The Mettle of Honor Podcast: Stories of, Strength, Courage, & Perseverance™️

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(S1:E28) Shelly Huhtanen on Autism in the Military Family Apr 27, 2021

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Shelly Huhtanen, an Army wife and mother balancing a military life with a special needs child, said she has to plan her entire day to set her family up for success. Mark, Shelly, Broden, and their older son Hayden moved to Fort Hood in 2009 and enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) – an Army-wide service that takes into consideration what reassignments and jobs are best for families who have special needs children. The program also helps families connect with community support and services. "Sometimes I think we let the big Army push us into jobs where our family might not have the best care, but you can shape that and influence it," Mark said. But even with that help, it's still a struggle. In a constantly changing military setting, Broden doesn't do well with transitions. Even the smallest change in a daily routine can throw him into a tailspin. "When I pick him up from therapy, if I take a left instead of a right he will scream until he realizes where we are going. It can turn into a two-hour tantrum," Shelly said. It controls every aspect of their lives; where they go, who they see, and what they do. Shelly Huhtanen is the author of the book Giving Voice Silent. This book is compiled of intimate short stories that involve a military family raising a child with autism. Issues such as stress involved with deployments, transitions with PCS moves, and fighting for an appropriate education are discussed. To connect with Shelly Huhtanen, she can be found on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-huhtanen/ For more information about her book, Giving Voice To The Silent Many, please visit http://silentmany.com/author/shellyhuhtanen/. The book can be purchased on Amazon through this link: https://www.amazon.com/Giving-Voice-Silent-Shelly-Huhtanen/dp/1940129834 The Unumb Center for Neurodevelopment https://www.unumbcenter.org/ The Council of Autism Service Providers supports our members by cultivating, sharing, and advocating for provider best practices in autism services. The Council of Autism Service Providers is a non-profit association of for-profit and not-for-profit agencies serving individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Our member agencies care for more than 50,000 children and adults with autism across the United States and have collective revenues approaching 1 billion dollars. We serve as a force for change, providing information and education and promoting standards that enhance quality. https://casproviders.org/ The mission of the National Autism Law Center is to enforce and expand the legal rights of individuals on the autism spectrum and to serve as a resource for such individuals and their families, as well as to the service providers and attorneys who support them. https://nationalautismlawcenter.org/ South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Services VR prepares and assists eligible South Carolinians with disabilities to achieve and maintain competitive employment. Our goal is to ensure that “quality happens one person at a time.” https://scvrd.net/

(S1:E27) Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

In 1987, a young woman working in the West Wing of the Reagan White House was introduced to a dashing Army colonel. She was a 2nd lieutenant in the Air National Guard. He was a Vietnam combat veteran. They fell deeply in love. Within months they married. On November 12, 1992, Brigadier General Tom Carroll, 44, who was the assistant adjutant general of the Alaska Army Guard at the time, was making a routine flight to a facility in Juneau from Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage in an Army C-12F twin-engine Beechcraft along with seven others. The guard were preparing for an instrument-aided landing when the plane crashed on southern Chilkat Peninsula. They died shortly after the crash. This week’s guest is his surviving spouse, Bonnie Carroll- an American widow. "We had five wonderfully happy years together," Bonnie said. "Then he was gone. That August, I got together with some of the other families who lost loved ones that day. We chartered a helicopter and visited the crash site. It was on the side of a mountain, and the remains of the plane were still there. For us, being at the site provided finality, and was very much a healing experience." While that experience may have helped stanch some of the emotional bleeding, the ache of loss only grew deeper. Bonnie looked around for some group that might offer support. There was none. "No group was there for all those who lose a loved one serving in the Armed Forces to reach out to," she said. All that winter, Bonnie Carroll thought about that void, thought about creating an organization to fill that void, talked to folks who could empathize with her pain: others who had lost a husband or a wife, brother or sister, son or daughter; officials in the Pentagon and the VA. In October 1994, she launched the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. Today she still serves as the President & Founder of TAPS- the leading national Military Service Organization providing compassionate care, casework assistance, and 24/7/365 emotional support for all those impacted by the death of a military loved one. She is a 2015 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Contact Information for Bonnie Carroll T.A.P.S. Social Media T.A.P.S. Website https://www.taps.org/ LinkedIn (company) https://www.linkedin.com/company/tragedy-assistance-program-for-survivors/ LinkedIn Profile (personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-carroll-4411bb4/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TAPSorg Twitter: https://twitter.com/TAPSorg/

