Permission To Speak Freely Damon Leggins and Andamo McCullough

Damo is solo on this special Father’s Day bonus episode discussing some of his favorite books and how they impacted him as a father, leader, and human. *Clarification: Damo was skipped from the second to the third grade. Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.
Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast
Additional Credits:PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0

No Damon, No Problem. LOL. Don’t tell him we said that. If you listened to our Women’s Panel earlier this year, we know you’re familiar with YNCS Ashley Williams. We appreciated her story so much, that we wanted to bring her on again. This time, she’s standing in for Damon as a guest host! Last week marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the 82nd anniversary of the Battle of Midway, two major moments in naval and American history. Happy Pride Month y’all! Have you ever checked into a command and thought, how the hell has this place survived for so long? Damo is his own “Do Better” this week with a personal conversation with Ashley and Tisha. This leads to a conversation about the “hero syndrome.” Do leaders in the Navy have a tendency to sacrifice their health for the sake of others? Ashley, Tish, and Damo discuss if Chiefs lost their impact and potential reasons why this might be the case. Tish addresses an error she made in a previous episode. Since Dr. Fauci is being honest, can we? Comments and questions from listeners are read and discussed. Should an “End-of-Tour” award take account of the Sailor’s full career or just the duties they performed at that command? Ashley shares a sea story about dealing with adversity and having the right people in your corner. Retired four-star Naval Admiral and former Vice CNO, Robert P. Burke was recently arrested and is facing 30 years due to a bribery scheme for a position at a company. Damo brings up “respectability politics” regarding military members making the wrong judgment calls. A Command Senior Enlisted leader is in the news for being relieved due to using unauthorized Wifi on her ship and covering it up to the Commanding Officer. Damo’s book review leads to a conversation about dating in the social media era. Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.
 
 
Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast
 
 
Links and more from this episode:
 
Pride Month Memo - https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/ALNAV/ALN2024/ALN24050.txt?ver=-YAMHSHDMajigj7WMzFB2Q%3d%3d
 
Battle of Midway 82nd Anniversary - https://simpleflying.com/82nd-anniversary-battle-of-midway-and-role-carrier-airpower/
 
D-Day 80th Anniversary - https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2024/NAV24117.txt?ver=skNUgXzcb5OpbEw2cpUKtw%3d%3d
 
More Money For Junior Troops - https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2024/05/23/house-advances-884-billion-defense-bill-with-enlisted-troop-pay-raise/#:~:text=The%20measure%20contains%20a%20dramatic,strain%20on%20younger%20military%20families
 
Dr. Fauci’s Testimony - https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2024/06/05/fauci-hearing-covid-social-distancing-wrong/73962967007/
 
Admiral Burke: https://breakingdefense.com/2024/05/former-navy-4-star-admiral-charged-in-purported-bribery-scheme-doj/
 
Senior Enlisted Leader Unauthorized WiFi: https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2024/06/03/command-senior-chief-convicted-for-unauthorized-wi-fi-on-her-ship/
 
 
Damo’s Book of the Week:
 
The Anxious Generation: How The Great Rewiring of Childhood is causing and Epidemic of Mental Illness (Jonathan Haidt) - https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book
 
 
 
Additional Credits:
PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0

*This episode includes conversations about sexual assault. Please see our ‘links’ section in this episode description for sexual assault prevention and response references.*
 
Damon is back! The trio is finally back in full effect and this time two Third Class Petty Officers join them; MMN3 Zander Valterra and PS3 Monique Jones-Santana. They share their opinions on “E4 and Junior” vs “E4 and Below.” The guys take the time to acknowledge everyone who advanced this NWAE cycle. Have you taken the Health of the Force Survey yet? Check out our links below to take it. MMN3 and PS3 detail why they joined the Navy and share some experiences from Boot Camp. Why do they hear information on our podcast that they don’t hear from their divisional leadership? This leads Damo to a confession of his own. How do they even want to receive this kind of information daily? The PO3s have two completely different motivations for what’s keeping them in the Navy and they detail their reasons. What have they found so far to be the most beneficial program the Navy has offered them? They both detail their most memorable moments thus far. Petty Officer Jones-Santano details a particularly traumatic experience that has happened to her during her Naval career. What makes a junior Sailor decide not to open up to Senior leadership? MMN3 and PS3 discuss their opinions on good and bad leadership. Your brand new Chief walks into the office, on the first day; how do you grade them? Wait until you hear PS3 Jones-Santana’s response. Do Chiefs go into the CPO Mess and talk trash about Sailors? Are young Sailors still looking at PODs and POWs? How do we motivate both seniors and superiors? What was our motivation to start the podcast? MMN3 and PS3 give some final thoughts. Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.
 
