Giving Korea and Vietnam War Veterans the Welcome Home They Deserve with Stephanie Harmon of Utah Honor Flight

Operation Pop Smoke with Sgt Q

Aaron Quinonez, better known as Sgt. Q, is the Founder of Q Missions [https://www.qmissions.org], an award-winning non-profit organization that helps veterans overcome the effects of war and recover from trauma. He leads the development of the Operation Pop Smoke [http://operationpopsmoke.com/] app. Operation Pop Smoke is designed to be a platform used by veterans and those closest to them to help prevent suicide. Sgt. Q is also the owner of Reliable Commercial Cleaning [http://rccjanitorial.com/], a veteran-owned janitorial service company in the Puget Sound area. Sgt. Q joins me today to explain how Operation Pop Smoke works and how it can help curb the suicide statistics among veterans. He describes what inspired him to develop the app and the core philosophy it runs on. He also explains why it’s unlikely for men to call the suicide hotline and how the app can make it easier for veterans to find the help they need during a moment of crisis. “It puts the power to save a life in the hands of the person closest to the veteran.” - Sgt. Q In This Episode of Surviving Me: * What Operation Pop Smoke is and what lead to its creation * What he learned from veterans with PTSD. * Why Operation Pop Smoke isn't a social network and how it works. * How the app helps veterans reduce the risk of making impulse decisions during periods of crisis. * The Squad Mentality and why it's at the center of their app. * Why men are hesitant to call the suicide hotline. * An example scenario of using the app and how the process would go. Connect with Sgt. Q: * Q Missions [https://www.qmissions.org] * Operation Pop Smoke [http://operationpopsmoke.com/] * Reliable Commercial Cleaning [http://rccjanitorial.com/] Help Military Veterans Share Their Story Thanks for tuning into the Surviving Me Podcast, the show for military veterans find the support they need to survive the battle within. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. For more stories and resources for our brothers-in-arms, be sure to follow us on Facebook and visit our website [http://www.survivingme.com]. Don’t forget to share your favorite episode to help us raise awareness for our brothers-in-arms. And remember - you are not alone. There is support. There is help. There is a purpose in life after the military. DISCLAIMER: This content is created purely to help veterans tell their story and bring awareness to post combat-related disorders including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The Surviving Me hosts are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice shared by the hosts or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with your doctor or medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment program discussed or shared on this podcast.

Giving Korea and Vietnam War Veterans the Welcome Home They Deserve with Stephanie Harmon of Utah Honor Flight

Stephanie Harmon is the Chairman of Utah Honor Flight [https://www.utahhonorflight.org/]. Utah Honor Flight works under the Honor Flight program where they help veterans visit war memorials built in their honor. She helps make sure all the papers are properly turned in and personally flies with the veterans to make sure everyone is safe and enjoys their trip. When she’s not flying with vets, Stephanie works as a tax accountant. Stephanie joins us today to share what the Honor Flight is about and how this program helps veterans feel the appreciation they deserve. She shares some of the stories of the veterans they have helped and the lessons she has learned from them. She explains why veterans from the Korean and Vietnam Wars feel neglected. Stephanie also shares the impact that participating in the Honor Flight program has had on the lives of the veterans and their families. “It’s not just about seeing these memorials. It’s about getting that welcome home that they didn’t get.” - Stephanie Harmon In This Episode of Surviving Me: * The Honor Flight’s mission and how it got started. * The number of flights they take a year. * Her most memorable experiences during her flights. * How to find a local Honor Flight chapter. * The roles that Guardians play in their organization. * Why they decided not to take veteran spouses on the flights. * The importance of telling war stories to the current generation. * How the Honor Flight program has impacted veteran lives. * How they raise funds to keep the program moving forward. * The programs they offer for female veterans. Connect with Stephanie Harmon: * Utah Honor Flight [https://www.utahhonorflight.org/] * Honor Flight [https://www.honorflight.org/] Help Military Veterans Share Their Story Thanks for tuning into the Surviving Me Podcast, the show for military veterans find the support they need to survive the battle within. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. For more stories and resources for our brothers-in-arms, be sure to follow us on Facebook and visit our website [http://www.survivingme.com]. Don’t forget to share your favorite episode to help us raise awareness for our brothers-in-arms. And remember - you are not alone. There is support. There is help. There is a purpose in life after the military. DISCLAIMER: This content is created purely to help veterans tell their story and bring awareness to post combat-related disorders including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The Surviving Me hosts are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice shared by the hosts or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with your doctor or medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment program discussed or shared on this podcast.

