HeroFront

Like something straight out of a movie - part 2 of Tori's journey goes into the inspiring story of how Tori fought to adopt two of her younger sisters who were thrust into foster care after their father was imprisoned...And how they navigated life with their new overnight family, their new norm, and new way of life.

Conversation time-stamps and YouTube hyperlinks. 

0:00 - Intro

2:45 - The video of Tori's adoption surprise!

4:45 - The return to work "I was a shell of a person"

7:11 - Veterans Mental Health Support Group

8:10 - The vulnerability in asking "are you ok?"

9:45 - "Grief shared is grief divided"

11:40 - A major crossroad

12:45 - The foster care system explained

14:30 - The phone call the changed everything...again

17:05 - Overnight mother to four children

19:45 - Cystic Fibrosis

23:30 - An excruciating decision

28:00 - Adoption announcement

30:40 - Random Acts of Kindness - RAKs for Gabriel

34:45 - Master Resiliency Trainers are the best!

36:14 - Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

38:00 - "The cure for the pain...is through the pain"

39:35 - Gabe's Legacy

43:00 - Why I love Tori so much!

44:42 - The REAL Heroes of the story

46:25 - how to support RAKs for Gabriel

48:05 - My after-thoughts on this episode and reading the very first HeroFront review by Command Chief Caleb Vaden.

Rates of stress and anxiety are increasing and it’s estimated that 1 in 4 of us will experience mental health problems at some point in our lives. HEROBITES is a bi-weekly podcast clip for your mid-week motivation jump-start to inspire or educate you with former guests insights. Today’s clip is from episode 24 featuring Army Veteran and author, Virginia Cruse in which we hear her own personal PTSD story.

Virginia Cruse enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1997 where she trained in interrogation and linguistics. As an Arabic speaker, she served a panoply of tactical units in Ramadi, Iraq from 2003-2004 and subsequently served as a defense contractor and Department of Defense Civilian overseas. Virginia was selected as one of two Direct Commission Officers for the Mid-Atlantic Region in 2008 and served as a HUMINT officer supporting Naval Special Warfare and the Naval War College.  Virginia transitioned to the mental health field in 2013 as a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in Military Issues and Combat-Related Trauma.   Virginia is a Combat Veteran, a published researcher, and author of The Veteran’s Guide to PTSD: How to No-Shit Reclaim Your Life.  The Soldier's Guide to PTSD: A No-Sh*t Guide to Reclaiming Your Life https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734806710/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_H0QP9ZT5XSAE3E70SMQ0

Victoria Baldwin is a mother,  master resiliency trainer, writer, photographer, and Active Duty TSgt out of Travis Air Force Base, California.   After suffering the devastating loss of her brother to domestic violence, Sgt Baldwin fell back on the skills learned in her resiliency training and rebuilt her life and that of her sisters, becoming a licensed foster parent and eventually adopting two of her siblings.  She and her sisters have since created a non profit endeavor to honor their brother, while simultaneously writing and speaking about what they learned from their loss, and what they wish others knew when it comes to helping those navigate through grief.

This episode was recorded on Feb 24th 2022 - the birthday of Gabriel James Baldwin - This episode was recorded in his honor and legacy.

https://www.facebook.com/RAKsForGabriel

In part one of our conversation we discuss how her brother was tragically killed by the hands of their father and what life looked like afterwards as they picked up the pieces. part two of Tori's journey will be released on 16 March. 

0:00 - Who is Victoria Baldwin?

2:21 - "Live A Life Worth Saving"

4:00 - Start With Why - Purpose

8:20 - When the mentee mentors the mentor

12:00 - 10 birthday cakes donated - why 10?

16:00 - Victoria's story

20:30 - The phone call that changed everything

27:00 - Stuck on a long flight with nothing but...thoughts

30:50 - The internet mob

36:00 - When's the last time you spoke to your father? 

Like something straight out of a movie - part two of Tori's journey will be released on 16 March and will go into the inspiring story of how Tori fought to adopt two of her younger sisters who were thrust into foster care after their father was imprisoned...And how they navigated life with their new overnight family, their new norm, and new way of life.

MSgt Manson joins us on HeroFront to talk about his specific leadership approach - C.A.R.E. - Compassion / Accountability / Respect / Empathy - A powerful acronym you MUST hear about! How he has honed his resiliency, and the incredible gift we need to foster called Diversity and Inclusion. Let's get after it!! (full interview is on Ep 23)

Follow him on Insta!

https://www.instagram.com/supermanson1/

MASTER SERGEANT LaKEITH J. MANSON Sr

Master Sergeant (MSgt) LaKeith J. Manson Sr. serves as the Joint Base Andrews Honor Guard Program Superintendent. He was hand selected to lead a diverse team of roughly 110 Airman and NCO annually from 5 Wings, to include a Geographically Separated Guard Unit in Pittsburgh PA. His duties include training, supervising, and mentoring Airmen to render funeral honors, perform ceremonial functions, while representing all Airman past and present. Additionally he manages a $1.5M facility as well as 10 other programs. The teams AOR stretches 5 states, 113 counties and 55K Square miles. The team conducts approximately 1500 Military Funeral Honors and ceremonies annually, recognizing the service and sacrifice of Veteran, Retiree and Active Duty Service Members. MSgt Manson hails from Monticello, New York and entered the Air Force in October of 1999, graduating from the Aerospace Ground Equipment Maintenance Apprentice technical training course at Sheppard AFB, Texas shortly after. After graduating technical training Sergeant Manson was assigned to the 16 th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL from 2000-2006, before he was selected to become a Military Training Leader (MTL). As an MTL, Sergeant Manson was assigned to the 366 Training Squadron, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. He would spend 4 years at Sheppard before he would again diversify himself by applying for and being chosen to the Selectively Manned 1 st Airlift Squadron Flight Attendant team, Andrews AFB, MD. During his career he has been assigned to various positions within the MTL and Flight Attendant career fields to include, Squadron Master of Drill And Ceremonies, Wing Transition Flight MTL, Flight Attendant Element Leader, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of Unit Training, 89 Operation Group NCOIC of Awards & Special Projects, NCOIC of Squadron Awards and Decorations, C-32/C-40 Special Missions Flight Attendant, Special Missions Instructor Flight Attendant. His assignments included bases in Florida, Texas and Maryland.

