Beyond The Frontline

Normally when you think of a courtroom, a judge and lawyer are what comes to mind, but it takes an entire team to keep everything running smoothly. The Veteran Treatment Court is a special program for Veterans with misdemeanor offenses. 

As Jay and Donna continue on their Veteran Treatment Court series, they talk with Laura Balo, Court Coordinator for Comal County’s Veteran Treatment Court. Laura discusses her role at the Court Coordinator, as well as her continued service in the Navy Reserves as a paralegal; and what she sees as a catalyst, from military to civilian life, that impacts their success in transition.

LAURA’s BIO 

Laura Balo has served in the U.S. Navy Reserves for the past 15 years. Over the past 6 years, she has been working within the Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) in a variety of roles.. She started as a Military Veteran Peer Coordinator, working with Veteran Treatment Court, as a Mentor Coordinator. She moved over to being a case manager for the Hays County Veterans Treatment Court and now is the VTC Coordinator for Comal County. 

Website: https://www.co.comal.tx.us/VTC.htm

Additional links

Veteran Court Pamphlet

Veteran Justice Outreach

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Download on Apple Play and Google Play

Online-Therapy.com ~ Life Changing Therapy Click here for a 20% discount on your first month.

Donna’s Links

Website: www.rebel-llc.com Consulting/Coaching

Book: Warrior to Patriot Citizen (2017)

Blog: Taking Off The Armor

IG: @thetransitioningwarrior

Twitter: @wtpc

FB: The Transitioning Warrior

Jay’s Links

Website: https://j2servantleadership.com/

Book: Breaking Average (2020)

Thank you for listening! Be sure to SHARE, LIKE and leave us a REVIEW!

As Donna and Jay continue their series on Veteran Treatment Court, they look at the resources within the Veteran Treatment Court. One of the important aspects of helping our Veterans to move forward is to have a strong peer mentoring program. 

Mike Fogerty is the Peer Service Coordinator for the Military Veteran Peer Network (MVPN). He works to recruit, educate and match mentors with Veterans in the Treatment Court. Donna and Jay talk with Mike about his Veteran background, how he became involved in the MVPN, and role of the mentors, and their importance. 

Mike’s Bio

Mike retired after 20+ years as an Air Force Navigator, with the majority of his time on AWACS. In his last years in the military he was at Randolph AFB teaching new navigators in the Nav Training School.

After retirement, he spent 16 years as a teacher, with the last 6 focused on Special Ed kids.

He went on to a new adventure and spent 3 1/2 years as office manager Canyon Lake Mental Health clinic (Hill Country MHDD). Seven months ago he took training through the Texas Veteran Commission and added on Military Veteran Peer Network Coordinator (MVPN) Peer Service Coordinator (PSC) to his office manager title.

Mike’s Contact Information

Email: [email protected]

Work Cell: (737)221-1494

To Find a Peer Service Coordinator or learn more about the MVPN program in Texas please visit the Veteran Mental Health website.

Veteran Justice Outreach

Tune into our CHW Streaming Radio and the full lineup at cominghomewell.com

Download on Apple Play and Google Play

Online-Therapy.com ~ Life Changing Therapy Click here for a 20% discount on your first month.

Donna’s Links

Website: www.rebel-llc.com Consulting/Coaching

Book: Warrior to Patriot Citizen (2017)

Blog: Taking Off The Armor

IG: @thetransitioningwarrior

Twitter: @wtpc

FB: The Transitioning Warrior

Jay’s Links

Website: https://j2servantleadership.com/

Book: Breaking Average (2020)

Thank you for listening! Be sure to SHARE, LIKE and leave us a REVIEW!

As Veterans, we are all aware of the difficulties transition poses. Sometimes, Veterans are coming out with unhealed trauma so severe it is leading them to make decisions that result in legal issues.

Fortunately, the civilian legal system saw that these Veterans were struggling from military trauma and decided to offer them a second chance. In 2013, the Veteran Treatment Court was established. Since then, most counties in every state have implemented this program.

