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Headlines rarely match the ground truth. We sit down with retired Lt Col Lenore Hakinos to unpack what it took to stand up Camp Delphi in Donna, Texas during the 2021 surge of unaccompanied minors. As a joint planner with deep logistics and emergency management experience, Lenore helped build an expeditionary base camp—dorms, medical intake, process flow—all under HHS leadership with ORR and FEMA in support. What she found was a system designed for care but strained by scale: no biometrics at intake, thin sponsor vetting, rotating leaders, and case managers overwhelmed by tens of thousands of children needing placement.

We walk through how federal roles actually worked on the ground, why intake relied on paper notes and consulate calls, and the risks that come with speed without verification. From “recycled” identities to a transitory school built for kids who were supposed to stay mere weeks, the picture is complex and deeply human. Lenore’s team imposed order where they could—stop‑movement censuses, daily reconciliations—but the bigger tension remained: how to balance humanitarian urgency with anti‑trafficking safeguards and accountability that follows a child beyond the tent line.

The conversation doesn’t stop at the border. After retiring, Lenore channeled that same mission mindset into the American Legion, reviving a local post, supporting veterans’ services, creating scholarships, and rebuilding community traditions in a rapidly growing Texas county. It’s a reminder that while national policy can feel distant, local service is always within reach. Listen for a candid, expert look at HHS, ORR, FEMA coordination, migrant child placement, logistics under pressure, and what it means to serve when duty meets doubt—and stay for practical hope about building strong communities.

If this resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone who cares about border policy, child safety, and real‑world public service.

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What would you do when the order on your desk contradicts the conviction in your gut? We sit down with former Green Beret captain John Frankman to unpack the moment duty collided with conscience during the COVID vaccine mandate—and the ripple effects that followed. From early pressure cues and deployment rules to a surreal JRTC pause where troops were told to decide in the woods, John walks us through the machinery of coercion as he experienced it: shifting policies, career threats, and a system that prized compliance over competence.

John’s path gives the story rare texture. Before Special Forces, he spent four years in Catholic seminary, steeped in philosophy, pastoral care, and daily prayer. That formation shaped his refusal, but it also informed a broader critique of leadership: if irregular warfare selects thinkers who challenge assumptions, why did the culture abandon critical thought at home? We talk lost missions, a missed West Point ethics billet, an exemption that languished for over a year, and a town hall exchange where he pressed senior leaders on EUA versus FDA approvals. The result is a human account of policy made real—how trust erodes, how moral injury forms, and what it takes to step away from a career you love.

We also look forward. John shares cautious optimism about a reinstatement task force, the need for transparent processes, and why accountability matters if the military wants disillusioned veterans to return. Along the way, we step into his inner life—how discipline, tradition, and prayer sustained him—and wrestle with the central question any leader should ask: are we building a force that can win without breaking the people who serve?

If you value straight talk about leadership, ethics, and service in uniform, this one’s for you. Listen, share with a friend who cares about the military’s future, and leave a review to help more people find the show.

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A uniform shouldn’t cost a parent their child. We sit down with retired Army officer, attorney, and parent advocate Erhan Bettistani to unpack how military service collides with family court—and why a little-known administrative process, the Family Advocacy Program’s Incident Determination Committee (FAP IDC), can tilt custody decisions without basic due process. Erhan brings research published in Family Court Review and Military Law Review, plus firsthand stories from Warrior Family Advocacy, to show how “substantiated” findings spill into civilian courts, inflame stress, and even factor into veteran suicide risk.

Across an hour, we trace four forces that often work against service members: media narratives of extremes, the stigma of deployments and constant PCS moves, assumptions around PTSD and mental health, and the shadow-court mechanics of FAP IDC. We compare FAP procedures to the old Title IX campus model—informal, opaque, and vulnerable to error—and highlight reforms that state courts and the Department of Education have already embraced: clear notice, access to the evidence file, counsel in the room, cross-examination, written findings, and recorded hearings. The takeaway is stark but hopeful: the Department of Defense can integrate these protections now, without waiting on Congress, and still support victims with clinical care while improving fairness for all parties.

We also get practical. If you’re navigating divorce or custody as a military parent, you’ll hear strategies for documenting stability, addressing PTSD stigma, planning around deployments, and securing counsel early in the right jurisdiction. Erhan explains how Warrior Family Advocacy funds initial attorney consults and offers grounded guidance so you can breathe, plan, and protect your bond with your child. Abuse must be taken seriously—and so must process. Better rules mean better outcomes for families, for justice, and for the mental health of those who serve.

