and military leaders.  You can see find this episode here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/collections/military-culture This Episode Sponsored By: This episode is sponsored by Comcast. Comcast creates incredible technology and entertainment that connects millions of people to the moments and experiences that matter most. You can find more about how they support the military affiliated population by going to https://corporate.comcast.com/impact/military Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with Stephanie Brown, CEO and Founder of The Rosie Network, an organization that serves, supports and empowers active duty, veteran, and military spouse entrepreneurs.  About Today’s Guest Stephanie Brown, CEO and Founder, The Rosie Network CEO and Co-Founder, U.S. Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce Stephanie is a nationally recognized leader and sought after subject matter expert on military entrepreneurship. As CEO and Founder of The Rosie Network, Stephanie has been featured on numerous national news channels, including FOX Business, CBS and NPR. She has also been featured in Woman's Day Magazine, Business Insider, The New York Times, Military Families Magazine and U.S. Veterans Magazine, to name a few. She is the widow of retired Admiral Thomas Brown (SEAL) and the daughter of an Air Force Vietnam veteran. Stephanie has dedicated over 20 years to supporting and advocating on behalf of military families, and veterans. Some of her awards include: ·      Department of the Army, Civilian Service Commendation Medal ·      2019 Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year, Small Business Administration Innovator of the Year, Our City San Diego ·      Small Business Owner of the Year, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce ·      Top 10 Most Influential Military Spouse Business Owners, Business Insider ·      HillVets 100 Award ·      U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Military Times 50 Business Leaders Making a Difference, San Diego Business Journal ·      500 Most Influential Leaders, San Diego Business Journal Stephanie is a member of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Military Community and Family Policy, Spouse Ambassador Network and Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP). She leads the Military Spouse Entrepreneur Task Force working with DoD leaders to empower military spouse business owners and budding entrepreneurs to launch and grow small businesses with confidence and clarity. Stephanie is a founding affiliate partner of the Coalition of Veteran Owned Business (CVOB) alongside Billion Dollar Roundtable companies, and is the Chairperson of the Military Affairs Committee for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. She has also served on the Board of Advisors for California Department of Veterans Affairs, CalVet and Veteran Launch, CDFI. In January of 2021, Stephanie co-founded the first U.S. Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce (MSCC) and serves as CEO. She was instrumental in developing the first industry-standard Military Spouse-Owned Enterprise Certification (MSEC) and on-boarding corporations such as USAA, Johnson & Johnson, CVS Heath and Disney committed to doing business with certified military spouse-owned businesses.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeRosie Network Web SitePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the Behind the Mission podcast episode 91 featuring Jamie Chapman talking about the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce. In that episode, you will hear about the organization that works to ensure that all active duty and veteran military spouses have the tools and resources they need to strengthen their families, communities, and the economy. You can see find this episode here: https://psycharmor.org/podcast/jaime-chapman  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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with Danitza “Dee” James, a U.S. Army Combat Veteran and CEO of Repatriate Our Patriots, an organization that focuses on bridging the gaps for the repatriation of deported servicemembers and their reintegration back into the United States.   About Today’s Guests DANITZA G. JAMES, M.S.W.Danitza “Dee” James is the Executive Director at Repatriate Our Patriots (ROP). A U.S. Army Combat Veteran, military spouse and a passionate Macro Social Worker specializing in Military Programs & Policy. Dee Immigrated to Yuma, AZ from Mexico in 1996 where she learned English and graduated high school before joining the U.S. Army in June 2001.Dee graduated from The University of Southern California (USC) with a Masters in Social Work. Dee is a first-generation graduate with over 15 years of experience working with servicemembers, military families, wounded veterans, and families of the fallen in the non-profit and federal government. Dee is married to Retired U.S. Army Combat Veteran, Sergeant Major Jade M.W. James.Dee served on active duty for six years and completed two combat tours to Iraq in 2003 and 2005 where she served as an M2. 50 caliber machine gunner conducting escort missions for civilian contractors thorough Iraq. Her military career and journey have fueled her passion to help servicemembers and their families on every aspect of military life and civilian transition.Dee volunteers as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Repatriate Our Patriots, a 501c3 non-profit organization that focuses on bridging the gaps for the repatriation of deported servicemembers and their reintegration back into the United States. As a servicemember who served as a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) who was not able to obtain Citizenship while in service due to deployments and training, Dee’s short-term goal is to stop future deportations and bring home those in exile.Dee’s passion lies within, Human Rights Advocacy, Mental Health, Prevention and Repatriation of Deported Veterans, Suicide Prevention, Sexual Assault & Harassment Prevention. Her passion extends to the development and advocacy of programs, policy and legislation that impact the military community. Dee was instrumental in the passing of The Brandon Caserta Act and the lobbying and introduction of key articles of the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that will begin the work on how Military Sexual Assault & Harassment cases are handled in the Military.