Lt. Colonel Jodi Pritchard (USAF): Combat Flight Nurse | Never Stop Believing In Yourself | Built Not Born Podcast

💫 "I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. And that's what my father helped me with - he led me in the right direction. The biggest team there is, is the United States military." - Lt. Colonel Jodi Pritchard

Featured in James Patterson's #1 New York Times bestseller "Walk In My Combat Boots: True Stories from America's Bravest Warriors," Lt. Colonel Jodi Pritchard (USAF) shares her remarkable journey from a West Virginia farm to becoming a distinguished Air Force flight nurse and CCAT (Critical Care Air Transport) team leader.

Episode Highlights:

⏱️ Time Stamps:

[00:00] - Introduction and family military legacy

[03:45] - First deployment to Operation Enduring Freedom

[07:30] - Powerful story of transporting wounded and fallen soldiers

[12:15] - Experience of taking fire while landing in Baghdad

[16:20] - The mindset required at age 22 in combat situations

[21:30] - Story of soldiers' resilience and brotherhood

[26:45] - Mental health challenges and breaking the stigma

[32:15] - The importance of decompression after deployment

[37:30] - The meaning behind her memorial tattoo

[42:15] - Advice for aspiring military medical personnel

[45:30] - The importance of remaining humble

[48:45] - Behind the scenes with James Patterson and the book

Key Topics Discussed:

🎖️ Four generations of military service in her family

🚁 20+ years as a medevac flight nurse

🏥 Critical missions transporting wounded warriors

💪 Mental resilience and PTSD awareness

🌟 Leadership lessons from combat experience

Notable Quotes:

"You're the best part of their worst day." - On being a medivac flight nurse

"Never stop believing in yourself." - Lt. Col. Jodi Pritchard

Book Feature:

Lt. Colonel Pritchard's story is featured in James Patterson's & Matt Eversmann's "Walk In My Combat Boots" (2021), which shares 45 powerful stories from America's service members. Her profile particularly focuses on her critical missions during Operation Enduring Freedom and her role in medical evacuations.

Connect & Follow: Lt. Col. Jodi Pritchard:

🎙️ Built Not Born Podcast

📚 "Walk In My Combat Boots" by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann

🎬 IG: Lt. Col. Jodi Pritchard

🎬 Facebook: Lt. Col. Jodi Pritchard

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