If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a military family, and leave a review with your biggest question about fixing FAP. Your voice helps push the right reforms forward.

Resources & Links:
• 🌐 Warrior Family Advocacy (WFA): https://www.warriorfamilyadvocacy.com/
• 👥 Connect with S.O.S.

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Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER
Read my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/
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Watch episodes of my podcast:
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What does leadership look like when control disappears? We sit down with Jeff Moss—Bronze Star Army aviator, bestselling author of My Leading Edge, Pfizer veteran, and Inc. 5000 franchise owner—to trace a life built on moral courage, mentorship, and service that lasts. From piloting AH-1 Cobras in Desert Storm to refusing to field unsafe aircraft under pressure, Jeff explains how clear standards and documented truth protect people and missions. Then we pivot from the flight line to the family room: his daughter Mallory’s intractable epilepsy, two brain surgeries, and the night a hospital chaplain asked the question that reframed Jeff’s faith. If you’ve ever wondered how to carry purpose through a season that feels like autorotation, this story will meet you where you are.

We also get practical about the civilian runway—19 years inside big pharma, what most people miss about drug access, and why pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) complicate care with needless switches. Jeff opens the books on small business realities: lawfare, soaring insurance premiums, and the discipline it takes to build a values‑driven moving and junk removal company that still invests in people. Along the way, we talk tech and trust (autopilot doesn’t replace a pilot, it demands one), media skepticism, and what it means to judge less by first impressions and more by character.

Threading through it all is a simple flight plan: pre‑flight your life with mentors and values, commit on takeoff, build systems for normal flight, stay calm in autorotation, and debrief for legacy. If you care about leadership, faith, veteran transition, small business, healthcare access, or just becoming the kind of person others can trust when the air gets thin, this conversation belongs in your queue. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a lift, and leave a review to help others find the show. What part of Jeff’s story challenged you most?

📘 Jeff’s Book: My Leading Edge — Available on Amazon https://a.co/d/j0TjJ4B
✈️ Fun Fact: Jeff still flies Cobras as an airshow pilot!

Where to Find Jeff:
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-moss-92ba6710?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

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Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER
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Watch episodes of my podcast:
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What do you do when the institution you served closes ranks—and you’re left to fight alone? We sit down with Marine veteran and former Nevada National Guard member Andy Lindstrom to unpack a hard, complicated story: years of reporting alleged misconduct, a firing justified as “not a good fit,” and a hearing that arrived nearly three years late. From claims of fraternization and sexual harassment to allegations of wage suppression and payroll fraud on the state side, Andy walks through the paper trail, the “inquiry” that wasn’t called an investigation, and why he believes the system is designed to delay until witnesses disappear and the public moves on.

The conversation gets specific. Andy alleges unlawful CJIS access, the wiping of his personal device after termination, and coordinated efforts to block subpoenas and keep key witnesses off the stand. He explains why he chose not to testify in a forum he believed was structurally biased and how the decision letter praised his presentation while ruling that state misconduct wasn’t proven—effectively sidelining the payroll issues he raised. We also explore the FOIA battles, the IG pathways that went quiet, and the venue fight for an impartial court, including questions of recusal and the optics of former military attorneys presiding over Guard-adjacent matters.

This episode is about more than one case. It’s about how self-policing fails without independent oversight, how selective enforcement corrodes trust, and how retaliation—legal, professional, and social—chills reporting. You’ll hear the human cost too: a father determined to show his daughter that truth is worth defending. If you care about whistleblower protections, military accountability, and how state-federal hybrids handle misconduct, this is a detailed, unflinching listen.

If this resonates, share the episode, leave a review, and subscribe so more people can find stories that test systems—and push them to do better.

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Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER
Read my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/
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Watch episodes of my podcast:
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Justice should not depend on who’s most afraid of a headline. We sit down with nationally recognized trial lawyer and former Air Force JAG Davis Younts to examine where military justice goes off the rails—and how to bring it back on track. Davis shares the moment a 15‑minute acquittal at the Air Force Academy changed his career path from prosecution to defense, revealing what happens when allegations gain momentum and no one can find the off‑ramp.