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeRepatriate Our Patriots Web sitePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the Behind the Mission podcast episode 52 featuring Scott Tirocchi, Veteran Courts and the organization Justice for Vets. In this episode, we talk about the importance of veteran treatment courts and the need to support justice involved veterans.  You can see find this course here: https://psycharmor.org/podcast/scott-tirocchi 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with Dr. Rajeev Ramchand, Co-Director of the RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute and a member of the Department of Defense Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee  About Today’s Guest Rajeev Ramchand, Ph.D., is codirector of the RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute and a senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation. He studies the prevalence, prevention, and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders in adolescents, service members and veterans, and minority populations. He has conducted research on suicide and suicide prevention including environmental scans of suicide prevention programs, epidemiologic studies on risk factors for suicide, qualitative research with suicide loss survivors, and evaluations of suicide prevention programs. He has also developed freely available tools to help organizations to evaluate their own suicide prevention programs. In 2022, he was appointed by the Secretary of Defense to serve as a member of the Department of Defense Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee. He has testified on suicide prevention before the United States Senate, House of Representatives, and California State Senate. He hold a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Chicago and a PhD in psychiatric epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Links Mentioned In This EpisodeRAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research InstituteInvisible Wounds of War ProjectPreventing Suicide in the U.S. Military: Recommendations from the Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review CommitteePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the the PsychArmor course Helping Others Hold On. Compared to the civilian population, suicide rates among the military and Veterans is very high. This series of lessons help to give tools and tips to recognize, understand, and combat suicidal feelings in Veterans. You can see find this course here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/helping-others-hold-on 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with Emily Bader, Senior Director of Investments for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, an organization with a mission to find, fund, shape, and accelerate equitable solutions that help service members, veterans, their families, and their caregivers to thriveAbout Today’s Guests Emily Bader, Senior Director of InvestmentsEmily Bader is actively involved in finding, funding, and shaping grants made to nonprofits that address the needs of post-9/11 veterans, service members, military families, and caregivers. Emily received her master’s degree in Near Eastern Studies at New York University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. John’s University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice, a concentration in Forensic Psychology, and minors in International Studies and Philosophy.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeBWF Research ReportsBob and Lee Woodruff’s BookThe Bob Woodruff Foundation’s VIVA ProgramThe Got Your Six NetworkPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the the PsychArmor course, Sustaining Momentum, narrated by Bob Woodruff, journalist and co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. This course examines how the eco-cycle model of collaboration can help partners understand the collaborative process and plan for sustainability together. You can see find this episode here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/sustaining-momentum 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode of Behind the Mission, highlight an upcoming special event, The War Horse Symposium, presented by the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and The War Horse News on April 6th 2023. Joining us for the conversation is Thomas Brennan, Founder of the War Horse News, and Valerie Suttee, a 35-Year Marine Corps Spouse and 2022 War Horse FellowAbout Today’s Guests Thomas Brennan is the founder of The War Horse, Thomas Brennan is the founder of The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit newsroom exploring the human impact of military service. He served as a Marine infantryman in Iraq and Afghanistan before studying investigative reporting at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. His reporting has appeared in Vanity Fair, the Center for Investigative Reporting, and on the front page of The New York Times. Thomas has received two Fourth Estate Awards, three Edward R. Murrow Awards, and the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Journalism Award. Valerie Suttee is a librarian, writer, and 35-year Marine Corps spouse. She has experience as an enlisted and officer wife, where she navigated the complexities of 16 relocations and 5 deployments, the employment challenges as a military spouse, and the realities of raising children during 20 years of war. Suttee is passionate about sharing stories that help to bridge the military and civilian divide by showcasing the daily lives of military spouses and families. Suttee has a master's degree in library science from Texas Woman's University and was a 2022 War Horse Fellow. She is the author of the essay, Resilient Is a Label for Military Kids That Absolves a Nation of Further Reflection.