In the penultimate episode in our special series on Military Sexual Trauma, our guests from the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) – Acting Director Dr. Nathan W. Galbreath and Senior Prevention Adviser Dr. Andra Tharp – discuss how DoD is addressing the issue of MST and highlight specific actions being taken to prevent and respond to sexual assaults.

In this series, be aware we will be discussing topics that are sensitive and potentially triggering, so pause and take a break as needed, and remember you can always reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1.

Special Guests: Dr. Andra Tharp and Dr. Nate Galbreath.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Home | SAPR
• Home | Safe helpline
• Veterans Crisis Line
• MST: Triumph in Tragedy podcast series | The American Legion

Navy veteran Lindsay Church, is founder and executive director of Minority Veterans of America and Army veteran Rebekka Eshler is president of Transgender American Veterans Association. The pair continues our special series with a discussion of the prevalence of Military Sexual Trauma in the LGBTQ+ community and how their organizations are addressing the issue.

In this series, be aware we will be discussing topics that are sensitive and potentially triggering, so pause and take a break as needed, and remember you can always reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1.

Special Guests: Lindsay Church and Rebekka Eshler.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Transgender American Veterans Association
• Home | Minority Veterans of America
• Veterans Crisis Line

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ross Whitmore served under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and faced many challenges as the first openly gay Air Force officer but still managed to build a successful career as a Medical Commander and a member of the Surgeon General's staff.

Rashan Legard joined the Army in 2011 after graduating from college and was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Special Troops Battalion (STB) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Both men share their experiences, the retribution that followed and how they found healing, hope and the drive to help others.

In this series, be aware we will be discussing topics that are sensitive and potentially triggering, so pause and take a break as needed, and remember you can always reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1.

Special Guests: Rashan Legard and Ross Whitmore.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Mental Health Services & Education - Give an Hour
• Tango Alpha Lima Podcast Episode 138: Tango Alpha Lima: Give An Hour CEO Dr. Trina Clayeux
• DVIDS - Video - Spoken Words of Pain
• Home - HUSH No More
• GLASS SOLDIER
• Motivational Speaker, Storyteller and Poet | Rashan Legard Speaks LLC | United States
• Army Sexual Harassment/Assault Response & Prevention (SHARP) Program Poem - YouTube
• Difference Makers | Difference Makers 10 Strong

In this episode, two survivors discuss how they are transforming their personal experiences into a mission to create culture change and prevent and support individuals affected by Military Sexual Trauma.

U.S. Navy Reserve Lt. Cmdr. Andrea Goldstein, a member of American Legion Post 84 in Hudson, N.Y., formerly served as the principal adviser to the Secretary of the Navy on integrated prevention efforts. In that capacity she led the Navy’s sexual assault, sexual harassment, and suicide prevention and response efforts.

Dr. Athena Ives, a Marine Corps sexual assault prevention specialist and forensic criminologist, did her doctoral dissertation on how military culture affects MST.

These women share their inspiring journeys as well as the strategies, resources, and support systems they have developed to help survivors and prevent future incidents.

In this series, be aware we will be discussing topics that are sensitive and potentially triggering, so pause and take a break as needed, and remember you can always reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1.

Special Guests: Andrea N. Goldstein and Athena Ives, PhD.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Amazon.com: Thank You for Raping Me 2nd Edition eBook : Ives, Athena: Kindle Store
• Women are the Most Visible Servicemembers, and the Most Invisible Veterans | Center for a New American Security (en-US)
• Department of the Navy Department's commitment to improving victim response
• Department of Navy Announces Office of Force Resiliency, Commits to Culture Change > United States Navy > display-pressreleases
• Navy implements new policies to make it easier for victims to report sexual assaults | Stars and Stripes
• Influence of Military Culture on Resilience in Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma - ProQuest
• veterans crisis line - Google Search

In the first episode of our special series on Military Sexual Trauma, we welcome Tara Galovski, PhD, the Director of Women’s Health Sciences at the National Center for PTSD and Amy Street, PhD, National Director of Military Sexual Trauma in the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.

Both women have done extensive research on mental health, women's health, and Military Sexual Trauma. Our discussion gives an overview of the MST issue, examines how ongoing efforts to address the problem and highlights resources for those who need assistance.

In this series, be aware we will be discussing topics that are sensitive and potentially triggering, so pause and take a break as needed, and remember you can always reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1.

Special Guests: Amy Street, PhD and Tara Galovski, PhD.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Veterans Crisis Line
• Beyond MST | VA Mobile
• Effects of Military Sexual Trauma | VA Mental Health - Mental Health
• PTSD: National Center for PTSD Home
• Military Sexual Trauma - PTSD: National Center for PTSD
• National Center for PTSD: Women’s Sciences Division | Psychiatry
• WoVeN I Women Veterans Network I

Marine combat veteran and Navy reservist Amy Forsythe, an award-winning multimedia journalist, is the host of our new podcast series focused on The American Legion Be The One initiative.

