V
SAN DIEGO
Vol. 4 Number 3 • MARCH 2022
MAGAZINE
The Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) (Veteran Lisa Crutch)
Care for the Caregiver
Meet The Donut Dollies Beyond the Uniform
Veteran and Woman Warrior
San Diego Veteran RESOURCES
Major Glenn Ferguson Life & Legacy
VETERANS HANDBOOK TRANSITION & MENTAL HEALTH
WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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EDITOR’S
LETTER
Publisher Editor-In-Chief Mike Miller mikemiller@SDVetsMagazine.com mikemiller@HomelandMagazine.com
Contributing Writers Holly Shaffner Veteran Advocate
RanDee McLain, LCSW A Different Lens
Jenny Lynne Stroup Real Talk: Mental Health
Vicki Garcia
Enlisted to Entrepreneur
CJ Machado
SD Vets & Homeland Photojournalist
Kelly Bagla, Esq. Legal Eagle
Tana Landau, Esq. Legally Speaking
www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com Greetings and a warm welcome to San Diego Veterans Magazine! Please take some time to get to know the layout of our magazine. The Magazine focuses on San Diego resources, support, community, and inspiration for our veterans and the military families that keep it together.
Joe Molina
Veterans Chamber of Commerce
Eve Nasby
What’s Next - Transitioning
Amber Robinson Arts & Healing
Eva Stimson Veteran Advocate
Paul Falcone
Our magazine is driven by passion, vision, reflection and the future. The content is the driving force behind our magazine and the connection it makes with our veterans, service members, military families, and civilians.
Human Resources
The magazine is supported by a distinguishing list of San Diego veteran organizations, resource centers, coalitions, veteran advocates, and more.
San Diego Veterans Magazine 9528 Miramar Road, #41 San Diego, CA 92126
We are honored to share the work of so many committed and thoughtful people. San Diego Veterans Magazine is a veterans magazine for veterans by veterans. We appreciate your support and are so happy to have you as a reader of San Diego Veterans Magazine.
Mike Miller Editor-In-Chief
mikemiller@SDVetsMagazine.com mikemiller@HomelandMagazine.com 4
WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
David Koontz Midway Magic
(858) 275-4281 Contact us at: publisher@SDVetsMagazine.com San Diego Veterans Magazine is published monthly. Submissions of photographs, Illustrations, drawings, and manuscripts are considered unsolicited materials and the publisher assumes no responsibility for the said items. All rights reserved.
MARCH
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 8 Midway Magic 10 Major Glenn L. Ferguson (Life & Legacy) 14 Artist Joe Everson 16 Meet the Donut Dollies 18 Paved Road (Women Veterans) 20 Beyond the Uniform 24 Women Leading in the Military 26 Women Veterans Alliance 28 Women Veterans Network 30 Real Talk: Caregiver 32 Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) 34 Brain injury and PTSD (Research Project) 39 LENS - Social Worker 40 GI Bill (Successful Stories) 42 What’s Next: The Black Curtain 44 HR - Women in Leadership 46 Country Artist Corey Stapleton 48 Master the Game of Business 50 The Job Market 52 Legal Eagle - Asset Protection 56 Legally Speaking: Parallel Parenting 58 Shelter to Soldier (STS Mission) 60 Shoulder to Shoulder (Afghan Refugee Fund) 62 SDVC - Chula Vista Public Library 64 Inside the Monthly Columns WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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SAN DIEGO MAYOR TODD GLORIA ANNOUNCES
MILITARY, VETERAN AND FAMILIES ADVISORY COUNCIL As part of his efforts to improve quality of life for all San Diegans, Mayor Todd Gloria is proud to announce the formation of the Military, Veteran and Families Advisory Council with the goal of making San Diego the most welcoming city in the nation for the military, veterans and their families.
As their first formal action, the Council will provide a list of recommendations to the Mayor to help actively support the local military, veterans, and their families.
Made up of eight females and seven males, the group includes representation from each service branch, as well as The advisory council will representatives meet quarterly, review spanning the the City of San Diego’s continuum of those with current policies and lived experiences, procedures and including a transitioning propose new active duty to veteran opportunities for the status representative, City to connect, mobilize veteran small business and empower San owner, a military Diego’s Veteran and spouse, and a veteran military communities, as and military family well as their caregivers. caregiver.
Keshia Javis-Jones
WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
Jodie Grenier
Holly Shaffner
Jack Harkins
Dixon Smith
Brittany Fuller
Ashish Yosh Kakkad
Randee McLain
Adam Heyde
Leo Tanaka
Pegah Parsi
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Jim Gruny
Nina Sughrue Hutton
Cinnamon Clark
Shawn VanDiver
Armed Forces Memorial Amphitheater
A Vision for Miramar National Cemetery More than 20,000 veterans and their loved ones are interred at Miramar National Cemetery. The Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation holds services in the Flag Assembly Area on Memorial Day weekend and on Veterans Day to honor our veterans. The Flag Assembly Area has no permanent seating. The Support Foundation plans to build the Armed Forces Memorial Amphitheater with permanent guest seating in a beautifully landscaped setting. This will be the Support Foundation’s biggest project yet. Its cost—for construction and permanent maintenance—is estimated at $600,000 Contributions from corporations, veterans groups, civic organizations, local government, and the public are needed to make this vision reality at Miramar National Cemetery.
Please Contribute Today! Make the Vision a Reality
Armed Forces Memorial Amphitheater Any contribution amount counts!
To donate, please go to https://miramarcemetery.org and click the “Donate Now” button or by check to Amphitheater Fund, c/o 6906 Miramar Road, Set C-142, San Diego, CA 92121. The Support Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity. All donations are tax deductible. Tax ID #65-1277308. You will receive an acknowledgment for your contribution. WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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Midway Mystery Solved After Three Decades As the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the 20th Century, the USS Midway has many secrets and hidden treasures that are still being uncovered today. While working in some ramshackle offices that were once used by the staff of Midway’s battle group commander, members of the museum’s restoration team found an old safe that hadn’t been touch in nearly 30 years. As they pried open the safe’s door, they revealed a handwritten note on the inside that had gone unseen for most of the last three decades. “It was a fun find,” said Midway’s chief engineer, Len Santiago. “While tracing some low-pressure air lines, we discovered a special message written on the inside of the safe’s door.” It read, “SN Cosby was here from Nov. 17, 1989 to (Aug-April) 1992. Boy it was hell! But I guess I will miss this old rust bucket!” But who was SN Cosby? The investigation began. Midway’s research library team jumped on the case and immediately began digging through old cruise books and reviewing its ever-growing database of former crewmembers.
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In short order, they came up with their first lead. “Steven James Cosby visited the library and filled out a former Midway crewmember sheet,” said Bonnie Brown, one of Midway’s lead librarians who found his name in the crew file. “Unfortunately, he didn’t leave an email address or phone number. The pursuit continued. Troy Prince, another of Midway research librarians, went fishing by posting a series of messages on several Midway-related social media sites. Within a few days, contact had been made. Cosby was astonished. A Norwalk, Calif. native, Cosby joined the Navy directly out of high school and arrived on Midway shortly before the start of Operation Desert Storm. He stayed with the ship from the war, through its decommissioning and ultimately to her transfer to the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility’s ghost fleet at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash. in 1992. “I don’t even remember doing it,” said Cosby, who currently works for the U.S. Army’s Aviation Supply Command Los Alamitos. “I guess I wanted to leave something behind, a piece of me. I think a part of me was going to miss the Midway and experiences that I had on board.”
SN Cosby on Midway 1990
While the search for Cosby was underway, his photo was found in the ship’s 1989-1990 cruise book, which listed him as airman working in Midway’s air department. However, the note he left inside the safe in 1992 indicated that he was a seaman. “We worked really hard moving aircraft around,” said Cosby, who, as an airman, was initially assigned to Midway’s V-3 hangar-deck division.
“One day I met a fella who worked for the ship’s post office.
www.midway.org
He told me that they were short-handed and could use the help. I started going there on my time off. I got to know everyone and they suggested that I transfer.” Shortly after transferring, Cosby passed his exam and went from an airman to a seaman postal clerk. “I started out by sorting the mail,” said Cosby, who lives in Stanton, Calif. “I would wait for the C-2 Greyhound cargo plane to land and offload the mail. I would hold mail call every day.” Although he doesn’t recall scribbling the note, he reflected on why he wrote “boy it was hell” and “I will miss this old rust bucket” on the door of the safe. “I think that I was referring the hard work and jobs that we all had to endure during our time there, and the Desert Storm war had most of us working 12 to 16-hours shifts,” said Cosby. “But I made many friends and we all went through the same things together. We built strong bonds of brotherhood on sweat and tears. We would die for one another if we had to. We would die for Midway.” After nearly three decades, Cosby still has fond memories of his time on Midway and stays in contact with many of his former shipmates. In fact, it was one of his old Midway buddies that let him know the museum’s library staff was trying to find him. His greatest treasure, however, from his time on Midway is still with him today. “I met my wife of 30 years in Yokosuka, Japan, which was Midway’s homeport from 1973 to 1992,” said Cosby, who has visited Midway twice since it became a floating Steven Cosby with naval ship museum. son Steven Jr. today “I am very proud to have been part of the Midway Magic and her crew. I am forever grateful to the United States Navy and its leadership for transforming meinto the man I am today.”
USS Midway Museum Volunteer Opportunities Now Available! www.midway.org/give-join/volunteers volunteers@midway.org
www.midway.org/give-join/volunteers www.midway.org/give-join/volunteers
WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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SEMPER FIDELIS MARINE Major Glenn L. Ferguson, USMC, Retired A Tribute to his Life & Legacy By, CJ Machado
The Flying Leathernecks mourn the loss of a true friend, benefactor and great Marine. Major Glenn L. Ferguson, USMC (Retired) made his final takeoff on Saturday, December 18, 2021. He was 100 years old. Major Ferguson was the epitome of an Officer and a Gentleman. He was known as “Fergie” to those who knew him well. Major Ferguson was one of the pioneers of Marine Corps aviation in both fixed wing and rotary aircraft. He served in the Marine Corps for twenty- six years, a career that spanned three wars, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Major Ferguson took great pride in upholding the traditions of the Marine Corps and lived each day in its core values; Honor, Courage and Commitment. Glenn L. Ferguson, Jr. was born on October 29, 1921 in Harvey, Illinois. He grew up as most typical boys do with a severe case of wanderlust and a strong desire to see the world. Like most young men during that time, Glenn’s boyhood dream was to become an aviator. At the age of eighteen, Glenn decided to join the Marine Corps. Much to his mother’s dismay, on November 13, 1939, Glenn dedicated his life to the Corps for twenty-one dollars a month in pay, minus twenty cents for medical insurance. “And so I passed from boyhood to manhood and became a Marine Forever.” Glenn naturally acclimated to the Marine Corps, he had an understanding of military life that many others had a difficult time adapting to. He credited this to his father that had served as a Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps in WWI and in the Army National Guard as a Captain in the Field Artillery after the war.
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Ferguson entered “Boot Camp” at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), San Diego and was trained by men of the Corps called the “Old Breed” that had served in WWI. “These men were fair, firm, nononsense, hard Marines, well suited to convert raw recruits into efficient fighting Marines,” Glenn would explain. After graduating from Basic Training, Glenn was assigned to Dog Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Brigade at MCRD known as the “Devil Dogs,” a nickname received by the Germans for their relentless fighting tactics during WWI in the legendary battle of Belleau Wood. Glenn trained as a Gunner in old whaling boats made of wood and a high sharp prow (pre-Higgins boats). One by one the recruits would have to disembark with their heavy combat equipment in boat exercises. It was a slow process that in combat would leave them vulnerable to the enemy. Glenn distinctively recalled the day of his graduation, “As I stood on the blacktop of the parade ground, the day of his graduation, “As I stood on the blacktop of the parade ground, I watched a silver plane fly over North Island, and I said to myself, someday, somehow, I too would fly.” At the time, it seemed to be an impossible path given the lack of opportunity and college education. In 1942, Glenn was assigned to the Whitehouse where he provided protection for couriers carrying top secret war documents across the country and checked in dignitaries at the East Wing for President F.D. Roosevelt. Fate intervened when he met a pretty girl named Irene Houston on a double date that stemmed from a night at the canteen at Lafayette Square. During that time, Ferguson became close friends with Mr. Crim, the Head Usher of the Whitehouse who ensured Glenn’s flight training application was reviewed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Glenn’s boyhood dream finally became a possibility and in June of 1943, he started his primary flight training at Bunker Hill, Indiana. He trained in open air cock-pit Bi-planes, which had two-wings, one above the other that were covered in fabric and doped with a lacquer-like finish. He finally earned his coveted Naval Aviator “Wings of Gold.” He advanced to further training and eventually was assigned to dive bombers, torpedo bombers and fighters. In July, 1945, Glenn was sent overseas to Pearl Harbor to be part of the first wave of the invasion of the Japanese homeland in which 1,000,000 casualties were expected. The plan was cancelled once the atomic bomb was dropped and Japan surrendered. He was then sent to Tsingtao, China where the Japanese Manchurian Army had not yet surrendered.
While in China, Glenn never forgot the pretty girl he had met while stationed at the White House. He sent her a letter and proposed marriage. On June 9, 1946, Glenn married Irene and they went on to have two sons and many grandchildren. Glenn and Irene were happily married for sixty-four years until her passing in 2010.