 
Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast
 
 
Links and more from this episode:
 
*MyNavyHR webpage for SAPR - https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Support-Services/Culture-Resilience/Sexual-Assault/
 
2024 Navy Health of the Force Survey - https://usnavy.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_38kK5mRgGsuARIq
 
 
 
Additional Credits:
PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0

*This episode contains a conversation regarding domestic violence/ intimate partner abuse. If you are currently experiencing abuse and would like to report it, please contact your local / command / FFSC Family Advocacy Program representative or law enforcement. In addition, please contact the Veteran Crisis Line (all links below).*
 
Damon is not around. He left Tisha and Damo on their own to hold down the fort. Damo details what he’s been up to for the last few weeks. Tisha has deleted her social media and explains why. Rest well to Senior Airman Roger Fortson who was killed in his apartment by a Florida sheriff’s deputy earlier this month. A bunch of news on advancement and selection board results were released. Let’s talk about the Senior Enlisted Marketplace: One Year (or two) later. Tish and Damo discuss potential ideas for the CPO season as it will be affected by the Senior Enlisted Marketplace. Damo’s shocked that people are still not getting “accepted” during CPO initiations. The CNO’s CCS was secretly recording crashing out about diversity. Do Better: Dear Navy, Leave Southwest Airlines alone (Damo). The classmate who wants to be the instructor (Damo). People who put too much energy into getting their supervisors fired (Tisha).  What’s the difference between a close proximity move and receiving BAH based on your dependents’ location and how do they intersect? ELD numbers are low, we need to do something. The duo answers questions from listeners. Newsflash: Military servicemembers dance. Junior Sailors are in for a nice pay bump! A young Sailor asks for some advice after being caught stealing from a self-checkout machine. The USS Carney made her triumph return from an honorable deployment. Coming off of the video CNN released showing Sean “Diddy” Combs violently attacking Cassie, we want to plug the Family Advocacy Program and discuss domestic violence. Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.
 
 
Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast
 
 
Links and more from this episode:
 
Rest Well Roger Fortson - https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/roger-fortson-air-force-honors-funeral-florida
 
Officer Promotions - https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2024/NAV24102.txt?ver=bOFySCLeIDSG4vgHhZfNAw%3d%3d
 
FY-25 SEM Results - https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2024/NAV24101.txt?ver=XIFBEv1D4i48SSKoEkYUvg%3d%3d
 
Welcome Home to the USS Carney - https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2024/05/13/the-uss-carney-salty-and-battle-tested-is-back-in-the-united-states/
 
Family Advocacy Program (MyNavyHR) - https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Support-Services/Culture-Resilience/Family-Advocacy/
 
Veteran Crisis Line - https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help-now/military-crisis-line/
 
 
 
Damo’s Book of the Week:
The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency - https://www.chriswhipple.net/the_gatekeepers/
 
 
 
Additional Credits:
PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0

Damo and Tisha begin the episode discussing a comment they received on Instagram regarding “E4 and Junior” Sailors. A comment from a YouTube subscriber is highlighted and responded to. An Officer goes ballistic on a neighbor over trash cans. A 7th Fleet Officer was arrested for stealing sushi. A former Navy CO was killed during a child sex sting operation. A Commanding Officer was fired for making racist comments. A Chief was found guilty of espionage and is currently awaiting his sentence. Tisha and  Damo discuss adultery in the Navy, following a conversation on Facebook. Do Better: Ride share drop-offs at Naval Station Newport (Damo), Southwest Airlines seating process (Tisha). The Navy has authorized combat awards for recent Red Sea operations. Speaking of awards, would you prefer an award or a monetary reward? What does Tisha really think about Plantation Tours?  Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.
 
 
Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast
 
 
Links and more from this episode:
 
Officer Stealing Sushi - https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20240420-181618/
 
Former CO Killed in Sex Sting - https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/seattle-child-sex-sting-meneley.amp
 
CO Fired for Racial Comments - https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2024/04/22/former-uss-howard-co-was-fired-after-racially-harassing-comments/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb_nt&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1LQZJBk9IYLlvWH8wpCgZH_CM2ugTOIRF3wOI4b_TPlLRmWqFcsGQQ-Rw_aem_AX_IpjdRV0-ZM-0DaHoSXpTbf8W9XpeGdXSCsxtVmuAxfJjZONg3Nnkz6O8hYx1cG3B4Mi3atdPCS67oMJtH0_Vq
 
Navy Chief Found Guilty of Espionage - https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2024/04/24/navy-chief-found-guilty-of-attempted-espionage
 
Combat Awards for Red Sea Operations - https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2024/04/25/navy-authorizes-combat-awards-and-devices-for-red-sea-operations/
 
 
 
Additional Credits:
PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0
 

The guys start by analyzing the latest in hip-hop beef. One of the Sailors who stormed the Captial is asking for a lighter sentence so that he can continue service in the military. Should he be awarded that opportunity? An Army Reserve Major has pleaded guilty to scamming Gold Star Families in millions of dollars. The rest of the episode is dedicated to the people, places, and things that impacted Damon and Damo throughout their lives and careers in the Navy. Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.
 
 
Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast
 
Additional Credits:
This episode contains as snippet of "SHED TEARS (Feat. Lena Bird Myles) (Killer Mike & Mozzy)"