Service Before Self Podcast Colonel (Ret.) Sam Whitehurst

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services hosts a conversation with Jennifer Grubb--combat veteran, veteran advocate, registered nurse, wife, and mother. Jennifer shares her candid, raw, and thought-provoking experience of reintegration following military service. She pulls no punches but also demonstrates her resiliency and the potential of our military-connected community. Listen more than once and encourage others to listen as well.

A conversation with Secretary Patrick J. Murphy, former Under Secretary of the Army and a leading advocate for veterans and their families. Secretary Murphy is the Chairman of Task Force Movement, www.taskforcemovement.org, an organization that is creating successful careers for the military-connected community in transportation, cybersecurity, and healthcare.

A conversation with Robin Kelleher, Co-Founder and CEO of HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS, recipient of the 2023 Eugene and Ruth Freedman Leadership Award.

Psych/Armor educates and trains organizations on how to better understand and connect with military-connected individuals: transitioning service members, military spouses, veterans, and their families. Listen to Tina explain how her family’s history of military service and her experiences as a military spouse created opportunities to ensure that veterans and their families reach their full potential.
 
Key Takeaways:
[3:30] Tina shares what motivated her to assist and support veterans and their families.
[9:51] Tina explains how she started Psych/Armor, a nonprofit organization.
[11:17] Psych/Armor’s primary mission is to help connect the military and civilian communities in various ways.
[14:08] Tina shares more about the work accomplished by Psych/Armor.
[16:08] Psych/Armor was funded by a licensed mental health counselor in San Diego who was a civilian.
[17:14] At Psych/Armor, there is a cultural competency requirement to understand the people that they serve.
[18:44] Tina comments on the vast ecosystem that forms Psych/Armor.
[21:46] Psych/Armor’s primary focus is on health equity.
[23:17] Colonel Sam expands on the two common narratives from our society’s perspective on veterans: Veterans are either super soldiers or broken soldiers.
[25:20] Psych/Armor is made by a cross-generational Team.
[29:43] Tina received an award from SAMHSA (The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration).
[30:17] Tina discusses the concept of wellness and its importance for the veteran community.
[33:51] Tina shares her call to action with anyone wanting to help the veteran community.
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Dixon Center: Reaching America
At Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, we believe our veterans and military families can succeed where they live.
Dixon Center is named after Staff Sergeant Donnie Dixon, who was killed in action on September 29, 2007, in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Dixon was a father, husband, and Soldier who always placed the mission first and the safety of his fellow Soldiers above his own. Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services stands as a testament to his example and leadership.
Dixon Center on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
 
Visit Psych/Armor
 
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Wellness Initiative envisions a future in which people pursue health, happiness, recovery, and a full and satisfying life in the community. Below are brief descriptions of each dimension of wellness. Being able to balance these eight dimensions is a foundation for positive outcomes for veterans and their families. To learn more, visit Creating a Healthier Life.
Physical Wellness: A healthy body. Good physical health habits. Nutrition, exercise, and appropriate health care. These make up the physical dimension of wellness.
Intellectual Wellness: keeping our brains active and our intellect expanding … reading, taking a class at your local community college, and engaging in debate/discussions.
Financial Wellness: proactively managing your income, debt, and savings, as well as increasing your understanding of financial processes and resources.
Environmental Wellness: being in a safe, supportive environment, having a place that you can call home. An environment where you can live, learn, and thrive.
Spiritual Wellness: a broad concept that represents one’s personal beliefs and values and involves having meaning, purpose, and a sense of balance and peace.
Social Wellness: involves having healthy relationships with friends, family, and the community, and having an interest in and concern for the needs of others and humankind.
Occupational Wellness: involves participating in activities that provide meaning and purpose and reflect personal values, interests, and beliefs, including employment.
Emotional Wellness: involves the ability to express feelings, adjust to emotional challenges, cope with life

In today’s episode, Col. Sam Whitehurst (Ret.), your host, is joined by 
Carl Cricco, the CEO of K9 For Warriors, and John Tappen, a Navy veteran who has directly felt the impact of K9 for Warriors in supporting veterans and their families.
K9 for Warriors is the largest provider of service dogs to military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or military sexual trauma. Carl shares K9’s history, approach, and impact, and John, as someone who has a service dog from K9s for warriors, shares his inspiring story and how his dog, Henry, made all the difference in the world for him on his journey of healing with honor.
 