Ferguson was eventually assigned to the legendary F4-U Corsair and transferred to an instrument training squadron in El Toro that was established to train pilots to fly in bad weather. This training had been temporarily passed up due to the urgency of the war. Glenn became the flight instructor to many pilots going through training. In 1951, Glenn was assigned to NAS Ellyson Field, Pensacola, Florida where he trained to fly helicopters. This was during the early days of operating the new aircraft. Initial versions of the helicopter had to be assisted with bungee cords attached to the joystick for retention due to the heavy flight controls. Glenn successfully completed his training and was given Helicopter pilot number 411, signifying a very early designation as a helicopter pilot. In March 1952, Glenn deployed to Korea as a medevac helicopter pilot flying the Bell HTL helicopter, the same model helicopter used in the television series M*A*S*H. At that time, wounded personnel were carried by a stretcher mounted externally. A metal hood would cover their head to protect them from the brisk air currents while sandbags were used to balance loads. The helicopters were not equipped with sophisticated instruments for rescues that occurred at night. Pilots had to navigate by starlight. WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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Glenn finished his tour in Korea with 134 missions, 29 of which were night missions. In total, he evacuated 132 wounded personnel. Glenn later stated that it was the most meaningful assignment of his Marine Corps career. It should also be duly noted that during the Korean War, Major Ferguson chased down Korean Runners and held them at bay with the blades of his helicopter until the military police arrived to arrest them. This is the only incident recorded of its kind. Toward the end of his active career, Glenn was appointed as a Group Legal Officer. He also served as a test pilot for OE planes and HOK helicopter and was a co-pilot with Marine One for President D. Eisenhower.
Even after his retirement, Glenn Ferguson never stopped serving the Marine Corps. He dedicated his time and talents, volunteering to preserve Marine Corps Aviation with the Flying Leathernecks Historical Foundation and Museum. He established the Foundation’s “Honor, Courage and Commitment” annual student essay contest, and the “Marines in Flight” annual student art contest, an education outreach to encourage young people to learn their country’s history and “to recognize and reflect on the past and that people have fought and died for their way of life.”
Major Ferguson also founded the Irene Ferguson Marine Wife of the Year Award in 2011 in honor of his wife’s dedicated service to the Corps and his family of sixty-four years. In Glenn’s words, “It was after Irene was gone that I realized that in all the museums that I had visited, all the parks I had walked through, and all the buildings I have been in, none showed a tribute to the life of the service wife in supporting her husband. Men left for distant lands where they lead busy, sometimes exciting times. Many won medals and their feats were extolled in the newspapers. Unsung were the wives left behind, nurturing and educating their children, caring for them in times of sickness and soothing their fears when daddy was gone…There were no medals, no monuments to attest to her trials, tribulations and her victories. I wanted to recognize my dedicated wife Irene’s service and all those that married into the Marine Corps.” Major Glenn Ferguson exemplified the Marine Corps tradition. His life and legacy, his commitment to his family, his country and America’ youth, will forever be imprinted in the hearts of those who knew him and engraved on the wall of the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation and Museum. Major Glenn Ferguson in Janurary 2020, was named San Diego Veterans Magazine “Veteran of the Month”. VOM article available at: www.tinyurl.com/MajorFergusonVOM May you Rest In Peace in the arms of your lovely wife Irene...Semper Fidelis, Marine. You will be greatly missed.
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Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR MARINE WIFE RECOGNITION AWARD The Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation is now accepting nominations for the Irene Ferguson Marine Wife Recognition Award. Founded by the late WWII pilot and Escondido resident, Maj Glenn Ferguson, the award honors the resiliency, strength, and dedication of the wives of active-duty Marines with a ceremony, cash award and other gifts. Nominations are due by April 4, 2022. Friends and family members can submit online nominations and get more information at: www.flyingleathernecks.org/about-us/programs/marine-wife-award
STUDENT ART AND ESSAY CONTESTS NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES: "How do you show honor, courage and commitment in your life?" is the prompt for the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation's annual essay contest. All 6th-12th grade students residing in San Diego County qualify. There are cash awards available for both students and teachers. Guidelines, the online submission form and a downloadable flyer are available at: www.flyingleathernecks.org/education/essay-contest/
The deadline is April 18, 2022. For students who are artistically-inclined, the Flying Leathernecks host the annual "Marines in Flight" Art Contest. All San Diego students in grades 6-12 qualify. Guidelines, the online submission form, information about the awards and a downloadable flyer for the art contest are available at: www.flyingleathernecks.org/education/art-contest/ The deadline for the art contest is April 11, 2022
ABOUT THE FLYING LEATHERNECK HISTORICAL FOUNDATION The Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation's mission is to preserve the history of U.S. Marine Corps aviation, honor military service, and inspire in all generations an appreciation of America’s freedoms and values. The Foundation has established a collaboration with the Character Education Resource Center at the University of San Diego to provide lessons in U.S. history, leadership, character, patriotism, and aviation science.
FLHF@FLYINGLEATHERNECKS.ORG | WWW.FLYINGLEATHERNECKS.ORG | 858-693-1723 WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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CELEBRATING ARTIST JOE EVERSON OVER $1 MILLION RAISED FOR ACTIVE MILITARY AND VETERANS
Joe is proud to support our Armed Forces. 100% of the funds raised at your charity event, stay with your cause. Unlike most action painters in the industry, we do not take a percentage of the sale of the performance paintings at your event, so that our military can benefit as much as possible. Who is Joe Everson? Joe Everson is a renaissance man — artist, vocalist, musician, and photographer. His viral videos of singing the National Anthem while painting a live-action artwork have over 250 million views. Since 2016’s viral success, Joe travels the nation performing for professional sports teams, Fortune 500 companies, and celebrities. He has been featured on FOX News, ESPN Sports Center, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NHL.com, Washington Times, CBS sports, USA Today, Huffington Post and has had nationwide coverage from media. Homeland – So we hear that after going on National TV, your manager got over 400 emails in less than 30 minutes and that you guys sold almost $100,000 of your art off the website in less than an hour? Joe – Yes, all true. I was broke as a joke at the time. Struggling to pay rent sometimes. Our rental house had been sold out from under us and my wife was packing while I was in Toledo because we only had a couple of weeks to get out.
Then overnight, people buy up nearly everything I had put online and commission orders were rolling in. Also, Dan (manger) was starting to fill the calendar with sports teams and fundraising events. Homeland: As a follow up, a lot of the emails you received were from Veterans right? What can you tell us about your fundraising for veterans and interaction with them at shows? What does it mean to you to be involved with all of these military charities? Joe: After the tv appearance, we got emails from over 400 people. About a quarter of those were from veterans thanking me for what I was doing. Once in particular told me they struggle with PTSD and suicidal thoughts and that watching my patriotic performance was so inspiring that it “helped them get through one more day”. Somebody says that to you, it’s life changing. I was already patriotic before, but that pushed me to use my art to make a difference. I had gone to a memorial service for a family member named Benito Diaz when I was young. He had died in Vietnam. That’s when it first clicked for me that these men and women were out there fighting for our freedoms and giving up their lives. I get booked for a lot of military fundraisers due to the patriotic nature of my performances. They probably think I’m doing them a favor, but they’ve been patrons since the early days, always bringing me back. Some of my favorites are Special Operations Care Fund, Carrington Charitable Foundation, Hunts for the Brave, and USO San Diego. I’ve worked with tons of others, but these groups bring me back, year after year. Plus, I now feel like family and have made a lot of friends. I only charge a flat fee and then they keep all the money from the paintings. We’ve seen them sell for anywhere between $10,000 to $50,000 at these shows. All that money goes straight to helping veterans. That makes me feel like I’m doing something with my art to create positive change. To date, we’ve probably raised in the neighborhood of $1.5 million through the sales of my paintings at military fundraisers. I’ve also gotten to meet General Colin Powell before he passed, and General Joseph Dunford. Plus, Major Dan Rooney, the founder of Folds of Honor, and Rob O’Neill, the guy that took out Bin Laden. Homeland: Any last words about art and the future?
Joe Everson www.joeeverson.com 14
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Joe: Everybody should buy art to brighten up their homes. Just find what’s affordable and collect! And of course, I want to do more good. I want to be the guy that keeps on coming up with bigger and better patriotic performances so in 10 years from now, I’ve had a part in raising millions for veterans. All that would make me feel like I did something good for the world.
RAISING THE FLAG ON IWO JIMA See Art - www.joeeverson.com/art WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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Labor of Love Documentary Preserves the Story of Unsung Heroes of the Vietnam War Meet the Donut Dollies SD Veterans Magazine had a chance to speak with the director of a new documentary focused on a little known story of the Vietnam War. 25 years ago, filmmaker Norm Anderson Amandi started an on-camera conversation with his mother Dorset about a life-defining year she spent in Vietnam as a “Donut Dollie.” Neither of them knew at the time that what began as an effort to document family history would become the most significant effort ever undertaken to preserve a virtually unknown chapter in American history. SD Vets: Who are the Donut Dollies? Amandi: The Donut Dollies are the most amazing women you’ve never heard of. They were brave young American women who volunteered in Korea and Vietnam during the wars. They joined a Red Cross program called Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas (SRAO), and accepted the daunting mission to boost morale and be a living, breathing reminder of home to American servicemen fighting and dying half a world away.
Donut Dollies Linda Sullivan Schulte (L) & Dorset Hoogland Anderson (R) visting with a soldier in a lookout tower in Vietnam 1968-69 (Photo Credit - Donut Dollies Documentary) 16
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SD Vets: How did they become known as the Donut Dollies? Amandi: During WWII, the American Red Cross ran a program to provide comforts of home and entertainment to the men serving in Europe. The GIs took to calling these fresh-faced women Donut Dollies. When the SRAO program started in Korea, the term of endearment stuck. SD Vets: What services did the Donut Dollies provide In Vietnam? Amandi: The Red Cross operated Recreation Centers on bases, which offered GIs typical amenities, but the real draw was getting to interact with the Donut Dollies. The job also included actively entertaining the guys through “programming.” This could be trivia games, contests, handmade games they invented, or anything else they could think of. They also caught rides in helicopters out to firebases often 4 or 5 in one day! There, they’d program, deliver mail, fill sandbags - anything to take guys’ minds off the war. Countless guys were more than a little surprised to see American women in powder blue skirts hopping out of a Huey. SD Vets: What drew you to making this documentary? Amandi: Love. I’m extremely proud to say my mom is a Donut Dollie. As a kid, I didn’t think to ask her why she went to Vietnam. But as I got older, it sank in -
7 Americal Red Cross Girls (clockwise from bottom left ground Diane, Kath, Rene, Caro, Tee, Amy & Sandy) - 1968-69 (Photo credit - Diane Schmidt Curley)
she had done something truly amazing. I also realized there was a danger her story could be lost and forgotten. In my late teens, I used all my savings to buy a video camera and began filming what’s become a 25+ year conversation. It expanded to include my Mom’s Donut Dollie sister Mary Bowe and many other funny, tough, and inspirational women you’ll meet in the film. SD Vets: Why did the Donut Dollies choose to serve in Vietnam? Amandi: That’s one of the main questions we set out to answer. We also created a feature on our website called The Donut Dollie Detail, where 60 Donut Dollies have shared their stories. Recurring themes include patriotism, caring for the men serving so far from home, and the desire to do something that could make a difference. SD Vets: The Donut Dollies don’t appear to be known to the public or in the history of the Vietnam War, any thoughts as to why? Amandi: One of the main reasons appears to be humility about their service. The Donut Dollies felt and feel that the attention should be on the brave men who served. Some women have also shared that they quickly learned people in the States just didn’t care, or were actively hostile when they found out they’d been in Vietnam. So they never spoke about their wartime experiences again.
This obviously mirrors the experience of a lot of veterans. Another parallel: PTSD. The Donut Dollies were thrown into a warzone. Their helicopters got shot at. They experienced incoming fire and had to dive for cover like the guys. GIs they knew and loved were injured or killed all the time. Three Donut Dollies also died in Vietnam. So, just like with the men who served, a lot is kept deep inside and left unspoken. It’s been really moving to discover that our film can help Donut Dollies and veterans open up and start sharing things that have been locked away for decades. SD Vets: How can we learn more about the Donut Dollies and your documentary? Amandi: For all things Donut Dollies: www.facebook.com/thedonutdollies or www.donutdollies.com, is where you can support the project by purchasing the film. And, if you have memories or memorabilia related to the Donut Dollies, we’d love to hear from you at: memories@donutdollies.com SD Vets: Any closing thoughts? Amandi: You mentioned earlier that the public doesn’t seem to know about the Donut Dollies. That’s something we sure want to change. My sincere hope is that, through our film and www.DonutDollies.com, we can help shine light on these amazing women. They deserve it. Thank you for your interest, and for helping us make The Donut Dollies a household name! Connect with Norm Anderson Amandi at memories@donutdollies.com
Donut Dollie Jan Small Woods flying over Vietnam - Nov 1966 to July 1967 - (credit - Jan Small Woods)
Vintage photo of Donut Dollie Dorset Anderson WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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WALKING A
Women veterans continue in prominent DAV leadership roles in the years since first female national commander was elected By M. Todd Hunter
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n summer 2017, a distinct sound reverberated throughout New Orleans that muffled the raucous nightlife on Bourbon Street and unique acoustics of the city’s famed zydeco music. It was the sound of a glass ceiling shattering and crashing to the floor, as Delphine Metcalf-Foster became the first woman elected DAV national commander. Since then, the pile of broken glass has been swept away and replaced with a road paved for DAV’s female leaders to continue marching along.
