The War After the War

Jessie Montes Jr

**The War After the War** is an honest, unfiltered look at life after military service. I'm Jessie Montes Jr., a Marine Corps Reserve veteran sharing my real-time battle with service-connected PTSD, the VA, the fight for 100% disability/TDIU, unemployment, relationships, fatherhood, and rebuilding my life at 40. Expect real conversations about the struggles, setbacks, victories, and finding purpose after service. No sugarcoating. No pretending. Just the truth. **The uniform came off. The fight didn't. Semper Fi.**

  1. 3d ago

    EPISODE 14 — YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT LOSING FREEDOM LOOKS LIKE

    I Saw What Happens When Freedom Isn't a Choice. 🇺🇸 THE WAR AFTER THE WAR | EPISODE 14 America just went through another election, and once again, political division, anger, and outrage have taken over our conversations. But as a United States Marine Corps combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, I see freedom through a very different lens. I've witnessed firsthand what war, oppression, and religious extremism can do to communities. I've seen what life can look like for women and young girls when basic freedoms and opportunities are stripped away. And those experiences changed the way I look at the country I call home. So when I hear Americans acting like every election that doesn't go their way means they've lost all their freedoms, I have to ask: Do you really understand what losing freedom looks like? In Episode 14 of The War After the War, I'm talking about the November 2026 elections, political division, the freedoms Americans take for granted, and why I believe we've become so entitled that we've forgotten just how fortunate we are. And let me make one thing absolutely f*****g clear. I'm not pro-Republican. I'm not pro-Democrat. I'm not here to defend Donald Trump, the Democratic Party, or any politician in Washington. I'm pro-America. I'm pro-Constitution. And I'm pro-freedom. I didn't raise my right hand and swear an oath to a political party. I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath still means something to me. This episode isn't about telling you how to vote or what to believe. It's about understanding the difference between losing an election and losing fundamental freedoms. It's about recognizing that Americans have the right to speak freely, criticize their government, protest peacefully, practice their beliefs, and fight for change. And it's about remembering that millions of people around the world don't enjoy those same protections. America isn't perfect. Our government deserves to be questioned, our leaders deserve to be held accountable, and our rights must always be defended. But you can love this country, demand better from it, and still be grateful for the freedoms you have. We need to stop treating our fellow Americans like enemies simply because they voted differently. Because at the end of the day: I DIDN'T FIGHT FOR RED. I DIDN'T FIGHT FOR BLUE. I SERVED UNDER THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE. 🇺🇸 And that will always mean more to me than any political party. This is a raw, personal conversation about freedom, perspective, military service, and the experiences that continue shaping how I see the world long after coming home. The uniform came off. The fight didn't. 🎧 Listen to The War After the War on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. VETERANS CRISIS LINE If you or a veteran you know is struggling with PTSD, depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts, help is available 24/7. 📞 Call 988, then press 1. 📱 Text 838255. 🌐 VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat You don't have to fight your battles alone. 📩 Share your story: thewarafterthewar@gmail.com ONE STORY CAN CHANGE A LIFE. YOUR STORY CAN CHANGE MANY. Real Stories. Real Struggles. Real Healing. Semper Fi. 🇺🇸

  2. Oct 30

    Episode 13 — The President Came to Lubbock. But What About Our Veterans?

    Respect the Office. Recognize the Progress. Keep Fighting for Those Who Served. President Donald Trump came to Lubbock, Texas, and regardless of whether you're Republican, Democrat, or Independent, having the President of the United States visit our community is a significant moment. But as a United States Marine Corps veteran, it got me thinking about something bigger. When the rallies are over, the cameras are gone, and Air Force One takes off, who's still fighting for our veterans? In Episode 13 of The War After the War, I'm talking about President Trump's visit to Lubbock, the positive things his administrations have done for veterans, and the work that still needs to be done. From the VA MISSION Act and Forever GI Bill to veteran suicide prevention legislation, we look at policies that have made a difference for those who served. I'm also sharing my perspective as a combat veteran who has personally battled PTSD, TBI, mental-health struggles, and the VA disability claims process. This episode isn't about telling anyone how to vote or which political party to support. It's about recognizing accomplishments, giving credit where it's earned, and holding our elected officials accountable. Supporting our veterans shouldn't be a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. It should be an American issue. Because when the political speeches end, veterans are still fighting battles that most people will never see. And those battles deserve attention long after the president leaves town. The uniform came off. The fight didn't. VETERANS CRISIS LINE — YOU ARE NOT ALONE If you're a veteran or service member struggling with PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, or simply feeling overwhelmed, help is available 24/7. Call 988, then press 1. Text 838255. Online: VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat Support is free, confidential, and available even if you're not enrolled in VA healthcare or benefits. ONE STORY CAN CHANGE A LIFE. YOUR STORY CAN CHANGE MANY. The War After the War Real Stories. Real Struggles. Real Healing. Semper Fi.