(S1:E26)The 14th Presidential Commander: When Blue Stars Turn Gold Apr 21, 2021

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Meet Gold Star Widow, Alison (Dart) Banholzer of the Washington, D.C/ Maryland area. Alison, originally from Redmond, WA, married U.S. Air Force pilot, Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) David Banholzer. In early 2014, David achieved his dream. Not only had he flow Air Force 2 followed by piloting Air Force 1, LTC David Banholzer was appointed by then, President Barrack Obama, as the 14th Presidential Commander of Air Force One! Driven by pure passion and creativity, Alison Banholzer, mother of two fabulous gymnasts, Kate and Caroline, launched "Wear Your Spirit Wearhouse" from her kitchen table in 2004. Meanwhile, David was pursuing his dreams as an Air Force officer and pilot. The girls were growing up and both David’s and Alison’s dreams had come true. "Wear Your Spirit Wearhouse" outgrew the kitchen table and moved into a commercial space and LTC David Banholzer was piloting and commanding the most prestigious piloting position any pilots could ask for. Tragically, later that year, David was diagnosed with terminal cancer and eventually lost his battle in 2017. To honor David’s legacy of service, Ali and her team are committed to excellence. They provide the highest standards of service possible to customers all over the country. If you look at our logo, hear us talking about spirits soaring or things taking flight - now you know why! "Everyone knows what it feels like to have your spirit take flight and soar. That pure rush of happiness! My story has taught me that life is short and should be celebrated. Let's celebrate together!” -Ali Banholzer ALISON BANHOLZER CONTACT INFORMATION COMPANY WEBSITE: https://wearyourspiritwarehouse.com/ | LINKEDIN PROFILE (COMPANY): https://www.linkedin.com/company/wear-your-spirit-warehouse?trk=public_profile_topcard-current-company | LINKEDIN PROFILE (PERSONAL): https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-banholzer | https://wjla.com/news/local/air-force-one-pilot-laid-to-rest-at-arlington-national-cemetery

(S1:E25) if you never felt like quitting, you never started living Apr 14, 2021

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I am a Green Beret Veteran who teaches people how to experience what they are truly capable of and live more fulfilling lives. My lifelong pursuit of human improvement began on the soccer field and continued into college where I was a 1st Team All-American and Hall of Fame inductee. After graduating and working for PricewaterhouseCoopers, I left the corporate sector to pursue my desire to serve and enlisted into the Army and entered the elite ranks of Special Forces. I now serve individuals looking to improve their lives by strengthening their physical, mental, and emotional fitness and mindset. I am grateful and honored to help my clients grow inside and out. If you want to change the world, take that first step. BILL_ANTHEN_CONTACT_INFO LINKEDIN http://linkedin.com/in/bill-anthes-94244812 COMPANY_WEBSITE btwntheears.com EMAIL ADDRESS bill@btwntheears.com

(S1:E24 USMC VET) The Smoking Panda Apr 07, 2021

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Joey Mac Dizon | Hopatcong, NJ | USMC Veteran | Military and Veteran Program Coordinator at Hope For The Warriors | CEO of The Mobile Cigar Lounge & Belleau Wood Cigars | The Mobile Cigar Lounge is led by a highly experienced and motivated team of military veteran entrepreneurs. The Mobile Cigar Lounge is dedicated to giving back to our fellow veterans, active service members, and first responders. The goal is to assist veterans with various challenges they face, connect them with the resources and tools they need and ultimately be a support system for our servicemen and women. BACKPACKS FOR LIFE Backpacks For Life is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that serves the homeless and at-risk veteran communities. The goal is to assist veterans with the various challenges they face, connect them with the resources and tools they need and ultimately be a support system for our servicemen and women. JOEY MAC DIZON CONTACT INFORMATION WEBSITE: https://www.themobilecigarlounge.com/ | https://www.backpacksforlife.org/ EMAIL: info@themobilecigarlounge.com PHONE: 201-618-7776 LINKEDIN linkedin.com/in/joey-mac-dizon-17269443