In 2015, Judge Stephens saw the need and established a VTC for Comal County in Texas.

Donna and Jay talk with Judge Stephens about Veteran Treatment Court, what led him to bring it to his county, how it is structured, and what the future looks like. You’ll also learn a few fun facts about Judge Stephens throughout the podcast. Trust us, you’ll be surprised.

Judge Stephens Bio

Judge, Comal County Court at Law #2 - January 1, 2004 - present - a General Jurisdiction Court

Law Office of Charles A. Stephens, II - September 1, 1989 - December 31, 2003 - a General Law Practice

Smith, Barshop, Stoffer and Millsap - June 1984 - August 31, 1989 - Civil Litigation

1984 - Juris Doctor from St. Mary's University School of Law

1981 - Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin

Raised in Odessa, Texas

Website: https://www.co.comal.tx.us/CCL2.htm

FB - Charles Stephens

IG - @CCAL2JUDGE

Twitter - @ccal2

Veteran Justice Outreach

Tune into our CHW Streaming Radio and the full lineup at cominghomewell.com

Download on Apple Play and Google Play

Online-Therapy.com ~ Life Changing Therapy Click here for a 20% discount on your first month.

Donna’s Links

Website: www.rebel-llc.com Consulting/Coaching

Book: Warrior to Patriot Citizen (2017)

Blog: Taking Off The Armor

IG: @thetransitioningwarrior

Twitter: @wtpc

FB: The Transitioning Warrior

Jay’s Links

Website: https://j2servantleadership.com/

Book: Breaking Average (2020)

Thank you for listening! Be sure to SHARE, LIKE and leave us a REVIEW!

We never know how resilient we are until we meet challenges in our life. Donna and Jay catch up and discuss the various ways people show resilience. They reflect on the previous episodes and talk about the amazing people they had the honor to sit down and talk with. 

Listen all the way through as Donna talks about growing up with a very unusual pet and Jay’s reason on why men are so dramatic when they get colds...lol. 

Want to know what is coming up for Beyond The Frontline new series? Donna and Jay give a sneak preview of their future episodes.

Tune into our CHW Streaming Radio and the full lineup at cominghomewell.com

Download on Apple Play and Google Play

Online-Therapy.com ~ Life Changing Therapy Click here for a 20% discount on your first month.

Donna’s Links

Website: www.rebel-llc.com Consulting/Coaching

Book: Warrior to Patriot Citizen (2017)

Blog: Taking Off The Armor

IG: @thetransitioningwarrior

Twitter: @wtpc

FB: The Transitioning Warrior

Jay’s Links

Website: https://j2servantleadership.com/

Book: Breaking Average (2020)

Thank you for listening! Be sure to SHARE, LIKE and leave us a REVIEW!

"Your life does not have to be defined by the things you go through, but really what defines you is what you grow through."~ Tami

Resiliency is not developed during calm times. Resiliency occurs when you are in the midst of the storm and have no other option but to get through it. It is only when you reflect, you see how much you have grown.

Tami Imlay has definitely grown through many things. The toughest one for her and her family was 28 March 2012. Dee Imlay, her childhood sweetheart, husband, and father of their two children, and fighter pilot, was killed during deployment. Tami tapped into the skills she acquired as a former military officer to navigate herself and her children through the murky waters of grief.

Jay and Donna sit down with Tami and talk about her journey from tragedy to triumph. She talks about how she took her grief and hardship and channeled it into her current coaching and podcasting business and offers hope for others going through similar circumstances.