  3. Oct 23

    Episode 12 — I Lost One Battle. But I Won Two Others.

    Different Battles. Same Fight. Not every battle happens on a battlefield. Some happen in courtrooms, through government agencies, and during the moments when life feels like it's doing everything possible to break you. In this episode of The War After the War, I'm sharing three major battles I've been fighting outside the military. First, my car lawsuit—a legal fight that tested my patience, finances, and determination to stand up for myself. Then, my battle with unemployment and the Texas Workforce Commission, where fighting for what I believed was right became another exhausting struggle. And finally, after years of dealing with PTSD, TBI, injuries, medical appointments, and the VA disability process, I received news that changed my life: 100% VA service connection. Three battles. Different outcomes. One hell of an emotional roller coaster. I'm talking about the frustration, the financial pressure, the anger, the victories, and what it feels like to keep fighting when you're already mentally exhausted. Because sometimes you lose a battle. Sometimes you win. And sometimes the biggest victory is realizing just how far you've come. I lost one battle. But I won two others. This isn't just about lawsuits, unemployment, or disability benefits. It's about perseverance, accountability, and refusing to let life's setbacks define your future. The uniform came off. The fight didn't. Veterans Crisis Line — You Are Not Alone If you're a veteran or service member struggling with PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, or simply feeling overwhelmed, please reach out. You don't have to fight your battles alone. Call 988 and press 1 Text 838255 Online chat: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help-now/chat/ Support is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You do not have to be enrolled in VA benefits or healthcare to receive help. One story can change a life. Your story can change many. The War After the War Real Stories. Real Struggles. Real Healing. Semper Fi.

  4. Oct 9

    Episode 11 — Loving Me Through the War

    What PTSD Looks Like From the Other Side For ten episodes, you've heard my side of the story. You've heard about Iraq, Afghanistan, PTSD, TBI, anxiety, isolation, therapy, and the battles I've fought since taking off the uniform. But after taking a much-needed two-week break, I realized something: You've only heard what my war after the war looks like through my eyes. This week, that changes. For the first time on The War After the War, I'm bringing someone incredibly close to me behind the microphone—my fiancée, Courtney. She lives with me. She sees the good days, the bad days, the moments I shut down, and the struggles nobody else sees. And this time, I'm asking her to tell the truth about what it's really like loving and living with a combat veteran dealing with PTSD and TBI. We're having an unfiltered conversation about relationships, emotional exhaustion, communication, fear, love, and the challenges that don't disappear when the veteran comes home. No rehearsed answers. No sugarcoating. No protecting my feelings. Some of her answers might be difficult for me to hear. But that's exactly why this conversation needs to happen. Because sometimes the war doesn't just follow the veteran home. It affects the people who love them, too. This episode marks a new chapter for the podcast. We're moving beyond just my experiences and giving a voice to the people standing beside us. The uniform came off. The fight didn't. If you or someone you love is struggling, contact the Veterans Crisis Line by calling 988 and pressing 1, or texting 838255. The War After the War — Real Stories. Real Struggles. Real Healing.

  5. Sep 18

    Episode 10 — Still Fighting

    Ten weeks. Ten episodes. A lot of stories I spent years keeping inside. In Episode 10 of The War After the War, I take a moment to reflect on what these first ten weeks behind the microphone have meant to me—and why sometimes still fighting means knowing when you need to stop, reset, and take care of yourself. Since starting this podcast, I've opened up about combat, PTSD and TBI, brotherhood, suicide, recovery, family, work, the VA, and some of the darkest moments of my life. What listeners don't always see is what happens after the microphone turns off. Going back into those memories every week takes something out of you. So after Episode 10, I'm taking two weeks away from the podcast to give my mind a break, spend time living my life, reflect on where we've been, and decide where this mission goes next. This isn't goodbye. And I'm sure as hell not done. In this episode, I also want to thank every person who has listened, shared an episode, sent me a message, or trusted me with their own story. I started this podcast thinking I was going to tell people about my war after the war. Instead, veterans started telling me about theirs. That's when I realized this was becoming something bigger than one Marine sitting behind a microphone. I also give a special shoutout to Still Fighting Co. (@stillfightingco), a veteran-owned apparel brand I've supported from the beginning that has supported this podcast right back. Their message—“No Veteran Should Fight Alone”—represents exactly what I want this community to be about: veterans supporting veterans and building each other up. Most importantly, this episode is about what Still Fighting really means. It doesn't mean you're winning every day. It doesn't mean PTSD disappeared. It doesn't mean everything in your life is fixed. Sometimes it simply means: You're still f*****g here. And if you're still here, your story isn't finished. 🎙️ Episode 10 — Still Fighting The War After the War will return October 9 for the next chapter. If you're a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, help is available 24/7. Call 988, then press 1Text 838255 Give tomorrow a chance to happen. The uniform came off. The fight didn't. Stay in the fight. Semper Fi. Veterans Crisis Line