Top: Members of the DAV Department of Maryland Women Veterans Committee hosted Her Military Story in February. The event highlighted the service of women in the military and featured free claims assistance and remarks from women veteran leaders at the Department of Veterans Affairs and Military Women's Memorial. Opposite, standing: Nancy Espinoza, DAV national first junior vice commander
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DAV National 1st Junior Vice Commander Nancy Espinosa is one such veteran charging ahead following MetcalfFoster’s example. While DAV membership spans generations within her family, Espinosa credits a conversation she had at a department convention as her inspiration to take on the mantle of leadership. “[Metcalf-Foster] talked to me about [the organization] and the leadership at that level and how there was a need there for women veterans,” recalled Espinosa, who also serves as adjutant of the Department of Utah. “She was looking behind her and I needed to step up.” Espinosa isn’t alone in considering Metcalf-Foster a DAV trailblazer, and their respective success in the organization’s leadership ranks didn’t happen overnight. Like others, their road to national leadership began locally. Marine Corps veteran Shamala Capizzi was initially hesitant to take on a local leadership role but was swayed by the example set by other women veterans and the support of her chapter’s adjutant. “There were already a lot of women on the line already as executives,” said Capizzi, who is now first junior vice commander of DAV Chapter 10 in Virginia. “So that made me feel more comfortable in taking the role, because there were other women veterans that paved the way for me.” Navy veteran Katina Barnes’ situation differed. Her local chapter didn’t have any other women veterans attending meetings, leaving her with questions her male counterparts didn’t have answers to. “I felt as though there was no voice [for women veterans], so I had to make one,” said Barnes, who sits on DAV’s national Women Veterans Interim Committee and is also the women’s committee chair for the Department
of Maryland. “They allowed me to do whatever I felt was a need for female veterans to be represented.” “Representation matters,” said Capizzi. “As the veteran population has changed and society has changed, DAV has changed, too, to meet the needs of our veterans.” Many women veterans acknowledge that uphill battles still exist when it comes to gaining the confidence of their male counterparts. Barnes believes the best way to counter that is to get their peers to understand why women veterans look to DAV. “It’s so important that male veterans understand that we are women, we are wives, we are sisters, we are mothers,” she said. “And we’ve earned everything we’re asking for, just like they’ve earned it.” “Women veteran leaders in DAV are a twofold benefit to the organization,” explained Metcalf-Foster. “It enhances the perspectives on how disabilities are viewed from a woman veteran’s viewpoint, and it allows for new viewpoints to be illuminated while simultaneously recognizing the historical strong points this organization already knows about.” “We’re not trying to create a new organization,” said Valerie Taylor, a former commander of an Air Force aeromedical evacuation unit who is now the director of the women veterans program for the Department of Tennessee. “We’re trying to bridge the gap for medical services and homeless female veterans.” But as each of the women interviewed noted separately, that gap cannot be bridged without other women stepping up to lead at all levels. “There’s always someone to call,” said Espinosa. “If you need help, you’re not alone. We’re not throwing you into a position we’re not going to help you with or let you fail.” “Let us help you, and help us help others,” added Taylor. “Women veterans have proven themselves to be a special population of strength and resilience,” said Metcalf-Foster. “I was the first [female DAV national commander], but I do not want to be the last.” n
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Beyond the Uniform: Beth King, Army Veteran and Woman Warrior “I was looking at how my dad raised five of us on a military salary,” Beth shared. “I thought to myself, ‘that is something worth looking into.’” Not only did Beth need to support her son, but she believed in the military mission. Because of her father, she always stood up for what she believed in and, most importantly, defended what she valued. At the age of 30, Beth decided to enlist in the Army and leave her son for the first time. It was a risk she was willing to take for family and country. Pushing the Standards Beth was older than most in basic training, which she believes played to her advantage because she was mature enough to know what she wanted to do and how to get there. She was in a male-dominated field and had a big goal in mind. There was no room to cut corners. With a 5-year-old son, Beth King knew what she was risking if she enlisted in the military, but that’s exactly why she went into the service – for the sake of her son and country. “I watched the news as the second plane hit,” said Beth, a retired Army veteran. “I thought to myself; this is just five hours south of me. 9/11 definitely played a role in me enlisting. How could it not?” With memories of the attacks eight years earlier still weighing on her and the need to support her son, Beth joined the Army in 2009 as a CH-47 Helicopter (Chinook) Repairer. She had hopes of becoming the first female sergeant major in her field. That goal was cut short, but she gained a second chance at life instead. For Family and Country Born into a military family, Beth was one of five siblings and an identical twin. Her father spent 22 years in the Navy and was gone most of the time, but she recalls always having what she needed. From a young age, she learned about pride, patriotism, and sacrifice, not realizing that later in her life, all of those would come into play with the birth of her son. Without a college degree, Beth struggled to make ends meet and find a job that could provide for her and her newborn. During a moment of despair, a lightbulb went off. 20
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“Women in the military are often met with the misconception that they are incapable or need more help because of their gender,” Beth said. “And just for that reason, I worked very hard to get my physical strength to a point where I was equal with the men alongside me. I didn’t want to ask someone for help picking something up or loading anything. I was motivated to prove that I was equal, regardless of my gender.” Her work ethic got her noticed, and immediately upon arriving at her duty station in Fort Drum, New York, she was selected for air assault school. Beth was one of three women in her brigade to graduate. She quickly transitioned up to the Chinook flight company and became the first female in her unit to complete training. In 2010, Beth deployed to Afghanistan for her first — and only — tour. Alive Day Beth was a part of Fort Drum’s General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB) unit, which had been prepositioning for an air assault all week. The crew helped move supplies and people faster and safer than traveling by ground. The route called for traveling through a valley that only had one way in and one way out. The date was July 25, 2011. The unit decided to fly higher to avoid incoming fire, and, as they were getting ready to land, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) came
through the belly of the aircraft and into the gator engine, which ignited the gas lines. Because of the weaponry and ammunition on board the aircraft, it immediately caught fire. “Everything went up in flames,” Beth explained. “We were close to landing, so I started walking up the ramp to try and get out of the firing. In all the shakiness from the pilots trying to get it on the ground, I got knocked out the back of the aircraft. And so, for the last 150 or 100 feet, I dangled by my backstrap out the back of the Chinook until we landed.” The back strap attaches to the back of the flight vest, so soldiers stay hooked to the aircraft and, in this case, don’t fall to the ground. The aircraft landed hard on its left side, with all systems going off inside because of the burned wires. Beth climbed back into the aircraft to disconnect her strap and escape. Luckily, they landed just outside the forward operating base (FOB). All 13 passengers on board, plus the crew, walked away from the incident, but not without injuries. “With the way that fire burned, I should have had more damage to my body,” Beth said. “I had a lot of internal injuries, but I’m not sure how we all made it out. Coming home was hard, but I know that there had to have been a bigger purpose.” Lasting Wounds Beth was just four feet from where the RPG penetrated her aircraft. Her jaw shook so violently that it shredded the joint meniscus within. This led to a bilateral joint replacement with titanium plates on both sides because of the severe damage done to her face. Plus, the incredibly rough landing she encountered during the incident caused permanent spinal and back injuries.
It took about 18 months for Beth to receive any treatment for her TBI. She believes the delay in treatment was partly because TBI and its effects weren’t as understood as they are today. Unfortunately, she knew something was wrong and asked for help, but at the time, the situation in Afghanistan was worsening, and they needed all the bodies they could get. “We were low on crews,” Beth explained. “They were on missions and running out of ammunition and water. That was our main job over there, moving strategic pieces around. It was mission-driven work, so if you looked like you could work, you worked.” Within four days of the incident, Beth was on her next mission. Her condition worsened, and Beth developed drop foot while experiencing major weakness on her right side, causing her to fall often. All of that, plus her severe neurological issues, caused Beth to medically retire in 2014 as a staff sergeant. Now, Beth is losing complete feeling in both legs and using a wheelchair, but that hasn’t stopped her. Cycling Through Life Every year on her birthday, Beth would receive a call from Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), but a feeling of unworthiness and fear of leaving home kept her from getting involved with any of the programs WWP offered. “I had a lot of feelings that I wasn’t deserving of WWP programs,” Beth said. “I didn’t validate my injuries at that point, and I just felt like there were so many other people who had it so much worse than I did. I was afraid to take up space.” In May 2018, Beth put those thoughts aside, and with support from a fellow wounded warrior, she signed up for her first Soldier Ride event.
However, the wound that impacts Beth’s life the most is the traumatic brain injury (TBI) she manages daily. TBI usually results from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body, but most don’t realize they have this injury until it shows up physically. It’s an invisible wound that will progress and worsen with time if left untreated, severely damaging the neurological system. “I had things happening to my body that I didn’t understand,” Beth shared. “It started with just headaches, constant headaches, all the time, and confusion. Then, I would use the wrong words, stammer, and stutter. That’s when I realized something was wrong. I was deteriorating inside.” Continued on next page >
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Through adaptive sports, Beth found healing, connection, and purpose. For the first time since being medically retired, she felt free again. Beth was no longer sitting on the sidelines watching life pass her by; she was getting back into the game, one pedal at a time. “I am not just playing sports,” Beth said. “I am bettering myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Adaptive sports gave me a community of people who understand that the struggle is real. It gave me a place where I was able to be honest about the struggle and have people who motivate me to keep going despite that struggle.” What’s next for Beth? She will be traveling to the Hauge, in the Netherlands, to compete for Team U.S. at the Invictus Games. Ultimately, Beth hopes to compete in the Paralympics in 2024. Bigger Purpose While serving in Afghanistan had its challenges, Beth explains that it is not as complicated as returning home. As a veteran, Beth often feels invisible, and she believes it’s partly because of her gender. “It’s not a pretty picture to look at,” Beth said. “These are our daughters, sisters, aunts, and mothers. No one wants to think about us being in harm’s way like that. It’s hard enough to think about it when they’re males. But for me, I think it surprised people who didn’t realize women are in combat.
Most think we have office jobs or are nurses, but they don’t realize we serve on the front lines, too.” In sharing her story, Beth hopes to bring awareness to the veteran female population, which continues to grow. Like all veterans, she deserves respect and recognition for her service and sacrifice. Moreover, she strongly advocates for adaptive sports and early TBI treatment because perhaps her recovery would have been a much smoother journey. “There is hope,” Beth shares. “There is help, and there are people who care. You and your injuries are valid, and you need to take up space to receive the help you deserve. Put yourself out there because there will be people there to support you.” WWP research found that women warriors experience certain challenges at higher rates than their male counterparts to this day. In particular, the challenge of not being seen as a veteran is still being felt by women veterans across the country. To better understand these issues and advocate for women veterans, who make up about 10% of the overall veteran population, WWP introduced the Women Warriors Initiative. About Wounded Warrior Project Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition.
To learn more on how you can #EmpowerWomenVets: https://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/women-warriors-initiative 22
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www.Courage2Call.org Career Resources Available Now Hiring Management and Direct Service Positions - www.mhsinc.org/career-resources WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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The Case for Women leading in the military By Lindsey Sin, CalVet Deputy Secretary for Communications The tradition of women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces is woven into the storied history of this nation. From the country’s founding, through various wars and conflicts to modern times, women steadfastly answered the call to serve, with increased participation in new roles - whenever and wherever possible. Women have always exceeded the expectations of their military service; they now serve in more roles and in higher numbers than at any point in our history. In the next decade, we should expect to have the first woman Secretary of Defense, Chairwoman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and woman Secretary of the VA; three barriers women have yet to break through. History makes a clear case for the military skills and abilities of women; today, you don’t have to look far to find a woman who is breaking barriers in military service. Women have exceeded expectations throughout our nation’s military and wartime history Even though they served in auxiliary roles throughout most of the nation’s existence, women proved their courage and capability in a wide range of roles during wartime, including serving as cooks, code breakers, couriers, nurses, and spies. According to the Military Women’s Memorial, women providing medical care and triage of wounded troops in the Spanish-American War was so highly valued that it led to the establishment of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901 and the Navy Nurse Corps in 1908.
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Further proof is evident in the long list of intrepid women who contributed to military intelligence and spy craft by leveraging their traditional roles as non-threatening housewives, mothers, and sisters. In addition to battling foreign and domestic enemies, women fought against gender barriers that led to their eventual recognition and right to operate as independent people with skills necessary to win wars. Women such as Underground Railroad conductor and escaped slave Harriet Tubman, who spied for the Union Army; or famous entertainer Hedy Lamar, whose World War II era invention became the foundation for classified communications equipment and cellular phone technology; or the “Hello Girls” who marked the first time in warfare history that commanders on the frontline could communicate directly to the general command. By the end of World War II, women proved indispensable to the war effort The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, passed in 1948, officially established women as part of the U.S. military and entitled them to veterans’ benefits, but heavily restricted their participation by capping the total percentage of who could serve, restricting the rank they could achieve and the jobs they could perform. In the decades that followed, women took every opportunity to enlist or commission into the armed forces, all while experiencing genderspecific restrictions on their promotions and job opportunities. During the first Gulf War, women again demonstrated their abilities during wartime, including as helicopter pilots.
