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SAN DIEGO
Vol. 5 Number 5 • MAY 2022
MAGAZINE
MONTH OF THE MILITARY CAREGIVER FATHER AND SON Aviation’s Most Exclusive Club
MENTAL HEALTH GI Film Festival
Breaking the silence around mental health
San Diego
MILITARY FAMILY RESOURCES
TRANSITION
Strategies & Expectations
WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 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
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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.
MAY
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 8 Memorial Day - Honoring All Who Served 10 Midway Magic - Bonds of Friendship 12 Father & Son Stand Alone 14 War Widow of Green Beret 16 Military Caregiver 18 Giving Back Through Song 22 Shelter to Soldier - Purple Heart Recipient 25 Guide Dogs of America 26 Cohen Veterans Network 28 Medium for Healing 30 Real Talk: Mental Health Therapy Stigma 32 Ukraine Conflict Awakens PTSD 34 GI Film Festival - Military film festival 38 Team Rubicon 39 Veterans Association of North County 40 San Diego Gives 43 San Diego Veterans Coalition 44 HR: Perception Management 46 What’s Next: Remember who you are 48 Off-Base Transition Training 50 Successful Transitioning Stories 52 Veterans in Business: CRM 54 Apps That Make Life Easier 56 Legal Eagle: Non-Compete Agreement 58 Legally Speaking: Coparenting Apps 60 Inside the Monthly Columns WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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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. 6
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“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
WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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The first declaration of Decoration Day occurred on May 30, 1868, when Major Gen. John Logan declared the day would be a time to recognize those who lost their lives in the Civil War. Several cities currently claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, including Macon and Columbus, Georgia, Richmond, Virginia, Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, Waterloo, New York and Carbondale, Illinois.
Memorial Day has become the traditional kick off of summer, but the holiday has a much more significant purpose.
Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while serving in the military. Among its traditions are ceremonies to honor those who lost their lives in service, with many people visiting cemeteries to place American flags on grave sites. A national moment of remembrance takes place across the country at 3 p.m. local time. The purpose of Memorial Day is sometimes confused with Veterans Day. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Day - commemorated on Nov. 11 each year - honors all those who have served in the U.S. military during times of war and peace. Armed Forces Day, which falls on May 20 each year, recognizes those who are currently serving in the military. History of Memorial Day Memorial Day traces its roots to the tradition of Decoration Day, a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers.
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The first large Decoration Day was held at Arlington National Cemetery that year. The ceremonies included mourning draping around the Arlington mansion of former Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant presided over the ceremonies, which included speeches, children from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphan Home and members of the Granddaughters of the American Revolution placing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves. The Arlington tradition was built on longstanding ceremonies held throughout the South. Once of the first occurred in Columbus, Miss. on April 15, 1866, when a group of women decorated the graves of Confederate soldiers who died at the battle of Shiloh. Upon seeing the undecorated graves of Union soldiers who died in the battle, the women placed flowers at those headstones as well. Memorial Day continued to be celebrated at local events until after World War I, which it was expanded to honor those who died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was then also placed on the last Monday in May, as were some other federal holidays. In 2000, Congress passed “The National Remembrance Act,” which encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.
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The USS Midway and the Eternal Bonds of Friendship Friendships made in the military are unique to any other walk of life. For those who have served, that’s an indisputable fact. More often than not, military friendships are long-term relationships that last a lifetime. “As far as the bond goes, when we speak or when we get together, it’s as if no time has passed,” said Andre Alba, who served in the USS Midway’s aircraft intermediate maintenance department in the early 1980s. “It doesn’t get any better than that.” Alba recently helped coordinate a reunion with 10 of his former Midway shipmates who he served with 40 years ago. All worked together operating and maintaining the ship’s aircraft ground support equipment. Some remained connected occasionally over the years, for others it was the first time seeing each other in four decades. Time may have added a few pounds here and there, and thinned their hair a bit, but their connection to each other is as strong as ever.
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“It was a wonderful experience reuniting,” said Carl Shoemaker, who was an aviation support equipment technician on Midway from 1980-1983. “We saw what we’ve turn into from young adults to grandpas. Some of us were not destined to make it as far as we did without the Navy. Most of all, as young men, the Midway helped us with those Y-in-the-road life decisions.” But what is so unique about life in the military that has such a profound impact on building and maintaining friendships? Is there a higher level of intensity to the work and life environment compared to that of the civilian world? It’s well understood that the miliary has inherent hazards that you don’t typically find in the civilian workplace, and life on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier is known as one of the most dangerous work environments. There’s an unspoken code that shipmates keep each other safe especially in situations where life-threating injuries lurk around every corner. “When you live, work, sleep, eat and travel together, you know each other in ways that can’t happen on the outside,” said Shoemaker, who spent 32 years working for a utility company after leaving the Navy.“
You always knew who was your friend and you could count on their word to be their bond.
www.midway.org
You trusted these guys with your wellbeing, your life and anything you have. They had your back and you had theirs.” The challenges faced by those who serve, often referred to as “shared suffering,” not only helps develop the deep connections between service members but intensifies these bonds at an accelerated pace. “All of these shared experiences are what created a tight bond amongst us,” said Mike Hidalgo, who rose to the rank of 2nd class petty officer during his three years on Midway. “Whether we lost touch over the years or recently reconnected, that bond remains. Military friendships are unique and different from civilian ones because our shared experiences are unique.” “We developed a close relationships because we ate, worked and slept next to each other for years and became a team” said Joe Price, a Midway sailor from 1979-1981. “Because we were so close, our relationships became for life. Even after 40 years of not seeing each other, each of us has our own unique personalities that still click.” During the group’s reunion on Midway, they not only had the chance to once again walk the carrier’s deck, but also visited some of their old workspaces that brought back a flood of memories. “It is almost as if we were just there yesterday,” said Mitch Cochran, who served as an electrical technician on Midway’s ground support equipment from 1980-1982. “As I am sure anyone who ever served on board Midway will agree, it was and is a special place. We were Navy, but above all, Midway sailors.” Military life is not an easy one, but the friendships made are some of the most genuine and long-lasting in the world. Even after four decades, the reunion for this group of former Midway sailors was more than just a flash from the past. “Reuniting with these Midway brothers has been a godsend,” said Hidalgo, who spent more than 20 years working for the Federal Bureau of Prisons once his time in the Navy was over. “It was so much fun.” “We got together and it was like the last 40 years haven’t changed our love and respect that we knew back then,” said Shoemaker. “We took care of each other like we were family, cause we were.”
www.midway.org/give-join/volunteers www.midway.org/give-join/volunteers
WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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Father and Son Stand Alone in Military Aviation’s Most Exclusive Club By David Koontz He and his flight lead went supersonic in a high-g dive and pulled in behind two enemy MiGs as they lifted off from the runway at Kép Air Base 40 miles northeast of Hanoi. The MiGs broke hard left on takeoff, but the Navy F-4 Phantoms remained in close pursuit flying at tree-top level at more than 700 miles per hour. He fired a Sidewinder at the right-hand wingman, but it malfunctioned. He launched a second sidewinder. This one exploded in the MiG’s tailpipe. The plane destroyed. Its pilot killed.
Retired Navy Capt. Bob Dosé became a naval aviator 35 years earlier in 1937, and flew combat missions in the South Pacific from 1943 to 1944. From Rabaul to Bougainville and Tarawa to the Gilbert Islands, Bob was no stranger at dueling with enemy fighters as allied forces move westward towards Japan. During one of his many combat flights, he shot down a Japanese Zero.
Lt. Curt Dosé had just shot down a MiG-21 flow by Nguyen VanNgai. His aerial kill turned out to be the start of the bloodiest day of air combat during the Vietnam War. On May 10, 1972, U.S. Navy and Air Force pilots shot down 11 MiGs in the skies over North Vietnam. Low on fuel and out of missiles, Dosé and his flight lead headed home to their aircraft carrier on Dixie Station in the South China Sea. “We went back and did the traditional victory roll entering the break on the USS Constellation and came around and landed,” said Dosé, a Phantom pilot with Fighter Squadron 92 (VF-92). “The ship was pretty excited.” The shoot-down of an enemy aircraft in combat is the highest achievement for any military fighter pilot, but for Dosé, his MiG kill put him into the most exclusive club he shares with no others. “A friend of my dad, who was watching the Navy message traffic, saw my MiG kill announced and immediately called him at home in the middle of the night,” said Dosé, a 1967 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. “Such a phone call with a son in combat would have scared me to death. Instead the caller said, ‘Your son Curt just bagged a MiG-21!’” On that day in May 1972, Dosé and his dad became the only father and son to both record aerial enemy kills in combat as fighter pilots. 12
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Lt. Cmdr. Bob Dose
For Bob, being a Navy pilot was the best job he ever had, but like so many World War II veterans, he rarely spoke of his combat experiences. “Dad was very proud of his fighter squadron, Fighter Squadron 12 (VF-12), never losing a plane to enemy fighters,” said Dosé, reflecting on his father’s career. “Interestingly enough, my Vietnam squadron, VF-92, also didn’t lose any attack planes to the MiGs. But we actually never talked much about his Zero kill. He was quiet about World War II.” Bob Dosé served another 23 years following the end of the Second World War. One of his career highlights was becoming the 20th commanding officer of the USS Midway in 1961.
“My father was a legendary naval aviator, with many important commands,” said Dosé, who ultimately became a Navy test pilot. “He loved the USS Midway. I remember him talking about how he brought the Midway to right off the Solana Beach kelp beds one day. We lived on the cliffs above Solana Beach.” Dosé retired from the Navy in 1979 ending more than 40 years of combined naval service by him and his father. His combat missions became quiet memories until 2016 when he was asked, along with several other Vietnam War veterans, to return to Hanoi to meet some of the pilots they had flown against more than four decades earlier. “I was invited to go back to Vietnam with several Navy pilot friends, so this was comfortable,” said Dosé. “Hey, we’d been there before.” Introductions to former North Vietnamese pilots, tour of the war museum, great food and reliving old memories. All was going well.
