Boots In Transition

If you are like me, you've been frustrated, confused, and often misled by Tricare and their myriad of ever-changing rules. If you have dependents, it seems near impossible to get your children in to see a provider and you pay hand-over-fist in recurring co-pays. The frustration is constant and once you start to figure things out, the rules change again. My guest Susan Reynolds is the founder of the Tricare for Kids Coalition and she has spent years championing military families before Congress and the Senate. Lobbying to fix Tricare is her passion and she has an in-depth understanding of how Tricare works and why, often, it does not meet the needs of the military and veteran community. Join us as we discuss the ins and outs of Tricare and the governing principals behind it and why it is the veteran families that are suffering from a lack of available care. I don't want to post any spoilers, but it will get worse before it gets better! For more information on Tricare For Kids Coalition please visit www.tricare

In this episode, Jeff Baughman of Fort Valor describes some of the beneficial effects of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for veterans and survivors of trauma (PTSD, Sexual Trauma, depression, etc..). Jeff is the Deputy Director at Fort Valor, an infantry veteran, lawyer, and BJJ practitioner and has personal experience with this subject.  We also dig into the value of veterans staying connected to the veteran community as opposed to going it alone, other programs offered by Fort Valor, such as Yoga, a gameroom, job placement support, and a gym, and how Fort Valor is reaching a younger generation of veterans that may not be inclined to join other existing veteran organizations like the American Legion, VFW, AMVETS, etc.  Please enjoy this podcast and feel free to reach the host at chris@bootsintransition.com for any questions, concerns or comments. Fort Valor can be reached via Facebook or at www.fortvalor.org

Art Therapy is a relatively young official form of therapy, though its roots go back to earliest man. It has been depicted in Hollywood and many have a cursory knowledge that it exists, but not what it really is and how it works. It is a particularly useful form of therapy for veterans with depression, PTSD, Family and Marital Issues, and for children. Though we focus on its usefulness to the military community, it has broad applications to nearly anyone, but special utility for those that have difficulty articulating or even self-identifying the cause of their distress.  My guest on this episode is Meghan Bernier, a board certified Art Therapist with loads of experience using Art Therapy with our veteran community, special needs persons, and those with substance abuse challenges. Please check out this conversation and learn what Art Therapy is and how it can help you or someone you care about. Feel free to send questions directly to Meghan at meghan.l.bernier@gmail.com. As always, you can reach me at ch

In February 2019, one day after turning 48, Damian Todd (aka Obi Wan) set a Word Record for the longest consecutive BJJ grapple-thon by fighting 230 consecutive opponents for 5 minute rounds to raise money for R U OK? (www.TFOI.com.au) a non-profit group dedicated to helping veterans battle anxiety, PTSD, Depression, and suicide. Obi is himself a 22-year Royal Marine Commando veteran.  We discuss the motivation and commitment that led him to accomplish such a rigorous test, why mental health is so important to veterans and how RU OK helps veterans. We also discuss how Braziilian Jiu Jitsu helps so many people find equilibrium and clarity during depression and anxiety. We also discuss the growing BJJ scene in Australia and Obi's hopes to top his own world record in the future in Las Vegas.

In this episode, I interview US Army Field Artillery Captain Brendan Tarpey and discuss his post-combat struggles with depression, PTSD, and suicidal ideation. Brendan is a combat veteran with year-long tours in both Iraq (from 04 to 05) and Afghanistan (from 07 to 08). Brendan's mental health issues went untreated for a long period and he did not receive help until after he separated from the military, following a near catastrophic event. This is Brendan's story, unedited and raw. We discuss some heavy issues to include combat, suicidal ideation, and depression. There is mild profanity.

My good friend and deployment teammate Jay Ellison joins us to talk about how he went from a Combat Engineer LTC in the Army to owning and operating Echo Benefit Solutions - a successful insurance business in Tampa, FL. Jay tells us how he successfully applied counterinsurgency fundamentals into his own small business and met with great success - a hint, it involves influence and network analysis. Jay also tells us how he maintains his edge through martial arts and balances his time between his business, personal, and family.

In this episode, John Rafferty with vetsgetjobs.com helps us understand how we can translate our military experience into resume bullets that will get us the actual job interview. Most civilians don't understand the unique language and terms we used in the military, so how do we translate our experiences in a clear and concise way? If you are looking to write your resume - or rewrite it - please check this episode out. My audio was a little off on this recording, but bear with it - John has lots of useful advice.

In this episode, my friend David Roscoe guest hosts an interview with Iris Green, realtor and CEO of Military Home Base. Iris details her own transition from a military spouse and stay-at-home mother to a very successful real estate career and founder/CEO of a rapidly growing start-up catered to help military members PCS and find homes nation-wide. Iris explains what it is like for the family when the service member leaves his/her active duty career. Often we, as service members, don't think about the identity shift the family goes through or the struggles of family members that watch veterans struggle to find their new identity.

In this episode I interview David Roscoe, a former analyst at the 82nd Airborne Division. I learn how David went from being a tactical US Army intelligence analyst to being one of the most influential Defense Intelligence Agency analysts on the Afghan Insurgency at USCENTCOM. If you've ever thought of working at the DIA after your service, please give this episode a listen.