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No better person to explain the benefits you earned by serving than a former Undersecretary for Benefits at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs!

In this episode, learn about the overlooked, misunderstood, and underutilized service benefits that often confuse veterans and prevent them from accessing support services. There are many ways we can get smarter about these processes. Let’s use the power of community to ensure we understand all the resources.

This conversation will go one step further than a traditional TAPS class, discussing how the VA works, how to access care, and what to do when faced with roadblocks.

As the former Undersecretary for Benefits at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Paul Lawrence oversaw veterans benefits programs impacting nearly 3.9 million veterans and talked personally with thousands of veterans attending virtual townhalls during the COVID-19 pandemic. To help his fellow veterans better access the benefits that they are entitled to, after leaving the VA Dr. Lawrence wrote a book, “Veterans Benefits for You: Get what You Deserve,” which was published in 2023. It’s a commonsense guide to help veterans and their families access a wide range of benefits.

Dr. Lawrence has 30 years of experience working closely with government leaders and was twice selected by Federal Computer Week as one of the top 100 public service business leaders. Paul R. Lawrence was a Public Sector Vice President with Kaiser Associates. He was a Partner at Ernst & Young, a Vice President with Accenture, an Executive Director with the MITRE Corporation, a Vice President with IBM Business Consulting Services, and a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Mr. Lawrence earned his Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Economics from Virginia Tech. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Lawrence served in the U.S. Army attaining the rank of Captain. He graduated from the Army's Airborne School and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

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My next guest needs no introduction for many of you. His crew’s presence this past year in the Red Sea was highly publicized. Not only that, he is part of a new era of “influencer” senior leaders, taking his leadership lessons outside the skin of the ship, and helping the public better understand our Navy!

“Chowdah” Hill is a native of Quincy, Massachusetts. He is a 1996 graduate of Tufts University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude; a 2006 graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service with a Master of Arts in Security Studies, with honors; and a 2016 graduate of the Naval Nuclear Power Training program.

Hill was commissioned through the Navy ROTC program and received his wings of gold as a naval flight officer in 1997. Operational tours include Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 126 from 1998-2001, participating in Operations Southern Watch, Desert Fox, And Deliberate Forge; VAW-124 in 2004 as a weapons and tactics instructor; VAW-115 from 2007-2009 as a department head, participating in patrols in the Western Pacific; VAW-124 from 2012-2014 as the executive officer and commanding officer, participating in Operations Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve; the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) from 2017 to 2019 as the executive officer, participating again in Operation Inherent Resolve; and the USS Arlington (LPD 24) as the commanding officer. He received the MacArthur Foundation Award for writing as a student at the Joint Forces Staff College in 2014.

Hill assumed command of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) on March 23, 2023.

Unit awards include the 2014 and 2017 Battle “E” Award, the 2014 Frank Akers AEW Excellence Award, and the 2014, 2017 and 2020 CNO Safety “S” Award. He was selected as the E-2C Hawkeye Naval Flight Officer of the Year in 2001.

Hill has more than 2,700 hours of flight time primarily in the E-2C Hawkeye. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, four Meritorious Service Medals, four Air Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals, and one Navy Achievement Medal.

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Controlling ourselves in the most stressful situations is vital to a healthy life. We can learn much from those who intentionally do hard things. This act of discipline trains us so that we are prepared when life unexpectedly hands us a traumatic experience.

Adam Boyd spent years in law enforcement as a detective specializing in domestic violence cases before becoming a wellness coach.

However, this episode of the S.O.S. podcast will focus on his latest project, Tour de Patriot, an unprecedented 1200-mile bike ride from the historic Folsom Tavern (NH) to the charming city of Savannah, Georgia.

This grassroots effort aims to reignite patriotism, resilience, and the enduring spirit of the American people. Along the route, he will showcase the heart of the nation's past, stopping at key historical sites that have shaped the American story.

From Revolutionary War landmarks to Civil War battlefields, each stop will unveil layers of history that remind us of the resilience and courage that define the American spirit.

At various points along the journey, participants will engage with and interview patriotic Americans—individuals whose stories embody the principles and values that have fueled our nation's growth. These encounters will be an intimate glimpse into the lives of those who contribute to the ongoing narrative of what it means to be an American!

Adam Boyd is the founder and CEO of Soleful Training, with over a decade of experience as a police officer, including three years on a SWAT team and six as a Detective. He developed department wellness programs, trained SWAT teams, and revamped their PT applicant process.

Adam's extensive experience led him to create Soulful Training's holistic wellness program for first responders, emphasizing physical, mental, and social resilience and purpose.

He frequently teaches the Wim Hof Method, a scientifically-backed technique combining breathing exercises, cold exposure, and mindset, to diverse groups, including medical professionals, SWAT, first responders, business professionals, and Special Forces soldiers.

tourdepatriot.com

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Rehab is often associated with people who have the most urgent and complex addictions and mental health crises.

What if we better educate our service members on what was available, what TriCare covers, and how to spot a reputable provider? My next guest and I will explore this subject in depth and discuss how military members can significantly benefit from these organizations' targeted services.

We will also shatter the stigma, myths, and stereotypes of those who seek this care and what this treatment can do long-term for your life growth, health, and happiness.

Bill Reynolds is a U.S. Navy-trained physician assistant who served on active duty for 30 years and retired as a Lieutenant Commander in 2012.

He has been a PA for over 20 years and has extensive experience in family medicine and psychiatry. Bill guides Sierra Tucson’s acclaimed “Red, White & Blue” program for military veterans, police officers, and other first responders.

Bill was awarded numerous commendation medals for superior performance while in the Navy and had the honor of caring for patients on submarines, in combat, and as the medical officer of a US Navy SEAL team.