“It was special meeting Ngai’s sister,” remembered Dosé. “She was very kind and understanding. The family uncle said, ‘we were proud of Ngai flying MiG-21s, but now we have a new fighter pilot – Curt Dosé. We hope he will come back and stay with us.’” Before he left Vietnam, Dosé was told that the road to the Ngai house would be renamed Dosé -Ngai Way. “Vietnam is a beautiful place, especially the south,” said Dosé. “They have no memory of the war. It’s young and moving fast. I feel like I had a hand in this.” Now retired, Dosé often reflects on his and his father’s naval aviation careers. “It is so interesting to see the progress from dad’s first biplane torpedo bomber to my F-4 and F-14,” said Dosé, who flew more than 20 different aircraft while in the Navy. “It is fascinating to review our flight logbooks and see the difference between World War II and Vietnam flying.”
“It went as expected until the TV interview,” said Dosé, who flew for FedEx for nearly 30 years. “I was told that some of Ngai’s family wanted to meet me.” For Dosé, being introduced to the family of the pilot of the MiG he shot down was an emotional moment. The television crew took him to Ngai’s home where he met his entire family. He also visited Ngai’s grave and later ate dinner with his family complete with vodka toasts.
Curt Dosé joined the Naval Reserve while in high school in 1962. He is sworn in by his father, Navy Capt. Bob Dosé.
Bob and Curt Dosé enjoying an outing in San Diego after both had retired from the Navy. WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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War Widow of Green Beret Finds the Truth When four Green Berets were killed in an ambush in Niger in 2017, media and the American public largely focused on President Trump’s ham-fisted condolence call to one widow. But for Michelle Black, whose husband Bryan was one of the men killed in the attack, this shattering ordeal was made indescribably worse by vague and conflicting reports from the Army about what happened that day along the Niger-Mali border. A widow struggling to raise two sons alone, Black was determined to discover the facts about how and why her husband and his comrades died. In SACRIFICE: The Green Berets, A Fateful Ambush, and A Gold Star Widow’s Fight for the Truth (G.P. Putnam’s Sons; May 10, 2022), Michelle Black gives readers a meticulously researched and uncompromising account of the circumstances behind Bryan’s and his fellow soldiers’ deaths.
Upon their return trip the following morning, they were set upon by ISIS militants outside the remote village of Tongo Tongo. The hours long firefight left four Americans and five Nigeriens dead and all but two of the survivors wounded. SDVM When did you first decide to write SACRIFICE, and to investigate the circumstances of the ambush in Niger?
We sat down with Michelle to discuss her book about the incident. SDVM This is the story of a flawed mission that senior military leaders never fully took responsibility for. Explain to us what this mission was. Michelle The Niger Ambush was the largest loss of American life on the continent of Africa since the battle of Mogadishu, also known as Black Hawk Down. My husband’s team, ODA 3212, (a Special Forces A-Team) were sent out on a routine one-day patrol. While headed back from a successful patrol higher headquarters contacted them ordering the team to turn around and go on another mission. Despite a major lack of assets, they were forced ahead to the dangerous Mali border alone. 14
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Michelle In April 2018 I was stunned to find I had more questions than answers as I left my family brief. I felt I’d been lied to by the investigators of the ambush who’d made it clear that those lowest down the chain of command were being blamed and would be punished, while the officers who ordered the mission and forced the team ahead would not be held to account. A week later the commander of Africom held a press briefing and stated that my husband’s team was not indicative of special operators. This statement dishonored all who had fought and died alongside my husband and was the tipping point for me. SDVM How did you go about your research? Michelle I interviewed the Green Berets that survived the ambush one at a time. I also spoke with the commander of a heliborne unit involved in the mission, men who were running communications at the AOB (Advanced Operating Base) during the ambush, the AOB commander, and a former SocAfrica Commander.
I compared the information I gathered with the information and reports given to me by investigators and used those to pull apart the lies my family was told. SDVM After talking with the surviving members of Bryan’s team, what was the most shocking thing you discovered? Michelle Multiple events leading up to and during the ambush were twisted by investigators to purposely make the Team Captain, Mike Perozeni, look bad so they could pin the majority of the blame on him. One surprising discovery I made was that a collision had occurred when two Nigerien trucks backed into the lead American truck causing the convoy to come to a halt. Investigators claimed the team had slowly come to a halt because Captain Perozeni wanted to conduct a bold flanking maneuver. SDVM Following the death of your husband and the lies officials told what are your feelings towards the US military? Michelle I grew up as far from the military as one could and didn’t know anyone who’d served until I met Bryan’s dad who was a marine. As you can imagine my feelings toward
the military have significantly changed over time. Ironically, my experiences with the military have not soured my view but rather drawn me in. I love the military and what it stands for. I love the community of special operators that my husband and I were a part of. I love the ideals of serving, sacrifice, honor, and respect for everyone that can be found throughout our military community. Ideals that are what make America such a great nation. My dislike is not for the military but rather injustice and this book was born out of the injustice that a few individuals are responsible for. SDVM What do you hope readers will take away from your story? Michelle I hope that readers will leave with a sense of how important it is for leaders of our armed forces to lead with integrity. I hope they will understand that the men on the team were truly heroic despite the false accusations and blame they had to endure in the aftermath. www.warwicks.com/black-2022-reserved-seat www.MichelleBlackSacrifice.com
WARWICK'S LA JOLLA
Book Signing! With Gold Star Widow Michelle Black
Thursday, June 2 7:30 pm Warwick's Bookstore 7812 Girard Ave. La Jolla, CA 90237 www.warwicks.com/black-2022-reserved-seat WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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The Month of the Military Caregiver
is observed in May each year to honor millions of caregivers in the United States. Paying tribute to the people who care for veterans is an important part of supporting troops and military families. But for some, it is also about recognizing the work they do that qualifies them as caregivers even if they do not think of themselves that way.
Caregivers are spouses, parents, children, and relatives of the wounded veteran, but many coworkers, neighbors, and friends also take on responsibilities. They provide care and assistance, promoting faster recovery for their loved ones and thus saving our nation millions of dollars in health care costs. It is an observance that primarily acts to raise awareness of both veterans and the people who care for them. If you want to participate in the care of a veteran, no matter what level of training, available time, and awareness of the level of need in your community, it’s a very good idea to contact the Department of Veterans Affairs via the nearest field office or medical center near you to learn what volunteer opportunities may be available.
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CAREGIVER
Caregiver Self Check-In So often as caregivers, we are running so hard, putting ourselves last, and not realizing we are burnt out until we fall ill. Or we know we’re over-whelmed, but we accept it without question. What happens when the caregiver is down for the count – the wheels have a tendency to come off, don’t they? Make a promise to yourself to Check-In at least weekly. Better yet, do the same with a trusted caregiver or friend as an “accountability partner” so you don’t neglect to consider your own health.
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Giving Back to This Country Through Song By Janet Clancy, Communications Officer, The Elizabeth Hospice Samuel Nehemiah has a warm place in his heart for veterans. That’s because he loves the U.S. and knows that this country wouldn’t be what it is today if not for the brave people who serve in the military. Samuel was born in a remote village called Kpor in the southern part of Nigeria. At the age of four, his uncle dropped him off at an orphanage, telling the matron that Samuel had no family and telling Samuel’s mother that Samuel had died. He questioned why his family didn’t want him anymore, assuming it was because he was disabled with polio. The treatment Samuel received at the orphanage was inhumane. “The facility only cared about making money. They fed us once a day so that we’d look undernourished, and they could appeal to the community for donations. I was beaten regularly and otherwise ignored,” said Samuel. Samuel soon realized that education was the only way to improve his life. He crawled to school – one mile each way – because he didn’t have a wheelchair or crutches. Samuel had the good fortune to have a kind and caring teacher who was like a mother to him. He joined the choir and developed a love of singing. At age 19, he was invited to compete with hundreds of disabled athletes. He went to the World Stoke Mandeville Games in England and was named “Best Wheelchair Athlete of the Year.” In 2000, Samuel was invited to the U.S. to train for the Paralympics Games. When he arrived in this country, one of the first things he saw was a Handicapped Parking sign. “In Nigeria, my home country, nobody has any regard for you if you have a disability. You were treated like you were nothing. In the U.S., not only do they recognize you, but people find ways to make life easier for you.” Samuel was searching for a way to give back to this country when he met Nico Marcolongo, Senior Manager of Operation Rebound at Challenged Athletes Foundation. Nico told Samuel about the veteran pinning ceremonies offered by The Elizabeth Hospice to veterans nearing the end of their lives. The Elizabeth Hospice is the largest independent nonprofit hospice provider in San Diego County and Southwest Riverside County. 18
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During these pinning ceremonies, a veteran or activeduty servicemember honors and thanks the veterans for their military service. Samuel has become a regular participant in the veteran pinning events, performing the National Anthem and God Bless America. “When I sing the National Anthem, some of the elderly veterans struggle to stand up but they are determined to do so because of their reverence for the anthem. I see a glow on their faces. Some sing along; others don’t sing but I watch tears cascade down their cheeks,” said Samuel. “I know these veterans feel the total effect of what I’m doing, and that they are flooded with memories of their experiences in the military. I know that I’m affecting the lives of lots of people. That’s why I keep doing it. 2022 marks my 10th anniversary with The Elizabeth Hospice’s pinning ceremonies.” Samuel continued, “I want these men and women to know they will not be forgotten. Every person who comes to this great country – America – benefits from what these veterans sacrificed. They are touching lives that transcend generation upon generation. I’m sure they never imagined their actions could touch the life of a stranger like me, a person from Nigeria. But they have, and I am so very grateful.” To listen to Samuel’s rendition of The National Anthem, click here: https://youtu.be/-eJwxiLFKcM
Samuel Nehemiah is the founder of ChampsHeart, an organization dedicated to encouraging young people in America to make good choices today so they will be the future champions of our nation. ChampsHeart believes it is essential to provide America’s youth with positive influences and true role models. Samuel has visited over 350 schools, organizations and companies across the country, reaching young people through assembly programs focused on character building and positive life lessons. To learn more, visit www.champsheart.com
Veterans facing the challenges associated with an advanced, life-limiting illness can rely on The Elizabeth Hospice for the medical and emotional support they need and deserve.
800.797.2050 http://elizabethhospice.org
The Elizabeth Hospice is proud to be a We Honor Veterans Level 5 Partner, the highest level of distinction in this national program.
WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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COMMITTED TO
VETERANS
As a partner of the We Honor Veterans Program, Hospice of the North Coast is dedicated to providing optimal end-of-life care to the honored men and women who have fought for the freedom and security of our nation.
Veterans Program Call 760.431.4100
2525 Pio Pico Dr., Suite 301, Carlsbad, CA 92008 | www.hospicenorthcoast.org 20
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FREE Consultation FREE Consultation Call Call us us to to get get started started (619) 7879-1839 (619) 7879-1839
www.agingwellpartners.com www.agingwellpartners.com WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022 WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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Shelter to Soldier Success Story Highlights Accomplished Female Veteran Purple Heart Recipient By Eva Stimson
Kristine M. Wunder, Major, US Army, (MS, CHST, LEED BD + C, CESSWI, QSP, STSC) dedicated 21 years to the US Army, beginning in 1985 as an E1 (Military Police) stationed in Honduras and served as a combat MP specializing in Processing Prisoners. Kristine transitioned her Military Occupational Specialty to become a Helicopter Mechanic/Repairer, crew chief and door gunner. Kristine was then promoted to the rank of E-6 Staff Sergeant. During her enlisted career, Kristine obtained an AA degree from Golden West College and a BS from California State University Long Beach in Engineering. Upon completion of her BS, Kristine was accepted in the Officer Candidate School (OCS) program and graduated in the top of her OCS class. Kristine was in the Aviation branch and attended flight training at Ft. Rucker in Alabama. She was rated to fly aircraft in the UH-1, OH-58, TH-67 and in UH-60, then in 2003 Kristine was deployed to Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as a UH-60 Pilot and Battalion Staff Officer. Kristine served four tours in support of OIF at FOB (Forward Operating Base) Speicher, Iraq, where she 22
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was awarded a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Air Medal. While there, she was promoted to the rank of Major (O4) and served as the Battalion S4, XO and CO. Kristine retired in 2007 as a Major in Army Aviation (UH-60 Pilot). During her tenure in the US Army, Kristine experienced extreme trauma that detrimentally affected her work capabilities while transitioning into civilian life after retirement from the military. She reached out to Shelter to Soldier (STS) who was able to pair her with a dual psychiatric and mobility service dog (Dutch Shepherd mix) named Scout, and they graduated together through the STS program in May of 2021. Scout was fully trained by STS to accompany Kristine in the field on the construction site at the San Diego International Airport Terminal One (T1) project where Kristine currently serves as the Environmental Health and Safety Manager, Arrive Alliance (Turner-Flatiron Joint Venture). “Scout has been fully trained by STS to go out in the field [with me] on the construction site at the airport T1 project. [He] is my lifesaver and enhances my life and career. Scout has enabled me to travel to other destinations such as Alaska, Oklahoma, San Francisco and Arizona, as well as enjoy Disneyland.”
Kristine earned her Masters of Science in Engineering Construction Management in June 2016 from the New School of Architecture and Design in San Diego, CA. She is the proud Mother of two children; her daughter attends San Francisco State University and her son is deployed with the US Army. She has served as a Commissioner to the Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission and was selected as the 2014 Chula Vista Veterans of the Year, 2014-2015 Congressional District 51 Veteran of the Year, and a finalist for the 2014 and 2015 San Diego County Veteran of the Year. Kristine is a lifetime member of the VFW, American Legion, and honorary member of the Marine Corp League Detachment. Kristine is grateful to STS for helping her achieve her post-military career aspirations. She elaborates, “Shelter to Soldier was introduced to me from a fellow comrade who was in the process of training with his service animal at a WWP [Wounded Warrior Project] event. He inspired me and gave me the courage to submit an application. This in itself was a monumental feat for me at the time. I was welcomed by the entire STS team and quickly became part of the STS family.”
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. Photo’s by Monica Hoover Photography & Shelter to Soldier 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 post9/11 combat veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or other psychological injuries. To learn more about veteran-support services provided by STS visit our website at www.sheltertosoldier.org call 760-870-5338
San Diego Veteran Resources & Organizations available at: www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com
San Diego Veterans Magazine A Veterans Magazine for Veterans by Veterans WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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Whether your disability is obvious or invisible, Canine Support Teams can help you reclaim your independence. Canine Support Teams is proud to offer the PAWZ for Wounded Veterans program, which provides specially trained service dogs, at no charge, to the brave men and women who have faithfully served our country. Apply for a service dog today at www.caninesupportteams.org/pawz Or Call 951.301.3625 24
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caninesupportteams @k9supportteams
Guide Dogs of America At Guide Dogs of America, we transform lives through partnerships with service dogs. We breed, raise, and train guide dogs for individuals who are blind/ visually impaired and service dogs for veterans and children with autism. We also place facility dogs with professionals in hospitals, schools, and courtrooms. Our highly skilled canines become trusted companions that increase people’s confidence, mobility, and independence. All programs and services, including transportation, personalized training, room/board, and postgraduate support, are provided at no cost to the recipient.
This heartfelt note is from US combat Vietnam Veteran. Jim served with the 173rd Airborne for 18 months. He was exposed to Agent Orange and suffers from PTSD. “My name’s Jim Reed, and this is my friend Triton. It’s been a long time since I had a friend, and even longer since I wanted one. When I first got here, I was real nervous. Which I am now. But, I’ve felt the feeling of easiness and calmness that I thought I left somewhere in the past.
RAISE A PUPPY... CHANGE A LIFE! Open your home and your heart, to a future service dog in-training Like I said, I have PTSD and a few things that agent orange had to offer. At night when the dark dreams come, and 1968 comes looking for me just like it always does, now Triton will be there to wake me up and bring me home. And for that, I’d like to thank everyone involved in this program from the bottom of my heart. I’ve been told a few times since I’ve been here that Triton is a tool to help me navigate through life, which he is, but I like to think of him as my guardian angel.” Volunteers Needed www.guidedogsofamerica.org
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Text “PUPPY” to 51555 Or Call: (818) 362-5834 www.guidedogsofamerica.org WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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Cohen Veterans Network’s Mental Health Services to be Available to More Veterans, Active-Duty Service Members and Military Families in California “There’s no shame in asking for help.” – Laura, Iraq War Veteran “My hopes for the future are very high.” – Darcel, Army National Guard “I am better equipped to cope.” – Matt, Air National Guard Veteran “I am happier.” – Rebecca, Military Spouse and Caregiver Cohen Veterans Network’s (CVN) mission is to help veterans, active-duty service members and their families through their unique challenges, including transitioning from active military service back to civilian life, and beyond. With high-quality, accessible care available, regardless of discharge status or role in service, CVN’s Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics provide specialized therapy for depression, anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other challenges. They also provide relationship counseling and help with children’s behavioral issues to support the entire military family. To meet the increasing mental health needs of the veteran and military community, CVN will open two additional clinics in California, one in Oceanside and another in Los Angeles. These will be the second and third Cohen Clinics in the state; a San Diego clinic opened in 2019. This effort is another step toward CVN meeting the $275M commitment set forth by financier philanthropist Steven A. Cohen to help reduce veteran suicide and increase care for active-duty service members and military families throughout the country. More than 33,000 post-9/11 veterans, nearly 40,000 active-duty service members, and more than 31,000 military family members will be eligible for care at the Cohen Clinic in Oceanside. Greater than 52,000 post-9/11 veterans, 6,000 active-duty service members, and 10,000 military family members will be eligible for care at the Cohen Clinic in Los Angeles. CVN’s partner for these clinics is Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD), which is its current partner at the Cohen Clinic in San Diego, located in Mission Valley. 26
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VVSD has served veterans since 1981 and is dedicated to “Leave No One Behind.” Each year, VVSD provides services to more than 3,000 military veterans throughout San Diego County. “There are many factors in play these days which are negatively impacting our mental health, including the continued challenges of COVID-19 and the possibilities of future deployments. We are here to serve veterans, active duty and families throughout the entire state of California,” said Dr. Anthony Hassan, President & CEO of CVN. “We are expanding on our proven success in San Diego and scaling up to the meet the additional need.” In addition to providing care to those within reach of the Oceanside and Los Angeles locations, the new Cohen Clinics will also offer telehealth services statewide to more than 655,000 potential clients. CVN Telehealth is face-to-face video therapy where the client can receive treatment from the privacy and comfort of their own home. “The ability to provide telehealth services is critical and a game changer, especially in southern California
where we have seen the number of COVID-19 cases rise significantly in recent months,” said Akilah Templeton, CEO of VVSD. “Telehealth provides a great option for veterans, service members and their families who want to stay connected to a trusted provider, regardless of location. Our partnership with CVN has helped to expand our reach and build out VVSD’s continuum of care so that the entire military family has access to high-quality outpatient mental health services and supports for years to come.” The Oceanside Cohen Clinic is located at: 3609 Ocean Ranch Blvd, Suite 120, while the Los Angeles location will be unveiled in the coming months. Each location has begun hiring staff members, with open positions available. www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/our-team/careers Since its inception in April 2016, CVN has built 21 Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics across the country and has treated more than 30,000 clients.
Therapy for Veterans, Service Members, and their Families Cohen Clinics provide therapy to post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families, including National Guard / Reserves. CVN Telehealth, face-to-face video therapy available statewide.