In 1991, Congress voted to repeal the 1948 restriction on women flying combat aircraft, though other combat restrictions remained. It should also be noted that the brave women serving in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, primarily as nurses, volunteered to serve, since women have never been included in the U.S. Military Draft. All military occupations are now open to women The 2013 repeal of the ban on women in combat, which opened all military occupations to women by 2016 was yet another opportunity that women quickly seized. To date, over fifty women have graduated from the U.S. Army Ranger School, which only began admitting women in 2015. Despite some push back and skepticism, women continue to integrate into elite special operation units throughout all services, with one woman successfully becoming a part of the Special Forces Green Beret, and several accepted and currently within the training pipeline. According to the Department of Defense, women account for 23-30% of the student body in 2020 at a military service academy, which first opened to women in 1976. Since then, thousands of women graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and have gone on to become commanders, generals, and corporate leaders. The list of accomplishments and milestones achieved by military women over the last decade alone is significant and their numbers will continue to grow both in active duty and reserve units, and then as veterans. Currently, women are joining the military at higher rates than at any other point in history with 17% of women in active duty, 21% in the Reserves, and 11% of the veteran population. Throughout our history, women demonstrated time and again their courage and dynamic abilities. We should expect nothing less than women at the helm of our military, veteran, and civilian organizations in the years to come. Contact the California Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more about state and federal veterans benefits, and to learn how we support California’s 1.6 million veterans and their families. www.calvet.ca.gov Leadership Adopting innovative ideas and collaborating with our partners. Accountability Acting responsibly in the provision of care and services, and stewardship of resources. Compassion Treating all veterans and their family members with respect, dignity, and appreciation.
San Diego Veteran Resources & Organizations
Navigating the resources available to veterans can be confusing, but San Diego Veterans Magazine believes no veteran should have to go it alone. At San Diego Veterans Magazine you can find Veteran organizations and private nonprofits with resources for veterans that can help ease the process of attaining earned benefits, coping with the lasting effects of service-connected injuries and finding programs and services that meet your specific needs.
San Diego Veteran Resources & Organizations available at: www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com
San Diego Veterans Magazine A Veterans Magazine for Veterans by Veterans
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Celebrating Women’s History Month
Women Veterans Alliance is the premier national network focused on directly impacting the quality of life of women veterans. We do this successfully through transforming the way the community networks to bring people and programs directly together through a reliable and resourceful platform. Our vision is to CONNECT over 2 million Women Veterans (and our supporters) globally for the PURPOSE of sharing our gifts, talents, resources and experience. We are committed to creating a community that Equips, Empowers & Encourages women that have served our country with knowledge, resources, mentorship, and career opportunities to discover & fulfill their greatest potential. We have created a community both online and off-line including local women veteran networking groups, community events and national conferences worldwide which provide opportunities to connect and grow. • Directory of Women Veteran Owned Business to promote or connect with local and global businesses. • Assist women that are looking to start or expand a business. • Allies directory of networking groups, meetups, support groups, veteran service organizations, councils and advisory committees that are specifically for women veterans
After being awarded the Melissa Washington Small Business Award in 2020, Jennifer was able to invest in critical resources to help grow her business and make her dreams of being a successful entrepreneur come true!
• Comprehensive directory of resources for veterans • Online event calendar of nationwide events • Online store of items such as t-shirts, jewelry, hats, books, pins and more! • Our annual Signature event, The Unconference September 8-10th Tropicana Resort in Las Vegas • Wednesday Webinar Series with great information being shared each week.
Join us on Saturday, June 11, 2022 for the Red White & Blue Fun Run and our annual Boots & Ball Gowns Gala
We have awarded over
15,000
$
to date! APPLICATION PERIOD OPENS ON JUNE 1ST
Visit us www.WomenVeteransAlliance.com to get more information and to sign up for updates Stay connected follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedn, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube. Women Veterans Alliance is a woman, disabled veteran owned small business, that was founded in 2015, by Melissa A. Washington a Navy Veteran who saw a need to bring women veterans together to equip, empower and encourage each other. 26
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Ways to help us help her — Donate: One Time, Monthly, Round Up, or Volunteer
www.WomenVeteransGiving.org/donate
Back to Better: Mental Health Care for Veterans, Service Members, & their Families
Cohen Clinics provide therapy for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and transitional issues for post-9/11 veterans, service members, and military families, including National Guard / Reserves. CVN Telehealth, face-to-face video therapy available.
Support the Cohen Clinic Your donations help provide high-quality mental health care to veterans, service members, their families.
Make a gift today: vvsd.net/cohenclinicsandiego WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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San Diego Women Veterans Network By Holly Shaffner For this Women’s History Month, we spotlight a local nonprofit organization that supports women veterans. According to reports from 2020, there are about 240,000 military veterans in San Diego County and of those veterans, approximately 10-11% are women veterans. With around 25,000 female veterans in the county, the San Diego Women Veterans Network (SDWVN) has a big mission that can affect so many women. It all started with informal get togethers where women vets just wanted to meet their sisters and build camaraderie. Now, ten years later, the organization has become more formalized with planned events (pre-COVID), applied for 501(c)3 nonprofit status, developed a website and social media platforms, and established a collaboration and network of service providers for the women veterans in the county. The founder and current President of the organization is U.S. Army veteran, Billiekai Boughton. She started the group when she felt that women vets were being ignored and their voices were not being heard. “We believe women vets are resilient and strong, and they deserve better,” said Boughton. The network has helped women vets who were living in their car, to helping women transition from active duty to civilian life by connecting them with services for jobs and resumes, to fulfilling their #1 request – to meet other women vets. There’s three ways the Network brings it all together: • Provide opportunities to create belonging and community for Women Veterans • Provide a forum for service providers to work together to become more effective and more efficient • Organize and host bridge events to bring the women veterans and service providers together In the past few years, the organization has hosted a Women’s Health Forum, wine tasting and painting events, monthly Women Warrior Walks, walked in the San Diego Veterans Day parade, volunteered with Operation Dress Code to give back to their fellow sisters, and had monthly meetings to develop new events. 28
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One of the best events they participated in (and got certified as peer leaders) was the nationally recognized program called WoVeN (Women Veterans Network). It is an 8-week program designed to enhance wellness, quality of life, family relationships, and career satisfaction by building strong connections among women Veterans.
So where is the local SDWVN headed in 2021? Well, a lot depends on the state of the pandemic and State and County Health and Safety restrictions. Prior to COVID, the SDWVN had a career forum planned for female veterans; that event is a goal for when it can safely be held. Their Women Warrior Walks will continue on the second Saturday of each month. The walk is about two hours around Lake Murray; it is family (and pet) friendly and a great way to meet fellow women vets. More info can be found on Meetup at: www.meetup.com/San-Diego-VeteranWomens-Networking-Meetup “I miss being with my sisters,” said Boughton. “We want to get back to live, in-person events so that we can continue to build relationships and thrive and grow.” For more information about the organization, go to: www.sdwvn.org or follow them on Facebook @SDVWN. If you know a San Diego County woman veteran who needs support, contact Billiekai Boughton directly at: billiekai@sdwvn.org or at (858) 822-5450. For more information about WoVeN, go to: www.wovenwomenvets.org
www.meetup.com/San-Diego-Veteran-Womens-Networking-Meetup WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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Real Talk: Mental Health By Leslie McCaddon The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD) www.vvsd.net/cohenclinicsandiego
How to “Care” for the Caregiver I am an expert in caregiving. Or, rather, I should be at this point. My 20 years of caregiving experience (not including the years before as an older sister and babysitter) have included: • Being mom to three biological kids and four step kids: five have made it to adulthood and are either gainfully employed or pursuing education. The other two are still in high school and showing promise, as well. • One of these kids had leukemia when he was three years old. Somehow, I managed to keep him alive while managing his medications, hospital visits, a toddler, an infant, and a raging case of ADHD. • I also cared for my first husband, an Army CPT, who suffered from what we now believe was a TBI (traumatic brain injury) from his time on the bomb squad. This TBI looked a lot like emotional dysregulation, daily suicidal ideations, and disconnection from his emotions. • Later, I cared for my second husband, who was living with a diagnosis of Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. This diagnosis affected his mobility and some of his cognitive abilities. • Finally, I’ve cared for multiple children who have struggled with moderate to severe mental health challenges—which has included navigating inpatient hospitalizations, medications, intensive outpatient programs, psychiatry, and therapy appointments. Make no mistake, I did not come into this world a caregiver. And I certainly wasn’t handed an instruction manual on how to care for all of these people I love. Perhaps, most disappointing of all, is no one handed me instructions on how to help myself when I was fighting exhaustion, burnout and even resentment. One very unhelpful hospital social worker, who had just found me crumpled in tears outside my son’s hospital room, told me that I needed to “get it together” for my son and then he said, “fake it until you make it!” 30
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I took these words to heart, unfortunately. After 2 ½ years of a very valiant effort of faking “it” (whatever that is), I collapsed into my first and worst episode of major depression. We were stationed far from family, and it took a couple of months before the prescribed antidepressants began to work. If you walk away from this column with only one piece of advice, it should be this: Never fake it until you make it when it comes to taking care of yourself! 1. You can’t do it all, and that’s OK. Focus only on what is most important and let the rest go. I’m serious. The dishes can wait until tomorrow. Take-out meals five nights a week does not make you a neglectful parent. The laundry can be done one load at a time, and clean clothes can wait in the basket until the kids pull out what they need. How do I know? Because, I’ve had to do all of the above. And we all made it; to college even, to marriage, to a life that didn’t require them to have a mother who lived up to Martha Stewart Standards. Reach out to your family readiness center to find out about available childcare and other assistance. 2. Take Breaks. Yes, you can take a break. Yes. You. Can. And, you must. Hire help. Let friends and family help imperfectly. (So your mother-in-law who flew out to “help” doesn’t know who Marie Kondo is nor does she want to learn how she folds her clothes. Her methods are good enough. I promise.) During your breaks make sure to do something lovely for yourself— take a walk near water, have coffee with friends, read a book, take a nap. 3. Get support. I can’t stress this enough. You need support when you are the one supporting everyone else. A good therapist will help you set healthy boundaries, seek out local resources, and teach you how to pour as much love into yourself as you are into others. Self-love is not a luxury. It is your fuel. It is your life source. You can’t live without it. Therapy is a way to love yourself that is always paying yourself-forward. For example, Cohen Veterans Network provides high-quality, evidence-based mental health care for veterans, service members and their families through its Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics nationwide.
You’ve heard it all before. If you go down, they all go down. You can’t pour from an empty cup. You can’t put an oxygen mask on anyone else if you’re passed out on the floor of the airplane. I may not be an expert with letters after my name. I’m not a therapist. But I am a military spouse, turned military widow, and a seasoned mom who has learned these lessons the hard way. Let this be my gift to you—a little handbook, if you will, of how to care for the caregiver. Your loved one’s doctors and other specialists will hopefully give you guidance on the rest. And at least you’ll be in a good place to hear them. You’ll also be the best example of what it looks like to live life from a mentally healthier place, a place of confidence, support, peace, and essential rest. Leslie McCaddon serves as part of the outreach team at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at VVSD. She is the Gold Star Widow of Army CPT Michael McCaddon, MD. To learn how therapy can help with mental health challenges, visit www.vvsd.net/cohenclinics.
Cohen Veterans Network is pleased to recognize Jenny Lynne Stroup, Outreach Coordinator for the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at VVSD in San Diego, for being named the 2022 Armed Forces Insurance Naval Station Norfolk Spouse of the Year! Jenny Lynne Stroup is an active duty military spouse of more than 12 years who advocates for military family mental health after caring for her husband during his challenges with PTSD. She received this recognition following hundreds of nominations nationwide and a national vote yielding more than 20,000 votes. Stroup was judged on five core criteria: overall involvement in the military community, leadership skills, community building capability, communication skills, and overall personal story. Now in its 13th year honoring the unwavering dedication of our nation’s more than 1.1 million military spouses, Armed Forces Insurance is proud to recognize and reward the sacrifice of military spouses from all six branches of the Armed Forces who are advocating for others and having a tangible, measurable effect on their communities.
(619) 345-4611 www.vvsd.net/cohenclinics
Learn more about Jenny Lynne by visiting: https://msoy.afi.org/profiles/2022-jenny-lynne-stroup WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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How Wounded Warrior Project Helped Two Warriors Manage Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Returning from Iraq after a convoy accident, Army veteran Lisa Crutch remembered many of the things that happened in Iraq but lost some family memories from prior years. Her children would show her pictures of places they had visited, but she had no memories to go with the pictures. In addition to partial memory loss, she experienced massive headaches and the loss of her sense of smell. It took a while after she recovered from her visible injuries to figure out what was going on. “I didn’t even know what TBI was until I got home and went to the VA,” Lisa said. “They asked me how I had gotten from the vehicle to the ground [after the accident] and I told them ‘I don’t know.”
Lisa learned from others at the scene that the vehicle where she was a front passenger was going 40 mph when it hit a stopped truck in the middle of a lowvisibility sand road. Her head hit the windshield at 40 mph. “Prior to doing the tests, they were saying I had TBI just from hearing the story. They didn’t say, ‘you have traumatic brain injury.’ They said, ‘Sergeant Crutch, you have TBI.’” Lisa had no idea what TBI meant. She said there was no pamphlet on traumatic brain injury and no further instructions. For Jason Major, the shrapnel damage and loss of movement in his right arm was just part of the issues he would face after he was injured when his convoy hit an improvised explosive device (IED) near Syria. After six months of surgeries and physical therapy, he recovered some movement, but the invisible injuries were just beginning to surface.
“I didn’t even
know what TBI was until I got home and went to the VA,” Lisa said. “They asked me how I had gotten from the vehicle to the ground [after the accident] and I told them ‘I don’t know.’’
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Jason had migraines, anxiety, he feared leaving his house, and eventually lost his job. He says his wife remembers those days more than he’s able to. He had no idea TBI had anything to do with it. “I was still in the Army and wasn’t checked out fully after the 2005 incident,” Jason said. “I don’t remember all of it, but I do remember I started having migraines, about two or three per week, and memory became an issue.” He was diagnosed with mild TBI, which explained some of the acute symptoms he had already experienced. While still in the hospital, he remembers he would stare at the wall for 8 hours, feeling listless. The acute symptoms gradually went away. He still has lingering memory issues. How common is TBI in the military? The Department of Defense reports 449,000 service men and women were diagnosed with some form of TBI between 2000 and 2021.