Receiving the Gold Star with Joseph Duarte

Joseph Duarte served in the Marine Corps for three years. He is the father of two sons, both of whom had joined the military to follow in their father’s footsteps. After serving 3 and a half years, his youngest son, Curtis, was deployed to Afghanistan as a Combat Engineer when an IED set off an explosion that collapsed a building, ending his life. Joseph later received a Gold Star as a form of recognition for his son’s service and bravery. Joseph joins us today to share his story as a Gold Star dad and how the family commemorates his son’s memory. He describes why he enlisted in the army, his role, and what it means to receive the Gold Star. He shares the story of his son who served more than his fair share of years in the military, his passion for helping his unit, his heroism, and the event that cost him his life. Joseph also discusses the community programs they participate in to keep his son’s memory alive and how he and his family coped with their grief. “Everybody grieves in their own way. It's an individualized journey.” - Joseph Duarte In This Episode of Surviving Me: * Why Joseph joined the military and his experience when he was active. * Why he only served three years and why his son wanted to join. * What a Goldstar parent is and what it means to be given this recognition. * His son's role as a sweeper and the event that led to his death in Afghanistan. * How he and his family responded to the news of his son's death. * Receiving his son's posthumous promotion. * The community programs they participate in to commemorate his son's memory. Connect with Joseph Duarte: * Phone: (928) 249 4273 * Mail: Joe Duarte, P.O Box 332 Dolan Springs, AZ 86441 Help Military Veterans Share Their Story Thanks for tuning into the Surviving Me Podcast, the show for military veterans find the support they need to survive the battle within. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. For more stories and resources for our brothers-in-arms, be sure to follow us on Facebook and visit our website [http://www.survivingme.com]. Don’t forget to share your favorite episode to help us raise awareness for our brothers-in-arms. And remember - you are not alone. There is support. There is help. There is a purpose in life after the military. DISCLAIMER: This content is created purely to help veterans tell their story and bring awareness to post combat-related disorders including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The Surviving Me hosts are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice shared by the hosts or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with your doctor or medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment program discussed or shared on this podcast.