LEARN MORE vvsd.net/cohenclinics
Your generous tax-deductible donation to the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at VVSD enables our mental health clinics to make the lives of veterans and military families better. Your support will sustain and advance our Cohen Clinics now and into the future, and as we reach additional clients in rural areas via CVN Telehealth. www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/telehealth Here are some examples of what your gift will allow us to do: • Family or Couple Therapy Session: $500 • Individual Therapy Session: $250 • Local Referral Support: $100 • Youth Therapy Supplies: $50 • Providing Childcare: $25 To donate, visit www.vvsd.net/cohenclinics
OUR LOCATIONS San Diego 8885 Rio San Diego Dr. Suite 301 Oceanside 3609 Ocean Ranch Blvd. Suite 120 Los Angeles Coming Soon
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A Medium for Healing: Five Ways Art Heals By Amber Robinson As a disabled combat veteran raised by artists, I soon discovered the cathartic link between my personal healing and art. My living room is covered in abstract art, pieces done after each of my respective deployments then into the years after service as a way to deal with PTSD and physical ailments. Each brush stroke is an emotion that had to be expressed, a story my heart and mind needed to tell in color, shape and form, so I could feel whole again. I used paint, but you can also use writing, music, dance or sculpting as your special creative “language for healing”. What do you think your medium, or language, for healing would be? Below are five ways art can heal you, too. 1. Art Lowers Cortisol Cortisol is a stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands that helps us handle stress. When we are over stressed, cortisol saturates our system and can become problematic, making us very sick. According to a study published in Art Therapy Magazine, 39 healthy people were tested for cortisol before and after 45 minutes of art making. According to the study, cortisol levels were notably lower after participants spent time creating art. 2. Art Connects Us More Fully to Ourselves According to that same study, participants reported that art helped them “explore different aspects of themselves.” Thomas Merton, who was a trappist monk and Roman Catholic Priest wrote about social issues, art included. He once said “art is where you can lose yourself and find yourself at the same time.” Through the carefree act of art making, you are creating new pathways in your brain by which you can discover abilities and insights that you didn’t know you had. 3. Art Promotes a Sense of Wholeness According to a thoughtful blog on the Henry Ford Health System website, art is the only activity that forces us to forge a connection between body and mind. Through those connections back to dormant parts of self, we find healing, or wholeness. 28
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As mentioned, art helps to lower cortisol levels, but according to a blog by Oil Pixel, it also releases feel-good hormones called endorphins which help you combat stress and pain. Through that sense of contentment and fulfillment, you are transformed into a more positive, wellrounded human being. 4. Art Connects us to our Inner Child According to a thoughtful blog on the Henry Ford Health System website, through art and creativity we are able to connect to our “inner child”, usually the part of ourselves that is most pure and unscarred. Mental and emotional trauma can change a person, leaving them with symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress, like depression, anxiety and anger issues. The unscarred version of self is always inside of us. Art is like a magical key that opens the door to that person again. Art allows us to be new again. 5. Art Helps Us Express Damaging Emotions Studies show that whenever we repress, deny, or disallow an emotion to be what it needs to be, our network pathways get blocked. According to a blog on the Arts Academy in the Woods website, sometimes stating how we feel about something isn’t enough for us to properly process it. For emotions to move through us freely they must be accepted and expressed. Art provides a myriad of ways for us to express ourselves when words may fail us. Dance, writing, painting and music are all mediums that can be used to express yourself, when words may not seem like enough.
A Medium for Healing
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Real Talk: Mental Health By Hope Phifer The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at VVSD www.vvsd.net/cohenclinics
Debunking Mental Health Therapy Stigma For example: • MYTH: Anyone experiencing mental health problems should be able to snap out of it. - FALSE: Mental health challenges have nothing to do with being weak and most people need help to get better. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including biological factors, life experiences and family history.
This month’s Mental Health Awareness Month comes at a time when many of us are faced with new mental and emotional challenges. In a recent blog post from Cohen Veterans Network, Clinical Practice & Training Manager Ava Weiss, provided clinical insight on how current world events such as the Russian war in Ukraine may bring stress and uncertainty for everyone, but perhaps especially those who are connected to the military. “People may be in a constant state of uncertainty these days, thinking things like ‘Am I going to get deployed? Will my partner get deployed?’” Weiss said. “For people with past combat experience, they may be closely attuned to things like this (Ukraine). They may be wondering: will we get into another global conflict?” That uncertainty is part of the human condition, part of a reality we all contend with. And experiencing some worry and stress related to uncertainty is totally normal. Let me say it again: normal. That perception of what is normal and what isn’t normal provides a foundation to talk more about and understand the difference between mental health myth vs mental health fact.
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Here are a few other mental health myths within the veteran and military community: • MYTH: PTSD is a “veteran only” issue - FALSE: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can affect anyone who experiences or witnesses a lifethreatening or traumatizing event. About eight million people currently experience PTSD in the United States, and this includes adults, children, veterans, and civilians alike. • MYTH: Couples Therapy is a last resort to save your relationship - FALSE: To some couples, therapy may seem too drastic, but it’s never too soon to get help when you need it. Anyone could benefit from additional work on their relationship. • MYTH: Therapy and self-care are useless - FALSE: Treatment works. There are many evidencebased treatment options for challenges like PTSD, anxiety, depression, insomnia, relationship problems and more. The most important step is to reach out for help if you need it. The sooner you get treatment, the sooner you can get back to better. And, once you start therapy, keep at it! Therapy is a progression. It doesn’t matter what type of treatment you are invested in each session offers opportunities to change, heal, and grow.
General mental health tips: • It’s important to set time today to take care of yourself and check in on a loved one. When things get stressful or challenging, self-care is the first thing that gets compromised. Focusing on maintaining diet, exercise, and therapy even during challenges can have a huge impact on resiliency and coping. • If you are feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed, focus on taking deep breaths and the things you can control. The continued uncertainty of the things happening around us may bring feelings of loss or distress. It’s normal to experience ups and downs, but sometimes we all need additional support. Look into groups and support systems in your local area. • Why is it that we will talk to ourselves the way we would never talk to others? Bringing intentional awareness to the way we think, by practicing mindfulness, is one of the most powerful ways to impact our experience. Additionally, here are few additional steps Weiss suggests taking when facing uncertainty: • Notice and acknowledge anxious thoughts and feelings and allow them to exist. • Recognize that our thoughts are just thoughts; it doesn’t mean it’s accurate or helpful. • Identify what helps you feel calm and actively engage in those things. • If there are actions that you can take to help reduce or manage the uncertainty, then take them. • If what you are worried about is a realistic possibility, then identify what you would need in order to cope. The most important thing, she says, is to give yourself grace and compassion as you make space for ambiguity and discomfort. Treat yourself as if you were a friend and take good care of yourself, because managing uncertainty is hard work, and it’s also a fact of life.
For more information about the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, visit www.vvsd.net/cohenclinics
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Ukraine Conflict Awakens PTSD and can Trigger Relapse in Recovering Veterans At Confidential Recovery, an outpatient substance abuse treatment center in San Diego, Veterans meet several times a week in a group setting to strengthen their recovery from alcohol or other substances. These men and women have formed a bond with each other in this safe space to discuss their experiences and ongoing recovery. For these Veterans, exposure to the recent events in the Ukraine can be difficult to process. As every news outlet constantly displays imagery of conflict and injury, Veterans can re-experience vivid memories and traumatic experiences from their own service. Along with these painful memories, comes the temptation to relapse on drugs or alcohol. “Trauma gets buried deep in our subconscious, and even after years of counseling or therapy, can be triggered,” says Jay Wylie, a Veteran himself, and Operations Manager at Confidential Recovery. “When you see burned-out cars and smoldering buildings on the news, it can awaken feelings of fear and helplessness. One excellent step toward overcoming these negative emotions is to limit your exposure to the media coverage.” The End of the Afghanistan Conflict Was Difficult for Many U.S. Veterans U.S. Veterans are even more closely connected to the conflict in Afghanistan than the War in the Ukraine. Before it ended in 2021, as more than 775,000 U.S. troops participated in the Afghanistan conflict. According to The Brookings Institute, Afghanistan Veterans are angry about the withdrawal, with 73% of them reporting that they feel betrayed, and 67% reporting feelings of humiliation. Beyond those participants, many other Veterans who did not participate in the conflicted were also negatively affected by the decision to have the military leave Afghanistan. Veterans of the U.S. military can experience a sense of shame and guilt when they hear the arguments and commentary about both the Afghanistan conflict or Ukraine war, as many feel disappointed or betrayed by the country they were willing to put their lives at risk to defend.
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How Confidential Recovery Manages These Symptoms The counselors at Confidential Recovery recommend staying connected to friends, family, and your recovery support system. At the outpatient rehab, that happens daily in the form of group counseling sessions. Then, there are self-care routines and processes that have proven helpful for Veterans who re-experience stress as a result of these triggers. “First of all, it’s helpful to acknowledge these feelings and speak out to the other Veterans, because there is relief in knowing that you are not alone in these types of feelings,” says Jay Wylie. “Then, beyond the group counseling setting, mindfulness activities and experiential therapy can be great to help our Veterans maintain a sense of well-being.” How You Can Support a Veteran in Your Life Veterans are at higher risk for suicide, depression, PTSD, anxiety, and substance addiction. Check in with any Veteran in your life to see how they are doing, and listen to what they say. Be sure to maintain a non-judgmental attitude, and give them your full attention.
Encourage a Veteran to Get Help Before They Need It Make sure that any Veteran in your life is aware that there is help available if they are struggling with emotions of any kind. It can also be helpful to get involved in a support group even if they feel like they are doing okay, as they can help others, and have an established support lifeline if their PTSD (or anxiety, or depression) starts to present itself. The VA offers an around the clock Veterans Crisis Line that provides help and crisis support - even for veterans not enrolled in its health care network. (The phone number is 800-273-8255.) San Diego based Veterans and family can get in contact with Confidential Recovery at (619) 452–1200. About Confidential Recovery: Scott H. Silverman was addicted to alcohol and illegal drugs when he “hit bottom,” and pursued treatment in 1984. He’s been helping others recover from addiction ever since. In 2014, he founded Confidential Recovery, a drug treatment program in San Diego that specializes in helping Veterans, first responders, and executives overcome substance abuse. You can reach them at (619) 452-1200, or by visiting the Confidential Recovery website.
About the Author Scott H. Silverman was addicted to alcohol and illegal drugs when he “hit bottom”and pursued treatment in 1984. He’s been helping others recover from addiction ever since. In 2014, he founded Confidential Recovery, a drug treatment program in San Diego that specializes in helping Veterans overcome substance abuse. You can reach them at (619) 452-1200, or by visiting the Confidential Recovery website. www.confidentialrecovery.com
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Military film festival back in-person and breaking the silence around mental health Tickets are on sale now for the 2022 GI Film Festival San Diego, scheduled for May 17-21 with all screenings happening in-person at the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) in Balboa Park The GI Film Festival San Diego returns to the big screen as an in-person event this year, and the beloved film fest is putting military mental health front and center. Established in 2006 and brought to San Diego in 2015, the GI Film Festival San Diego is a multi-day militarythemed event featuring underrepresented voices in films by, for and about active-duty military members and veterans.