In the Annual Warrior Survey, 64% of veterans served by Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) report incurring head injuries, with 35% experiencing traumatic brain injury (TBI). Those veterans reported being injured and losing consciousness immediately following head trauma. The signs of TBI can be difficult to perceive by the injured person, and a diagnosis often requires sifting through other injuries. Unfortunately, the after-effects of this invisible injury can stay with veterans and their families for years to come. A traumatic brain injury is characterized as a loss of consciousness or altered mental status caused by a blast, blow, or penetrating force to the head. Through help from WWP, both Lisa and Jason found tools to manage TBI symptoms. They also found the words to help explain to others what they experience. That understanding helped them move forward.
“I was still in
the Army and wasn’t checked out fully after the 2005 incident,” Jason said. “I don’t remember all of it, but I do remember I started having migraines, about two or three per week, and memory became an issue.”
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Lisa first got involved through WWP’s Warriors to Work program (then called Track) and got help completing her college degree. “Wounded Warrior Project impacted my life, first of all, because it got me out of my house,” Lisa said. “Second, I was able to complete college and graduate. To me, that was very important. I was able to do that because of the people at Wounded Warrior Project. They made me feel comfortable. They made sure they let me know that you can do whatever it is that you set your mind to do.” Lisa found connections with other veterans who had endured similar experiences, and eventually participated in Project Odyssey®, a 12-week mental health program that begins with an adventured-based weekend and follows up with weekly checkups. “When I came back home, I was fighting to be that old Lisa because that’s who everyone knew,” Lisa reflected. “This is me now. I have PTSD. I have TBI. I have two messed up knees and all this stuff wrong with me, but it’s okay. I’m much stronger now than I was prior to it, and I was pretty strong then. I’m a new, improved Lisa.” Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable Meanwhile, Jason said he first experienced his transition into the civilian world as avoidance. He avoided other people because he didn’t understand how TBI, and PTSD had changed him. His approach shifted when he attended a Project Odyssey. Jason learned to redefine himself: “Yes, you’ve been a soldier, but that’s not your defining moment. You have more life to live after having been a soldier. There’s more to you as a human than being a soldier,” Jason said. The first Project Odyssey he attended taught him about “being a husband and a better human being.” He then went to a couples Project Odyssey with his wife Sabine. Together, they learned about structural changes that happen in the brain after TBI and the chemical changes that can occur with PTSD. “Understanding what happened helped, and also the teambuilding that centers on good communication between us,” Jason said. “Now I press myself to go ahead and be comfortable in being uncomfortable. The more you interact, the more you grow as a person.” Through WWP, Jason also attended outpatient intensive treatment designed for veterans at Massachusetts 34
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General Hospital’s Home Base program, part of Warrior Care Network®. Through twoto three-week intensive outpatient programs, Warrior Care Network provides care tailored to each veteran and family member. It integrates behavioral health care, rehabilitative medicine, wellness, nutrition, mindfulness training, and family support. “During Warrior Care Network, what stood out is how much hard work it was,” Jason said. “It was exhausting, but a good kind of exhaustion. Whether it was group activities, or one on one therapy, you had to be there with the frame of mind to better your health – you’re there to get yourself better or at least make progress.” WWP flew Sabine to Boston for the weekend, where she attended sessions and participated in equine therapy with Jason. “It felt great to have her there,” Jason said. Warrior Care Network provides care tailored to each veteran and family member. It integrates behavioral health care, rehabilitative medicine, wellness, nutrition, mindfulness training, and family support. No two cases of TBI are the same. Veterans served by WWP can also avail themselves of assistance through WWP’s Independence Program. Although TBI continues to challenge veterans, warriors like Jason and Lisa are showing how reaching out for help can benefit them and their families. WWP works to ensure warriors get the care they need, and know they are not alone. Read more about how WWP helps: https://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org. About Wounded Warrior Project Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition.
A MODE FOR EVERY OCCAISON
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Developing new machine-learning based neuronal imaging markers for mild traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder By Mingxiong Huang, Ph.D. Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a leading cause of sustained physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral deficits in OEF/OIF/OND Veterans and the general public. However, the underlying pathophysiology and recovery mechanisms, especially those associated with cognitive functioning in mTBI, are not completely understood. The neuronal mechanisms for the increased risk of PTSD after an mTBI are even less clear. Conventional MRI and CT images are generally negative even in patients with persistent post-concussive symptoms (PCS) and/or PTSD symptoms. Diffusion-based MRI techniques have been developed to identify abnormalities in white-matter tracts, owing to the major role of diffuse axonal injury (DAI) in mTBI. Yet diffusion-based MRI techniques are not sufficiently sensitive for reliable clinical applications. Recent animal studies indicate that gray matter is also vulnerable to DAI, which leads to abnormal electromagnetic signals from the injured regions. In this regard, support is mounting for the sensitivity of resting-state magnetoencephalography (rs-MEG) source imaging markers for detecting neuronal abnormalities in mTBI. MEG is a non-invasive neuroimaging technology available in San Diego (see Figure). We demonstrated that rsMEG delta-wave (1-4 Hz) markers were very sensitive in distinguishing mTBI patients with persistent PCS from neurologically intact individuals. We also found that high frequency rs-MEG gamma-band (30-80 Hz) markers show marked hyperactivity in mTBI, possibly due to injury of inhibitory interneurons. In addition, we found that task-evoked MEG (te-MEG) recordings during working memory (WM) task detected abnormal signals throughout the brain in mTBI that were related to worsened cognitive functioning. Currently, we are conducting a research project funded by the US Department of Veterans Affairs at VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS). A main goal of this study is to develop highly sensitive diagnostic algorithms to differentiate Veterans with mTBI from those with comorbid mTBI and PTSD, and healthy control Veterans. The new approaches will use artificial neural network based machine-learning techniques to integrate rs-MEG and te-MEG imaging makers. 36
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We will study three groups of Veterans: (1) individuals with mTBI and persistent PCS (mTBI-only group); (2) individuals with comorbid mTBI and PTSD who have persistent PCS and PTSD symptoms; (3) healthy controls (HC). We will establish a machine-learning based MEG diagnostic algorithm for mTBI that optimally integrates three MEG imaging markers (i.e., deltaband and gamma-band rs-MEG; WM evoked MEG) to differentiate Veterans with mTBI (mTBI-only and comorbid mTBI-PTSD) from HC Veterans with >90% accuracy. We will also develop a machine-learning MEG algorithm that integrates rs-MEG activity and te-MEG responses evoked by a negative emotion processing picture task to differentiate Veterans with mTBI-only from those with comorbid mTBI-PTSD with > 90% accuracy. Furthermore, we will examine the correlates of abnormal MEG-based neurophysiological features in mTBI-only and comorbid mTBI-PTSD with clinical symptoms, cognitive impairments, and realworld quality of life. The success of this project will significantly improve neuroimaging-based techniques that can effectively aid in the diagnosis of mTBI and better characterize the relationships among neurobiological, neuropsychological, and neuropsychiatric effects of mTBI and PTSD. Project contact information: Call (619) 925-3031 Principal Investigator: Mingxiong Huang, Ph.D., email: mxhuang@ucsd.edu Research Associates: Annemarie Quinto, Hayden Hansen, Jared Baumgartner, Jaqueline HernandezLucas
“I’m happier with myself. Having been in therapy, period, has helped me be in a better place now.” Rogelio “Roger” Rodriguez, Jr US Navy (1987 – 1993) US Air Force (1993 – 2013)
PTSD treatment can turn your life around. For more information visit: https://go.usa.gov/xe9CK
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R E S O U
WOUNDS WE CANNOT SEE Post Traumatic Stress Disorder does not always allow the affected to seek help. Lend a hand and provide them with methods of help, listen and be a friend.
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San Diego Veterans Magazine works with nonprofit veteran organizations that help more than one million veterans in lifechanging ways each year.
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Resources.
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Support. Inspiration.
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At San Diego Veterans Magazine you can visit our website for all current and past articles relating to PTSD, symptoms, resources and real stories of inspiration.
Resources & Articles available at:
www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com
The colors of gratitude
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FIGHTING PTSD
A Different Lens Mental Health Monthly By RanDee McLain, LCSW
Who is a Social Worker? What do they do? Do they take children away from unsafe living environments? Do help patients in hospitals get connected to benefits? Was it just me or was that the only thing we heard about social workers growing up? I was recently asked what a social worker does. What is a day in the life of a Social Worker like? Today, I negotiated a program move, edited multiple learning agreements for student interns, de-escalated a client, supervised staff, reviewed budget, spoke with court staff and so much more. All of this is aspects of social work. Social work is different every day. We are clinicians, advocates, policy makers, leaders, teachers and many other things. That is why I love the field of social work- it is such a broad field of practice. March is officially National Social Work Appreciation Month is the US. Let’s learn more about the amazing field of social work.
A primary responsibility of Social Workers is to promote the wellbeing of clients we serve. Famous Social Workers: • Jeanette Rankin-The first woman elected to the U.S. Congress. • Frances Perkins, a Social Worker, was the first woman to be appointed to the Cabinet of a U.S President. • Clara Barton- founded the American Red Cross in 1881 at the age of 60 and played a crucial role in shaping the organization. • Harry Hopkins- a close advisor to President Franklin Roosevelt, he helped create crucial New Deal programs like the Works Progress Administration and the Federal Emergency Relief Administration. He authored the official charter for the American Association of Social Workers
Columbia University offered the first class on social work in the summer of 1898. Jane Addams is considered the pioneer of Social Work and is best known for establishing settlement houses in Chicago for immigrants in early 1900’s. She was the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and a known community organizer and peace activist.
I do not often share this but I nearly gave up this profession three times in my first year of graduate school. I came from a military and law enforcement background. Additionally, I grew up in a fairly conservative part of the country. I found myself in California and at a very progressive school. I struggled with finding my place in the field and staying true to my values. I specifically recall a time I asked my best friend- what did I get myself into? This is too ‘hippy dippy’ for me. Ok the last part still makes me laugh- but I really struggled to find how I fit into social work.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards for social workers, and to advance sound social policies.
I had an amazing professor who gave me the space to grow and find my place. She also taught me it was important to remain true to myself in the process. She was able to show me that my values were very much in alignment with the principles which social work is founded on.
Six ethical principles we follow as a profession:
I continue to learn and grow in my field every day. I am an advocate, leader, policy changer, teacher, clinician….I am a Social Worker.
• Service • Social Justice • Dignity and Worth of a person
• Human Relationships • Integrity • Competence
Take time to appreciate the Social Workers in your life! Happy Social Worker Appreciation Month!! WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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GI Bill - Successful Transitioning Stories By Dr. Julie Ducharme Synergy Learning Institute As the president of Synergy Learning Institute, a nonprofit vocational college, I am blessed to work with our transitioning veterans. We serve many students looking for professional development and key skillsets necessary for everything from career transition to work/life balance. I am most excited to share our latest in a new series of interviews spotlighting each one of our successful veterans that have transitioned out of the military. Our audience is captivated by each veteran’s unique story, but it is truly wonderful to see the underlying themes emerging from their success within the entire speaker series itself. Today, I will be sharing with you the success story of Randy Rozzell, retired Navy Seal:
3. “Networking is so important! When you find the industry, you want to go into start networking. For me it was fire, so I started visiting fire stations, practicing interviews, building those relationships before I ever interviewed for those jobs.” 4. “For some reason there is this myth that companies will be lining up to hire vets because they are mission focused and good team workers. That is far from the truth I have heard many stories of vets who went an entire year without jobs, if you want to get hired you have to put in the work, don’t rely on your vet status to get you the job.” Randy, should Vets take advantage of their GI Bill?
“Absolutely, you can get paid to go to school where you get a housing allowance and as well school paid for. This is a great opportunity I have taken advantage of mine as I am finishing up my Masters.” Randy, besides being a Firefighter, you are also an entrepreneur, any tips on Vets thinking of going out on their own and starting a business? “I started my business while working as a Firefighter, so I didn’t have to rely on that income and that allowed me to build my business without pressure. IF starting your own business make sure to evaluate where you are financially. Where is the money coming in from? The last thing you want to do is start a business and have no income coming in.” Randy, any pitfalls you want to share from starting your business that should be avoided.?
Randy what are some key tips you can give us on how you made sure your transition from the Navy Seals was most successful?
1. “I will always be a Seal that was a very important part of my life that I am very proud of but don’t assume you are special or deserve special treatment because you were in the military. You have to work just as hard in your transition and new job as you would the military”. 2. “When you decide to get out you want to start planning this early. I started planning well over a year out. I did lots of research to see what industry I wanted to go into. I started taking classes before I was out. Applying and studying for the test and practicing interviews all before I was out and I started my second career the next day after I left. It may sound like a lot of work but it’s worth it.” 40
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“Yes, make sure you have the contract signed, in hand and the money is in. I made the mistake of thinking I had a contract and then spending $20,000 dollars on equipment and now its in storage and its been 3 years and this contract has not come through. So make sure not to jump the gun on those types of deals.” It is my pleasure to host these amazing veterans from all different branches of the Armed Forces. Please continue to join us for more amazing men and women as they share their journey of navigation from military to civilian work life balance. If you are interested in being a part of the Synergy Learning Institute Veteran Speaker Series, please go to our website www.synergylearninginstitute.org or email us directly synergylearninginstitute@gmail.com
GI Bill benefits help you pay for college, graduate school, and training programs. Since 1944, the GI Bill has helped qualifying Veterans and their family members get money to cover all or some of the costs for school or training. Learn more about GI Bill benefits below—and how to apply for them. www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a generous education benefit for the latest generation of service members and veterans.
