Life After the Uniform

In today's episode, Erin talks with Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC), Mark Jorges. Mark came on to speak on issues he has seen in service-members who transition and the mental health challenges they face related to adjustment, navigating the VA process, and civilian life. 

Mark is a U.S. Army veteran  and saw all of these issues during multiple iterations of military service.  He served in the AD Army, Reserves, and National Guard  and understands the obstacles service members face trying to navigate mental health resources after the military.

Mental Health Resources and Links:
Mental Health/Vocational Rehab:  www.va.gov   
Mental Health/Peer Support/Exercise & Wellness: www.woundedwarriorproject.org
Mental Health: www.heroicheartsfund.org
Physical Wellness/Peer Support:  www.catchaliftfund.org
Hosting AD military and veterans for holiday meals: www.rememberourmilitary.org
Disabled Veterans Advocacy/Support Services: www.dav.org

To connect with Erin:
Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeaftertheuniform
Life After the Uniform Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/ErinSilverPodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/ 

In this episode,  Erin talks with US Army Master Sergeant (Retired), Darrell Williams. I could list Darrell's complete bio and CV, and I'm sure you would be impressed (I will provide a few key highlights below), but what is truly special about Darrell is that he is so much more than his professional accomplishments. He is a mentor in every sense of the word, he is passionate about helping others, and he is a natural leader with integrity who inspires others to do their best. 

Darrell and I talked about a topic that both of us are passionate about - the military transition process. Darrell gave actionable, real world advice on helping service members leave the military and enter the civilian world. If you are getting ready to retire or separate, this is an episode you won't want to miss!

Darrell is the Chief, Military Human Resources for Operations at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). He serves as the human resources senior advisor on all military matters. Previously, Darrell, He was also assigned to the White House Communications Agency (WHCA), where he served as a Human Resources Manager, Operations Lead, and Vice Presidential Communications Officer for over 500 Presidential and Vice Presidential missions. a Master Certified Life Coach and Inspirational Speaker, started Alliance Seminars Coaching as a veteran-owned, faith-based organization that provides keynote speaking, certified workshops, and life coaching services to clients. Darrell provides excellent advice and mentoring for veterans seeking to work with the government and how to find and pursue your purpose.

Career highlights include leading several short notice Presidential missions that included examining the effects of Hurricane Andrew in Florida and Tornado Damage in Arkansas; selection as the Staff Support Unit Manager of the Year; selection as a WHCA All-Star; as well as the White House Communications Agency Senior Manager of the Year. Additionally, he was selected as a DISA Outstanding Mentor and Mission Support Services Team Lead of the Year.
 
 He received numerous professional awards to include the Presidential Service Badge. He is also a recipient of the Lacey B. Ivory Service Award; Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award; the National Louis University Reach Award; and the Strayer University Outstanding Alumni Award for his dedicated leadership in the DoD and community.
 
 He was also inducted into the White House Communications Agency Hall of Fame.

To connect with Darrell:
https://speakerhub.com/speaker/darrell-williams
https://www.allianceseminars.org
https://www.facebook.com/allianceseminars
https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrellwilliams

To connect with Erin:
 Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeaftertheuniform
Life After the Uniform Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/ErinSilverPodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/ 

In today’s episode, Erin talks with Mike Demo. Mike is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran turned CEO. Mike and I got to sit down and just talk about what life was like in the Marines in the early 2000s and how a mental illness misdiagnosis derailed his career. This episode is all about how Mike’s experience impacted his life after separating from the Marine Corps. As many of us know, it’s not an easy or linear path. There are ups and downs, good days and bad, and a misdiagnosis only adds to the stress and confusion of an already difficult situation.

But Mike’s story doesn’t end there. A little over 20 years after enlisting in the Marine Corps, Mike is the host of the Intentional Disruption podcast, a married father of two, and CEO of the Delta Enhancement Group. He is actively looking to help 10 veterans buy into their first business this year and currently has 8 slots remaining.

To connect with Mike:
Website: https://michaeldemo.com/
Intentional Disruption Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/47FU04K0vswiC13kzz9ujg?si=CzUmcaMDR32xuUEg-3dHXg&nd=1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-demo/ 

To connect with Erin:
 Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeaftertheuniform
Life After the Uniform Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/ErinSilverPodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/ 

Today’s episode is for military members still serving, veterans, and military spouses. Do you or your spouse have a mentor?  Someone you can talk to, ask questions, and bounce ideas off of? Someone who understands your situation and can guide you to your next goal? What if I told you that my guest today is part of network that provides this type of support? And what if I told you, it was free?

