Episode 129 | ”Save Yourself” (Feat. LCDR Frank ”Siri” Bonner)

Damo and Tisha are joined by Naval Flight Officer LCDR Frank “Siri” Bonner for an insightful and inspiring episode. Fresh off completing his PRT, Damo kicks things off by sharing how it went down. How did LCDR Bonner earn the call sign “Siri”? Why did he choose the path from enlisted Sailor to officer? Frank dives into his journey, from growing up in South Central L.A. and dispelling common misconceptions about the neighborhood in the 90s to breaking barriers as he transitioned into the Navy.

 

LCDR Bonner also reflects on his time as a recruiter in one of California’s wealthiest areas, sharing how he overcame challenges and thrived in the role. Throwing it back, Frank recalls the days of Blackberrys, his time as a DJ at Howard University during hip hop’s blog era, and his impressive rise from Junior Enlisted to Chief, Chief to Officer, and Officer to Howard before returning to the Wardroom. He opens up about adversity in flight school, the unique dynamics LDOs navigate early on, and how the internet has reshaped the sense of community within the military.

 

Other highlights include Frank’s favorite Navy moment, advice for maintaining a strong relationship during deployment, and a lively debate on whether Chiefs should be technical experts. Damo also shares his thoughts on the “lost generation” in today’s Navy and asks if recruiters are equipped with the right tools to inspire in 2024. Siri wraps up with his “Do Better” and “Book of the Week” segments.

 

Don’t miss this packed episode, and be sure to follow ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube for more great content.

 

 

 

To have your “Do Better” reviewed on a future episode please get in touch with us at ptsfpodcast@gmail.com

 

 

 

Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast

 

 

 

 

Links and more from the episode:

Siri’s Instagram Profile: https://www.instagram.com/kingsiri06/

 

 

 

Books of the Week:

Work The System (Sam Carpenter) https://www.workthesystem.com/

 

 

 

Additional Credits:

PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0