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WHAT’S NEXT Transition to Civilian Life By Eve Nasby & Kristin Hennessy
Shedding Light on The Black Curtain Everyone who’s transitioned out of the military has a story. Most of these stories include feelings of fear, anxiety, and even depression. Facing the unknown is difficult. This difficulty exists whether you do 4, 8, or even 26 years of active duty in the US Marine Corps, like Chris Keane. Chris shares his advice and provides valuable resources so you can take the right steps to making your story one of success and less stress. Give Yourself Two Years Before Decision Time “The transition process is not one you can leave to the last minute, and it is one that you cannot do on your own,” says Keane. Two years before Chris filed his Appendix J to inform Headquarters Marine Corps about his intentions to retire, he started his transition journey. During this time, he attended transition courses and networked with peers and retirees in the industries where he felt qualified, including aerospace professionals, entrepreneurs, and other business owners, both Veterans and civilians. These efforts opened his eyes to the requirements and processes involved in making a new role part of his next chapter. By the time he made his decision, he had a good understanding of what he needed to do and where he wanted to go. He recommends giving yourself a minimum of 24 months to plan your individual transition. Be Prepared for The Black Curtain Deciding to embark on your next chapter is no small feat and can create tremendous stress and anxiety. Chris calls this transition process the “Black Curtain,” 42
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because you likely have no idea what’s on the other side. “We do not know what to wear, how to talk and better yet, we have no idea what it takes to be successful. We have spent the better part of our adult life working and living in a military culture with a structure, history, and language that we have come to love,” says Keane. By following a few simple steps, you can successfully navigate through the Black Curtain, so your next chapter will be enjoyable and fulfilling. Whether you are finishing up your first enlistment or completing 20+ years, your next chapter starts with some thought, planning and a little help from your friends in your network. 1. Ask yourself honest questions. Do you want to slide right from terminal leave and into your next role without skipping a beat? Or, do you want to take a break from all the stress, hustle and bustle and start in 6 months to a year after service? Are you excited about getting into that nonprofit or to start making a difference in a different sector? These types of questions will help you understand your goals better and will help guide your decisions. 2. Make checklists that work for you. There is a process of what you need to do to prepare. Breaking up these tasks into a checklist helps keep you on track and serves as a visual reminder. “Some folks like to use checklists, and as a pilot, I am fond of a nice, neat representation of complicated tasks,” says Chris. Chris shares one of the finest retirement checklists by Kirk Windmueller. You can find him on LinkedIn and download his checklist at: www.linkedin.com/in/kirk-windmueller 3. Join networks and immerse yourself. Networking is key to understanding other people’s stories; fellow military and veterans want to help their peers succeed. Whatever your story is, or how you see yourself entering the next chapter, connecting and learning from others is essential.
Even if you are only mildly interested in a specific career field, Chris recommends having a coffee or informational interview with someone in that area so you can learn about the real day-to-day tasks, responsibilities and rewards of those roles. 4. Attend seminars focused on transition. Chris attended Business Transition courses and bootcamps during his 2 year prep time, which gave him a better idea of what to expect and how to prepare. The Marine Executive Association Camp Pendleton Chapter (MEA-CP) offers seminars on Camp Pendleton in conjunction with Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS), including Business Transition Seminar (BTS) and Executive Transition Assistance Seminar (ETAS.) You can sign up here: www.tinyurl.com/yvwfs5x8 5. Start looking at job postings to see what’s appealing. Looking at job boards can be daunting, so it helps to start by looking at jobs posted through militarysupported networks. The MEA-CP posts job openings on LinkedIn and throughout their network. About the MEA-CP Chris is part of the Marine Executive Association Camp Pendleton Chapter (MEA-CP), an excellent resource to help those in transition, and he invites you to access their network. The MEA-CP is a unique and powerful networking organization that relies on the strength of its individual members to bring their skills, talents and techniques to others. You can connect with people across the US in various roles to learn more , including front line staff, Program Managers, entrepreneurs, and C-Suite professionals. Let’s start by telling us your story and offering you our experience, skills and most importantly our network. We understand the struggles you will face and want to help you through them. Connect with Chris Keane either via email at cakeane46@gmail.com on Linked In www.linkedin.com/in/christopherkeane1 or via my cell 858-382-1887. Semper Fidelis.
Need help with your resume or interviewing skills? Reach out to Eve at: eve@bandofhands.com www.linkedin.com/in/eve-nasby-given-hiring-expert
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HUMAN RESOURCES Transition to Business By Paul Falcone
Women-in-Leadership Employee Resource Groups
Yet, despite real and substantial progress gained over recent decades, the dreaded “80% rule” continues to hold tight and resist change: • 80% of CEOs are men
March is National Women’s History Month, which gives us a special opportunity to highlight Women in Leadership employee resource groups (ERG). ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups that typically share a common characteristic and that form to foster a more diverse and inclusive workplace aligned with their members’ values. For example, ERGs may form around veterans in the workplace, working or single parents, ethnicity, religious or faith-based affiliations, and people with disabilities, among others. There is often no better way to lobby for your interests—whether they be corporate social responsibility, environmental sustainability, militaryto-veteran transition, or a more diverse workplace— than in partnership with friends and peers. All it takes is some dedication and time on your part to form and lead such a group, although you’ll typically want to gain senior management’s buy in (often with the help of the organization’s human resources department). The results can be amazing and exceptionally self-fulfilling. Companies that sponsor ERGs demonstrate exceptional emotional intelligence and benefit from competitive advantage for being in tune with the times; those that don’t currently offer ERGs will likely adopt the idea if someone sponsors and shepherds the program for a particular cohort or cause. The Challenges The women-in-leadership ERG is especially promising. Here are some significant facts: • There are more women than men in medical school and law school today. • Women are running for office and getting elected in unprecedented numbers. • Nearly 40% of U.S. businesses are started by women.
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• Corporate boards are more than 80% male • Women earn about $.80 for every dollar that a man makes Further, while women may start 40% of U.S. businesses, women-owned businesses typically get only around 2% of venture capital, with the remaining 98% going to male-led enterprises. What can a women-in-leadership ERG do to strengthen female influence and create equality of opportunity in terms of career and professional development? The Opportunities First, it’s important to acknowledge what we all intuitively know: unfairness shows itself in different ways. Women tend to experience a harder time getting hired and promoted. They suffer from lower pay and a more cynical review of their work. (For example, male Supreme Court justices interrupt female justices three times more often than they interrupt other male justices). And needless to say, the effects of micro and macro aggressions at work, from interruptions, talking over female coworkers, or appearing to steal their ideas to outright bullying, harassment, and discrimination wear on women’s sense of self-esteem and belonging. Recognizing these challenges is a first step in furthering change. Second, women naturally place tremendous pressure on themselves to outperform and master what lies within their areas of responsibility. Case in point: Males tend to apply for jobs and promotions when they believe they possess 60% of the qualifications required for the role; women tend to apply for jobs and promotions when they believe they possess greater than 90% of the qualifications required. Add to the mix that males tend to get promoted based on their “potential,” while females tend to get evaluated based on their “performance,” and you can see why
an accumulation of disadvantage can manifest itself over time: a slightly lower starting salary and a slower promotion rate can create significant disparities over the decades. Add to this the fact the resistance to change is baked into our psyches, and you can quickly see why change may appear to be slow and frustrating.
T H E PAUL FALCONE LEADERSHIP SERIES
A Way Forward But fret not. Organic change is happening before our very eyes. The fact that female doctors and lawyers are graduating at a more rapid clip will realign our society quite naturally. But we don’t necessarily want to wait for organic evolution to fix these challenges for us: it sometimes helps to “push the river” and be the driver of healthy change yourself. Women in leadership ERGs often raise awareness about female negotiation strategies, developing a stronger collaboration mindset by expanding the winners’ pool (“It’s all about we”), and avoiding administrative chores that may be appreciated but do little to advance careers. Learning how to say no, politely but forcefully, is an important skill that can be developed in the safe environment of a women-in-leadership ERG. And most of all, professional networking can thrive and help to cancel out the guilt that so many female leaders place upon themselves when trying to balance career and personal lives (especially if they are mothers).
WORKPLACE ETHICS EFFECTIVE HIRING NEW MANAGERS LEADERSHIP OFFENSE LEADERSHIP DEFENSE
Looking at this on a larger scale, women are still relatively new to the workplace. When actress Betty White was born on January 17, 1922, women had only gotten the right to vote 18 months earlier. (The 19th Amendment was passed on August 18, 1920.) The U.S. remains the innovation capital of the world, and the labor participation rate of its female population is one of the prime reasons why. Yet resistance to change and inertia constantly hold us back as a society: Once the challenge is recognized and embraced, each woman can then customize a solution—individually and collectively—to strengthen her positioning and pay it forward in a spirit of selfless leadership. Considering joining or starting an ERG is a healthy first step; making yourself part of the real and sustainable progress, hard won by generations of pioneering women who preceded you, is a constructive way forward that enhances both genders in the workplace and our society as a whole.
You can connect with Paul on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/paulfalcone1Paul Falcone (www.PaulFalconeHR.com) is a human resources executive and bestselling author on hiring, performance management, and leadership development.
www.HarperCollinsLeadership.com
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SD Veterans Magazine Chats with Country Artist and Former Secretary of State and Senator of Montana, Corey Stapleton. SD Vets: Describe your time in the Navy - how long did you serve and where were you deployed? Corey Stapleton: I spent 11 years in the Navy.. initially enlisted into the Nuclear Power program, then served as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) and USS Hue City (CG66), where I deployed mostly to the Mediterranean Sea. SD Vets: You’ve had quite a diverse career from attending the Academy, serving in the Navy, to Secretary of State and Senator of Montana, and now releasing music as a country artist, with your debut album Sea Change out March 1. Talk us through those transitions, what advice would you give to someone who is transitioning to civilian life? Corey Stapleton: Actually, serving in elected office and serving in military uniform have a lot of similarities. Both are service to our country, under oath, and have an element of duty-before-self. I like the freedom of being able to lead in elective office better than the leadership meritocracy of the military--so that was an enjoyable transition for me. Much of being a successful political officeholder is communicating. Especially if you’re trying to accomplish something new or difficult, it’s vital to be able to articulate your ideas to a broad array of entities--sometimes hostile entities. So you become good at simplifying your words, repeating your message, and smiling. Kind of like a songwriter! My advice for someone transitioning out of the military back to civilian life is to use your discipline to your advantage (i.e. knowing how to work, showing up early, looking sharp, and assuming responsibility in any workplace you find yourself). Just have faith that the rest of society isn’t even close to where you are professionally. Get yourself a foothold financially, show your stuff, and then be prepared to seek promotion (inside or outside your organization) within 9-18 months. Take the risk! You’ll know what to do. SD Vets: Tell us about your path to Nashville. Why music? Have you always wanted to write songs?
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“My advice for someone transitioning out
of the military back to civilian life is to use your discipline to your advantage (i.e. knowing how to work, showing up early, looking sharp, and assuming responsibility in any workplace you find yourself). Just have faith that the rest of society isn’t even close to where you are professionally. “
Corey Stapleton: Being an 80’s guy, it was easy to love music! I never had (or took) the opportunity to make music or have a band, as I was the main breadwinner of my family of four kids. It just didn’t seem to be an option. But early in the pandemic, I began to write music and flew to Nashville out of frustration---as I wasn’t having much success with being my own sound engineer on my laptop back home in Billings, Montana. The $400 plane ticket to Nashville was worth every penny, because it allowed me to record at a professional studio without me having to hassle with the editing. And that is when my songs became unleashed. They’ve always been in me, just never had the chance to come out before. SD Vets: How has your experience as a veteran influenced your music career and what you write about? Corey Stapleton: Military veterans have a worldview and understand that the United States’ history and strength carries enormous pride and responsibilities. It’s hard, as a veteran, to unsee the things I’ve experienced. My songwriting tends to be truthtelling, passionate. SD Vets: Is writing therapeutic for you? Corey Stapleton: Very therapeutic. Writing/making music is part of my morning routine. Coffee, exercise, make a little music each day before I ‘start’ my day around 9:00am! Some days I write, some days I sing, some days I play (guitar) and some days I produce (edit) the music.
We betrayed an entire generation of young Afghans who were raised in freedom, signed the death warrants of interpreters and allies that were left behind, and lost American lives in haste because of the incompetence of civilian leadership. SD Vets: What are you hoping that people take away from your debut album as a country artist? Corey Stapleton: I hope my music evokes emotion, and people enjoy the talented musicians and beautiful melodies of my full-length album. My songs tend to be deep, with lots of layers, so hopefully discerning fans will listen over and over again and share my music with their friends and family! SD Vets What is next for Corey Stapleton? Corey Stapleton: I left office as Montana Secretary of State a little over a year ago, and deactivated my social media while I was writing my album Sea Change. Now that the album is completed, I’m feeling that familiar call of duty again, ringing in my ear! Stand by, over. Follow along with Corey: Instagram: @coreysongs Facebook: www.facebook.com/coreysongs Twitter: @Stapleton_MT Website: www.coreystapleton.com
SD Vets: “Kabul’s Fallen” is a hard-hitting take on Afghanistan, and an emotional topic for many veterans. Why did you feel the need to write this song? Corey Stapleton: I was mortified at the way the United States handled Afghanistan, both the initial surrender to the Taliban in Aug 2020 and the airfield debacle the following year.