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeWarhorse SymposiumThe Warhorse WebsiteValerie Suttee’s LinkedIn ProfileValerie Suttee Essay: Resilient is a Label for Military Kid That Absolves a Nation of Further ReflectionPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the previous podcast episode with Thomas talking more about the need for military and veteran voices in the media, episode 46. In that episode, Thomas talks about his background and The War Horse, the award-winning nonprofit newsroom and that specializes as a source for impactful reporting on the human impact of military service. You can see find this episode here: https://psycharmor.org/podcast/thomas-brennan 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode of Behind the Mission, we share the third episode in our series on the work of Task Force Movement, an effort to improve our nation’s economy and national security by creating opportunities for synergy between industry and military communities. Our guest for this episode is Dan Kunze, Vice Chairman of Task Force MovementAbout Today’s GuestDan Kunze is a leading voice in developing enterprise strategy and policy, enterprise technology, talent management, and policy efforts that support our future workforce and warfighting demands. He currently works in support of the Department of Defense involving Enterprise Software and Digital Transformation driving enterprise modernization. His prior experience includes working with Fortune 500 organizations across industries, enabling them to drive and deliver outcomes in enterprise technology, Pivotal Software working with Defense Agencies to deliver modern software practices, and has worked closely with Federal and State policy makers to shape policy related to modern enterprise technology and talent management demands. Kunze serves on the Board of USO Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is a member of the Association of the US Army Board Philadelphia and is a Board Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters in both Middle Tennessee and Philadelphia’s Independence Region. He currently serves as an Officer in the United States Army Reserve. As a Soldier, Kunze’s work has focused on workforce and talent management innovation. Dan graduated from Montgomery County Community College, Temple University, Widener University – Delaware Law School. He has also earned a certificate at MIT’s Sloan School of Management for Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business course. Dan is married to his high school sweetheart, Kerrin, and they have 3 kids under 5.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeTask Force MovementDan Kunze on LinkedInPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the other two episodes in this series, our conversation with former Pennsylvania congressman and the 32th Undersecretary of the Army, Patrick J. Murphy on episode 105, and our conversation with the Senior Advisor of Communications and Public Relations for Task Force Movement, Liz Belcaster on episode 109. All three of these episodes provides a comprehensive introduction to the efforts of Task Force Movement, and task force cyber, and will be linked in the show notes.  You can see find these episodes here:  Episode 105: https://psycharmor.org/podcast/honorable-patrick-j-murphy-task-force-movement-and-task-force-cyber    Episode 109: https://psycharmor.org/podcast/elizabeth-belcaster    This Episode Sponsored By: This episode is sponsored by Comcast. Comcast creates incredible technology and entertainment that connects millions of people to the moments and experiences that matter most. You can find more about how they support the military affiliated population by going to https://corporate.comcast.com/impact/military Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode of Behind the Mission, feature a conversation with Adrienne Sherk, Army Veteran and Associate Vice President with Unite Us, a technology platform that is working to create an efficient system of care within the community to improve health and social support.About Today’s GuestAdrienne Sherk is the Senior Director of Community-Based Organization Partnerships at Unite Us. In her role, she focuses on building strategic relationships with national organizations offering communities critical services. Before joining Unite Us, Adrienne spent time at Salesforce, Team Red, White & Blue, and the U.S. Army, where she served as a platoon leader and executive officer in Iraq and Ft. Hood, TX. Adrienne holds a BS from the United States Military Academy at West Point and will begin the Master of Public Health program at George Washington University in the fall of 2022. Additionally, Adrienne serves as the executive sponsor of the Veteran Employee Resource Group for Unite Us. She resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two children. Links Mentioned In This EpisodeUnite Us WebsitePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor course, Why Collaboration is So Important in Supporting Military Members, Veterans, Their Families, and CaregiversThis 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 the link to this resource 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 SummaryOn this episode of Behind the Mission, we continue a series sponsored by Comcast featuring a look at Task Force Movement, a national effort to bring transitioning service members, veterans, military families, and industry stakeholders together to improve economic and national security outcomes. Today’s guest is Liz Belcaster, Senior advisor of Communications and Public Relations for Task Force Movement.About Today’s GuestElizabeth Murray-Belcaster is the President of EMB Consultants, Inc. Leading initiatives for Veterans’ and military families, Belcaster is an expert in strategic development of training to placement efforts across the country and an advisor for leadership and coalition building. She is responsible for networking with employers, military partners, and legislators as well as building