The GI Film Festival San Diego is dedicated to bridging the military-civilian divide with each film selected telling a compelling and unique story. Every film challenges the notions about what it means to serve, going beyond one-dimensional depictions of veterans, service members, their caregivers and families; and provides a platform for service members-turned-filmmakers to showcase their creative stories on the big screen. Hope and Solutions One of the impactful stories making its San Diego premiere at this year’s GI Film Festival San Diego is “STRANGER AT HOME: The Untold Story of Military Mental Health.” https://strangerathome.org/
May is Mental Health Awareness Month—and after two years of renewed focus on mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic, event organizers felt it was more important than ever to use the festival’s return to in-person screenings to break the silence, stigma and stereotypes once again, and focus on complex, beautiful stories of military members facing mental health challenges.
“STRANGER AT HOME” weaves together the lifealtering stories of the Navy psychologist forced into whistleblowing, the Army Ranger involved in the killing of Pat Tillman, and the Vietnam war veteran Marine turned world-renowned trauma expert, as they work tirelessly to deliver their urgent call-to-action for radical military mental health transformation. (NOTE: This film contains difficult subject matter and mature themes. Viewer discretion advised.)
“In our country, but especially among veterans and U.S. military members, there is still so much stigma around discussing mental health and post-traumatic stress,” says GI Film Festival San Diego Advisory Committee member, U.S. Marine Corps and Iraq war veteran, Nico Marcolongo. “The unprecedented strain of the pandemic forced all of us to think more about the importance of our mental health, and how we need to make it equal to our physical health. Through many of the films we are showing this year, we want to convey the stark need for a shift in conversation and policy thinking about mental health among military leaders. Now is the time.”
“One thing that’s great about ‘STRANGER AT HOME’ is that it’s not just a film about the tragedy of mental health issues affecting military members and veterans,” says Marcolongo. “It’s a beautiful story filled with love and hope that also shows what’s behind the crisis and offers solutions to finally help ensure that our service women and men get the help they need always.”
Since its inception, the GI Film Festival San Diego has presented more than 210 films from national, international and San Diego County filmmakers, and has attracted thousands of attendees from various backgrounds. Over the years, the festival has also hosted several celebrities whose films had been presented at festival events, including documentary filmmakers Ken Burns and Ric Burns; actor and activist George Takei; actor Matthew Marsden; actor/producer/director Jeffrey Wright; and actor/director Brenda Strong. 34
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Photo Stranger At Home
The GI Film Festival San Diego is proud to present this and other stories focused on mental health in the military, thanks in part to a grant from the California Health Care Foundation. Check out the full GI Film Festival San Diego film lineup here. Coming Back Home Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, event organizers moved the festival online with a Virtual Showcase in October 2020 and the annual festival in May 2021. Now, the organization is looking forward to coming back together with new and longtime festival-goers, filmmakers, film subjects and military supporters at the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) in Balboa Park. In addition to the San Diego premiere of “STRANGER AT HOME,” this year’s five-day in-person event will feature an array of film screenings, including documentaries, narratives, feature-lengths, and shorts. Attendees can also enjoy captivating post-screening discussions with filmmakers, film subjects, actors, and subject-matter experts. The festival culminates with the GI Film Festival San Diego Awards Celebration, taking place at MOPA on Saturday, May 21 with Los Angeles-based standup comedian, musician, radio broadcaster, and U.S. military veteran and advocate Thom Tran returning as the event host.
Photo Stranger At Home
Military Voices Every Step of the Way Members of the GI Film Festival San Diego Advisory Committee help review films for final selection. These members represent prominent militaryrelated organizations and come from various military backgrounds, including veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, as well as Air Force Reserves, and several military or veteran spouses. All committee members volunteer their time, talent, and expertise to ensure the festival provides an authentic view of the military experience and engages its audience through post-screening discussions.
Photo Stranger At Home
The GI Film Festival San Diego also has active support from several military and veteran-related organizations, such as Project Recover, Workshops for Warriors, Travis Manion Foundation, Elizabeth Hospice, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Blue Star Families San Diego, Wounded Warrior Project, San Diego Military Family Collaborative, Armed Services YMCA, Southern Caregiver Resource Center, and Courage to Call. The box office is now open at: www.GIFilmFestivalSD.org Buy your tickets now and enjoy an unforgettable experience at a film festival like no other. Photo GIFF
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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
American Hero
Walk With Frank
We All Die Alone
Into Flight Once More
LOCAL | NATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | PREMIERES | PANEL DISCUSSIONS | AWARDS CELEBRATION
May 17-21, 2022 Catch a film. Be inspired. Build community. Discover the experience of service members and veterans through film and events. Military, veterans, allies, and civilians welcome.
GIFilmFestivalSD.org PRESENTED BY
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
WITH SUPPORT FROM
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Team Rubicon serves communities
by mobilizing veterans to continue their service, leveraging their skills and experience to help people prepare, respond, and recover from disasters and humanitarian crises.
Through continued service, Team Rubicon seeks to provide our veterans with three things they lose after leaving the military: a purpose, gained through disaster relief; community, built by serving with others; and identity, from recognizing the impact one individual can make. Coupled with leadership development and other opportunities, Team Rubicon looks to help veterans transition from military to civilian life. Serving the Underserved Across the world, disasters are a part of life. No corner of the globe is spared from severe weather – be it crippling winter storms, catastrophic hurricanes, or unchecked wildfires.
Team Rubicon’s mission is providing relief to those affected by disaster, no matter when or where they strike. By pairing the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders, medical professionals, and technology solutions, Team Rubicon aims to provide the greatest service and impact possible.
By focusing on underserved or economicallychallenged communities, Team Rubicon seeks to makes the largest impact possible. Disasters represent a massive financial cost, and by providing immediate relief work, free of cost, TR aims to help communities begin recovery sooner. Want to know more? Go to www.teamrubiconusa.org
TEAM Rubicon -”I AM A GREY SHIRT” In October 2020 San Diego Veterans Magazine published an article from Bryan Prest about what it means to be a Team Rubicon (GREY SHIRT) You can read the article at the following link: www.sandiegoveteransmagazine.com/i-am-a-greyshirt 38
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Welcome to the Veterans Association of North County HERE FOR YOU WHEN YOU NEED US Here you will find several resources, programs, services and opportunities for Veterans, Service Members and their families. Our goal is to be your one stop shop for all things, so don’t hesitate to contact us at any time. Programs and services vary, and include additional information for each. We have two Veteran Services Representatives (VSR) here at VANC, read all about them below in Addtional Services at: (www.vanc.me/services-programs) OUR MISSION VANC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created and operated by Veterans as a one-stop resource center for all active-duty military, Veterans, and their families. We centralize services from diverse agencies to assist with jobs, education, finances, health, and wellness. OUR VISION We seek to honor and support those who have served our country, bridging the past, present, and future. VANC is a vibrant gathering place in North San Diego County, where all Veterans, active-duty military, and their loved ones can reach out for help and community. VANC engages and informs local Veterans organizations, service providers, and individuals, helping them work together. VANC seeks to be a model for other organizations that serve the military community. JOIN US FOR AMAZING UPCOMING EVENTS There’s always engaging things happening at VANC and with our partners. Check our calendar here for regularly scheduled events, meetings and opportunities here at VANC (www.vanc.me/events#calendar) WE LOVE OUR ASSOCIATION MEMBERS AND THEY’RE HERE FOR YOU TOO. VANC is open to all military, veterans and friends of the military. If you would like to become a Veterans Association member, Contact Lori at lori@vanc.me to learn more.
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UNLIKELY ALLIANCE WORKING TO STRENGTHEN SAN DIEGO San Diego Gives launches university for struggling charities By: Hannah Jaime, San Diego Gives, Steering Committee THE NEED: From a local level to an international one, there is no shortage of sadness and suffering. Gas prices are sky-high, the cost of food is brutal and inflation is crippling. San Diego is saturated with hungry kids, homeless veterans, abandoned animals and victims of domestic violence. Charities are working diligently to offer relief, but many are battling record demands with limited resources. Amid this financial firestorm, San Diego Gives exists to provide a beacon of hope for people in need. WHO WE ARE: As the Executive Director of the Helping Paws Foundation, I have experienced the crushing throes of the pandemic on charities. We were able to adapt, but many nonprofits need help to push forward with their good work in the county. It is part of why I am proud to have joined the allvolunteer Steering Committee made up of 13 local nonprofit leaders. Nonprofits often compete for grants and donations, so it is an unlikely alliance that formed for the greater good. Through our collective philanthropic vision, we collaborate to serve charities, so they may better serve San Diego.
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WHAT SAN DIEGO GIVES IS: San Diego Gives is a 24-hour movement that is dedicated to giving local. This project shines a light on pressing community needs, and the impactful responses of our nonprofit industry. The initiative is the brainchild of Lauren Welch of Urban Corps of San Diego County. “It started with an idea of helping each other, loving San Diego and giving back to San Diego. We asked, what if we could do a regionallyfocused Giving Tuesday?” Welch explained. She shared the idea with other fundraising professionals, and the planning was underway. “It is more than just donations,” she added. “It is service to those in need, relationships and growth of missions.” We are all aligned with our respective nonprofits, so we execute this work on the side. We wholeheartedly offer assistance to other charities because we share a common passion of wanting to help others. “I am super interested in collaboration and making our city the best it can be,” Welch said. “We do that by making nonprofits the best they can be. When they are at their best, they serve San Diegan’s better.” THE IMPACT: Last year, the inaugural San Diego Gives was an unprecedented day of philanthropy in the county with nearly half a million dollars raised for 107 nonprofits. Using a software program called Mightycause, all funds raised remained in San Diego County, which helped bolster the community we know and love. Now, we are gearing up for our second annual day to Give Local! This year, we aim to raise at least $2 million for participating 501(c)(3)’s and engage at least 4,000 donors with at least 40% new givers. We also want to expand to include at least 250 trusted charities, and we have almost reached that goal.