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BUSINESS FOR VETERANS By Barbara Eldridge www.mindmasters.com
Master the Game of Business By Barbara Eldridge
“We choose to go…not because it is easy, but because it is hard, because that goal will serve to measure and organize the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.” - John Fitzgerald Kennedy on sending a man to the moon The driving force in any business comes from the passion and persistence to fulfill a dream and a purpose. If you like winning or achieving success in any game or situation, then you must focus on what the end result looks like. In the game of chess you must capture the King to win; in sports it is getting the highest score, in personal physical areas it might mean reaching a certain weight or winning a marathon. In business you must define and strategize what the winning game is for you. To get in the game you need personal Goals that create the motivation, enthusiasm and fulfillment for playing all out in “the game of life.” Your personal goals are the benefits you receive as you pursue and take focused action in your business. The strength of your motivation for winning is directly related to the Goals you choose to pursue. They are your trophies, your titles, and your home runs. Mastering the game of business means you have identified what you want the business to achieve and designed effective results to create a series of wins the small ones give you a sense of what it feels like to be a winner. Results help measure your performance and give life to the game. Without the challenge there is little hope you will get excited about the activity it takes to be a winner nor will you make the necessary commitments for playing all out - then neither will your goals be met. When you expect to win, you are committing yourself 100% to the process of playing the game of business. 48
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That is when you’ll own the game, and you’ll own the outcome. You must learn the power of focus by writing out a specific plan and getting started on it, whether you’re ready or not. Remember that there is no perfect plan; the only perfect time to start is right now. Commit yourself to developing the belief that failure is feedback and offers an opportunity to restructure your plans. Achievement in any area of life requires commitment and consistency, and perhaps as a business owner, it requires it even more. Both work and learning take patience and discipline while consistently going beyond your limits. Move boldly in the direction of your dreams. Bring your passion, your excitement, your gratitude, appreciation and thankfulness to life, and you will indeed win in the Game of Business. Barbara Eldridge has built a solid reputation as a Success strategies specialist, within industry and business over the past 40 years. Her unique message, since starting Mind Masters 30 years ago for entrepreneurs and small business owners, continually stresses vision, purpose and values as the key elements of business philosophy. www.mindmasters.com
Request for Proposals Foster Youth Workforce Services Program The Workforce Partnership is conducting a joint procurement with the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) to identify a subrecipient(s) to deliver tier I – Independent Living Skills (ILS) and tier II – Foster Youth Workforce Services within San Diego County.
Since 2001, the County HHSA and the Workforce Partnership have partnered to issue a single joint Request for Proposals (RFP) to produce two contracts:
The ILS and Workforce Partnership Services program provides services to in-school and out-of-school, current and former foster youth.
• The Workforce Partnership contract for Workforce Services tier II
The County HHSA is the lead agency in the joint procurement for the ILS and Workforce Services.
• County of San Diego HHSA contract for Independent Living Skills tier I
All interested parties are encouraged to apply. RFPs are due March 30, 2022 Learn and Apply at https://buynet.sdcounty.ca.gov
www.workforce.org WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022 WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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The Job Market By: Joseph Molina National Veterans Chamber of Commerce veteransccsd@gmail.com Most times, people tend to underestimate the power which lies in networking, and this is such a big mistake to make when considering career development and success in life. Active professional networking is critical to professional growth. Many shy away from the term “networking”, associating it with clumsiness, tacky events, and the idea of “selling out”. It’s about meeting and getting to know people who you can help and who might be able to help you in return. A good network built on trust and support can mean the difference between a mediocre career and a phenomenal one. Networking has a greater effect than instruction, promoting, and whatever else you accomplish for your business. Not exclusively is networking an easy route to progress, however it likewise assists in building long-term connections. These connections are the way into your business. Networking is one of those areas that financial backers realize they should zero in on, yet seldom do what’s necessary. By focusing on networking, you won’t acquire contacts or bargains yet, but arrangements you truly do get will have a lot more noteworthy possibilities in the end. What is Networking? In advertising terms, networking as a device will show you where to find future business opportunities rather than prompt outcomes. Yet, laid out organizers, in all actuality, do accomplish quick outcomes, which is the reason all financial specialists should be great at networking. Networking isn’t simply the trading of data with others, and it’s not tied in with asking for favors. Networking is tied in with laying out, building, and supporting long-term, commonly gainful associations with individuals you meet, regardless of whether you’re making arrangements while holding on to your morning espresso, taking part in an intramural games association, or going to a work gathering. You don’t need to join a few expert affiliations and go to each networking occasion that comes to your direction to be an effective organizer. Indeed, assuming you take your eyes off your cell phone when you’re out in broad daylight, you’ll see that networking open doors are surrounding you consistently. ADVANTAGES OF NETWORKING Networking in the workplace You might expect that networking is a movement saved for your break of the workplace and off the clock, yet nothing could be further from reality. 50
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While there is a lot of significant worth in associating with individuals who work at different organizations or in various fields, don’t limit the significance of networking in the work environment. Networking for career advancement Career advancement, in its easiest terms, is the deeply rooted development of your vocation. It’s affected by various things that incorporate the positions you hold, the encounters you gain all through the workplace, the development and achievement you accomplish at each phase of your vocation, the formal and casual instruction and preparation you get, and the criticism you’re given in the process. Networking in Job Search It’s a given that networking is extraordinarily significant during a pursuit of employment. Your possibilities of getting the job you desire increases tenfold with the right representative reference. Furthermore, assuming you’re hoping to make a vocation change, your expert organization can uphold you by assisting you with observing associations in the business you are attempting to break into or assisting you with securing leads for positions at explicit organizations. Information Networking is an extraordinary chance to trade best practice information, find out the business strategies of your colleagues, and keep up-to-date with the most recent industry improvements. A wide organization of educated, interconnected contacts implies more extensive admittance to new and significant data. Certainty By constantly putting yourself out there and meeting new individuals, you’re successfully venturing outside your usual range of familiarity and building important interactive abilities and fearlessness that you can take with you any place. The more you network within your organization, the more you’ll develop and figure out how to make enduring associations. Networking isn’t just about getting or asking; the best method for a partner is by giving!. Therefore, networking isn’t limited to formal events or unequivocal circumstances, yet rather can happen wherever and at whatever point. The Veterans Chamber of Commerce Radio Show Would you like to share your story? Then, be our guest on the show. Contact us at veteransccsd@gmail.com National Veterans Chamber of Commerce www.NationalVeterans.org
NATIONAL VETERANS Veterans in Tech There are hundreds of career options for you. You don’t have to have a background in tech If you are fully committed we can help you get there. Take the first step!
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COFFEE MENU WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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legal Eagle Straight-forward legal tips for Military and Veteran Business Owners By Kelly Bagla, Esq.
ASSET PROTECTION FOR REAL ESTATE As a real estate investor, having an asset protection strategy is a critical component of a secure, resilient business structure. Most investors have their investment property held in a legal entity, but this is only one component of asset protection and unfortunately, one that can easily be sidestepped during legal proceedings. With a solid, multilayered approach, you could lose passive income or entire properties from a settlement or judgment against you or one of your businesses. WHAT IS REAL ESTATE ASSET PROTECTION? Real estate asset protection is a strategic approach to protecting your properties from creditors who may try to take control of your investments due to lawsuits or settlements. When a lawsuit occurs, regardless of whether it’s a settlement or judgment against you, you have the obligation to pay for damages, injuries, lawyer fees, and much more. For example, without a proper real estate asset protection plan, a personal suit could use a rental property to settle your financial obligations. If structured properly, asset protection planning can essentially separate your personal or entity legal obligations from other business assets you own. ASSET PROTECTION APPROACHES There are several options to help investors protect their assets. It’s important to look at the costs and benefits of each strategy and speak with a professional for advice on which structure best suits your needs. Investors with few properties may be able to get away with utilizing one or more strategies, while others may want to employ more because of the size of their investment portfolio. Here are a few of the most common asset protection approaches: • Homestead Protection – is one of the most foolproof approaches to protecting your asset from seizure but obviously can only apply to one property in which you’ll need to legally reside. In most jurisdictions, a significant portion, if not the entire value of the residence, is protected from bankruptcy, court judgments, or settlements. 52
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Currently, the California homestead exemption is automatic, meaning that a homestead declaration does not need to be filed with the county clerk. Under the new 2021 law $300,000 to $600,000 of a home’s equity cannot be touched by judgment creditors. • Limited Liability Companies (LLC) – are considered separate entities under the law and protect the owners of the LLC from the LLC’s liabilities and business debts. Holding each investment property in its own LLC limits creditors from attaching all your other real estate holdings for settle a judgement. For example, if one investment property gets sued, usually the other assets can’t be touched. • Insurance – is one of the most popular asset protection strategies in the real estate industry. The cover you choose for your property depends on the real estate type. You can protect your home with a homeowner’s policy and your commercial property with a business policy. You’ll need to increase your insurance coverage as your real estate portfolio grows.
Becoming a business owner, you control your own destiny, choose the people you work with, reap big rewards, challenge yourself, give back to the community, and you get to follow your passion.
• Management Company – can provide some protection if the management company is a third party that will manage the real property for you. However, usually these management companies will pass 100% risk to the owner, which leaves your rental investment exposed to potential lawsuits. If real estate investment is your actually business, then forming your own management company would be a great advantage and places distance between your real estate and tenants who could sue for anything.
Go Legal Yourself ® Know Your Business Legal Lifecycle
2nd Edition NOW AVAILABLE!
Becoming a business owner, you control your own destiny, choose the people you work with, reap big rewards, challenge yourself, give back to the community, and you get to follow your passion. Knowing what you’re getting into is smart business because the responsibility of protecting your family and yourself falls on you. For more information on how to legally start and grow your business please visit my website at www.BaglaLaw.com
Disclaimer: This information is made available by Bagla Law Firm, APC for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, and not to provide specific legal advice. This information should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.
Award-winning attorney, Kelly Bagla shows you how to avoid legal pitfalls FROM DAY ONE! The last thing an entrepreneur wants is to spend valuable time and resources on legal issues, which is why they often drop to the bottom of the pile. But this can be a COSTLY MISTAKE—and Go Legal Yourself is here to make sure it’s one you avoid. • • • •
Gather the right documentation Protect your brand Avoid expensive legal pitfalls Plan and manage growth competatively
Rest assured that no nasty legal surprises will stand between you and your success.
www.GoLegalYourself.com
Get your copy at amazon today! WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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Legally Speaking Military Focused Family Law Facts By Tana Landau, Esq.
Parallel Parenting: Is it for You? Most people are familiar with the term co-parenting, but have you ever heard of parallel parenting? In an ideal divorce, parents would separate but be capable of coparenting their children. Unfortunately, all too often this is not the case as one parent either refuses to do so or is caught up emotionally in the negative feelings they are harboring toward the other parent. In high conflict cases, communication and co-parenting can be practically non-existent. Parallel parenting is a method utilized in situation where traditional co-parenting will not work. It minimizes contact between parents. What is the Goal of Parallel Parenting? The goal of parallel parenting is simply to avoid conflict; particularly in front of your children who are negatively affected by it. The purpose is not to keep parents away from their children, but to minimize interactions between parents. How Does Parallel Parenting Work? In a traditional co-parenting situation, parents work together to raise their children. For example, the parents may consult each other on topics like household routines, school events, what extracurricular to enroll their child in, what days it occurs, who can take the child on each day, what the costsplitting will look like etc. In parallel parenting each parent has their own, independent parenting style and rules when the children are with them. In a parallel parenting scenario, a parent would enroll the child in an activity on their time. No discussion with the other parent is needed as long as it does not interfere with their time or require the other parent to pay for it. They would simply just inform them that they were enrolled. Similarly, the other parent would be in control of the activities the child participates in on their time. Everything is separate. Parents do not attend the same school events, extracurriculars, meetings, or appointments. If one of these events falls on their time, they attend. If it’s on the other parent’s time they don’t Parallel parenting allows the parents to parent while being disengaged from the other parent.
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The parents detach from each other and do not communicate about most day-to-day custodial decisions while the childrenare under either parent’s care. Instead, each parent has control over their respective parenting responsibilities during their parenting time. Parallel parenting is essentially an alternative to traditional co-parenting that can be utilized in high conflict custody matters. Coparenting can be viewed as collaborative efforts of parents who live apart that implies a certain level of cooperation in the common and everyday tasks of raising their child. Whereas parallel parenting is where parents operate completely independent of each other while avoiding any discussion and minimizing communication. While parallel parenting minimizes communications, it does not eliminate it. Typically, any communications are business like.
When Might Parallel Parenting be Useful? Parallel parenting may be useful in situations where one parent or both parents harbor resentment or ill feelings toward the other which affect their ability to co-parent and respect the other parent, where simple interactions like exchanges or attending events together lead to conflict, where communications between the parties often escalate into confrontations, or where the parties cannot agree on any aspects of their parenting styles.
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Parallel Parenting Plans and Child Custody Orders Since parallel parenting minimizes any communication between the parents, a parallel parenting plan child custody order must be as specific as possible. Holiday and vacation schedules should include all details as to dates, times, and location of exchanges. The more specifics the order includes, the less chance there is for conflict. In a parallel parenting plan, the orders will often detail who transports the child, what procedures to follow for cancelling a visitation, procedures for late pickups, and how to handle child illnesses. Child custody orders involving a parallel parenting plan leave little room for parents to work out any details themselves. This is because in most parallel parenting situations, the parents are simply incapable of doing so. How Parallel Parenting Plans Help Children In high conflict custody cases, parents are often unaware of how impactful their conflict with the other parent is on their children. Parents in these high conflict situations are often too caught up in their conflict to recognize the negative impact it has on their children or how it is damaging them. Children often feel caught in the middle. With a parallel parenting plan, parents only communicate when necessary and their interactions are minimized which reduces the conflict in most cases. Since children won’t witness constant conflict between their parents, parallel parenting prevents damage to the relationship between each parent and child while helping your children to feel more secure, less anxious and keeping them out of the middle of the conflict.