independent partnerships with labor affiliates and with veteran’s service organizations across the country. She served as Task Force Committee member and lead panelist for the American Legion National Licensing and Credentialing Summits and continues to drive industry stakeholders, governing agencies, labor unions and military affiliations in collective spaces to further advance programming and policy for service members across the globe. Belcaster specializes in development of Military Training to Placement efforts with military leadership, industry, labor, academia and regulatory agencies and stakeholders across the country.She’s had concurrent experience directing political campaign initiatives for the offices of Governor, State and National Congress, Senate, Aldermanic, and regional judicial positions. She has presented at the Clinton Global Initiative and has served as a board member on the Women For Wounded Warriors Foundation since 2016, and is a past recipient of United States Field Artillery Associations, The Order of Saint Barbara award.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeTask Force Movement WebsiteTask Force Movement for CybersecurityPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week previous podcast episode in the series, our conversation with former Pennsylvania congressman and the 32th undersecretary of the army, Patrick J. Murphy. In our conversation, Mr. Murphy provided an overview of Task Force Movement and the efforts that the White House are making to impact this critical issue.  You can find the link to this resource here: https://psycharmor.org/podcast/honorable-patrick-j-murphy-task-force-movement-and-task-force-cyber This Episode Sponsored By: This episode is sponsored by Comcast. Comcast creates incredible technology and entertainment that connects millions of people to the moments and experiences that matter most. You can find more about how they support the military affiliated population by going to https://corporate.comcast.com/impact/military Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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  

Episode Summary: On today's episode, we're featuring a conversation with Gold Star spouse Lisa Hallett and wear blue: run to remember, an organization that strives to honor the service and sacrifice of the American military through active remembrance.About Today’s GuestLisa Hallett is the President and Co-Founder of wear blue: run to remember.  On August 25, 2009, Lisa’s husband, CPT John Hallett, was killed when his Stryker was attacked with an improvised explosive device in southern Afghanistan.  Surviving the loss of her husband, best friend, and father of her three young children, Lisa turned to running.  An avid runner, she soon found a community that needed the same kind of support that running gave her.  Creating wear blue gave Lisa a healthy outlet for her grief and a path to move forward, and she’s committed to sharing that with others.  Lisa has an M.Ed.T. from University of Hawaii and a B.A. in English Literature from University of California- Santa Barbara.  She completed dozens of ultramarathons and has set a full marathon PR of 3:28:00.  Lisa has completed seven Ironman races, to include the Ironman World Championships.  Lisa and her three young children reside in DuPont, WA.  They are moving forward and loving life, honoring John with every step. Links Mentioned In This Episodewear blue WebsiteSaturday RunsPiestawa ChallengePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor course, Grief and Trauma. Dr. Shauna Springer explains that grief and trauma are different challenges — and that they require different healing strategies. You can find the link to this resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/grief-and-trauma  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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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  

Episode Summary: On today's episode, we're featuring a conversation with Navy Veteran Alex Krongard, CEO of The COMMIT Foundation. The COMMIT Foundation seeks to provide high touch transition support so veterans in all communities can access services helping them identify their passions, build strong networks, and leverage their skills in civilian careers.About Today’s GuestAlex Krongard is currently the Chief Executive Officer of The COMMIT Foundation. The COMMIT Foundation empowers service members, veterans, and their families through personalized programs, resources, and the support of our community to create purposeful and fulfilling transitions.Alex grew up outside Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated from Princeton University with a degree in English Literature. He currently lives in San Diego, California. Alex is a 1985 graduate of Princeton University with a degree in English Literature. He served 31 years in the U.S. Navy, the majority of that time in Joint Special Operations, Naval Special Warfare, and the SEAL Teams. He was a distinguished graduate of the National War College in 2005. After retiring from the military, he worked as an Investment Banker with DC Advisory in their San Francisco office.Alex served in the United States NAVY from 1985-2016. He served primarily in joint special operations commands and the Navy SEAL Teams. He served at SEAL Teams 1,2 and 7 as well as at the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He was the first commanding officer at SEAL Team 7. He later commanded Naval Special Warfare Group 1, with responsibility for the four west coasts SEAL Teams and associated logistics and support units.  Alex later was a counterterrorism director on the National Security Council staff in Washington, D.C., deputy commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa in Djibouti, and in his final tour, Deputy Operations Officer for the U.S. Africa Command.  Alex retired in September 2016, as a Rear Admiral, Lower Half.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeThe COMMIT Foundation WebsiteSerendipity Research ArticleSeeking Serendipity Blog PostEmail AlexPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor course, Creating a Military Friendly Culture and Onboarding Program. This course provides information and resources necessary for businesses to begin their military recruitment campaign, including mobilizing efforts to hire and retain Veterans and their spouses. You can find the link to this resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Creating-a-Military-Friendly-Culture-and-Onboarding-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.Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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  

