Service Before Self Podcast

The U.S. military has a great reputation for their ability to plan, to deal with uncertainty, and to deal with complex and complicated problems. There is one area where the U.S. military does not plan very effectively, where there is a struggle while dealing with uncertainty and often becoming overwhelmed by the complexity of the problem that needs attention. Sam Whitehurst, your host, went through this experience when he retired from the army in 2019; he shares the struggle with every other veteran, facing the moment of unease of thinking what is going to happen next, an aspect that is crucial for the future success and happiness.

Sam welcomes Brian Niswander to today’s episode. Brian is an Air Force veteran and a veteran of working at a Fortune 500 company as well as working in the public sector. Brian is also the founder of Military-Transition.org, an organization that is dedicated to providing information and resources to not only transitioning military members but to military spouses, veterans, and also to employers that want to hire others associated with the military.

Key Takeaways:

[2:11] Sam suggests everyone who becomes part of the U.S. military service to think from the beginning about what the future will look like after retiring.

[4:57] Bryan talks about his background and how Military-Transition.org started.

[7:33] What are some of the common mistakes that service members make during their transition?

[9:17] What does Military-Transition.org provide to veterans?

[14:06] How do you translate what you did in the army when transitioning to the civilian sector?

[15:37] Brian talks about the challenges veterans have when translating what they did when trying to apply for a job in the civilian world.

[19:35] The power of networking.

[20:35] Five elements that are consistent in every successful transition.

[27:45] Be able to demonstrate the value that you bring to a company through your credentials.

[28:42] Three different groups of serving members while transitioning.

[33:24] Brian talks about the five roles that veterans usually start after their transitioning.

[37:12] Figuring out what you are going to be after serving is an exciting journey.

[38:10] Brian shares his advice: Focus on self-reflection.

Mentioned in this episode:

Dixon Center: Reaching America

At Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, we believe our veterans and military families can succeed where they live.

Dixon Center is named after Staff Sergeant Donnie Dixon, who was killed in action on September 29, 2007, in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Dixon was a father, husband, and Soldier who always placed the mission first and the safety of his fellow Soldiers above his own. Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services stands as a testament to his example and leadership.

Dixon Center on Facebook

Dixon Center on Twitter

Dixon Center on Instagram

Military-Transition.org

Tweetables and quotes:

“Every single person transitions.”

“The decisions you make when you are wearing the uniform are going to impact your future after serving.”

“Five elements for a successful transition: 1. Start your transition early, 2. Have a transition plan, 3. Build a network, 4. Learn how to translate your skills, and 5. Be patient.”

Colonel (Ret.) Sam Whitehurst, your host, is joined today by Rosie Torres, the executive director of Burn Pits 360, a nonprofit organization that gives voice to veterans and their families that are dealing with the effects of exposure to burn pits while deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. Rosie, and her husband, Captain (Ret.) Le Roy Torres, know firsthand the effects of burn pits to your health and they also know the challenges of trying to find treatment and support from the VA. Le Roy deployed to Balad, Iraq from 2007-2008 where he was daily exposed to the toxic, noxious smoke produced by one of the largest burn pits in Iraq. He began showing symptoms of respiratory disease while deployed and subsequently has been diagnosed with Constrictive Bronchiolitis and Toxic Brain Injury. After experiencing delay, denial of benefits, and ineffective treatment from his physicians, Le Roy alongside his wife, Rosie, founded Burn Pits 360.

Veterans across the country are struggling to get the VA to recognize that the debilitating and sometimes deadly illnesses caused by their exposure to burn pits is connected to their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Just like our Vietnam Veterans, who were denied benefits from their exposure to Agent Orange, history, unfortunately, is repeating itself.  

Rosie shares her and her husband’s struggle to get the VA to recognize and treat his illnesses and the illnesses and diseases of other veterans who were exposed to the smoke produced by burn pits. She also discusses and shares key advice on starting a nonprofit to support veterans and provides information on how you can help Congress and the VA to finally address this very serious and pressing issue. 

Key Takeaways:

[1:09] The terrible consequences of the exposure to Agent Orange for veterans in service during the Vietnam War.

[4:11] History is about to repeat itself: Burn pits used in Iraq and Afghanistan created a smoked filled with dioxin.

[6:45] Rosie shares about creating Burn Pits 360.

[10:58] Rosie talks about the challenges that her husband and her encounter in this process with the VA after his return from Iraq.

[14:26] Rosie talks about the process of proving that her husband’s lung disease was connected to exposure.

[19:05] The scientific evidence vs the VA’s will to grant presumption.

[22:35] Rosie talks about the effects of combustion burning.

[25:13] Rosie shares about the work she was doing with Jon Stewart

[27:44] How can you help in moving the legislation along?

[30:07] Rosie shares the lessons learned just by standing up with Burn Pits 360.

[34:01] Burn Pits 360: A passion and purpose-driven organization.

[35:30] Meet veterans on November 11th at Washington to encourage the members of Congress to hold accountable and support their constituency. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Dixon Center: Reaching America

At Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, we believe our veterans and military families can succeed where they live.