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For more information about parallel parenting in your military divorce, check out our website: www.frfamilylaw.com or call (858) 720-8250 and ask to speak with military family law attorney Tana Landau.
This article is intended only for informational purposes and should not be taken as legal advice.
Legal Experts with Humanity WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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Shelter to Soldier Service Dog Trainer Exemplifies Military Service and Dedication to the STS Mission By Eva M. Stimson Corporal Rachel Charlesworth, 5812 Military Dog Handler and current Shelter to Soldier (STS) Service Dog Trainer, entered the United States Marine Corps in 2013 as a member of the Military Police. First stationed in Iwakuni, Japan, she supported base operations as a first responder and security patrolwoman. Upon being stationed at Camp Pendleton in Southern California, Rachel was selected to become a Military Working Dog Handler and attended the Basic Handlers Course in Lackland, TX, where she graduated at the top of her class. This course prepares selected Marines to handle a Military Working Dog (MWD) in five phases of patrol work, including basic and advanced obedience, scent detection, and suspect apprehension. In her time as a MWD handler, Rachel was chosen as the Section Leader of the Narcotics Dog Teams, and graduated “Top Dog” in her MWD Pre-Deployment training course. While stationed at Camp Pendleton, Rachel also worked closely with US Border Patrol, the ATF, and additional government agencies. Rachel transitioned out of the Marine Corps in October of 2018, with a desire to continue her career with dogs. Before joining the Shelter to Soldier team, she worked for a private security company as a dog handler, providing explosive searches of VIP events throughout Los Angeles, CA. In May of 2019, Rachel received a telephone call from friend and fellow Marine Corps MWD handler about the Shelter to Soldier organization and an opportunity to work with service dogs and veterans. Rachel knew right away this was a perfect fit for her skillset and passion for helping other veterans. “Working with dogs in the Marine Corps showed me the fulfillment dogs can have when given the opportunity to live with a greater purpose, and also taught me about the support they can give their handlers. So many dogs in shelters are just looking for a renewed life, and what better purpose is there for a dog than as a service dog?” Since 2019, Rachel has trained and graduated 11 teams of psychiatric service dogs and emotional support animals with their veteran handlers. Working with STS, Rachel has observed how the impact of the program has helped female veterans in particular. According to Rachel,” My advice to enlisted female veterans who apply to the STS program includes, “Take care of yourself mentally and physically, and be confident in who you are. The STS program is life changing for many of the female military veterans 58
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who sometimes don’t feel secure around men. These women are more safe and confident when they have an STS service dog by their side.” Everyday, 20 US veterans on average commit suicide and approximately 1,800 dogs are euthanized. These staggering statistics inspire the entire STS team to do all they can do to support those served by the Shelter to Soldier program, both canine and human. Shelter to Soldier is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that adopts dogs from local shelters and trains them to become psychiatric service dogs for post-9/11 combat veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or other psychological injuries. The program also places Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) with active duty military and veterans, and deploys their Shelter to Soldier Canine Ambassadors, a team of therapy dogs, to provide visits of love and comfort to active duty military, veterans and their families as well as community partners throughout Southern California. www.sheltertosoldier.org. To learn more about veteran-support services provided by STS, call 760-870-5338 for a confidential interview regarding eligibility.
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THIRD Annual Golf Tournament at Singing Hills Golf Resort. The 18 Hole Willow Glen Championship Course, with its dramatic scenery and elevation changes, is sure to provide the perfect backdrop for an exciting day of golf! Your participation will help us raise funds to adopt dogs, train them to become psychiatric service dogs, then place them with post 9/11 combat veterans with invisible wounds.
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Friday April 29, 2022 The tournament will be hosted at the beautiful
All photos courtesy of Shelter to Soldier
Singing Hills Golf Resort at Sycuan WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MARCH 2022
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Shoulder to Shoulder By Matt Shillingburg We all witnessed the raw, emotional images coming out of Kabul, Afghanistan, this past summer with the noncombatant evacuation operations (NEO) of our Afghan allies and their families to overseas locations. The evacuation images that America saw on television of Kabul, Afghanistan, were, for some, reminiscent to the NEO of the United States embassy in Saigon, Vietnam in April 1975 when the war in Vietnam ended. If not evacuated, Vietnamese military and civilians that stood “Shoulder to Shoulder” with the US during the Vietnam War were in grave peril under the government of the Vietcong. Now, 46 years after the Vietnam War, the United States, was conducting one of the largest and most difficult NEO missions in US History out of Kabul, Afghanistan of those that stood “Shoulder to Shoulder” with America during the War in Afghanistan. Facing violence, the United States evacuated nearly 100,000 Afghan refugees, in a short amount of time as their county collapsed. Military Bases overseas were the first to receive these refugees and began the initial screening process, where they received full background and security checks before being placed on aircraft to one of eight “Safe Haven” Camps located on Military Installations across the United States where they would receive health screening and complete their immigration processing. From these safe havens, the Afghan families are being resettled in communities, like San Diego County, and across the United States. Nine resettlement agencies operating in the US are currently overwhelmed, as they resettle this huge influx of families. According to the resettlement agencies, there are approximately 2,200 scheduled to arrive here in San Diego County. It is estimated 1,700 have already arrived and the remainder will arrive as soon as the “Safe Haven” Camps close within the next several months. San Diego County has formed an Afghan Refugee Resettlement Task Force to tackle the huge influx of Afghan Refugees in San Diego with four of the major resettlement agencies involved. Out of this task force, there are 3 working groups that have been formed; they are Social, Emotional, Cultural & Volunteer Coordination (SECV Coordination), Behavioral Health and Housing. 60
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Four resettlement agencies, here in San Diego, are overwhelmed, with only one case manager for, what is estimated to be 40 to 50 families. These Afghan families are currently being housed temporarily in hotels across the county far longer than desired. There is an immediate need for assistance to welcome and integrate these families into the county of San Diego so that they can become productive, selfsufficient members of our community. Social, Emotional, Cultural & Volunteer Coordination (SECV Coordination), a working group led by Dan Wilson and Matt Shillingburg are creating volunteer “Ambassador Circles” to stand “Shoulder to Shoulder” with these families and be a “Force Multiplier” to these volunteer and resettlement agencies. We need your support, your donations of time, money, or goods. Here is how you can donate: Send a check made out to “Rotary District 5340” with “Afghan refugee fund” in the memo line to: Rotary International District 5340 5052 Clairemont Drive #178 651 San Diego, CA 92177 Make an online donation at www.sdwomensfoundation.org/donate-collab Either way you choose, know that your charitable contribution will be used specifically for this collaborative effort to support our local Afghan refugees in San Diego County. For more information contact Dan Wilson at danno808@gmail.com or Matt Shillingburg at matthewshillingburg@yahoo.com.
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SERVING VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES March 2022
www.sdvetscoalition.org
The Chula Vista Public Library Serves Our Community’s Veteran Families! The purpose of the Chula Vista Public Library is to increase knowledge and enrich lives within the community. They accomplish this by connecting people equitably to responsive programs, services and resources that reflect the ideals of a democratic society.
1920s - The library was the centerpiece of civic life through the Great Depression.
Chula Vista Public Library Veterans Wing
1976 - A combination of Federal Revenue Sharing and city financing resulted in the building of a new bicentennial library on the site of the former F Street Elementary School.
Since 2010, the northwest corner of the Civic Center Branch (365 F Street in Chula Vista) has been identified as the Veterans Wing, providing counseling space, updated veterans’ information and memorabilia, books and media materials. In partnership with the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), the Chula Vista Public Library is pleased to help veterans and their families. Visit the Veteran Resource Center at our Civic Center library, to learn about state and federal education, employment, housing, health, disability, and other benefits that may be available to you and your family. History of the Library 1888 - Chula Vista, once part of the Mexican Land Grant, El Rancho de la Nacion, and owned by the Santa Fe Railway and Land Company, was established as a community. 1891 - Concerned citizens formed the Chula Vista Library Association. 1911 - Chula Vista incorporated as a city. 1917 - The development of the lemon industry and the growth in population inspired community leaders to apply for a grant of $10,000 from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to the build a new library. 62
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1955 - Population and economic growth again spurred the building of a new library.
1995 - The state-of-the-art South Chula Vista branch was built under the direction of renowned Mexican architect Ricardo Legorretta. 2011 - Eastlake Public Library closed as CVPL prepares to open the Otay Ranch Library in the Otay Ranch Shopping Center. 2012 - Otay Ranch Branch Library opens. 2015 - “The Hub” community space opens at the Otay Ranch Branch Library. The promise made to the Carnegie Corporation in the 20th Century continues to be fulfilled in the 21st Century with plans to meet the community’s future informational needs through intellectual access, electronic access, and future new libraries. Website: www.chulavistaca.gov/departments/library email: vetertansconnect@thelibrary For additional information, please visit www.sdvetscoalition.org
The Chula Vista Public Library supports all veterans and their families
www.warriorresourceproject.org
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INSIDE THE MONTHLY COLUMNS San Diego Veterans Magazine features monthly columns & articles on topics of interest for today’s veterans, transitioning military personnel, active military, and the families that keep it together.
• Real Talk: Mental Health • A Different LENS Mental Health Monthly • Arts & Healing Arts Arts for Military Veterans
San Diego Veterans Magazine
• What’s Next Transition to Civilian Life • Human Resources Transition to Business • Business for Veterans • Legal Eagle Legal Business Tips • Legally Speaking Military Family Focused Law • National Veterans Chamber of Commerce Feel free to review & bookmark our supportive & resourceful monthly columns:
---------------------------------------------------------------Real Talk: Mental Health By Outreach and Clinical experts from the Cohen Clinic at VVSD Deployment, transition, reintegration – as a veteran, service member or military family member, you’ve likely had to face all three. The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at VVSD, part of Cohen Veterans Network, provides high-quality, evidence-based mental health care to the military community. Our Mental Health Column provides advice on various topics related to these challenges.
Learn more: www.cohenveteransnetwork.org 64
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A Different LENS Mental Health Monthly By Randee McLain, LCSW A Different Lens reflects on RanDee’s personal experiences as former law enforcement, Veteran, military spouse, and clinician. A Different Lens explores all things mental health related and the struggles our veterans and their families may face.
Connect with Randee at www.linkedin.com/in/randee-mclain-lcsw-8335a493 -------------------------------------------------------------Arts & Healing
Arts for Military Veterans By Amber Robinson Arts & Healing is a reflection of Amber’s personal experiences in healing through the arts as a disabled combat veteran as well as a reflection of our San Diego veteran artists and how they are using art to transform and heal, too.
You can read Amber’s columns at www.tinyurl.com/SDVM-Art
What’s Next
LEGAL EAGLE
Transition to Civilian Life By Eve Nasby & Kristin Hennessy
Legal tips for Military and Veteran Business Owners By Kelly Bagla, Esq.
Transitioning from the military into the civilian work world can be anxiety-producing, depressing, and demoralizing without being prepped with the right mindset and tools for success. What’s Next shares stories, insights, tips, and resources from those who have transitioned, so those in the process (or thinking of starting the process) are armed and ready to find rewarding opportunities, ace the interview, and embark on a successful career journey.
Business Formation and Asset Protection Expertise. An all-inclusive comprehensive overview, of common expensive pitfalls business owners are subjected to, that YOU need to know about. Asset protection musthaves and unparalleled guidance through the Shark infested waters of Business Formation. Kelly Bagla, Esq. is an international award-winning corporate attorney who has been in the business of turning passion projects into profits for more than two decades. Trust an Expert.
You can connect with Eve at
www.linkedin.com/in/eve-nasby-given-hiring-expert/ or eve@bandofhands.com ----------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Kelly at www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-bagla-esq Websites: www.BaglaLaw.com www.GoLegalYourself.com
Human Resources
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Transition to Business By Paul Falcone
National Veterans Chamber of Commerce
Moving from the military into the private sector isn’t going to be seamless. The transition process can be difficult, particularly because the job search, interview, and onboarding processes are relatively new territory for many veterans. The HR Column offers a unique perspective on hot topics and relevant issues in corporate leadership and management today.
You can connect with Paul at www.linkedin.com/in/paulfalcone1 or via his website at www.PaulFalconeHR.com ----------------------------------------------------------------
By Joseph Molina The National Veterans Chamber (NVCC) helps connect Military/Veterans Community by housing organizations that serve the Veteran Community. We write about Entrepreneurship, Employment, Education, Wellness, Family and Faith. The NVCC was founded in 2017 with the simple goal of Empowering Individuals and Organizations that offer programs that will have a positive impact on the Veteran Community.
Business for Veterans
You can connect with Joe at josephmolina@nationalveterans.org or visit www.nationalveterans.org
By Barbara Eldridge
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The Business for Veterans column is by Barbara Eldridge who has built a solid reputation as a Success strategies specialist, within industry and business over the past 40 years. Her unique message, since starting Mind Masters 30 years ago for entrepreneurs and small business owners, continually stresses vision, purpose and values as the key elements of business philosophy.
Lean more at www.mindmasters.com -------------------------------------------------------------Legally Speaking Military Family Law By Tana Landau
SanLegal Experts with Humanity. For more information visit our website: www.frfamilylaw.com or call (858) 720-8250 and ask to speak with military family law attorney Tana Landau.
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