Episode Summary: On today's episode, we're featuring a conversation with Navy Veteran Jason Loughran, Assistant Commissioner of Community Affairs with the New York City Department of Veteran Services. About Today’s GuestJason Loughran is a veteran of the US Navy and is currently serving as Assistant Commissioner of Community Affairs for DVS.Before joining DVS, Jason served as an Adjudication Specialist at the US Department of State where he collaborated with local and federal agencies on legal and regulatory provisions governing U.S. citizenship, nationality, and visas.His career in public service began with positions at the New York State Assembly and the US Department of Homeland Security before moving on to the State Department.Jason deployed to the Helmand Province of Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2010. He holds a BS in Homeland Security from St. John's University and an Executive MPA from the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College. Jason was selected for the 2019 Baruch College Alumni Association Leadership in Public Service Award.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeNew York City Department of Veteran ServicesNYC DVS on TwitterVet Connect NYCPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor course, Collaborative Table: Who To Invite and How To Engage. An important aspect in support of and care for service members, Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors involves collaboration between individuals and organizations at the community level. It is a collective responsibility that no single organization can bear alone You can find the link to this resource here: 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.Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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  

Episode SummaryOn this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with former Congressman and 32nd Under Secretary of the Army, the Honorable Patrick J. Murphy and his work to support increasing the transportation and cybersecurity workforce with Task Force Movement and Task Force CyberAbout Today’s GuestAt age 19, Patrick joined the Army, launching a lifelong commitment to our nation’s military and veterans. Patrick has served as a soldier, America’s first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress, and the 32nd Under Secretary of the Army.Secretary Patrick J. Murphy is a former prosecutor, vetrepreneur, board chairman change agent as the Leading Voice of the 9/11 Generation. America's first Iraq War veteran elected to the U.S. Congress & the 32nd Under Secretary of the US Army, he is now a Wharton Business School lecturer, Emmy award-winning producer, and a senior managing director at Ankura, one of the top management consulting companies in the world.Murphy is also the founder of an Emmy & CLIO award-winning strategic engagement & film production company, Taking the Hill LLC, specializing in gritty military & veteran projects of his 9/11 Generation. Patrick currently lives in Pennsylvania with his two children, Maggie and Jack.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeTask Force Movement WebsiteTask Force Movement for CybersecurityPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week, is the PsychArmor course, Becoming Job Ready, part of the Comcast Internet Essentials course series. With the widespread use of the internet, the job market has changed drastically. What used to be “pounding the pavement” to look for a job has now become “pounding the keyboard”. You can find the link to this resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Becoming-Job-ReadyThis 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 t

About Today’s GuestJason Shockey is the founder of mycyberpath.com and passionate about helping people get into thecybersecurity industry and level up throughout their careers. He is a Chief Information Security Officer in the financial services industry. Prior to his CISO roles, Jason served 20 years active duty in the US Marine Corps as a technology leader conducting cyberspace operations, incident response, and cyber risk management. Three of those years he served with the Cyber NationalMission Force at Ft. Meade, MD. Jason believes there is a place for everyone on the cybersecurity team.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeMy Cyber Path Web sitePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week, is the PsychArmor course, The Job Search. This course provides service members, Veterans, and their families with practical ideas for beginning the job search as well as ways to jumpstart their career by networking and apprenticeships. You can find the link to this resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/The-Job-Search 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 GuestsDr. Heidi KraftHeidi 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 BonarTed 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 HunterDr. 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 EpisodeStack UpVeterans, Suicide Prevention, and Safe Storage Twitch StreamDr. Hunter’s USAFA PageDr. Bonar’s Web PageDr. Kraft’s PsychArmor PageClinical Readiness ProjectBradyPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week, is the PsychArmor ourses 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.  You can find the link to this resource here: 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.Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music ...