Tami’s BIO

Tami Imlay is the owner of Tami Marie Coaching and Host of Her Restored Spirit Podcast. Tami is an Air Force Veteran and an Air Force Widow. She is “Mom” to two amazing teenagers. She believes that there is opportunity and hope in every circumstance and hardship and knows that it is her God-given purpose to help women discover their strengths, uncover the best version of themselves, and create a life they are excited about. Tami took “knowledge is power” to another level as she guides people to understand why they do what they do and how to remove old stories or habits that are keeping them stuck. Blending her knowledge and experience as a therapist, project management and leadership in the Air Force, and her passion for changing the future, she has stepped into her God-given purpose as a Breakthrough Coach. As a Master Certified NeuroCoach and a Master Certified Enneagram coach, Tami helps women breakthrough old patterns and beliefs and create passion for the next season of life. 

Tami’s Contact Info

Website: www.tamimariecoaching.com

Podcast: Her Restored Spirit 

FB/IG @tamimariecoaching 

pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tamimariecoaching/

Donna’s Links

Website: www.rebel-llc.com

Book: Warrior to Patriot Citizen (2017)

Blog: Taking Off

Tune into our CHW Streaming Radio and the full lineup at cominghomewell.com

Download on Apple Play and Google Play

Online-Therapy.com ~ Life Changing Therapy Click here for a 20% discount on your first month.

Donna’s Links

Website: www.rebel-llc.com Consulting/Coaching

Book: Warrior to Patriot Citizen (2017)

Blog: Taking Off The Armor

IG: @thetransitioningwarrior

Twitter: @wtpc

FB: The Transitioning Warrior

Jay’s Links

Website: https://j2servantleadership.com/

Book: Breaking Average (2020)

Thank you for listening! Be sure to SHARE, LIKE and leave us a REVIEW!

On 27 Nov 2006, Ginger Gilbert Ravella had the run pulled out from under her and her world came crashing down. Her husband, Major Troy Gilbert, was an F16 pilot from the 309th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Arizona. He was deployed to Balad and during a close air-support mission to a special operations forces about 40 miles north his plane crashed. Insurgents took the body as a war trophy and it would be 10 years before he was found and brought back home. Ginger was left to raise 5 children, all under the age of 9, and rebuild their lives. 

Jay and Donna sit down with Ginger as she tells her story on what it took to come back after having her world turned upside down; what she is doing now to give back; and what advice she has for those that have walked in similar shoes.

Ginger’s Bio

Ginger Gilbert Ravella is a military wife and widow, mother of five, stepmother of two, writer and international speaker. At 36 years old, she faced the sudden tragic loss of her college-sweetheart husband in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the horrors that quickly followed. Her late husband, Major Troy Gilbert, an Air Force F-16 pilot, gave his life while saving over twenty Special Operation soldiers, defining a true American war hero. His remains were tragically taken from the crash site by Iraqi insurgents, which ultimately led to the most unprecedented and captivating story of recovery in U.S. military history. Major Gilbert left behind five beautiful children, all under the age of 9 years old. Ginger’s openly genuine testimony of wrestling with God in the midst of despair and depression resonates with those who question their faith and future in the face of tragedy. Their private pain became front-page news time and time again over the amazing ten-year journey of bringing Troy home to U.S. soil. 

Contact Information

Websites

https://www.theanchorofhope.com/ 

https://www.neveralonewidows.com/team 

https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/team/ambassadors-council 

Tune into our CHW Streaming Radio and the full lineup at cominghomewell.com

Download on Apple Play and Google Play

Online-Therapy.com ~ Life Changing Therapy Click here for a 20% discount on your first month.

Donna’s Links

Website: www.rebel-llc.com Consulting/Coaching

Book: Warrior to Patriot Citizen (2017)

Blog: Taking Off The Armor

IG: @thetransitioningwarrior

Twitter: @wtpc

FB: The Transitioning Warrior

Jay’s Links

Website: https://j2servantleadership.com/

Book: Breaking Average (2020)

Thank you for listening! Be sure to SHARE, LIKE and leave us a REVIEW!

Ever since Patrick Kelly can remember, he has always had the mindset to do better. He attributes a lot of this mindset to being brought up in a life of scarcity, and a grandfather that planted a seed of resiliency. 