My guest today is Julianne Maioriello. Julianne is not only a Military and Veteran University Development Counselor with Grand Canyon Univeristy, she is also a mentor for America’s Mentoring Network for the Military – Veterati. Veterati provides free 1-hr mentorship phone calls for Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses with successful professionals. They are the only Veteran Mentorship Platform that lets you choose your own mentors and as many as you would like!

To connect with Julianne:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianne-maioriello-a2ab81167/

To connect with Erin:
 Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeaftertheuniform

Life After the Uniform Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/ErinSilverPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/

In today’s episode, Erin talks with Bill Kieffer. Bill is a U.S. Army veteran turned career transition coach. His advisory firm focuses on military career transitions, executive coaching, and strategic talent management. Bill is also a coach for the Honor Foundation which is a unique transition institute created exclusively for the U.S. Special Operations community. The Honor foundation works to ensure that every step is dedicated to preparing men and women to continue to realize their maximum potential during and after their service career. In addition to all of this, Bill is also the author of the book, Military Career Transition: Insights from the Employer Side of the Desk, which we got to explore during our conversation.

If you’re looking for tangible, actionable steps to help you with your military transition, then stay tuned! 

Bill Kieffer is President & Chief Advisor of Kieffer & Associates Limited, an advisory firm specializing in Military Veteran Career Transition, Leadership Coaching, Strategic Talent Management, and Professional Speaking and Facilitation services.  

Bill has coached, advised, mentored and worked with hundreds of service members, veterans and others around the globe regarding career transition, leadership development and performance improvement throughout his career. 

He also:
·         Serves as a coach and coach advisory board member for “The Honor Foundation”, a non-profit group providing career transition services to the special operations community.
·         Is a master trainer for Ranger for Life’s “A More Elite Transition”, serving the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment
·         Serves as a member the Board of Advisors for “Law Enforcement Connect”, which provides career transition services to members of the law enforcement community 

Bill is a senior human resources executive with over 23 years professional experience in multiple large, complex, global companies. His broad-ranging work includes full spectrum HR and talent management, and coaching/advising individual leaders and teams from the c-suite to the shop floor.  

Prior to these experiences, Bill served nearly 12 years active duty as a U.S Army Officer in a variety of command and staff positions.   

Bill is active in his community being twice appointed and three times elected to public office, and serving with a number of veteran-related organizations.  

Bill was honored to present “Investing in the Middle” at TEDx Toledo in 2017, and to guest on over 20 podcasts discussing a broad range of topics.  

He has worked in / travelled to 32 countries and has set foot on every continent except Antarctica.

He is married with five grown kids and in his free time loves riding his Harley. 

To connect with Bill:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamkieffer/

Website: https://www.kieffer-associates.com/

Book - Military Career Transition: Insights from the Employer Side of the Desk:
https://www.amazon.com/Military-Career-Transition-Insights-Employer/dp/1737371405

To connect with Erin:
 Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeaftertheuniform

Life After the Uniform Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/ErinSilverPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/

In today’s episode, Erin talks with Sophia Spadacino. Sophia served 9 years Active Duty in the U.S. Air Force before transitioning into the Reserves where she currently serves as a First Sergeant. Sophia earned her graduate degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from UMD and worked for 4 years at the VA as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (Voc Rehab). After the VA, Sophia went to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a Reasonable Accommodations Case Manager and currently works at Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a RA Case Manager. 

Sophia joined Erin to talk about Ch. 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Benefits. If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, Veteran Readiness and Employment (formerly called Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) can help. This program, also known as Chapter 31 or VR&E, helps you explore employment options and address education or training needs. In some cases, your family members may also qualify for certain benefits.

You will learn about VR&E tracks for service members and veterans, eligibility, and how to apply.

To learn more about Ch. 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Benefits:
  https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/

To connect with Erin:
 Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeaftertheuniform

Life After the Uniform Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/ErinSilverPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/

In today’s episode, Erin talks with Wanda “Sistah Solder” Petty, a 21-year Army Veteran and Chief Voice Officer of She Vet iNC. Erin and Sistah talked about different options for female veterans to get on their feet, be productive citizens, and live a comfortable lifestyle by using their creative talents to work remotely.  Also discussed was how to adapt to change, how to prepare for life after the military, and how resiliency can prepare you for life as a civilian.