We dig into the uneasy balance between command authority and legal oversight, why the Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC) is slowing cases while pulling commanders away from discipline, and how political risk trains leaders to push weak cases to court rather than make hard calls. You’ll hear specific, practical fixes: raising the evidentiary bar to open administrative investigations, creating an affirmative defense for leaders who are strictly enforcing published standards, and finally training investigating officers to recognize bias, weigh credibility, and document decisions with rigor.

On the UCMJ side, Davis makes the case to restore Article 32 preliminary hearings as a real evidentiary gate that protects true victims from re‑traumatization and the innocent from trials doomed by thin evidence. We also spotlight the “titling” trap—when simply being investigated can plant a damaging FBI record without charges or notice—along with common‑sense safeguards like notification and appeals. The through line is standards: physical readiness, professional conduct online, and the moral clarity to seek peace through strength without rewarding victimhood or punishing honest leadership.

If you care about due process, warrior ethos, and a military that can command trust at home and deterrence abroad, this conversation is for you. Listen, share with a teammate, and tell us where you think reform should start. And if this resonates, follow the show, leave a review, and pass it to someone who needs to hear it.

🔗 Connect with Davis: https://yountslaw.com/

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Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER
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What happens when a Marine JAG officer trades combat zones for campaign trails? Chris Burnett is finding out firsthand as he runs for Maryland's 6th congressional district.

After 22 years in the Marine Corps navigating the complexities of international and operational law across multiple deployments to Iraq, Burnett now faces a different kind of challenge. His military career taught him to translate complex legal frameworks into practical guidance for commanders making high-stakes decisions. Now he's applying those same analytical skills to the regulations strangling opportunity in his community.

The spark for his congressional run came from an unexpected place—his wife's attempt to open a small laundromat. As a military family of six settling in Maryland after his retirement, they discovered that Montgomery County's regulations and requirements made entrepreneurship virtually impossible. "There is just no opportunity for families, small businesses, and farmers to push back on what has become an overbearing county and state government," Burnett explains with the measured precision of someone who's spent decades evaluating risk and identifying solutions.

His campaign strategy mirrors his military approach—systematic, phased, and mission-focused. From securing seed money to building name recognition in a community where he's relatively new, Burnett embraces the challenge with the same attitude that drew him to the Marines: "It's the hardest thing you can do." He's translating military concepts like accountability and transparency into a political context, explaining to voters why these principles matter for effective governance.

For veterans considering public service after military life, Burnett's journey offers valuable insights on leveraging military experience in a political landscape. Despite the challenges—limited community connections, financial constraints, and explaining military expertise to civilian audiences—veterans bring unique problem-solving abilities and leadership experience that can restore trust in government.

Want to learn more about bringing common-sense leadership to complex problems? Visit burnettforcongress.com to connect directly with Chris about his campaign, military experience, or the transition to civilian servi

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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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When a nation asks its warriors to defend freedom and uphold justice abroad, shouldn't those same warriors expect justice at home? This powerful episode unravels the harrowing journey of Keith Barry, a decorated Navy SEAL whose 25-year military career crumbled under the weight of a false accusation and a system corrupted by political pressure.

Keith opens up about his transition from elite special operator to facing unimaginable accusations without evidence. His conviction—secured without NCIS testimony and based solely on an accuser's statements—exposes critical flaws in our military justice system. The raw emotion of his 30-month confinement, where he refused to falsely admit guilt even when threatened with solitary confinement, reveals both the personal cost and the remarkable resilience of someone fighting for truth.

What makes this story truly extraordinary is the unprecedented intervention that saved him. A whistleblower's courage combined with a retired admiral's confession of yielding to unlawful command influence ultimately led to Keith's exoneration. Yet even after the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces overturned his conviction and dismissed the case with prejudice in 2018, the Navy has failed to fully honor the court's order to restore his rights and privileges.

Joining Keith are two remarkable witnesses to his ordeal: Jennifer Ballard, former commanding officer of the Naval Consolidated Brig where Keith was confined, and Rodney Johnson, who worked with prisoners during Keith's incarceration. Their perspectives offer a rare inside look at how those within the system recognized the injustice unfolding before them.

This isn't just one man's fight for justice—it's a window into how our military handles due process when political agendas and command pressure collide with constitutional rights. Whether you're active military, a veteran, or a citizen concerned about justice, this conversation challenges us to examine how we protect both victims of sexual assault and the falsely accused while preserving the integrity of the system designed to serve them both.

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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:
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76