Dixon Center is named after Staff Sergeant Donnie Dixon, who was killed in action on September 29, 2007, in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Dixon was a father, husband, and Soldier who always placed the mission first and the safety of his fellow Soldiers above his own. Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services stands as a testament to his example and leadership.

Dixon Center on Facebook

Dixon Center on Twitter

Dixon Center on Instagram

Burn Pits 360

Jon Stewart, Kirsten Gillibrand Press Conference Transcript: Burn Pit Relief for Veterans

Tweetables and quotes:

“There is no way that we can look away and allow this to happen”

“Access to specialized healthcare in regard to toxic exposure continues to be the biggest challenge for veterans:”

“The smell and look of the smoke that was produced by the burn pits was enough to know it was not right, not normal.”

“Burn Pits 360 Is a passion-driven organization, led by personal experience.”

Sam Whitehurst, your host, is addressing a very difficult subject in today’s episode: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of our veterans. 

We are all facing the challenges that are implied in dealing with this pandemic — challenges such as the fear of the disease itself, the rise of unemployment rates, the economic situation in the following months, and even years, and the lasting impact of social distancing. How are the anxiety and stress caused by the current situation impacting the mental health of our veterans and their families?

Sam is joined today by Dr. Caitlin Thompson, who is the vice-president for Community Partnerships at the Cohen Veterans Network, which is a network of health care clinics across the U.S. that focuses on providing mental health assistance to veterans and their families. Dr. Thompson shares today the mission and vision of Cohen Veterans Network, the work they are doing in response to the pandemic, and she also talks about her thoughts in regards to what we can do to ensure that our veterans and families continue to have access to mental health services to prevent the rise of suicide rates among our veterans.

Key Takeaways:

[5:58] Dr. Caitlin Thompson talks about her professional background and her work at the Cohen Veterans Network.

[11:05] The issue of access to mental health not only for the veterans but for their families.

[13:35] How COVID-19  is impacting veterans and their families in regards to access to mental health?

[16:15] Ninety-eight percent of the care Cohen Veterans Network provides is via telehealth.

[17:20] Social isolation tends to be a high risk factor for suicide and mental health problems.

[18:11] CVN Presents has continuously updated information, videos, and groups to engage the community in other types of activities besides therapy.

[19:16] The stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment.

[20:28] Dr. Thompson addresses the concern in regard to confidentiality while working with telehealth.

[23:45] CVN believes that if you served one day at the military, you deserve care.

[25:55] Dr. Thompson talks about the challenges people are experiencing using telehealth.

[30:17] How to help a family member that has suicidal thoughts?

[33:20] Dr. Thompson encourages people to continue to reach out for the care that they need.

Mentioned in this episode:

Dixon Center: Reaching America

At Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, we believe our veterans and military families can succeed where they live.

Dixon Center is named after Staff Sergeant Donnie Dixon, who was killed in action on September 29, 2007, in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Dixon was a father, husband, and soldier who always placed the mission first and the safety of his fellow soldiers above his own. Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services stands as a testament to his example and leadership.

Dixon Center on Facebook

Dixon Center on Twitter

Dixon Center on Instagram

Cohen Veterans Network

Learn more about Caitlin Thompson

CVN Presents

Call the Crisis Line at 1800-273-8255 and press #1.

Veteran Crisis Line

Tweetables and quotes:

“As we see unemployment rates rising across the country, we also see the rise in suicide among our veterans.”

“If one person is in the military the whole family is also in it.”

“At Cohen Veterans Network we pivoted really fast to providing mental health care online, over video calls, and on the phone, 98% of the care we provide is done by telehealth.”

“The level of depth you can get with patients in terms of talking things through seems to be even higher when you are using telehealth because people are comfortable, they are in their own homes and this leads for them to feel more quickly comfortable with the therapy sessions.”

“We all deserve to feel as good as we can.”

“Cohen Veteran Networks aims to provide care that is as barrier-free as possible.”

“We can potentially lose an additional 550 to suicide for every 5% increase in the national unemployment rate.”

In today’s episode, Sam Whitehurst, your host, is going to present a program that provides opportunities for a career, not just a job, and the significant difference between these two concepts. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters helps transition and provides service members, veterans, and military spouses with additional skills and training, that when they are combined with the military experience makes them extremely competitive for careers that provide work with purpose; work that you can build a future around.

James P. Hoffa is the general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the strongest, most powerful voice in North America for working families. Under Hoffa’s leadership, the Teamsters Union is winning industry-leading contracts, engaging in vigorous contract enforcement, and organizing the unorganized. The Teamsters have a long history of supporting veterans and their families that stretches back to World War I.

Key Takeaways:

[1:55] What is the difference between a career and a job?

[2:55] Unemployment vs. underemployment.

[3:39] The consequences of underemployment.

[6:21] Teamsters’ mission is to set up a transition for people coming out of the military and finding good jobs.