Key Takeaways:
[2:03] Col. Sam Whitehurst (Ret.) explains what Heal with Honor is about.
[4:02] Carl shares the background for K9 for Warriors.
[6:15] Carl talks about 9/11 being the second worst day of his life.
[8:03] John shares his perspective about K9 for Warriors.
[12:38]  How are dogs selected? What kind of training do they go through?
[14:24] John talks about his experience with a service dog.
[15:51] Carl describes the K9 for Warriors program.
[17:58] John talks about the science that backs up the importance of the connection between veterans and service dogs.
[19:26] Carl talks about the legislation that helps to connect a service dog to a veteran.
[21:02] John shares his words with all those struggling veterans: Ask for help; you are not alone.
[25:07] John and Carl share their call to action with all military veterans. 
[27:14] Donate to K9 For Warriors,
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Dixon Center: Reaching America
At Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, we believe our veterans and military families can succeed where they live.
Dixon Center is named after Staff Sergeant Donnie Dixon, who was killed in action on September 29, 2007, in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Dixon was a father, husband, and Soldier who always placed the mission first and the safety of his fellow Soldiers above his own. Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services stands as a testament to his example and leadership.
Dixon Center on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and  Instagram
 
Learn more about Heal with Honor. 
 
Tweetables and quotes:
“K9s prevent veterans to fall into suicidal ideation.”
 
“When you are not seeing any progress, suicidal ideation is inevitable.”
“My scars were not visible, I thought I didn't deserve a service dog, but getting one saved my life.”
 
“It takes 6 months for a dog to get the proper training to become a service dog.”
 
“82% of veterans with service dogs had a reduction in their suicidal ideation, and 90% have a reduction in their medication dependency.”
 

In today’s episode, Col. Sam Whitehurst (Ret.), your host, is joined by Joshua Caldwell and Stephen Camelio. Joshua and Stephen are the director and writer of the new film Mending the Line. Joshua and Stephen discuss their new movie, which will be launched in theaters on June 9th, 2023. Mending the Line is the story of a marine who’s been wounded in Afghanistan and has now been sent to a VA facility in Montana, where he meets a Vietnam veteran who teaches him how to fly fish to deal with his emotional and physical trauma.
 
Key Takeaways:
[5:23] What brought Stephen to this particular subject?
[7:42] Joshua shares his motivation to get involved in the topic of veterans.
[10:10] Actual veterans participated in the movie; how could they contribute to the project?
[14:35] Stephen shares what surprised him during the research for the movie.
[16:02] Joshua speaks of their partnering with the marine.
[18:40] Joshua opens up about what surprised him about what it meant for a soldier to get wounded in war.
[22:11] Col. Sam Whitehurst (Ret.) highlights the character’s fear of losing his identity.
[22:52] Military is not the whole story; it is just a chapter.
[24:08] Being wounded is a forced exit from the military.
[25:43] Stephen talks about the research he did on PTSD.
[28:30] The movie shows the separation between Vietnam veterans and the post 9/11 and how they need each other to heal.
[32:50] Joshua talks about a particular character: Lucy.
[34:57] Col. Sam Whitehurst (Ret.) singles out the character who really connected with him.
[36:10] Stephen shares what he considers the best scene in the movie.
[37:33] Joshua clarifies it was never their intention to demonize the VA.
[40:21] Col. Sam Whitehurst (Ret.) discusses his favorite scene.
[43:55] What is next for Mending the Line?
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Dixon Center: Reaching America
At Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, we believe our veterans and military families can succeed where they live.
Dixon Center is named after Staff Sergeant Donnie Dixon, who was killed in action on September 29, 2007, in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Dixon was a father, husband, and Soldier who always placed the mission first and the safety of his fellow Soldiers above his own. Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services stands as a testament to his example and leadership.
Dixon Center on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
 
Warriors and Quiet Waters
 
Tweetables and quotes:
“After recovering from a wound, you can feel that physically you are ready, but mentally, you are not, and the mental wounds are the dominating factor.”
 
“Military is not the whole story; it is just a chapter.”
 
“Five percent of active duty military actually see combat; still more than 50% experience PTSD.”
 
“We may not all experienced combat, but we all experience loss at some point in our lives.”