NEW UNIVERSITY THIS YEAR: This year, we have rolled out San Diego Gives University leading up to the 24 hours of giving. Our team is devoting six months to equipping an estimated 250 vetted charities with the fundraising tools and knowledge they need to succeed. Nonprofit professionals have the option to participate in over 25 trainings at no cost. We are offering webinars, toolkits, office hours and more opportunities share best practices and trade secrets. Among some of the veterans-serving nonprofits are the San Diego Veterans Coalition, Blue Star Families, Vets Community Connections, the Helping Paws Foundation, Paws 4 Purple Hearts, JBS Transition Experts and Armed Services YMCA in San Diego and Armed Services YMCA at Camp Pendleton. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: It is part of a project that is both by and for the nonprofit community, but we encourage all community members to join our efforts. The deadline for charities to register is May 31. www.sandiegogives.org/giving-events/sd22/registration The campaign kicks off with early giving on July 16, which is San Diego’s 253rd birthday! Local businesses can celebrate by hosting birthday parties that include giveback events. Those involved are donating a percentage of sales that date. We welcome companies to reach out if they are interested in hosting a birthday party event. We connect people to the causes they care about most, and for those who want to have a hand in helping as many as possible, we have a solution. If you do not want to give to just one participating nonprofit, you can donate to the Love Them All Fund. Those funds are distributed equally among all participants. When you make a donation, you can feel confident knowing every dollar of your investment will stay local to help strengthen San Diego.
www.sandiegogives.org/giving-events/sd22 WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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www.Courage2Call.org Career Resources Available Now Hiring Management and Direct Service Positions - www.mhsinc.org/career-resources 42
WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
Serving Veterans and their Families! The San Diego Veterans Coalition was organized in 2009 and using the Collective Impact Model, SDVC is a premier San Diego County-wide monthly convener of over 160 unique member and participating organizations, businesses, and agencies. The Collective Impact Model is based on leveraging relationships with other veteran and family serving organizations so that we may provide veterans and their families with www.warriorresourceproject.org a complete array of services and other opportunities. The purpose of the San Diego Veterans Coalition (SDVC) is to serve the needs of San Diego regional Veterans, their families and significant others. We intend to improve collaboration and coordination among community service providers so that delivery of services is more comprehensive and Veteran Family-centric. The vision of the SDVC is to honor the nation’s commitment to veterans, their families and significant others by leading collaboration among all potential partners, making the San Diego region a national model for a comprehensive, integrated system of community services. The SDVC is a catalyst that inspires collaboration and cooperation among service partners to deliver premier support for Veterans in the San Diego region. At the SDVC we have found that collaboration is the key to addressing the needs of San Diego Veterans, their families and significant others. We have four Action Groups:
SAN DIEGO VETERANS COALITION COLLABORATING TO BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY’S VETERAN FAMILIES
COMMUNITY • COLLABORATION • COOPERATION
www.sdvetscoalition.org www.sdvetscoalition.org FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
• Physical and Emotional Health Action Group (PEH) • Family Life Action Group (FLAG) • Veterans: Empowered, Successful, and Thriving Action Group (VEST) • Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship Action Group (E3) Through these Action Groups we are identifying gaps and creating measurable outcomes to resolve them. These groups are made up of our members and together we are working to strengthen our community.
www.sdvetscoalition.org
@SDVeteransCoalition
@sd_vc
@SDVetsCoalition
LIVE WELL SAN DIEGO COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY
WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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HUMAN RESOURCES Transition to Business By Paul Falcone
The Most Important Decisions About Your Career are Made When You’re Not in the Room This headline isn’t meant to shock you: it’s meant to enlighten you. For you and me and everyone else, the most important decisions that impact our careers are often made by executives and superiors when we’re not present. As a seasoned HR executive, I can’t tell you how many times conversations have occurred that sound something like this. . .
“With Sara now leaving us, we should really scour our own internal talent to see if anyone’s ready to step up and into her role. I’d much rather backfill this with internal talent rather have to look outside the organization. The first person that comes to mind is [YOUR NAME]. Do you think he’s ready to step up to this level of responsibility at this point?” Responses typically sound anything like, “Yeah, I was thinking of Paul as well and feel like this would be the perfect move for him, and that’ll keep him with us for a good long time” or “No, I don’t think Paul’s got the leadership abilities or credibility to move that department forward or keep their performance momentum going.” 44
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While it may not seem fair that you have no say over or even a physical presence in such discussions, this all-too-common scenario is a reality in everyone’s career. The more important questions is, How do you influence conversations that occur when you’re not present? How can you increase the chances that you’ll get a favorable nod when big stakes are in play? • Perception Management Wisdom #1: The first wisdom is that perception is reality until proven otherwise. You’re responsible for your own perception management, regardless of what your intentions may be in any given instance.
How would you (or others) respond to questions like these?
Oh, I know [YOUR NAME]. She’s. . . How that sentence gets finished has more to do with your career progression and potential than just about anything else. Speaking of perception, how would you answer the following similar questions:
If you had to describe [YOUR NAME] using three adjectives, what would they be? Would you want to work for you? If the whole company followed your lead, would you be happy with where you took it? Such are the “executive coaching” questions that help leaders at all levels of corporate America raise their selfawareness of their impact on their organization and, yes, their ultimate career potential.
T H E PAUL FALCONE LEADERSHIP SERIES WORKPLACE ETHICS EFFECTIVE HIRING NEW MANAGERS LEADERSHIP OFFENSE LEADERSHIP DEFENSE
• Selfless Leadership Wisdom #2: Putting others’ needs ahead of your own and expecting them to respond in kind is a healthy workplace success formula. It’s not enough to be a top performer; you’re equally responsible for nurturing relationships with others that help them excel. You’re responsible for creating a friendly and inclusive work environment. And you need to focus on how to ensure that others feel comfortable coming to you for help. Remember, the greatest leaders aren’t the ones with the most followers; they’re the ones who create the most leaders in turn. •Character Trumps All Wisdom #3: Leadership, communication, and teambuilding are your three pillars of success. Who you choose to be relative to these three concepts dictates your character and reputation more than just about anything. The “secret sauce” to career success doesn’t lie in your ability to instill fear in others: it lies in your ability to make others better human beings. Remember poet Maya Angelou’s famous saying: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Make this your career mantra going forward where your success feeds others’ accomplishments and their achievements feed yours. You can connect with Paul on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/paulfalcone1 Paul Falcone (www.PaulFalconeHR.com) is a leadership consultant, trainer, and bestselling author on hiring, performance management, and leadership development.
www.HarperCollinsLeadership.com
WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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WHAT’S NEXT Transition to Civilian Life By Eve Nasby & Kristin Hennessy
What to Remember in your Transition to Civilian Life Memory is a funny thing. We tend to remember things we’d like to forget, and we forget those things we thought we’d always remember. As you transition out, it’s important to remember the accomplishments, experiences and friendships that will help you in this next chapter. When you’re focused on the “what-if’s” of transition, it moves your focus to the future instead of the past. By remembering all you have done in the past, you can be prepared for a new future that is satisfying and rewarding.
Use this acronym to “REMEMBER” your experiences in a way that sets you up for success in transition.
Embrace the fear of change. FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. When you have the natural fears of transition, where is that fear rooted? Not making enough money? Not speaking the right ‘civilian’ language? Not being groomed enough for civilian employment? Fear not. Write out a list of the raw fears that you are facing in transition. Find a mentor who is experienced in helping those in transition and discuss these. You will be surprised how much ‘False Evidence” you have in your mind that appears real.
Make a plan. Start planning 12-18 months out. If you fail to plan you plan to fail. Do your research. Do some soul searching. Where do you want to be location-wise? How important is the salary number? Do you have a certain work culture in mind? Write these down clearly and specifically. Then you have a guide to help narrow your choices to those that fit what you really want.
Engage your network. After you write out your plan, tell others about it. Want to work for Subaru in Lafayette, Indiana? Jump on LinkedIn and find the head of HR. Ask for an informational interview. See who else knows people who work at Subaru and engage them for ideas of what it’s like to work there and the best way to land a job.
Remember who you are and why you decided to serve.
Your training, your ability to complete a task, to be on time and be a part of a team are all things that will add value to any organization. Remember why you decided to serve. Maybe it was to be a part of something better than yourself, or perhaps to escape from a fear of what you thought you’d be stuck with. Maybe you wanted a way to get an education or see the world. Whatever the case, you were decisive and did it. You experienced change and can embrace challenges. You became part of something bigger than yourself. Remember that.
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Move. The paralysis of analysis can be…paralyzing. With so many companies, jobs and choices make it easy to freeze up with indecision. But you have a plan! So, start moving towards what that says. If a choice doesn’t align with your plan, forget it! Keep moving while making decisions that align with what you said you want. That will get you to the job/career you want and love.
Be accountable. Transition is not successful if you go it alone. Be accountable to your mentor. If you are struggling with interviews or networking, be honest with yourself and with your mentors and friends.
People love to help but it is often difficult to ask for help. Just ASK. Do what you say you’ll do. Do what they suggest you do.
Elevate your mind. Look up. Literally. You’ll probably get rejected at some point in the process. Everyone does. Maybe you don’t hear back from a company after a great interview. Don’t assume rejection, but be okay if it is. Keep your head up. Elevate your mind. Follow up if you don’t hear back about a job you want. Remember, you’ve made it through boot camp and far worse. How’d you get through that? Your network, resources, friends, books, and faith will keep you elevated if you allow them to! It’s not trite to say that when one door closes, another one opens. Elevate your mind to really believe that.
Reframe your thoughts. It’s common to think you don’t have the skills and experience necessary for civilian jobs. That’s not the case. If you think it is, you haven’t reframed your experiences and accomplishments in a relatable way to civilian employers. Your mentor and network can help you reword your skills and accomplishments in the military into a story that’s incredibly valuable to employers. Reframe how you see yourself. Ok, so the dress code and language is different in the civilian work world. No problem. Start small. Get used to removing “Yes Ma’am” or “Yes Sir” from your daily lingo. Avoid using acronyms that only the military understands. Start practicing interviews with your peers. Get feedback, and keep reframing until you get comfortable. Remember, you have what it takes! Remember these tips and put them into practice to help navigate your best path in transition.
www.bandofhands.com WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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Employment Focused Workshops to Help You Reach Your Goals Author: Tim Winter, Director, Transition Assistance Program, Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service Perhaps you’re trudging back and forth to the same office or signing on for a day of work in a job that shows no sign of changing or improving: the long hours, the ongoing meetings, the lack of fulfillment. The job itself is mind-numbing; your talents forgotten and the potential you had in abundance when you first transitioned out of the military feels like it has been sucked out of you. If you’re reading this and thinking, yeah, that is me, then the Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (DOL VETS) has just the thing for you. DOL VETS has a new pilot program to help veterans, veterans currently serving in the National Guard and Reserve, and their spouses to take control of their careers. The Off-Base Transition Training (OBTT) pilot program consists of ten two-hour workshops designed to help you to prepare to meet your employment goals. These no-cost workshops, both in-person and virtual offerings, will fit any schedule and can give you an advantage over your civilian counterparts.