Wanda “Sistah Soldier” Petty is an inspirational speaker, a God-loving creative thinker, and a serial entrepreneur. She is the creator of SHE VET™ Media and Founder of The National Resource Society for Women Veterans, Inc. where she assumes roles as Creator, Executive Producer, Host, and Visionary of the SHE VET™ iNSPIRES television show. Sistah is also the Master Trainer and Recruiter of SHE WORKS Digital which provides IT Project Management recruitment and virtual training. 

Sistah is a Warrior of Light, transformational leader, high impact trainer, and co-author of an Amazon Bestseller, “Behind the Rank, Vol 2, (Camouflaged Sisters, Behind the Rank). As a Spirit Warrior, she’s committed to eradicating unemployment and creating diversity in the workplace. She strategically teaches others how to become masterfully indispensable in their career using their spiritual gifts to build divine relationships and manifest a future filled with possibilities. Sistah is passionate about helping women, service members, and minorities deplete barriers that attempt to stunt their personal and professional development. 

To connect with Wanda “Sistah Soldier” Petty:
Website: https://sistahsoldier.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SistahSoldier3/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wandapetty/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealsistahsoldier/

To connect with Erin:
 Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeaftertheuniform

Life After the Uniform Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/ErinSilverPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/

In today’s episode, Erin talks with Will Orr, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired. Will and Erin had an open and honest conversation about Will’s life. 

In his own words:

“I grew up in a very precarious environment; having been born to two high-school dropouts, we struggled as a family to make ends meet. A blended family of 6, we moved often and were homeless at one point. At 14, my bed was a 3-way folding lawn-chair in the dining room of my grandparents' home. I lived with friends; sought guidance from their mothers and fathers; and was adamant that I must break this cycle. I began working to buy my own school clothes and supplies. I wasn't the best-behaved kid and I certainly lacked social-skills, but I would be the first member of my family to graduate high-school.
 
 In 1993, just two days after graduating high-school, I entered the U.S. Marine Corps via MCRD San Diego, CA. I would spend 21 years in this institution, where I honed the leadership skills I possess today. I was a Tank Commander; an Embassy Guard; and a Chem/Bio specialist before I would retire in 2014. There weren't many tanks to operate in the private sector, and I had likely used up my '9 lives in the previous 21 years, so I had to pursue something a little safer; something that I was passionate about. “

Will admits he was naïve when it came to separating from the military and didn’t know exactly what he wanted to do. He was also diagnosed with a mental illness and started treatment in 2012, although had been suffering since 2005. Due to a service-connected disability, Will was eligible for Ch. 31, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), Formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment services. He was also eligible for Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VetTec). By using these two benefits, Will completed his graduate degree, earned several IT certificates, and received counseling.

Will’s story is one of pushing forward, even when you aren’t sure what lies ahead. It’s about finding resources, asking for help, and paying it forward. It’s about not letting your beginnings determine your future. 

To connect with Will Orr:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/wjorr  

To connect with Erin:
Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeaftertheuniform

Life After the Uniform Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/ErinSilverPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/

Military One Source: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/health-wellness/mental-health/mental-health-resources/

In today’s episode, Erin talks with Rob Spedden, USMC. Rob grew up in Omaha, NE and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on October 26, 2004. He had a seemingly typical career – promoted on schedule, deployed, PCSd, took a special duty assignment as a recruiter, got married. For almost 17 years nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

That was until April 13, 2021. On an otherwise uneventful Tuesday afternoon, Rob experienced a full-on manic episode and was subsequently admitted to the hospital. After spending a week in the hospital, Rob was diagnosed with Bipolar 1.  

April, 2021 was the beginning of the end of the life Rob had known. His wife filed for divorce. He was notified that he would be discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps after 17 years of service. He was going to need to find a place to live and a job, all while learning to navigate life as a civilian.

Today’s episode is not just about Rob’s diagnosis and transitioning out of the military. It's also about his hopes of destigmatizing the stigmas associated with a mental health diagnosis in the military by using comedy and social media to spread awareness. This episode is Rob's personal experience, but it is also the story of so many other military members, serving and retired.

