Veteran of the Month (Ashley Tatum

San Diego - August 2021

By Amber Robinson

Ashley Tatum, U.S. Navy Veteran

Sitting with Ashley Tatum in her spacious office at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic, I can see why her clients enjoy her so much. The room is decorated warmly, but with comforting items like a blanket and pictures of family. Ashley is dressed like happiness itself in a brightly colored top and hot pink pumps. But what makes time with Ashley so pleasant is that her energy is just as comforting and bright.

A Navy veteran, Ashley entered the service in 2002 in Ohio at the age of 18. During her senior year the attacks on the world trade center happened. Although many of her friends went into service, she decided to go to college. That is, until she toured a campus and learned just how much college costs. As one of nine siblings, she knew there was no way her family could afford the pricey tuition.

“There was really not enough money for any of us to go to college,” said Tatum. “So I went to the recruiter’s office.”

Unsure of the job she wanted to do in service, Tatum joined as “undesignated”. After she completed basic in Ohio she went to Florida for some generalized training and finally l landed in California for her first duty station.

“And I’ve been here ever since!” said Tatum.

Where she originally landed was a small duty station called Point Mugu Naval Air Station, just south of Santa Barbara. Tatum hardly had time to unpack before she left on deployment aboard a ship, still without an official job. It wasn’t until she approached the rank of E4 that she was forced to finally choose a rate. Up until then her unit had her work on the ship’s flight deck, launching and recovering aircraft. At the time, Tatum said she knew she didn’t want to do that forever. “It was hot, getting up to 120 degrees out there in the gulf,” Tatum said. “I was over it.”

She then agreed to a job as an AZ or as part of the Aviation Maintenance Administration. The job would allow her to stay inside, cool and clean, which sounded great to Tatum.

But, Tatum served for two more years on the flight deck before she was finally able to do her job. By that time, she was an E5 with subordinates who she enjoyed mentoring. When the time finally came for her to work in a cool, clean office it was not quite what she wanted anymore.

“Time just crawled by,” said Tatum. “Time already goes slow enough while deployed, but this just made it worse!”

But, by that time she was on her third deployment. When she came home again, Tatum transferred to shore duty and left active duty shortly after. She then completed two years in the Naval Reserves as a yeoman.

“I then left the service to support my husband’s career,” said Tatum.

Tatum met her husband in 2005 while underway. In her last few years of service she and he married and had kids. It was in those years as a now stay-at-home mom that Tatum began to experience transition difficulties.

“I had a real struggle with identity when I got out,” said Tatum. “When you have the uniform on people can take one look at your shirt and know where you’ve been and what you’ve done.

When you switch that up to now wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt every day, there is a real loss of self.”

Tatum said she found herself bringing up her service and deployments as often as possible in various conversations as a way to validate herself.

“I found myself being angry and bitter,” said Tatum. “I’d see my husband or friends going on deployment and feel jealous.”

But, above all, Tatum said it gave her time with her kids she missed out on when she was an active duty mom.

“I had to put them into daycare at six weeks old and return back to work, full time. I was working 12 hour shifts, so I feel there was some time I missed out on,” said Tatum.

There were many adjustments Tatum made in the nine years she stayed home with her kids. She was finally diagnosed with anxiety in 2010 and has been in therapy ever since. But, in 2014 she made the decision to finally get into school.

“I went into the service to get an education,” said Tatum. “Now, over a decade later I thought it was just about time I started to use those benefits.”

Tatum got her Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration then shortly after got her master’s degree too. Her determination and work ethic really began to shine as she completed her internship for her master’s degree at the VA Medical Center in La Jolla which earned her National University’s Intern of the Year.

“My project was working in the facility’s mailroom, figuring out ways to save them money,” said Tatum. “I figured out a way to save them $20,000 that first year with a plan for it to increase in the years to come.”

What Tatum discovered was a lot of homeless veterans were using the VA clinic as their address of residence. So when the VA sent out a reminder to them about their upcoming appointments, they were simply sending it back to themselves. She also initiated a change in the materials used for mailing, going from heavier, more expensive materials, to lighter, much more affordable ones.

It was during this internship that she got a job interview with Cohen. Now she is able to use those mental health struggles she encountered to encourage others who are seeking help. As Cohen’s only Case Manager, she helps veterans like herself get in touch with the resources they need for any problem they may face from anxiety like her own to homelessness and drug addiction.

“I compile a folder of resources for the veteran to use for their specific issues and can even call different resources on the veteran’s behalf” said Tatum. When asked, Tatum says her immediate goal is to become certified to officially treat her clients. A certification she will have by the end of August. Many become comfortable with Tatum as a case manager. They are excited that they can soon count on her for counseling as well. But when you ask Tatum what she wants to do in five years time she has a much more robust answer.

Tatum recounts meeting the director of the VA who has her master’s degree in Healthcare Administration too. She noted to Tatum “I see you have the same degree as me! How are you going to use it?”

“Honestly?,” said Tatum, “I’m coming for YOUR job.”

In five years Tatum also hopes to be wrapping up her doctorate degree. Her days of feeling anxious, unseen and ineffectual after service are now replaced with dreams of just how far she can go to affect positive change for her fellow veterans.