The Workshops Your Next Move: Your Next Move is designed to help anyone unsure of what they want to do next with their career. This workshop explores interest profiling, skills matching and general labor market information. It is designed to introduce the basic tools needed for career exploration and identification of high-demand occupations. 48
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Marketing Yourself and Other Job Search Tactics: Marketing Yourself and Other Job Search Tactics explains how essential it is to present skills, knowledge and abilities that meet the employer’s needs. This workshop provides proven tactics to help job seekers get noticed and hired. Understanding Resume Essentials: Understanding Resume Essentials explains the importance of a wellstructured resume that highlights relevant skills and experience to potential employers. This workshop covers the elements of a resume and provides job seekers with techniques to create an effective document that employers will notice. Creating Your Resume – Writing Workshop: Creating Your Resume – Writing Workshop builds on the Understanding Resume Essentials. During this workshop attendees will have time to craft an initial resume or revise a current one. Interview Skills (virtual only): Interview Skills aims to provide attendees with the tools and confidence they need to ace a job interview. Learning how to prepare for an interview and practice answering questions will give attendees an advantage in landing a job. During this workshop, interview basics, potential questions and interview techniques are presented. Federal Hiring (virtual only): Federal Hiring covers the basics of gaining federal employment. Veterans have a distinct advantage when applying for federal positions with veterans’ preference. During this workshop, the basics of civil service, USAJobs, special hiring authorities and other resources for attendees’ federal job search are discussed.
LinkedIn Profiles (virtual only): This workshop walks attendees through how to create a compelling LinkedIn profile that can be used to build a professional brand and highlight experience. LinkedIn Job Search (virtual only): This workshop explains how to proactively use LinkedIn for job searches and pulls back the curtain to show how recruiters use LinkedIn to find potential employees, which you can use in your employment opportunities. Salary Negotiations (virtual only): Salary Negotiations explores the tools and techniques to handle salary negotiations. This workshop is designed to take the mystery out of salary negotiation and walks attendees through how to conduct salary research to position yourself effectively during negotiation.
Employment Rights (virtual only): Employment Rights cover basic employment protections as well as those protections specific to veterans. It provides essential information on the American Disabilities Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act. Information on reasonable accommodations and selfadvocacy will also be presented. Thinking about changing careers? It’s time to find your passion and make that your priority. OBTT will help you reach your employment and career goals. You served, you earned it; find your next victory with OBTT. Explore and register for OBTT in-person or virtual workshops online at: www.dol.gov/obttworkshops
WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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Successful
Transitioning Stories By Dr. Julie Ducharme www.synergylearninginstitute.org This month I am excited to talk with Dr. Karen Walker. Dr. Walker is a well decorated retired United States Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, with 21 years in the Marine core. Dr. Walker is an expert in organizational psychology, and she is an advocate for diversity and change. She has her Ph.D. in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Human Behavior and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications. Dr. Walker has an extensive background in government and corporate industries as well as academia as she has worked with: the Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Justice, University of New Mexico, University of Arizona Global Campus, Forbes School of Business and Technology, and Synergy Learning Institute. I asked Dr. Walker what it was like her first year transitioning out of the military…
Dr Walker said, “Every one told me because I was an officer and had my doctorate it would be a piece of cake, but I was unemployed for nearly a year when I left active duty. It was the toughest time of my life and I really struggled to find my way. I was deeply depressed and I really felt like a failure after months of not being able to find my niche in civilian life. What I found is that I kept applying for jobs that I did in the military and that actually is the wrong thing to do.” I thought that would be a good job search approach too, so I asked Dr. Walker to tell me more about her challenges with that approach. What did you find out about yourself by applying for the same jobs that you did in the military?
Dr. Walker answered, “Most military transition programs focus on your skill sets and what you have always done in order to predict what you will be good at in the future. That is a common approach. However, they forget to consider what your passions are and how they can certainly change over time as well. The military morphs us. We all come into the military and leave the 50
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military at different times. Some people enter at 18 years old and some leave after 4 years while some stay for 10, 20 or even 25 years. Whenever a person does decide to make that transition it is important to consider their skillsets and their passions. So, one day, I had a real epiphany, when my sister was helping me prep for a job interview and just as I had for hundreds of others she read the requirements and asked me if I could do each one on the list: travel to multiple locations in the same day—YES; lead hundreds of employees—YES; work 1215 hour days—YES, of course, I’m a Marine I told her confidently. Then my sister turned to me and said, ‘this job sounds awful!’ And I sat back and said, you’re right, it does sound terrible because I had already been doing this job for years in the Marine Corps. It was just like every Operations Officer job I ever held before and it was no longer my passion. I no longer needed to prove that I could do any of these things. That was the last day I applied for any of those jobs and I started living for my passion. So when you left the Marines, how did you know what your passion was?
Dr Walker added, “Well, I had to give myself permission to dream again. I had to switch gears. My passion was now Organizational Psychology. I realized I needed to start applying for what I really wanted to be doing and once I started focusing on that I really haven’t looked back. I quickly found a career I love. If I could give any tips in this area it would be to really focus on what you want to do when you get out that matches your skillsets. Don’t let what everyone else says is a good job for a veteran deter you from your actual passion. Once I went after my passion my life took off in an amazing direction. Not too long after that I also explored many other areas of my life that I wanted to do like adopting my son, Cayleb who is graduating high school this year! They grow up so fast. He is going to be making his own life decisions soon. To get education from Dr. Tiffany click link below https://drtiffanytajiri.com/meet-dr-tiffany/ To watch the Dr. Tiffany live interview click the link below https://youtu.be/oeWm4Oa3keA For more help on active duty transition, education, and more click the link below www.synergylearninginstitute.org
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BUSINESS FOR VETERANS By Barbara Eldridge www.mindmasters.com
Customer Relationship Management
It is all about bringing customers back, and about sending them away happy – happy enough to share their experience with others. The relationship you want with customers takes “management” and there are long lists of tips you can find all over the internet as to what that means. Here’s my suggested list: 1. Values provide a basis for how you want to show up to your customers. They are translated into behaviors that affect everything from how you answer the phone, to how you respond to customer requests to how you follow up with them. One friend shared how he and his wife stopped at a restaurant and asked the hostess if they could see a menu before they decided to enter. The Hostess’ response was to tell them to go look it up on the internet. Not a very good customer experience. Know what values and behaviors you want showing up in your business.
Business is about relationships. In the rush to get something done, small businesses owners often find themselves with less than perfect outcomes. In all our business relationships, as business owners hire people or are hired to perform a service or deliver a finished product. Usually the cause of a challenge is a lack of a clear agreement of the work to be done or results to be achieved. So how do you create relationships that work? Over that last few weeks several articles and books have crossed my desk that deal with the relationships we develop with customers. Of all the ways to keep a business growing, increasing the frequency of interactions we have with clients is probably one of the most important. We would all love to boast a long list of loyal customers; when we increase the effectiveness of all of our business practices, the list increases. To sustain profitability and customer loyalty, offering discounts or cutting prices may bring in new customers, but keeping them requires a different level of customer service. Good customer service is the lifeblood of any business. 52
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2. Organize your business around your customer. Design your organizational structure around positions and activities that are necessary to sustain good customer service, rather then product/service focused. Use your strengths in other areas that you can leverage to help your customers address a challenge perhaps unrelated to your product or service. 3. Take the time to build trust with your customers. Trust means doing what you say you will do, because you put customer needs into the relationship. Trust shows up in the reliability of your service, doing what you say you will do. There are many ways to keep customers coming back, use technology to enhance the relationship, but look for ways to customize it. I read where Starbucks can serve their coffee 19,000 ways – that obviously has created loyal customers! 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
Remembering our Heroes Helping today's heroes achieve success by making it easier to run a small business. www.bandofhands.com
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We handle it all for only $10/week per employee. Contact Eve Nasby, Band of Hands president and passionate military supporter to get started today. eve@bandofhands.com WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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Apps That Make Life Easier By: Joseph Molina National Veterans Chamber of Commerce veteransccsd@gmail.com Time-saving techniques are crucial when you’re running a veteran-owned business, and recent technology has allowed more access to apps and other online resources that make life easier for the individual on the go. Not only will using this apps will help you run things smoothly, they’ll help you free up some time so you can do the things you enjoy while maintaining a successful business. The National Veterans Chamber of Commerce explains that these tools can do much more. Keep up with your paperwork As a veteran and an entrepreneur, you already know how big a role important documents play in your daily operations. Staying organized is crucial for both the wellbeing of your business and your customers’ peace of mind, so look for apps, online services, and other technology that will help you stay on top of those necessary docs. If you travel a lot or just want to simplify things for yourself, look for a mobile scanning app that allows you to scan and send paperwork right from your phone, without the need for bulky equipment. Make communication easier Staying in touch with your customers is crucial, but it’s just as important to keep communication open with your employees. Whether you’re working on a big project together or just need to make sure everyone can contact you when you’re away from the business, it’s a good idea to look for apps that will allow you to get in touch easily. Video chat services, shared channels, and conferencing tools are perfect for small businesses. Organize your workflow Staying in touch with your employees is one great way to remain organized, but if you travel a lot or have a full plate you might need a little assistance with keeping your schedule from becoming overloaded. Fortunately, there are several apps that can assist with that, from project management tools to digital helpers that keep track of your to-do list. The more organized you are, the easier it will be to manage your time at work. Share with ease Getting organized should extend to your company’s files, as well. There are lots of great apps available for sharing documents within a business or creating customer 54
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proposals, and some will integrate with one another to make the process even easier. Some are free, while others offer different services with an upgrade fee, so RingCentral suggests doing a little research to find the right one for your business’s needs. Keep up with your finances As all small business owners know, time is money, so when you’re looking for ways to be more productive and organized you can also search for the best apps for tracking your finances. You may need something that helps you keep up with travel expenses, invoices, payroll, and/or monthly income, and many apps available these days can help with most of those at once. Keep it secure No matter how hard you try to keep things secure, you’ll likely still need help from a professional service when it comes to anti-virus software. There are different types available depending on the size of your business and the type of tech you use, including security for computers, mobile devices, and file servers. Look for a system that’s easy to use and within your budget. Boost your social media presence Once your data is secure, think about boosting your business’s social media presence without worry. Maintaining accounts on platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter requires daily updates with valuable content, including videos and photos that draw in potential customers. That’s why it’s a good idea to make sure you have a Team of professionals ready to help you. The Military Spouses social media Team can help you keep up with your followers in social media, create and post articles and videos for you. Send your request to veteransccsd@ gmail.com Finding the right apps for your veteran-owned small business can take some time, so do some research before committing to one. Talk to your employees about their needs and get some insight into the kind of software that will be most beneficial to them, especially if they work remotely or are often working on projects together. The National Veterans Chamber would like to provide as much support as possible to those seeking employment by helping you connect with VeteranFriendly Employers. The National Veterans Chamber Resume-Video Project may give you the advantage you need to land an interview. Let us know how we may be able to support you!