Note on Mania and Manic episode: A manic episode is more than just a feeling of elation, high energy, or being distracted. During a manic episode, the mania is so intense that it can interfere with your daily activities. It’s difficult to redirect someone in a manic episode toward a calmer, more reasonable state. People who are in the manic phase of bipolar disorder can make very irrational decisions. 

To connect with Rob Spedden:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-spedden/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/motivation_with_spedden_2.0?r=nametag

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdSV4PKj/ 

To connect with Erin:
Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeaftertheuniform

Life After the Uniform Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/ErinSilverPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/

Military One Source: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/health-wellness/mental-health/mental-health-resources/

What is your gut reaction when you hear anything about the VA Disability Claims process? Do you feel angry? Confused? Overwhelmed?  

For many Veterans, interactions with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) seems like a necessary evil. You know you need to work with the VA to find out if you can get disability compensation for an illness or injury that was caused by—or got worse because of—your active military service. So, you proceed with your eligibility determination and submit your documents. And then you wait. According to the VA, Veterans waited an average of 161 days to find out their fate (as of January, 2022). For some Veterans, this was the end of the story. They received an appropriate rating and were done with the process. But for many, this is just the beginning. A 2018 statistic stated that roughly 65% of VA Disability Claims are not approved. Are you part of this number?

My guest today is Steven B. Crane, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Founder of The 360 Veteran. Steven is here to provide the information Veterans need to help them navigate the VA Disability Claims process. He will explain when to file a claim, the importance of obtaining an expert medical opinion, what type of evidence you should include, and more. In addition, Steven will share key tips to help veterans secure the benefits they deserve from VA. 

Notes on VA Disability Claims: How much Veterans receive in disability compensation depends on how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rates your service-connected disability or condition.  If you have more than one service-connected condition, the amount of monthly compensation is based on your combined disability rating.  To be eligible for VA disability compensation, you must submit a claim, establish a service connection for at least one condition related to your military service (whether on active duty, active duty training, or inactive duty training), and have VA approve your claim and assign a disability rating for that condition.  VA assigns a disability rating based on the frequency, duration, and severity of symptoms. VA makes a determination about the severity of your disability based on the evidence you submit as part of your claim, and/or from military records. VA rates disability from 0% to 100%, in 10% increments.

To connect with Steven B. Crane:
The 360 Veteran: www.the360veteran.com/overview

To connect with Erin:
Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeaftertheuniform

Life After the Uniform Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/ErinSilverPodcast

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/

Your military service earned you several education benefits. And maybe you know a little bit about each of the VA Education programs, but aren’t quite sure which one is best for you or your dependents. I know the idea of sitting down and trying to sift through information on tuition assistance, credentialing assistance, Ch. 30, Ch. 31, Ch. 33, and Ch. 35 can seem overwhelming. 

If you want to learn more about each of the different VA education programs, then today’s episode is for you! Erin connected with Chris Link, a U.S. Army Veteran, who came on Life After the Uniform to help educate veterans on making the most out of their earned benefits. He understands the inner workings of the VA education programs and will walk you through each of them. Chris also offers suggestions on how to maximize your benefits, how to tactically and strategically utilize your benefits, and how to avoid the pitfalls he’s seen other veterans make. 

If you’re looking for even more information, you can reach out to Chris Link on LinkedIn or use the links below to research specific programs.

To connect with Chris:
LinkedIn at linked.com/in/christopherlink1 

To connect with Erin:
Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeaftertheuniform
Life After the Uniform Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/ErinSilverPodcast
Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/

Additional Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Public WEAMS: https://inquiry.vba.va.gov/weamspub/buildSearchInstitutionCriteria.do
This site allows you to search every school and program approved for the GI Bill throughout the country. 

L&C WEAMS: https://inquiry.vba.va.gov/weamspub/buildSearchLCCriteria.do
This domain of Public WEAMS allows you to look all licenses and certifications that are currently eligible for GI Bill reimbursement. 