  6. Sep 12 ·  Bonus

    Special Episode — September 11: The Day That Changed My Life

    Twenty-five years ago, I was sitting in history class watching history happen right in front of me. On September 11, 2001, I watched our country come under attack. I watched the towers burn, the confusion unfold, and first responders run toward something everyone else was trying to escape. I didn't know it then, but that day would change the entire direction of my life. Within the next week, my mind was made up: I wanted to serve my country. And when it came time to decide which branch, I chose the United States Marine Corps. To me, the Marines represented warriors—the men and women willing to go when our country called and figure out the mission no matter how difficult it became. Eventually, I earned the title United States Marine. I deployed. I went to war. I came home. And years later, I discovered that sometimes the hardest fight doesn't begin until after you return home. In this special episode of The War After the War, I reflect on where I was that September morning, why 9/11 became the driving force behind my decision to join the military, the generation of service members who answered the call, and what "Never Forget" means to me twenty-five years later. But most importantly, this episode remembers the 2,977 innocent lives lost on September 11, the first responders who ran toward danger, the families whose lives changed forever, the service members who never came home, and the veterans who returned carrying wounds that weren't always visible. This isn't about politics. It's about remembering. Because September 11th didn't just change America. It changed me. Twenty-five years later, I'm still proud that I became a Marine. I'm still proud that I served. And I'm still here fighting The War After the War. Never Forget isn't just something we say. It's something we have to live. If you're a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, help is available 24/7. Call 988, then press 1Text 838255 Check on your brothers and sisters. The uniform came off. The fight didn't. Never Forget. 🇺🇸 Semper Fi. Veterans Crisis Line

  7. Sep 11

    Episode 9 — The VA: Grateful But Broken

    I can be grateful for the VA and still believe parts of the system are broken. In Episode 9 of The War After the War, I open up about my VA journey—a process that began more than a decade ago—and the complicated relationship I've developed with the system along the way. The VA isn't one thing to me. I've received mental-health treatment, therapy, and care from people within the VA who genuinely wanted to help me. Some of that treatment has forced me to confront things I spent years trying to bury, and I'm grateful for the people who have stood beside me while I've worked through PTSD and TBI. But then there's the other side of my experience: the Veterans Benefits Administration. Claims. C&P exams. Ratings. Decisions. Denials. Appeals. Waiting. And the incredibly difficult experience of taking some of the worst moments of your life and turning them into evidence so someone who has never met you can determine how your military service affected you. This episode isn't about attacking every VA employee or claiming every decision should favor the veteran. There are good people throughout the VA—including people doing incredibly important work for veterans every day. It's about asking the system to remember something simple: There is a human being behind that file. Read the evidence. Listen to the veteran. Understand that having a career, earning degrees, raising a family, or appearing successful doesn't necessarily mean someone isn't struggling behind closed doors. I'm grateful for what the VA has done for me. I'm also frustrated by what I've experienced. Those two things can exist at the same time. I don't want to tear the VA down. I want it to be better. Because veterans already fought one war. Getting the care and benefits we've earned shouldn't feel like another one. Veterans Crisis Line If you're a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, help is available 24/7. Call 988, then press 1Text 838255 Your VA claim is paperwork. Your life isn't. Stay in the fight. Semper Fi.

  8. Sep 4

    Episode 8 - When The War Followed Me to Work

    In Episode 8 of The War After the War, I talk about what happens when the war doesn't stay overseas—it follows you into the civilian workplace. I share my experience trying to build a career while living with PTSD and TBI, the emotional exhaustion of EMDR therapy and having to relive memories I spent years trying to bury, and how difficult it can be to walk into work and appear “normal” when your mind is fighting a completely different battle. I also talk about what it feels like to work somewhere that says it supports veterans, yet feel misunderstood or judged when your service-connected struggles actually affect how you work or when you need accommodations. This episode isn't about excuses. It's about understanding that functioning doesn't mean someone isn't suffering. Sometimes the veteran sitting beside you at work is using everything they have just to make it through the day. The uniform came off. The fight didn't. If you're a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, the Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7. Call 988, then press 1Text 838255 You do not have to fight this battle alone. Veterans Crisis Line

See All (15)

Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

**The War After the War** is an honest, unfiltered look at life after military service. I'm Jessie Montes Jr., a Marine Corps Reserve veteran sharing my real-time battle with service-connected PTSD, the VA, the fight for 100% disability/TDIU, unemployment, relationships, fatherhood, and rebuilding my life at 40. Expect real conversations about the struggles, setbacks, victories, and finding purpose after service. No sugarcoating. No pretending. Just the truth. **The uniform came off. The fight didn't. Semper Fi.**

Information

  • Creator
    Jessie Montes Jr
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jessie Montes Jr
  • Show Website
    The War After the War