[7:54] More than just a job, it’s investing in the future.

[9:05] Teamsters has 1.4 million members.

[10:35] James P. Hoffa talks about the program for military spouses.

[12:30] The challenges presented by COVID-19.

[14:20] Teamsters provides job opportunities that guarantee good salaries and healthcare benefits.

[16:20] Sam shares a story about the sense of fellowship and camaraderie among union members.

[18:30] James P. Hoffa talks about the true meaning of Labor Day.

Mentioned in this episode:

Dixon Center: Reaching America

At Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, we believe our veterans and military families can succeed where they live.

Dixon Center is named after Staff Sergeant Donnie Dixon, who was killed in action on September 29, 2007, in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Dixon was a father, husband, and Soldier who always placed the mission first and the safety of his fellow Soldiers above his own. Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services stands as a testament to his example and leadership.

Dixon Center on Facebook

Dixon Center on Twitter

Dixon Center on Instagram

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Tweetables and quotes:

“A career is what provides competitive wages or salaries that allow you to build a future for you and your family. A career provides access to affordable healthcare for you and your family and benefits that will allow you to invest in your future, while a job does not provide any of these and it does not take into account the skills and experience you have developed in the military.”

“A third of job-seeking veterans are underemployed, a rate that is 15 times higher than the nonveteran population.”

“Teamsters provides the opportunity for veterans to use the skills they have acquired during their military service.”

“What better people than the military? The military workers are used to getting up early and they are used to working all day. The military teaches that kind of discipline.”

Welcome to the first episode of Service Before Self, a podcast that tackles the evolving needs of veterans and their families, based on the idea that veterans can succeed in the community where they live. This podcast will introduce you to people and the programs that are having an impact today; you will hear about their successes and lessons learned in creating effective programs in which veterans and their families reach their full potential.

Sam Whitehurst, your host, the Vice President of Programs & Services for Dixon Center, will dive deeply into the needs and challenges veterans and their families go through, as well as into the effective solutions to those challenges.

In this inaugural episode, Sam is joined by Rick Passarelli, who is the Director of Veteran Affairs and Workforce Development at Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) and the chair for the workforce development subcommittee for the AFL-CIO Union Veterans Council. Rick is the architect behind one of the most impactful workforce development programs for veterans in the country, the Utility Workers Military Assistance Program (UMAP).

Rick enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1982; he served from that date until 1987 and he participated in two deployments. After leaving the Navy, Rick joined Peoples Gas, one of the largest regulated natural gas utilities serving the city of Chicago, where he just recently retired from, after 32 years.

Rick shares in today’s episode some of his very distinguished career of service to his country as well as what has made UMAP such a successful program for veterans.

Key takeaways:

[5:37] Richard talks about his Navy career and how it shaped him into who he is now.

[7:25] Richard shares his experience in Beirut.

[10:05] Transitioning out of the Navy and beginning a career at Peoples Gas

[12:20] Richard shares the specific work he did both at Peoples Gas and the UWUA with the UMAP program.

[16:10] Richard explains the significance of meaningful employment.

[19:56] Richard talks about the partnerships that make the UMAP program so successful.

[22:50] UMAP provides a mentorship program for veterans.

[25:33] Veteran unemployment before and after COVID-19.

[26:31] Richard explains how UMAP is tackling resources for dealing with the pandemic.

[28:54] Richard shares his excitement about a new program called Transition for Success.

Mentioned in this episode:

Dixon Center: Reaching America

At Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, we believe our veterans and military families can succeed where they live.

Dixon Center is named after Staff Sergeant Donnie Dixon, who was killed in action on September 29, 2007, in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Dixon was a father, husband, and Soldier who always placed the mission first and the safety of his fellow Soldiers above his own. Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services stands as a testament to his example and leadership.

Dixon Center on Facebook

Dixon Center on Twitter

Dixon Center on Instagram

Learn more about Richard Passarelli

Visit UWUA for more information

Learn more about UMAP and Power4America

Quotes and Tweetables:

“Almost 50% of the membership in the city of Chicago and utility workers are veterans.”

“It is not just about employment for veterans, but meaningful employment.”

“We want to ensure that veterans and their families can really invest in their future.”

“UMAP offers a holistic approach to veterans who join the program.”

“I told them about the experiences that I gained in the Navy. I wanted to get into the construction industry and be able to utilize that skillset when I transition out. I worked a couple of jobs prior to Peoples Gas and in the construction industry.”

“I approached the CEO of Peoples Gas … and I asked them … to find a way to boost the membership to serve the community but also create … careers forward for our men and women coming back from [the Mideast] — at the time, the unemployment rate for veterans was … over 13%.”

“Collective bargaining agreements provide our veterans with good health benefits, great wage increases each and every year, sustainable benefits so that these guys can live the dream that we all had been promised and have the opportunity to be able to do what we all want to do.”

“This is not just preparing somebody for employment without providing all the supportive services that come with it so that we set up our veterans for success.”

Service Before Self- Teaser Trailer