It was his words that carried him through numerous difficult situations with grace and honor. Those words that still carry him through every trying situation he encounters.

In 2017, he was overweight, wheelchair bound, and on a multitude of pain medication to manage his chronic pain. He was at one of his lowest points in life. Over the next year he made a choice to do better and managed to get off everyone of his pain medications.

Join Donna and Jay, as they talk to Patrick about what led him to the USMC; how he overcame numerous injuries that eventually led him to a wheelchair; and how his athleticism, martial arts, Marines, and the words his grandfather shared with him were all contributors to his resilient mindset.

Patrick’s Bio

Patrick grew up in Plattsburg, NY and was very active as a marathoner, body builder, and martial arts. He served actively in the Marines from 1977 - 1985. He has been involved with martial arts since he was a child. He is currently a 5th dang in Qwan Ki Do and can teach the martial art in 30 countries.

He is involved with numerous events to include recumbent bike cycling competitions, skiing, sled hockey, boating, and archery. For the past year he has been a participant in adaptive cycling with Operation Comfort and actively competing in cycling events. He has been married to his amazing wife Andi since 2019.

Contact Info

FB: Paris Kelly

Tune into our CHW Streaming Radio and the full lineup at cominghomewell.com

Download on Apple Play and Google Play

Online-Therapy.com ~ Life Changing Therapy Click here for a 20% discount on your first month.

Donna’s Links

Website: www.rebel-llc.com Consulting/Coaching

Book: Warrior to Patriot Citizen (2017)

Blog: Taking Off The Armor

IG: @thetransitioningwarrior

Twitter: @wtpc

FB: The Transitioning Warrior

Jay’s Links

Website: https://j2servantleadership.com/

Book: Breaking Average (2020)

Thank you for listening! Be sure to SHARE, LIKE and leave us a REVIEW!

Oh how life can change direction in an instant.

 In today's episode Donna and Jay are joined by Jeff Caroon, a veteran with 32 years as a dual status member with the Air National Guard. Jeff maintained his love for service and being a maintenance specialist and flight engineer, however, an unfortunate chain of events led Jeff on a 5+ year journey of medical twists and turns. 

Tune in as Jeff talks about how he managed to stay positive when there was very little good news and how he came out on the other side to live his best life that he so deserves.

Contact Information

Twitter - @JeffC75822093

Website: hcaroon.cbharper.com

Tune into our CHW Streaming Radio and the full lineup at cominghomewell.com

Download on Apple Play and Google Play

Online-Therapy.com ~ Life Changing Therapy Click here for a 20% discount on your first month.

Donna’s Links

Website: www.rebel-llc.com Consulting/Coaching

Book: Warrior to Patriot Citizen (2017)

Blog: Taking Off The Armor

IG: @thetransitioningwarrior

Twitter: @wtpc

FB: The Transitioning Warrior

Jay’s Links

Website: https://j2servantleadership.com/

Book: Breaking Average (2020)

Thank you for listening! Be sure to SHARE, LIKE and leave us a REVIEW!

Who is your favorite superhero? Superman? Spiderman? Batman? After you listen to this podcast, it will probably be Matt Cable. 

After battling Leukemia, which included systemic organ failure, relapse, a battle with a brain fungus, and enough rounds of chemo to kill off a small horse, there is not much that gets Matt down. Especially, when he beat the odds that told him he should not even exist today.

Join Jay and Donna as they sit down with this Air Force Security Forces and Titan Game Veteran to talk about his story. How he leaned on others when he needed to, but also listened to what he needed the most…even when others were skeptical.

Find out what Matt believes, not only kept him sane during his relentless fight against cancer, but was a big reason he is still here today. 

Listen to the end to find out another odd he beat just over a year ago.