Rear Admiral Melissa Bert: 1st Female JAG & Chief Counsel of the USCG Mar 28, 2021

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Rear Admiral Melissa Bert serves as the Judge Advocate General and Chief Counsel of the United States Coast Guard. She is the first woman to serve in this position. Prior flag assignments held by Melissa Bert include the U.S. Coast Guard’s Director of Governmental and Public Affairs and Deputy Director of Operations for U.S. Northern Command. Before promotion to flag-rank in 2016, she distinguished herself in service in both legal and operational capacities. As a lawyer, she was Chief of the Coast Guard’s Maritime and International Law Office, supporting U.S. engagement with the International Maritime Organization and providing legal advice on a variety of policies – including the Law of the Sea, drug and migrant interdiction, homeland security, search and rescue, pollution response, port and vessel safety/security, counter-terrorism, Arctic policy, and environmental protection. For her legal expertise she was awarded the Young Military Lawyer of the Year for the Coast Guard by the American Bar Association in 1997 and the Judge Advocates Association Outstanding Career Armed Services Attorney Award in 2006. Operationally, she was Chief of Staff for the Seventh Coast Guard District, responsible for oversight of Coast Guard operations in the Southeastern United States and Caribbean. During the attacks of 9/11, she was the Operations Officer for Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach protecting one of the nation’s most valuable ports. She previously served aboard two cutters, including as Executive Officer of the Cutter Red Birch in Baltimore, Maryland. Rear Admiral Bert is a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy and George Washington University Law School. She has been a national security fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and a military fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in New York. She has taught as an adjunct professor at George Washington University and University of Miami Law School. She is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a Proctor in Admiralty in the United States Maritime Law Association and a Proctor in Admiralty in the United States Maritime Law Association. She is also the founder of the Women’s Leadership Initiative supporting mentoring and professional development for Coast Guard women in uniform and civilians.

(S1:E22) What’s Your ROI? Mar 24, 2021

Show notes

Meet Air Force veteran Ann James of Henderson, Nevada. While in the military, Ann served as an Operation Flight Commander and a Financial Analyst. Ann truly believes knowledge is power and since retiring from the Air Force, she’s earned a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership and is recognized as an Accredited Financial Counselor. She helps military service women and veterans regain control and conquer the battle over their finances so they can live life freely. Dr. Ann James Contact Info drannjames.com | http://linkedin.com/in/drannjames | https://instagram.com/drannjames?igshid=1rfwa3n6qqn3x

(S1:E2) Combat Engineer Turns Molecular Biologist | Dr. Trillitye Paullin, Ph.D. Mar 23, 2021

Show notes

Trillitye Paullin, Ph.D. CEO & Founder at Free to Feed | Doctoral Degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology | Combat Veteran (Operation Iraqi Freedom) Trillitye wrote, “Instead of a legacy, my family passed down generations of physical and sexual abuse. I wanted more for my children than hospitals, foster homes, and courthouses. I dreamed of a day when I could provide unity, support, and stability for my family. Throughout my adolescent years, I often thought about my future. I decided the only way to achieve my dreams was to continue my education beyond high school and to surround myself with highly successful and motivated individuals. The means to accomplish this occurred during my last semester of high school when an Army National Guard recruiter visited my school. At only seventeen, I enlisted in the National Guard, and I am proud to say that I am still serving today. At nineteen years old, I deployed to Iraq. I was faced with the harsh realization that the country to which I was deployed did not share the freedoms that I had experienced in my life. Consequently, I witnessed true adversity as I was thrust into a world where poverty, hunger, and rampant disease were a part of everyday life. Being one of the few women in the country to serve in the military has proven to be an integral part of my identity. I discovered that the abuse inflicted upon me as a child does not define the woman I am today. I have overcome my past and will continue to make a difference in the lives of others. The military has given me the strength to shed the yoke of abuse and focus on the amazing career and philanthropic opportunities that await. My passion as a Molecular Biologist and mother of two led to my founding Free to Feed™, Inc. Free to Feed™ creates science-based content for allergen-free breastfeeding and is developing products to empower parents through infant allergies. Idaho Business Review | Article by Alex Stephens | 16 March 2020 | Trillitye Paullin, 2020 Women of the Year Trillitye Paullin's contact information: Free to Feed Website: Dr. Trill | Free to Feed Email Address: info@freetofeed.com LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/trillitye-paullin Free to Feed Podcast: Podcasts | Free to Feed

