In this episode of It's A Veteran's Life, hosted by Mike Turbyfill, a veteran guest details their experience before, during, and after their military service. Inspired to join the military after 9/11, the guest shares the motivations and challenges faced, including family reactions and the rigors of basic training at Fort Benning. They discuss multiple deployments, the camaraderie within the service, and the difficulties faced during operations, especially in OIF 1 and later missions. Post service, the veteran talks about the struggles with mental health, homelessness, and the inadequate support received from the VA. They also touch on the transition to civilian life, the significance of support systems, and advice for prospective and current military members. Through personal anecdotes and valuable lessons learned, this episode sheds light on the realities of military life and the importance of mental health awareness and support for veterans.
00:00 Introduction to Foxtrot Uniform
00:33 Deciding to Join the Military
01:37 Family Reactions and Basic Training
05:11 Deployment Experiences and Reflections
09:32 Encounters and Reunions
16:11 Leadership and Command Challenges
24:31 Reflections on Military Service
25:32 Military Influence on Values and Beliefs
25:46 Life Before and After Joining the Military
26:32 Experiences in Arizona and Mexico
27:32 Mental Health Challenges and Military Response
30:44 Struggles with Homelessness and Trust Issues
32:06 Seeking Support and VA Experiences
33:40 Advice for Veterans and Service Members
38:49 Transition to Civilian Life and VA Benefits
43:55 Helping the Next Generation of Veterans
49:41 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Popular Podcasts
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com