GI Bill Comparison Tool: https://www.va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool/?search=name 
This site allows you to look at every approved school offering GI Bill benefits, to see how much tuition will cost, how much BAH you will receive, any complaints against the school, whether the school has any compliance issues (red flags), the main point of contact at the school for GI Bill related inquiries, and to see which programs the school participates in (i.e. Yellow Ribbon Program, Principles of Excellence Program, Tuition Assistance) 

Credentialing Assistance: https://www.cool.osd.mil/army/costs_and_funding/army_ca_faq.htm
This site is the portal for Army Cool and Credentialing Assistance for active-duty military members. Remember, Army will pay for preparatory courses and certification exams, all other branches will only pay for certification exams currently. 

MyCAA: https://mycaa.militaryonesource.mil/mycaa/get-started
This site is the portal for active-duty spouses to receive the MyCAA Scholarship for $2000 per year, not to exceed $4000 

VETTEC: https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/vettec-high-tech-program/ 
This site is the link to VETTEC information. You can also find all listed p

Who am I? We all ask ourselves this question, and it's no different for veterans. For many people, there’s no clear-cut answer. There isn’t just one path, or one identity, that seems to fit. If you’re a multi-passionate, creative type, you may explore many different opportunities and find that each of them fits in some way. This was the case for my guest, Wendy M. Kok.

Wendy is a U.S. Army Veteran, mother to two sets of teenage twins, author, and podcast host! Her story is one that many of us can relate to – learning to pivot and explore new things as the world around us changes. Wendy walks us through her life growing up in Wisconsin, joining the Army, and detouring through California before landing in Michigan.  

So, sit back, relax, and enjoy another amazing veteran story. 

If you want to connect with me or Wendy, our links are down below!

To connect with Wendy:
https://linktr.ee/willowwendy
Twitter: @Wendykok7

To connect with Erin:
Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeaftertheuniform
Life After the Uniform Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/ErinSilverPodcast
Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/

Wendy M. Kok Books:
A Grey Resort
An Awakening
Thriving Beyond Crisis: Conversations with Resilient Entrepreneurs (by Divya Parekh and Lisa Marie Pepe) 

I have talked with numerous veterans who have told me that their identity was so intertwined with their military affiliation that they had a difficult time understanding who they were as an individual. When you aren’t sure who you are as a person, the path from service member to civilian can be a challenging one. We feel lost, unsure of next steps, and look for answers anywhere we can find them. But it doesn’t have to be that way. 

In today’s episode, Erin talks with Lacey Alexander, a 21-year veteran of the United States Air Force. After retirement, Lacey spent 6 months of intentional work to transition from SMSgt Alexander to Lacey Alexander. Through coaching, self-reflection, and continuous learning she was able to define her values and vision to launch her own business and refine her focus to live in her purpose. 

She now operates her Coaching, Consulting and Leadership Development business, Creative Solutions A2Z, focused on helping individuals and organizations succeed. Lacey also holds a number of roles in executive coaching, writing curriculum, doing instructional design, and teaching courses in partnership with companies such as Sayge, Resilience Building Leader Program (RBLP), Rutgers University, Freedom Learning Group and The Ira C. Eaker Center for Leadership Development. Her overarching goal is to live a life continuing to grow, and supporting others on their growth journey.

While serving, Lacey was fortunate to be stationed in multiple locations around the world, and lead multi-national teams in locations to include: Okinawa, Japan, Germany, Italy, and deployments to multiple countries in the Middle East. This experience expanded her world view and created a passion for travel and appreciation of the rich cultures around the world. 

To connect with Lacey:

https://linktr.ee/CreativeSolutionsa2z

To connect with Erin:

Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeaftertheuniform

Life After the Uniform Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/ErinSilverPodcast

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/

Resources mentioned in this episode:

American Corporate Partners: https://www.acp-usa.org/

Boots to Business: https://www.sba.gov/sba-learning-platform/boots-business#section-header-0

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

Think you know just about everything there is to know about the Uniformed Services? Well, you may, BUT, are you familiar with the U.S. Public Health Service? In today's episode, Erin talks with Carma Connor-Marroquin, a Registered Dietitian and retired U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) officer.

Carma is passionate about sharing the career path available to public health professionals in the USPHS. After earning her RD credential in 1994, she still had trouble finding full time employment. Then as fate would have it, she received a post card from a U.S. Air Force (USAF) Recruiter saying they needed dietitians.

Carma took the opportunity, knowing that if she didn’t like it, the AF would move her back home in three years. While serving in the USAF, Carma ran into a USPHS officer at a professional meeting and learned about the opportunity. After 7 years in the USAF, Carma transferred her commission to the USPHS where she worked for another 14 years and retired at the rank of Commander.