(S1:S1) A Wild Ride Called Life Mar 23, 2021

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Meet Annette Whitenberger | Retired Army Chemical Officer | Author | Blogger | Military Spouse She is a mother of two, a wife to an active duty Army Officer who is still serving in the military (26 years and counting!), as well as being an author, speaker, and podcast host. Her time in the Army includes a deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. Annette's blog, A Wild Ride Called Life ®, LLC. incorporates stories from her post-military life in which she shares how she lives life as being a mom and military spouse living with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. She also hosts a podcast titled “The Truths We Hide” in which not only does she share her story, but she also has guests who share theirs and offers advice to others to help them know that they are not alone. Annette is no stranger to finding herself in some of the darkest areas of life. Like many veterans, the transition from military life to civilian life was a difficult transition. It’s these times when many veterans find themselves in the search of their true identity outside the military uniform. Listen in to this episode of The Mettle of Honor to hear her talk about some of these stories. Her book, A Wild Ride Called Life, will be coming out in the summer of 2021. MENTORING VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) https://www.taps.org/ The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Trauma Survivors Network. Veterati E-mentor For more information about Annette, visit Freedom from Trauma, or contact her at any of the links below. COMPANY WEBSITE: https://www.awildridecalledlife.com LINKEDIN PROFILE: linkedin.com/in/🎗annette-whittenberger🎗-a953a227 TWITTER ACCOUNT: awhitt24 FACEBOOK: A Wild Ride Called Life | Facebook

(S1:E3) Shauna Springer, Ph.D. on WARRIOR: Know Thyself. Know Thy Tribe Mar 19, 2021

Show notes

Doctor Shauna Springer, Ph.D – known as “Doc Springer” in the military community, is one of the nation's leading experts on trauma, military transition, and close relationships. After serving 8 years as a frontline psychologist in the Department of Veterans Affairs, she transitioned to Senior Director of Suicide Prevention Initiatives for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (T.A.P.S.). Her devotion and passion over the past decade have resulted in earning a rare form of trust with military leaders and combat warfighters. In her current role as Chief Psychologist of Stella Center, she works to advance a new model of treatment for trauma-related symptoms that fuses biological and psychological interventions. Dr. Springer’s work has been featured on CNN, Business Insider, THRIVE Global, VICE, US News and World Report, NPR, NBC, CBS Radio, Forbes, Washington Post, and Military Times. She is co-author of the best-selling book, Beyond the Military, which explores the psychological, cultural, and relational aspects of military transition. Her newest book WARRIOR: How to Support Those Who Protect Us brings the worlds of the warrior and those they protect together to shine new light on things that many thought we understood: Trust, Stigma, Firearms, The Imploding Mind, and Connection. Dr. Shauna Springer was also a guest on DOV Baron's podcast- Leadership & Loyalty- where she talks about the impact of COVID on mental health. The link to that episode is: https://player.acast.com/dovbaron/episodes/doc-shauna-springer Doctor Shauna Springer's Contact Information WEBSITE: https://www.docshaunaspringer.com LINKEDIN PROFILE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/docshaunaspringer EMAIL ADDRESS: shauna@post.harvard.edu LINKEDIN SHOWCASE PROFILE: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/dr-shauna-springer-ph-d

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