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WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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legal Eagle Straight-forward legal tips for Military and Veteran Business Owners By Kelly Bagla, Esq.
NON-COMPETES IN CALIFORNIA ENFORCEABLE OR NOT?
Many people have heard of a non-compete agreement, but may not completely understand what it means. In fact, some people sign non-compete agreements as terms of their employment without even realizing it. A singed non-compete is not only important for employees to understand, it’s very important for those employees to understand who decide to start their own business at a later date. A non-compete is a type of legal agreement that forbids an employee from going to work with a competitor of their current employer or starting a competing business. These agreements exist to protect company secrets, however, it is important for employees and those who later want to start their own business to know whether or not a non-compete is enforceable in California. A non-compete is a restrictive covenant that is used to restrict an employee’s actions once they are no longer 56
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working for a company. Namely, they restrict where and how a former employee will work, effectively keeping them from working for a competitor. Usually, these agreements are in place for only a limited amount of time and not utilized as a permanent restriction. Non-compete agreements are controversial, as they are very restrictive and prevent employees from certain actions if they want to avoid legal trouble. However, these agreements are very difficult to uphold in court because the employer must show that the employee caused damages as a result of breaching the noncompete agreement. An employer would need to prove that the non-compete agreement protects a legitimate business interest, though courts have generally held an unfavorable view of non-compete agreements that infringe on a former employee’s right to earn an income.
According to the California Business and Professions Code Section 16600, “every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind is to that extent void.” In other words, non-compete agreements are not enforceable in California. However, that does not mean that an employee will not be wrongfully presented with one or told that they have to sign one as a condition to their employment. Employers may try to say that there are extenuating circumstances in place for them to enforce a non-compete agreement, but these arguments are usually rejected by California courts.
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As of January 1, 2017, non-compete agreements in California must operate under these rules: • Employees can void any non-competes that require a court outside of California to decide disputes. In other words, the company cannot enforce an employee’s non-compete agreement in a state that allows these agreements. • Employees are able to void contract with illegal non compete terms. • Only California courts are able to rule on noncompete issues within the state, and the courts can only do so using California law. • Employees are able to receive compensation for their attorneys’ fees if they have to go to court to defend themselves in a non-compete dispute. Employers cannot seek attorneys’ fees from the employee, even if the employer wins. 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.golegalyourself.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. • • • •
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Get your copy at amazon today! WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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Legally Speaking Military Focused Family Law Facts By Tana Landau, Esq.
Coparenting Apps as a Valuable Tool One of the biggest challenges parents often face is learning how to communicate effectively after a divorce. There are a variety of coparenting apps available that can help aid in communication so that you can focus on the kids rather than creating more conflict through miscommunications. Here are some of the coparenting apps that could assist you and your ex in sharing information and establishing a healthier coparenting relationship. coParenter This app was designed by a former Judge and family law educator. It has all the features most coparenting apps have including a shared calendar, documented messaging, expense tracking and reimbursements, sharing documents, and check-in records. However, it seeks to be more comprehensive than other apps and is unique in its capabilities. • coParenter has a team of licensed professionals on hand, ready to provide conflict resolution help in real-time. These professionals include typically family law attorneys, therapists, social workers or other retired bench officers with strong conflict resolution backgrounds. You can utilize it for co-parenting coaching with any issues and tips on effective coparenting communication. • coParenter also offers a “solo mode” where you can use the app even if the other co-parent refuses to do the same. • It will flag curse words, inflammatory phrases and offensive names to keep a heated conversation from escalating. The app will pop up a warning message that asks the parent if they’re sure they want to use that term, allowing them time to pause and think. • Additional features which include a journal, creating and sharing agreements, and the ability to add multiple coparents. • A monthly subscription is $12.99 per month or $119.99 per year. Both parents can subscribe for $199.99 per year.
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Our Family Wizard This is app is one of the first coparenting apps. It is often recommended by family law attorneys or utilized by parties per court order, particularly in high conflict parenting cases. • It has a calendar which can be color coded, expense tracker, personal journal for notes, and message board. • It saves messages between coparents and allows you to add on an unlimited number of people including attorneys and mediators. • It allows for easy tracking of communications which can be printed and utilized if necessary, to display which parent is properly coparenting if you end up in Court. • It also has an optional innovative “tone meter” feature that assists in keeping communications civil by pointing out emotional charged phrases. • It costs $12-17/month. Kids accounts are free. They also offer discounts for military families and low-income families. Talking Parents Talking Parents, like Our Family Wizard is designed to track communications between parents to increase accountability. It is another app often used during divorce and custody cases particularly where there is high conflict. • Similar to Our Family Wizard, it creates a system-ofrecord for your communications if you need to supply proof of correspondence to the courts. It has a shared calendar and personal journal.
• It hosts all your information in the cloud, so nothing gets lost or altered no matter what happens to your phone. • There is a free online website version but the app costs $9.99 per month or $24.99 per month for premium features including accountable calling, transcripts, and recordings. The paid app also has features like file storage and unlimited downloads for conversations and journal records. This feature may be useful if need records for court appearances or mediation with your attorney.
Time for a Fresh Start.
Move forward without breaking the bank. Our military expert family law attorneys are ready to push your case to the finish line.
Custody X Change This app is designed for both parents and legal professionals. Some of its features include communication tools, expense tracking, a time stamped log of journal entries, and the ability to print reports and invoices. • Unique in that it offers custody plan templates. • It can be a useful tool for legal professional as it can track each parent’s actual time with the children, perform advanced calculations, and create court ready reports. • It also provides legal professionals with an easy way to visually show clients multiple custody plan options and print clear and concise calendars for both parties. • You can try the app for free. There are two levels of membership for parents, Silver ($17/month or $97/year) and Gold ($27/month or $147/year) which provides additional features. For legal professionals, there is a Pro Silver ($47/month or $297/year) or Pro Gold membership ($67/month or $297/year). AppClose This is the only completely free coparenting app mentioned herein. There are no monthly charges or subscription fees. It has several of the typical features such as a shared calendar, the ability to send requests, expense tracker, documented messaging, and shared documents. AppClose does have a unique feature, “ipayou”, which is a built-in payment platform with an integrated expense tracker. You can also create different “circles” which is the way you connect to groups of people in the app including coparents, children, third parties or your attorney. Another exclusive feature is AppClose Solo which allows you to send requests or events to non-connected co-parents, third parties, or other family members via text, email, or social media.
For more information about co-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.
Military Divorce and Retirement, 20/20/20 Spouse, Survivor Benefit Plans, Support Orders, and more. No nonsense. No hidden fees. Discounts for service members.
Call 858-720-8250 or visit www.frfamilylaw.com to schedule a free consultation. Flat-fee law packages available.
Legal Experts with Humanity WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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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.
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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.
San Diego Veterans Magazine Current & Past Issues are available at: www.sandiegoveteransmagazine.com/archives/ WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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Confidential Recovery and San Diego Veterans Coalition to Host Suicide Prevention Training (Free, via ZOOM) on Thursday June 2nd at 9AM PDT The VA Medical Center of San Diego is conducting Suicide Prevention Training on site at Confidential Recovery on Thursday, June 2nd at 9 AM Pacific time. The presentation will be facilitated by San Diego VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator at Confidential Recovery 7071 Consolidated Way, San Diego, CA 92121. The presentation can also be attended via ZOOM at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5518942020. This is a great learning experience for those in the mental health field and an opportunity to get resources for veterans! Please RSVP to mgafford@cbhssd.com *Refreshments will be provided*
About Confidential Recovery: Confidential Recovery was founded in 2014 by Scott H. Silverman, author of The Opioid Epidemic, to provide Veterans a private and clinical outpatient treatment program for substance use disorders. Find out more at www.confidentialrecovery.com
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SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING
INIVITING ALL MEMBERS OF SDVC TO JOIN US !
THURSDAY, 2 JUNE: 9AM-11AM Join us in person or virtually:
7071 Consolidated Way, San Diego CA 92121 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5518942020
VA Medical Center San Diego is conducting Suicide Prevention Training from their Suicide Prevention Coordinator at Confidential Recovery. This is a great learning experience for those in the Mental Health Field and an opportunity to get resources for veterans! *Refreshments will be provided*
Please RSVP to mgafford@cbhssd.com www.confidentialrecovery.com | 619-776-9701 WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / JANUARY 2022 WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
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COMMUNITY EVENTS
ENTERTAINMENT
Resources Support Transition HEALTH Community
SAN DIEGO San Diego Veterans Magazine A Veterans Magazine by Veterans for Veterans
Voted 2020 & 2021 Best San Diego resource, support magazine for veterans, transitioning military personnel, active military, military families & veteran organizations
www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com
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Get Tickets at www.ShenYun.com/SD WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / MAY 2022
