Freedom Isn't Free Podcast

While sexual harassment in the military has always been an issue, recently, the floodgates have opened as more women—and some men—are emboldened to tell their stories. In some instances, these alleged events occurred years and even decades ago, and were repeated over a period of time.

Why didn’t the victims or witnesses speak up earlier? Why does it appear that those in positions of power, with knowledge of these acts, failed to intervene?

Military sexual trauma thrives in a culture of silence.

On the anniversary of Vanessa Guillen's death, there is a push from members of Congress to pass a bill to reform the way the military handles sexual assault and harassment allegations. The "I Am Vanessa Guillen" act seeks to create an independent system where service members can safely report sexual misconduct cases without fear of retaliation and move prosecution decisions out of the chain of command. It would also make sexual harassment a punishable crime under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

There is no such thing as race. Only when we take the time to understand and appreciate the unique points of view of others can we make meaningful change.

Military children change schools up to nine times between the start of kindergarten and high school graduation.  With each move, we struggle with difficult goodbyes and the challenge of making new friends.  Although life in a military family can include exploring new places and exposure to other cultures, it can often bring frustration and loneliness.

Many women Veterans face challenges when returning to civilian life, including raising children on their own or dealing with the aftereffects of military sexual trauma. Without intervention, these and other issues can put women Veterans at greater risk of homelessness.

The "Proudly She Served Portrait Series" presents a beautiful and powerful statement of military and veteran women, who exemplify noble qualities. These 12 heroes have made an impact through their service to our country and continue to inspire in our communities.

If you need a cup of coffee in the morning, then look no further. Tisha Cobbs with Fyt2Live is the exact jolt you'll need. She dropped several gems on selfcare that we all should follow especially during current climate.

Are you relocating to Virginia? If so, Your Northern Virginia realtor, Dolo stopped by to drop a couple gems. She works with service members and their families and veterans to find the housing solutions that best suit their needs and to take full advantage of available benefits and support.

For the month of March, we are celebrating Women's History Month! Althea Williams is kicking us off with all things "Women Veterans". She is the connector and bridging the gap for women that are transitioning out of the military and are need of resources.

We continued our discussion with Jose Belen to cover important topics from transitioning out of the military to joining a community of activism. He is fully engaged with supporting and moving the agenda forward for saving our veterans lives.

This episode is dedicated to Antoine D. Smith, a fallen solider, who was killed in action in the battle to take Fallujah.

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