Sam Eckholm is a social media content creator and Air Force officer with a passion for creating videos that showcase both the incredible opportunities available in the military as well as some of the coolest aircraft and military technology out there.

Time Stamps

0:00 - Intro

5:30 - What's your "why"?

10:25 - Why Public Affairs is an incredible career

14:20 - Joining the Elite F-22 Demo Team

21:00 - Vape City Baby! (Sam's approach to photography)

23:40 - How to make viral videos

31:00 - Being openly gay in the military and on social media

37:20 - Returning to a normal job after the demo team

42:30 - Why John Mayer is the man!

43:50 - Favorite place to travel to

45:35 - Does content creating get in the way of the experience itself?

48:30 - Who's your biggest mentor?

50:20 - Proudest Air Force moment?

54:10 - My wife and kids crash the show! Literally!

Sam grew up in Dallas, Texas before attending the United States Air Force Academy as a member of the class of 2018. Sam’s first assignment was to Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, where he was selected to travel with the F-22 Raptor Demonstration team for two seasons as their photographer and videographer, documenting the world’s most technologically advanced fighter jet at air shows all across the world.   Sam’s videos have showcased topics such as the thrill of flying in the back seat of an Air Force jet, an exclusive behind the scenes look at how the F-35 is made, and even what it’s like to fire the U.S. Army’s most powerful rocket launcher. To date, Sam has amassed over half a million followers and 55 million views across his social media platforms.

Conversation Time Stamps with Youtube Hyperlinks --> audio/video combo also on Spotify!

0:00 - Hero's Gauntlet

2:35 - Which historical figure would you have lunch with?

11:40 - Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

14:23 - Introspective Thought!!

31:00 - Do we still need each eachother? The power of connection.

37:00 - The secret is PURPOSE

42:10 - Social Media - Good for our Airmen, or society? Or is it toxic?

1:04:48 - Why Professional Development Matters...and why we're missing the mark.

1:20:10 - Why Toxic Leaders seem to be EVERYWHERE these days.

1:31:52 - Final Thoughts and why I love Key so much.

MSgt Oris Key III, is the Manager, Leadership Development, 96th Medical Group, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. As program manager MSgt Key is the single focal point for the personal and professional development of more than 1,500 medical personnel. He provides guidance and leads strategic initiatives to force multiply leaders, strengthen the Medical Group’s culture – ensuring a positive staff and patient experience. Additionally, MSgt Key leads the Medical Group’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion program. Advises organizational leaders and makes recommendations to target and measure organizational change to enhance cultural awareness, and develop the long range effectiveness of a highly trained medical force.

MSgt Key entered the Air Force October 2001 and graduated from the Security Forces Apprentice Course in March of 2002. Thoughout his career, he has held multiple resources and personnel protection position, to include Nuclear Security, and Base Defense Air Advisor. In 2012, MSgt Key was selected to retrain an Aerospace Medical Service Technician. His introduction into the operational medical core started at Brooke Army Medical Center, as an Inpatient Oncology medical technician. Since then he has performed in various clinical and leadership roles to include, Linquest Quality Assurance Officer, Additional Duty First Sergeant and Medical Director - Aerospace Medical Service Apprentice Course.

His assignments include bases in Missouri, Virginia, Korea and Texas, with deployments to the Horn of Africa, the United Arab Emerites, Afghanistan and 3 tours to Iraq supporting Operations Noble Eagle, Northern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve and Resolute Support. His deployment experience ranges from convoy and detainee operations, to law & order and mass casualty response.

MSgt Oris Key III - Leadership Development | Organizational Management | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is what he's passionate about.  Oris is a dedicated and detail-oriented professional with several years of combined experience in Change Management, Leadership Development and Diversity and Inclusion. Successful at leading and directing a diverse workforce to attain results in an efficient manner. Well developed written communication skills facilitate team coordination while simultaneously maintaining strong relationships across all levels of an organization.

please check out Lil Acts!! This non-profit can change the world.

"Our mission is to make the world a better place through small acts of Leadership, Inspiration, and Love. At LIL Acts, we believe that individual action at the lowest level can truly change the world, and we are dedicated to supporting that belief."

LilActs.org

follow them on Facebook and get involved!

https://www.facebook.com/LIL-Acts-104151015511075

Rates of stress and anxiety are increasing and it’s estimated that 1 in 4 of us will experience mental health problems at some point in our lives. HEROBITES is my bi-weekly podcast clip for your mid-week motivation jump-start to inspire or educate you with a former guests insight. Today’s clip is from episode 19 featuring Tiwanda Griffin-Greer in which we hear what happened the day she was trapped in her office with a gun wielding assailant and how she lived to tell about it.

A first-hand witness of an active shooter event that tragically unfolded at Lackland Training Annex in 2016. SMSgt Griffin-Greer discusses struggling with survivor’s guilt, invisible wounds, and giving 100% to the Air Force and her family.

We survive by telling stories: This episode is dedicated to the memory of Lt Col Bill Schroeder, and to honor him for his selfless actions to save the life of a fellow Airman, even if it cost him his own.