About Today’s GuestGregg F. Martin, PhD, Major General, US Army (Retired), served on active duty for 36 years, until May 2015. He is a combat veteran, Bipolar Survivor, Airborne-Ranger-Engineer qualified soldier, and Army Strategist.He holds a Ph.D. and two masters degrees from MIT, masters degrees in national security strategy from both the Army and Naval war colleges, and a bachelors degree from West Point. He commanded an engineer company, battalion, the 130th Engineer Brigade in combat during the first year of the Iraq War in 2003-04, including the attack from Kuwait, up the Euphrates River Valley, to Baghdad and beyond.He served multiple overseas tours, and, as a general officer, commanded the Corps of Engineers Northwest Division, was Commandant of the Army Engineer School, commanded Fort Leonard Wood, was Deputy Commanding General of Third Army/US Army Central, Commandant of the Army War College, President of National Defense University, and Special Assistant to the Chief of Engineers. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (twice), the Bronze Star Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.He is married with three sons, two of whom are Army combat veterans, and one an artist. His daughter in law is also an Army combat veteran. His wife is an “Army brat” and heroine for persevering though their Army career and surviving and overcoming their bipolar ordeal, which has been the toughest fight of their lives. They live in Cocoa Beach, FL, where he is writing, speaking, and sharing his story of “battling bipolar disorder” to help save lives and stop the stigma.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeGeneral Martin’s Web SiteInternational Bipolar Foundation: General Gregg’s CornerPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week, is the PsychArmor course, Bolstering Resilience, part of the Brian Health & Wellness Series sponsored by the Wounded Warrior Project. This mini-course series on resilience, sponsored by Wounded Warrior Project, spotlights five supporting factors that bolster resilience: SMART goals, mental health, nutrition, sleep, and exercise. Each element builds upon a person’s foundation and increases the ability to successfully cope with high levels of stress and pressure. You’ll learn why these supporting pillars are so important to overall well-being, their application in daily life, and how it’s never too late to make a lasting change. You can find the link to this resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/WWP-BHW-bolstering-resilience 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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 GuestAndrew Morton currently serves as part of PsychArmor’s  Strategic Communications team in the role of External Relations.  Andrew is retired Army Infantry Officer with a combined 30 years of service and experience within the military community and veteran employment and transition space.  Since his transition from active-duty Andrew has spent much of the last decade focused on veterans’ employment and transition initiatives across various strategic roles at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).  He has served on various boards and advisory commissions across the Department of Labor, Veterans Services Organizations, and the private sector focused on military community employment, retention, and inclusive work-place practices.  Andrew served in multiple leadership and communications roles during his twenty-one year Infantry and Public Affairs officer career to include Chief of Marketing and Advertising for the Army Reserve, and Chief of Pan-Arabic Media Outreach and Engagement as part of Multi-National Force-Iraq. He continued to serve in multiple communications roles during his time at SHRM building programs focused on breaking down barriers and building connections between the military and employer community.  As contributing author to the late Justin Constantine’s book From We Will to At Will- A Handbook for Veteran Hiring, Transitioning, and Thriving in the Workplace, Andrew and Constantine addressed the challenge of that cultural shift from the military community as well as the mutually-shared responsibility to close that gap in understanding through individual and organizational-level awareness.  Andrew’s first-person journey as soldier and military spouse has also instilled a passion for  behavior and mental health initiatives.  As part of this journey he is completing the final clinical portion of his Masters in Mental Health Counseling from the College of William and Mary serving as a therapist-intern within the Veterans Administration which he will complete in May of 2023.   Andrew lives in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia with his wife Emily, as well as his three children- and a myriad of animals.  Links Mentioned In This EpisodePsychArmor Web SiteH.O.P.E is a Course of Action BlogAndrew Morton on LinkedInPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor resource of the week, is the PsychArmor course, Telling Your Story. A service member’s experience in the military is one that only they can tell and it's up to them how much they choose to share with others. In this course, four veterans share their personal stories and offer insight.  You can find the link to this resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Telling-Your-Story 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 PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur 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