Having worked extensively with service members suffering from post-traumatic stress and addiction, Bill brings unique experience to Sierra Tucson as he cares for our military and first responder clients.

He is a strong proponent of integrative medicine and understands the importance of treating the “whole person.”

Sierra Tucson is #1 in Newsweek’s list of Best Addiction Treatment Centers in Arizona for 2023.

More on Bill and Sierra Tucson

Book Tribe

Book Body Keeps A Score

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How can you better understand how to make connections and network authentically? Do you want to understand what will lead to the most significant opportunities?

When I met Scott Manthorne, I knew I was talking to a master networker who not only talked the good game, but worked hard to build genuine relationships.

He has decades of corporate management experience working with the biggest global brands and personalities. Scott now leverages that expertise to give back by working with veterans, sharing their stories, and helping them transition from the military.

Join us as we find what inspired him to pivot to the military space and his advice for veterans trying to break into the business world, either for a company or as an entrepreneur.

We will also discuss his latest venture, already a bestselling book and a movement defining our distinctive circumstances, which he calls The Military Effect.

From over 50 interviews of women and men who served, he uncovers how The Military Effect shapes each's journey and their life afterward.

Scott also shows how The Military Effect has immense value in the modern workplace because of its foundation of community, camaraderie, and connection.

Read more on The Military Effect.

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Beyond the headlines of scandalous stories about military members getting in trouble, there are real people whose lives are forever changed. What we see in the news is often far from the truth or slanted to fit a one-sided narrative.

That's why sharing our stories is so important, especially when seeking justice. Join me as I talk to get another attorney who works with service members seeking accountability. Hear the “stories behind the story” on some of his most compelling cases and his suggestions for reforming the military justice system.

Benjamin Beliles is a former Air Force JAG officer and trial lawyer with over 15 years of experience in complex criminal prosecution, civil litigation, defense, appellate work, and internal investigations. He focuses his practice on white-collar crime and complex civil litigation matters and advocates for victims of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military.

Before entering private practice, Ben served as senior trial counsel for the Special Victims Unit of the U.S. Air Force at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. As the senior prosecutor for the Air Force’s legal offices in Germany, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, and the U.K., he first-chaired 46 jury trials to verdict. While serving in that role, Ben was named the Special Victims Unit Prosecutor of the Year twice.

Before leaving active duty, Ben served as a federal litigation attorney, defending the agency in employment actions in administrative and federal litigation. In that role, he was designated the Air Force Subject Matter Expert in sexual harassment-based removals of civilian employees.

Notably, Ben successfully prosecuted Lt. Col. James Wilkerson for sexual assault at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The convening authority, Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin, threw the verdict out.

That action made the case a lightning rod for change to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Ben was integrally involved in its systemic revision to provide more robust protections for victims of sexual assault.

During the fallout from the case, he served as a frequent media contributor. He suffered extensive reprisal for those who opposed the changes to the military's handling of sexual assault.

Ben is licensed to practice law in Virginia and is permitted to practice in all military and federal courts, including the Eastern and W

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Nearly two months ago, after a very stressful workweek where I had to dig deep into my triggers, I drank so much that I ended up puking up blood.

Turns out, it was just a case of gastritis and has fortunately passed. The incident caused me to face once again my struggles with alcohol consumption, one that, throughout the years, has led me down a road of poor decision-making and even a DUI.

I have since stopped drinking. I won’t sugarcoat it and say everything is perfect now, and I feel so much better, but I do feel my health, my pocketbook, and having complete control of my behavior quitting was worth it to allow myself to feel my feelings and sometimes the suck of life.

That said, I think it’s important to find support systems and coaches to help guide us through these difficult life choices. My next guest is one of them, and not only is he focused on guiding those who decide to stop consuming alcohol, but the underlying causes of all addictive behaviors.

“It’s not the circumstance that gets you; it’s your STORY about the circumstance that gets you.”

Matt Gardiner is a Recovery Coach who helps people get out of their 'stuck stories' and manage their addictions to integrate sobriety into their lives effectively.

His coaching method focuses on breath awareness, inner dialogue word choice, and reframing the stories you've been attaching to the events of your life.

“Change Your Story, Change Your Life”.

More on Matt - https://stan.store/matt_alcoholfree_c...

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Teacher, artist, mentor, community steward—those are only a few adjectives to describe Laura Hatcher's incredible work. From diving for the Navy to intelligence analysis to capturing our most intimate memories through photography, Laura has dedicated her life’s work to serving others.

Join us as we explore how she turned her passion into her profession and what it really takes to build a successful company post-military. She is an inspiration to so many of us!

Laura Hatcher is a nationally published event, headshot, and branding photographer serving Northern Virginia. She started her photographic journey (as a hobby) while on active duty with the United States Navy.

Now a retired naval officer, Laura owns and operates a cozy photography studio in the heart of historic Old Town, Alexandria, and is enjoying her second career as a full-time professional photographer and businesswoman.

Her notable clients include the Virginia War Memorial, the United States Naval Academy (her alma mater), the Alumni Association, the Military Officer's Association of America, The City of Alexandria, Visit Alexandria, and Texas A&M's Bush School of Government and Public Service.

She also teaches photography and business-related workshops for Capital Photography Center.

Laura continues to serve the veteran community with her headshot and photography of military ceremonies.

She is also an avid mentor and leader in her local community, as evidenced by receiving two 2021 Small Business Development Center Veteran of the Year Awards for Alexandria and the State of Virginia (runner-up) and the Virginia Department of Veteran Affairs Woman Program Office 2021 Trailblazer Award.

Find Laura.

Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER
Read my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/
Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.com
Watch episodes of my podcast:
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