During her time in the USPHS, Carma also held a volunteer, additional duty as the chief recruiter for the dietitian professional category for 4 years. She realized that most people had never heard of the USPHS. The recruiting brochures were even entitled “The Best Kept Secret." So, Carma has continued her mission into retirement, telling people about the career path available in the USPHS.

To connect with Carma:
USPHS Find Your Fit Facebook group:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/usphsfindyourfit
More free training about the USPHS opportunity:  https://www.thecarmaconnection.com/phs
Take the Quiz to see if you qualify to apply:  https://www.thecarmaconnection.com/usphs-survey
YouTube:  https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCmeAKii360D9d-aXWXXRlIw/videos/upload?filter=%5B%5D&sort=%7B%22columnType%22%3A%22date%22%2C%22sortOrder%22%3A%22DESCENDING%22%7D
Official USPHS website to apply:  usphs.gov
Other social (Facebook; Instagram; Linked In) Carma Connor

 To connect with Erin:
Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeaftertheuniform
Life After the Uniform Facebook Podcast Page:
https://www.facebook.com/ErinSilverPodcast
Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/ 

How to Successfully Navigate the Mil Spouse Life – Alison Woehrman

There is so much more to someone’s identity than what a podcast title suggests. Meet Alison Woehrman, who is not only a 20-year mil spouse, but also a mother, strength and conditioning coach, and podcast host.

After college, Alison spent almost 10 years as a dolphin and sea lion animal trainer with the Navy Marine Mammal Program. After several PCSs, and due to the fast-pace of her husband’s Navy career, Alison and her husband made the decision that she would stay at home with their two children.

 Alison and I talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of the military spouse life. It can be fun and exciting while also being lonely and isolating. While the military member has their identity connected to their military branch, a mil spouse is often forced to recreate themselves and their lives with every move.  

With 8 cross-country moves in 20 years, Alison has become a pro at this! From building a career and community within the health and fitness space to launching her own podcast, Alison has become an expert out of necessity. We talk about all of this and more in this episode! 

Alison is married with two children and currently lives in Denver, CO with her husband, a 20-year Navy veteran. Alison just launched her own podcast, The Unspoken Life of the Military Wife. 

To connect with Alison:
The Unspoken Life of the Military Wife podcast: https://podbay.fm/p/the-unspoken-life-of-the-military-wife
Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/alisonsfitfamily/

 To connect with Erin:
Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeaftertheuniform

Life After the Uniform Facebook Podcast Page:
https://www.facebook.com/ErinSilverPodcast

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/

Moving help resource mentioned in this episode:
https://www.hireahelper.com/

In this episode, Erin talks with retired USAF veteran turned Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and author, Curt Sheldon.
 
 Curt discusses his book, Well & Faithfully Discharged: Financial TTP for Military Retirement, and gives tips on what to expect financially when you retire or separate from the military. Several important tactics, techniques, and procedures are covered, including the survivor benefit plan, tax expectations, preparing monetarily for your transition out of the military, and other crucial topics for veterans to consider.
 
 To connect with Curt Sheldon, CFP:
 LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-curt-sheldon-cfp%C2%AE-ea-20a51b19/

C.L. Sheldon & Company, Wealth Management Financial Planning: https://clsheldon.com/about-us

Well & Faithfully Discharged: Financial TTP for Military Retirement Paperback https://www.amazon.com/Well-Faithfully-Discharged-Financial-Retirement/dp/1548890081

 To connect with Erin:

Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/661998918501440

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/

Coming from a 15+ year background as a marketing professional and military spouse, Lindsey Hanson Dumser discovered the path that allows her to merge her two passions by launching her personal branding firm, Evolve to Fly, in early 2021. Lindsey loves to use marketing techniques to teach people how to promote themselves. Whether they are looking for a new job, launching a new business, growing personally, transitioning out of the military, or following any ambitious pursuit, Evolve to Fly helps people understand how to stand out from the rest of the crowd by providing coaching, consulting, courses, and community. 

Over the years, Lindsey has worked her way up the typical marketing ladder to vice president in the higher education, leadership development, and non-profit sectors. She has also taught at the college level, led TAP transition workshops for service members, coached numerous military spouses, and designed courses on Coursera. 

