Diapers & Deployments The SkillMil Podcast

So you're done with with military service but you aren't quite done volunteering yet? Maybe you've done research about the Peace Corps before? Maybe you know very little about it? This goes for Mike and Serena, they had an idea what the Peace Corps was about but had never gotten the details! Taylor Majher, Peace Corps Regional Recruiter of South Florida, speaks with them about her experience in Guatemala as a Peace Corps volunteer.

"The Peace Corps is a service opportunity for motivated changemakers to immerse themselves in a community abroad, working side by side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges of our generation."

Peacecorps.org

If you've heard it once, you've heard it 100 times, its all about who you know!

On todays show, we talk with Bruce Thompson, Vice President of Vets2Industry. Vets2Industry provides a free resource library for the military community – active, guard, reserve, veteran, military-spouse, dependent children, Blue-Star & Gold-Star Families, and caregivers – so they know which organizations provide free services and benefits. V2I also serves to break the circle of ignorance by listing companies that have opportunities for veterans, those that have specific military hiring programs, those that are on the 100 Military Friendly companies list, and those that selflessly provide Fortune 500 mentors for a year to transitioning service members through their partnership with American Corporate Partners.

#HOW_CAN_I_HELP #PAY_IT_FORWARD

It's hard being the new kid on the block. It's extra hard when your family is uprooted from a place you call home and tossed to the opposite coast to try and make a strange place home again. Not just within your new four walls either, you have to find a new job, make new friends, find new doctors and *GASP* find new emergency contacts for your kids school forms! Have you ever heard of Blue Star Families? We hadn't either! So today we have Wendy Layton, Chapter Director for Blue Star Families in Jacksonville, on the show.

"The families of our all-volunteer military make unprecedented sacrifices these days to serve our country. Blue Star Families was founded by military spouses in 2009 to empower these families to thrive as they serve. We're committed to strengthening military families by connecting them with their neighbors – individuals and organizations – to create vibrant communities of mutual support. We believe we're all stronger when we take care of one another."

If you're serving for a little while longer, or you're ready to volunteer some of your time and advice as a seasoned spouse, you won't want to miss this episode.

www.bluestarfam.org

I think its safe to say, a lot people think of the American Legion as a place for old comrades to enjoy a drink together. We are here to enlighten you, the American Legion is way more than what meets the eye! The American Legion's mission statement, is "To enhance the well-being of America's veterans, their families, our military, and our communities by our devotion to mutual helpfulness". On todays episode, Joseph C. Sharpe, Jr., Director of Veterans Employment and Education, fills us in on some of the programs the American Legion has to offer to their members.

https://www.legion.org/

On this epsiode of SkillMil's Diapers and Deployments, we dive in head first with guests from Advocate Health Advisors. We chat with Christina Lonigro, Veterans Initiatives Specialist and COL Cullen Wright, Retired, Veteran's Initiatives Director.

The Advocate Health Advisors is Veteran owned and operated. Their mission is to help fellow Veterans with VA benefits and Medicare benefits and coordinate them to maximize care and minimize costs. Across the country, they help Veterans enjoy the peace of mind that comes from receiving the care they need at rates they can afford. You wont want to miss this episode!

www.advocatehealthadvisors.com

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics provide confidential therapy services to post-9/11 veterans, family members and loved ones. The Cohen Clinics provide veterans and their families with high-quality, accessible care, regardless of discharge status or role in service. At Cohen Clinics, they make sure there are no barriers to care. Serving people from ages 3-90 years old.

Mike and Serena get the opportunity to speak to Brigadier General (ret) Michael Fleming, Outreach Director for the Cohen Clinic at Centerstone in Jacksonville, FL. On the show he provides details on how to get high quality mental health-care at various locations across the United States.

www.cohenveteransnetwork.org

Content/Trigger Warning : PTSD & Suicide/Veteran Suicide

On this episode of Diapers and Deployments, Mike and Serena get to chat with veteran and singer/song writer Shannon Book from http://linktr.ee/ShannonBookMusic. "He is working on a complete collection of original songs reflecting his time in combat, injuries (both physical and emotional), and living with the aftermath of war. He hopes his music will help to educate military families and civilians, as well as help to heal those that have shared in some of the same experiences."

https://deliberatelybroken.com/about/

Starting in 2018, every penny earned from his hit song Not Alone goes to help combat veteran suicide.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255

On this episode of Diapers and Deployments, Michael and Serena discus how SkillMil plays a key role in your civilian job search, and how to wash dirty laundry.

Serena introduces Mike to her friend Jenna Young, a Military Student Transition Consultant, and she fills us in on her role as MCEC and the resources available to military children as they transition to a new school and community.

April is designated as the Month of the Military Child. It is part of the legacy left by former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. The Month of the Military Child is a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome. “Purple Up! For Military Kids” is a day for DoDEA Communities to wear purple to show support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices. Purple indicates that all branches of the military are supported.

Have you ever wanted to start you own business? Did you know there are loans available specifically for Veterans wanting to start their own business? Neither did Mike and Serena!

On this episode, they interview Natalie Hall, an Economic Development Specialist with the Small Business Administration. The SBA provides assistance for those that are looking to start, grow, and finance their small business, and Natalie tells all about it.

Serena is still keeping the mermaid tattoo under wraps despite listeners requests, and Mike is breaking the bank dressing his kids in Hey Dudes!

This week on Diapers and Deployments Serena learns who she’s NOT going to call for moving help, scams on LinkedIn and Mike's bright idea for Elon Musk.

In a single night, over 37,000 Veterans experience homelessness across the United States. Sharon Lynn Unger from Veterans Village of Northeast Florida is trying to reduce those numbers with a 125 acre tiny house community for homeless veterans. On today’s show she introduces us to her plans for helping veterans off the streets and integrated back into society and the work force. http://www.facebook.com/VVNEFL