Matt’s Contact Information

Instagram- mattcable_

Facebook- Matt Cable

Links to Resources

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6315816871112 

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/6315908492112 

https://www.muscleandfitness.com/athletes-celebrities/pro-tips/american-serviceman-matt-cable-battles-to-survive/ 

https://yolked.com/blogs/news/matt-cable 

https://reservenationalguard.com/reserve-guard-health/crossfitting-through-cancer-former-titan-games-competitor-matt-cable-talks-athletic-hustle/amp/ 

https://m.facebook.com/DwayneJohnson/videos/titan-games-contestant-matt-cable/2111353088927131/ 

https://www.nbc.com/the-titan-games/video/jon-brascetta-vs-matt-cable-herculean-pull/3904106 

https://www.imdb.com/video/vi3106520345/ 

Donna’s Links

Website: www.rebel-llc.com

Book:

Tune into our CHW Streaming Radio and the full lineup at cominghomewell.com

Download on Apple Play and Google Play

Online-Therapy.com ~ Life Changing Therapy Click here for a 20% discount on your first month.

Donna’s Links

Website: www.rebel-llc.com Consulting/Coaching

Book: Warrior to Patriot Citizen (2017)

Blog: Taking Off The Armor

IG: @thetransitioningwarrior

Twitter: @wtpc

FB: The Transitioning Warrior

Jay’s Links

Website: https://j2servantleadership.com/

Book: Breaking Average (2020)

Thank you for listening! Be sure to SHARE, LIKE and leave us a REVIEW!

We’ve all heard the saying “Life is about choices.” Although it is tempting to point a finger to negative experiences, bad people, or peer pressure, it is still up to us to pick the path to move forward on their journey.

James Eastland is a Marine, Veteran, ultramarathoner, and entrepreneur. However, he really should be a statistic. His biological father was sent to jail when he was 11 and released when James was 46. He had a few years with an engaged step dad, but that was lost when his mom divorced him. He lived in the projects with a single, struggling mother and older brother. During these years he and his brother survived severe childhood abuse. 

It was a few caring people, a pastor and a youth group that helped guide him on the right path. He watched his older brother make choices with outcomes leading him to murder their grandmother and spending the majority of his life in jail. It only reinforced his choices to make the best life possible. 

Join Jay and Donna as they talk with James about his childhood, his journey into adulthood, and the choices that led him to where he is currently in his life. They will focus on resilience, discuss how each of us have the ability to choose the life we envision, and the work he is doing to give back to his community.

Listen to the end to learn how you can get involved with James's fundraising event https://www.facebook.com/groups/BattleoftheFives

Jame’s Bio

Husband, Father, Endurance Athlete, All-Marine Ultra Marathoner (41st out of 14,241 in the 2001 Marine Corps Marathon), 2016 Ironman Coeur d'Alene Finisher, 2022 TransAmerica Bicycle Race Top 10 Finisher (4,176 miles), RV Park Owner (Sergeant's RV Park-Canyon Lake, TX), and Fundraiser for Operation Float-A-Soldier and The Canyon Lake Girls Softball Association. 

Website: www.SergeantsRvPark.com

Donna’s Links

Website: www.rebel-llc.com

Book: Warrior to Patriot Citizen (2017)

Blog: Taking Off The Armor

IG: @thetransitioningwarrior

Twitter: @wtpc

FB: The Transitioning Warrior

Jay’s Links

Website: https://j2servantleadership.com/

Book: Breaking Average (2020)

Tune into our CHW Streaming Radio and the full lineup at cominghomewell.com

Download on Apple Play and Google Play

Online-Therapy.com ~ Life Changing Therapy Click here for a 20% discount on your first month.

Donna’s Links

Website: www.rebel-llc.com Consulting/Coaching

Book: Warrior to Patriot Citizen (2017)

Blog: Taking Off The Armor

IG: @thetransitioningwarrior

Twitter: @wtpc

FB: The Transitioning Warrior

Jay’s Links

Website: https://j2servantleadership.com/

Book: Breaking Average (2020)

Thank you for listening! Be sure to SHARE, LIKE and leave us a REVIEW!