Lindsey has a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications from UNC Chapel Hill, an MBA from Columbia College, and is currently a Strategic Management DBA candidate at Liberty University. She is the proud mom of three kids and two rescue dogs, active military spouse of 15 years, and coffee drinker before 4pm. 

To connect with Lindsey:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindseydumser/
Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/evolve_to_fly/

To connect with Erin:
Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/661998918501440
Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/

In 2018, Brian was a U.S. Air Force MSgt (E-7) just starting to prepare for retirement. He was attending transition assistance programs, learning about different retirement options, and trying to navigate how to transition from military member to civilian. But one seemingly innocuous LinkedIn post went viral and changed the trajectory of his path!   

Brian started Vets2Industry (V2I) in 2019 as a free resource library for the military community – active, guard, reserve, veteran, military-spouse, dependent children, Blue-Star & Gold-Star Families, and caregivers. V2I serves to connect companies who have opportunities for veterans, those that have specific military hiring programs, those that are on the 100 Military Friendly companies list, and those that selflessly provide Fortune 500 mentors with transitioning service members.  

Brian is married with 6 children, resides in Atlanta, is an active alumnus of Centurion Military Alliance, Hiring our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program, FourBlock, American Corporate Partners, volunteers with VETLANTA, the National Black MBA Association Atlanta Chapter, and is a student veteran leader and student ambassador at Syracuse University where he is currently pursuing his MBA. 

To connect with Brian and Vets2Industry:
Vets2Industry: https://vets2industry.org/
Vets2Industry YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvDZxtWk4keXaRuA14D87Ng
Vets2Industry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vets2industry/
Career Assistance Resource email: operations@vets2industry.org
Financial Assistance Resource email: support@vets2industry.org
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vets2industry/
Veterati: https://www.veterati.com/
Four Block: https://fourblock.org/
Bunker Labs: https://bunkerlabs.org/
You can also find Vets2Industry on Twitter and Clubhouse.

To connect with Erin:
Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/661998918501440
Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/

Welcome to the first episode of the Life After the Uniform Podcast! This is not only the inaugural episode, it’s also my birthday! So, what better way to kick off a brand-new podcast, my birthday, and a new year than by interviewing the woman who has known me since birth, my mother, Terie Hynish?!?

But Terie isn’t JUST my mom. She’s also a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Navy! Terie enlisted in the Navy in 1968, during the Vietnam War, at a time when being a female in the military was not a normal occurrence. We’ll uncover what the Navy looked like in the late 60s and how it changed over the course of her career. Plus, find out how this retired Senior Chief started a lucrative travel business on her own terms, even during a pandemic! I’ll give you a hint: learn to live outside of your comfort zone – you might be surprised of what you can achieve!

Terie Hynish is the Founder and Owner of T & D Travel Partners, a veteran-owned, small business, specializing in designing the vacation of your dreams! Terie and her husband, Dan (my dad!), currently reside in warm and sunny Florida!  

To connect with Terie:

Travel Website:  TDTRAVELPARTNERS.COM

Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/TDTravelPartners

Facebook podcast page (podcast coming soon!): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1970476073137666

 To connect with Erin:

Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/661998918501440

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/

I’m Erin Silver and I want to welcome you to my Podcast, Life After the Uniform. I grew up as a military brat with a mom in the Navy so I did what any reasonable child would do – I enlisted in the Air Force. I was Active Duty, then a traditional reservist, and now I’m an IMA. I’ve lived in 7 different states and attended more schools than I can remember. Who’s with me there? While we may not know each other personally, I already know we have something in common. We are part of the 1% who raised our right hand, took an oath, and put on our uniform every day.

When we put on our uniform, we put on an identity. We became a soldier, a marine, a sailor, a Coastie, or an Airmen! We know who we are. We know what we do. We know that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. But what happens when that ends?  What happens when we put the uniform away?

I’m here to tell you that there is Life After the Uniform. It doesn’t end after retirement or discharge. Your identity isn’t lost. I’ll be here every week to help you as you successfully transition from military life into the civilian world. I’ll have experts give their advice on everything from Veteran’s benefits, to the best states to live in to maximize your retirement. There will also be information on disability claims, resume writing, and navigating the world of higher education. There will also be people just like you and me sharing their experiences.

I want to help ease your fears about entering the next phase in your life. I want you to know that there is Life After the Uniform.