Getting Unstuck to Find Meaning & Purpose with Shawn the Veteran Guy

Shawn Laurie is an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and life purpose and recovery coach. He was a combat veteran for nine years, part of the National Guard, and did two tours in Afghanistan. He was injured during his second tour and had to spend two years in recovery. After being considered non-deployable due to his PTSD and anxiety diagnosis, he sought to find purpose outside of serving the country. It took some time and he faced many challenges along the way, but Shawn eventually discovered his purpose in helping other veterans who have lost meaning. He has since been known as “The Veteran Guy [https://www.facebook.com/LifePurposeSpecialist/].” Shawn joins us today to describe his battle with feeling stuck with a PTSD diagnosis and the situation he was in and how he found his purpose in life by helping others. He shares his life in the army and how he lived his life shortly after being declared non-deployable. He explains how he personally fought his inner demons, his addictions, and how he coped with his PTSD. Shawn also discusses some of the events and groups he started to help fund organizations that seek to keep the 22 alive. “Just because you’ve been diagnosed with PTSD doesn’t mean you’re stuck with that for the rest of your life.” - Shawn Laurie In This Episode of Surviving Me: * His time in the army, when he got injured, and being diagnosed with PTSD. * The issues he struggled with and how his friend pulled him out. * The steps he took to help himself get to where he is today. * Starting VetLife4Life and how the veteran community reacted to it. * The vision he has for the VetLife4Life organization. * How he found his personal treatment for anxiety, PTSD, and depression. * Getting addicted to porn, eating, drugs, and alcohol as someone struggling with depression. * Charity events he plans to hold in the future. Connect with Shawn Laurie: * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/LifePurposeSpecialist/] * Messenger [http://m.me/LifePurposeSpecialist] * VetLife4Life Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1600066926971781/] Help Military Veterans Share Their Story Thanks for tuning into the Surviving Me Podcast, the show for military veterans find the support they need to survive the battle within. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. For more stories and resources for our brothers-in-arms, be sure to follow us on Facebook and visit our website [http://www.survivingme.com]. Don’t forget to share your favorite episode to help us raise awareness for our brothers-in-arms. And remember - you are not alone. There is support. There is help. There is a purpose in life after the military. DISCLAIMER: This content is created purely to help veterans tell their story and bring awareness to post combat-related disorders including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The Surviving Me hosts are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice shared by the hosts or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with your doctor or medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment program discussed or shared on this podcast.

Jason White on Honoring Yourself Through Peer-to-Peer Support

Jason White has seen his share of combat - both on the battlefield and within. He served 10 years in the Marine Corps before medically retiring. Today, Jason leads the Florida chapter as the Chapter Director with the Birdwell Foundation [https://www.birdwellfoundation.org/], a non-profit organization that is on a mission to decrease and eliminate veteran and first responder suicide through peer-to-peer mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities. Jason joins us today to share his combat experiences that eventually led to his medical retirement. He shares the emotional rollercoaster he experienced after being released from duty and explains why he believes he didn’t catch the symptoms of his PTSD sooner. He explains why he believes many combat veterans forget to honor themselves after being discharged and how it impacts their mental health. He shares how peer-to-peer mentorship and guidance has helped him through his darkest moments after his retirement and how finding a purpose and mission helped him through the healing process. He also explains why family support is crucial for veterans as well as their families and the veteran and family support services offered at the Birdwell Foundation. “We honored our values. We honored our uniform. We honored ourselves. But we forget to do that when we get out and are struggling.” - Jason White In This Episode of Surviving Me: * The events that led to his medical retirement and the emotional rollercoaster he experienced after learning about his early discharge * Why he believes he didn’t recognize his symptoms of PTSD sooner * Why he finally decided to seek treatment * The importance of honoring yourself after being discharged * The importance of getting to the root cause of PTSD to start the healing and recovery process * How peer-to-peer mentorship and guidance helped him through the darkness * Why it’s critical for family and relatives to encourage veterans to connect with other veterans for support * Why he felt disconnected from his country after retiring, despite having fought for it * The family support services and education offered at the Birdwell Foundation * How finding purpose and a mission helped him through his healing process * The importance of ‘battle buddies’ throughout the healing process Connect with Jason White: * Birdwell Foundation [https://www.birdwellfoundation.org/] * Birdwell Foundation Phone: (830) 822-2563 * Jason White’s Phone: (352) 816-2074 Help Military Veterans Share Their Story Thanks for tuning into the Surviving Me Podcast, the show for military veterans find the support they need to survive the battle within. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. For more stories and resources for our brothers-in-arms, be sure to follow us on Facebook and visit our website [http://www.survivingme.com]. Don’t forget to share your favorite episode to help us raise awareness for our brothers-in-arms. And remember - you are not alone. There is support. There is help. There is a purpose in life after the military. DISCLAIMER: This content is created purely to help veterans tell their story and bring awareness to post combat-related disorders including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The Surviving Me hosts are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice shared by the hosts or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with your doctor or medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment program discussed or shared on this podcast.