In this month’s episode, Forsythe kicks off the series with fellow Marine veteran Waco Hoover, who recently led the Be the One Symposium at The American Legion’s national convention.

Hoover, newly named as The American Legion Be The One Chair, talks about the next phase for the Be the One initiative.

Special Guest: Waco Hoover.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Learn more about Be The One
• Veterans Crisis Line — Dial 988 then press 1

IN THE NEWS

THIS WEEK'S GUEST

RAPID FIRE

If properly flown, an Attack Helicopter would defeat most fighter airplanes in 1 on 1 air combat. Attack Helicopter Crews explain why.

Air Force Pilots Have One Month to Extend Contracts for Up to $50,000 Per Year in Bonuses

Special Guest: Mark R. Clifford.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• A Veteran Combat Photographer Is on a Mission to Capture Portraits of Every Living Medal of Honor Recipient | Military.com
• Be the One | The American Legion
• News and Updates - Author Mark R. Clifford
• Podcast - Author Mark R. Clifford
• Amazon.com: The Typhoon Coast: 9798632728850: Clifford, Mark R: Books
• Veteran Programs - Camp Southern Ground
• Join The American Legion
• Howard County Veterans Foundation celebrates ‘Valiant Women’ | Legiontown U.S.A.
• Facebook
• February American Legion Magazine salutes the Six Triple Eight | The American Legion
• If properly flown an Attack Helicopter would defeat most fighter airplanes in 1v1 air combat. Attack Helicopter Crews explain why. - The Aviation Geek Club
• Air Force Pilots Have One Month to Extend Contracts for Up to $50,000 Per Year in Bonuses | Military.com

IN THE NEWS

THIS WEEK'S GUEST

RAPID FIRE

Meet Sage the Working Dog Assigned to the USS Gerald R. Ford

“My life has been on pause”: surviving spouses of service members fight to retain benefits after they remarry

Leland N.C. Post 68 starts September campaign for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Special Guest: Lauren Hope.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• National Convention | The American Legion
• Elon Musk-Mark Zuckerberg fight confirmed, proceeds to go to veterans
• Meeting & Event Spaces in Charlotte, NC | Charlotte Meetings
• Second Service Foundation – Inspire, Educate, and Support Veteran and Military Spouse Business Ownership in America
• A glance at Scotland’s national animal
• About GI Bill Benefits | Veterans Affairs
• (35) National Military Spouse Network: Overview | LinkedIn
• Military Spouse Advocacy Network
• Join The American Legion
• Meet Sage! Working Dog Assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) - YouTube
• 'My life has been on pause': Surviving spouses of service members fight to retain benefits after they remarry | Stars and Stripes
• Post 68 (Leland, N.C) starts September campaign for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month | Legiontown U.S.A.
• Home
• VA S.A.V.E.
• Tango Alpha Lima Podcast Episode 51: Tango Alpha Lima: Team RWB with guest Mike Erwin

IN THE NEWS

THIS WEEK'S GUEST

RAPID FIRE

Special Guests: Chris Reardon and Patty Klop.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Volunteers sought for community service project during 2023 National Convention | The American Legion
• Be The One-American Legion Flag & Emblem
• Biden signs historic order moving prosecution of military sexual assault outside chain of command | CNN Politics
• Meeting & Event Spaces in Charlotte, NC | Charlotte Meetings
• Total Force Fitness - Military Human Performance for the 21st Century - Freedom Fitness America
• Join The American Legion | The American Legion
• VA hospitals outperform others in patient care, analysis finds | The American Legion
• A US Army soldier went viral on TikTok for making videos mocking 'Gen Zs on the battlefield' — and now he wants to be an influencer
• Country singer Craig Morgan rejoins Army in bid to boost recruiting

IN THE NEWS

THIS WEEK'S GUEST

RAPID FIRE

Special Guest: Matt Cable.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Hiring event in conjunction with Legion’s 104th National Convention | The American Legion — Hiring event in conjunction with Legion’s 104th National Convention
• National Convention | The American Legion
• More savings, full shelves are the focus of new commissary chief
• Meeting & Event Spaces in Charlotte, NC | Charlotte Meetings
• Ship military care packages to help Be the One | The American Legion
• Shipthrifty | Register
• Ex-official who revealed UFO project accuses Pentagon of 'disinformation' campaign - POLITICO
• Stolen Valor Among Small Businesses Lying About Being Veteran-Owned Targeted by Iowa Senator | Military.com