Behind The Mission

BTM237 – Jenna Pryor – Humana’s The Debrief Podcast

Show Summaryfeaturing a conversation with PsychArmor’s own Jenna Pryor, Vice President of Partnerships, and the Co-Hosts of Humana Radio’s The Debrief Podcast, Donny Distler and Leigh Barnett. Donny and Leigh have a great conversation about how PsychArmor’s courses can support Suicide Prevention and greater awareness of military culture in the health provider community.  Provide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the show in this short feedback survey. By doing so, you will be entered to receive a signed copy of one of our host's three books on military and veteran mental health. About Today’s GuestThis week’s episode is a replay of a conversation with PsychArmor’s Vice President of Partnerships, Jenna Pryor, and the Co-Hosts of Human Radio’s The Debrief Podcast, Leigh Ann Barnett and Donnie Distler. Leigh Ann is a military family member who serves as an SNP Care Management and Case Manager with Humana, and Donnie is a Navy Veteran and Senior Acquisition Integration Professional with Humana. The Debrief Podcast is a series that is produced on behalf of Humana’s SALUTE network resource group for Humana staff that have a military and veteran affiliation. Links Mentioned During the EpisodeHumana’s SALUTE Network Resource GroupVA S.A.V.E. Training15 Things Veterans Want You to Know PsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the VA S.A.V.E. course. In collaboration with the Department of Veteran Affairs, this course covers suicide risk in the military and Veteran communities. Learn to identify at-risk Veterans and use S.A.V.E. steps to help make a difference.   You can find the resource here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/va-s-a-v-e Episode Partner: Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on XPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

BTM236 – Chris Jachimiec – Suicide Prevention and MCON

Show SummaryOn today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Air Force Veteran Chris Jachimiec, a dedicated speaker and proponent for suicide prevention based on his own experience as a suicide loss survivor, and will be sharing his role at the upcoming event MCON, a live event in Las Vegas Nevada from October 23rd to October 26th, 2025Provide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the show in this short feedback survey. By doing so, you will be entered to receive a signed copy of one of our host's three books on military and veteran mental health. About Today’s GuestChris Jachimiec devoted 20 years to the United States Air Force, serving in critical leadership roles throughout his career. A veteran of Operation Southern Watch and the war in Afghanistan, he spent over 15 years stationed in Las Vegas, where he shaped the next generation of Airmen through mentorship and operational excellence. His dedication earned him three Meritorious Service Medals, three Air Force Commendation Medals, and the Air Force Achievement Medal, among numerous other accolades. He was also recognized as Air Combat Command First Sergeant of the Year (2016), the United States Air Force Warfare Center NCO of the Year (2012) and was a Distinguished Graduate at every level of Air Force Professional Military Education, demonstrating his leadership at the highest levels. After his medical retirement in 2020, Christransformed personal adversity into a mission of advocacy and support forfellow service members. Following the tragic loss of his brother, a Marineveteran, to suicide in 2017, he dedicated himself to mental health awarenessand suicide prevention. As a distinguished member of both the Governor’s andMayor’s Suicide Prevention Challenge teams, he works to create real change inveteran mental health initiatives. His commitment to this cause also led him towork with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), providingcompassionate support to military families dealing with loss. His advocacyreached a national audience through his participation in the Ad Council’s"Service Never Stops" campaign, which promotes responsible firearmstorage as a means of suicide prevention.  Chris currently provides livedexperience and subject matter expert support to a Department of Veteran’sAffairs led suicide prevention pilot program. Beyond his advocacy, Chris is also a champion inadaptive sports, competing in the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games,where he claimed multiple gold medals. His resilience, both physically andmentally, embodies the spirit of perseverance. Whether leading on thebattlefield, mentoring fellow veterans, or competing as an athlete, Chriscontinues to demonstrate that service extends far beyond active duty; it is alifelong commitment to supporting others and strengthening the veterancommunity. Links Mentioned During the EpisodeChris Jachemic on LinkedInMCON Web Site PsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor Resource of the Week is a recently released episode as part of our MCON Series, episode 235 with Marine Corps veteran Melissa Hawkins. Melissa is a member of the board of advisors of MCON, and shares her perspective on the event.   You can find the resource here:  https://psycharmor.org/podcast/melissa-hawkins Episode Partner: Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on XPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

BTM235 – Melissa Hawkins – Wellness and MCON

Show SummaryOn today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Marine Corps Veteran Melissa Hawkins, a retired Sergeant Major and a seasoned Physical Therapist with a specialization in sports medicine, orthopedic trauma, and the tactical athlete. We talk about her work as well as her role as a member of the Advisory Board of MCON, a live event in Las Vegas Nevada from October 23rd to October 26th, 2025Provide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the show in this short feedback survey. By doing so, you will be entered to receive a signed copy of one of our host's three books on military and veteran mental health. About Today’s GuestMelissa Hawkins’ legacy is one of optimizing the human mind, body, and spirit, for greatness. A seasoned Physical Therapist with a specialization in sports medicine, orthopedic trauma, and the tactical athlete, Melissa has spent her entire adult life dedicated to enhancing the human body through injury prevention, rehabilitation, and human performance enhancement.Her career took an extraordinary turn when she served, and subsequently retired from, the Marine Corps Reserve. Her last assignment as the Senior Enlisted Advisor for the Human Performance Branch allowed her to combine her two careers and play a pivotal role in optimizing the well-being and performance of the men and women of the United States Marine Corps. Her commitment to ensuring that Marines not only operated at their peak physical condition, but also that of mental resilience, cognitive enhancement, and holistic well-being, solidified her reputation as a true advocate for human performance optimization.Continuing her mission to push the boundaries of human capability, Melissa now works with the Optimizing the Human Weapon System program, where she utilizes her expertise to enhance the lethality and capabilities of today’s warfighters. Her work in this groundbreaking field is reshaping how we approach the future fight. With a keen understanding of the human body and a commitment to excellence, her tireless efforts continue to impact the lives of servicemen and women, as her commitment to those who serve, remains her top priority.Links Mentioned During the EpisodeMelissa Hawkins on LinkedInMCON Web Site PsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor Resource of the Week is a previous podcast episode talking about MCON, Episode 223. In this episode, we talk with Marine Corps veteran Waco Hoover, an entrepreneur and investor with over 20 years of experience in venture capital, M&A, entertainment, media and live events. We talk about MCON, an annual event that celebrates military culture and includes MCON Health conducted in partnership with PsychArmor. You can find the resource here:  https://psycharmor.org/podcast/waco-hoover-mcon Episode Partner: Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on XPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

BTM234 – Lindsay Church and Ramon Salazar – PsychArmor’s LGBTQIA Community of Practice

 Show SummaryOn today’s episode, we’re replaying a session of the PsychArmor LGBTQIA Community of Practice with PsyhcArmor Instructional Designer Ramon Salazar and Lindsay Church, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Minority Veterans of America. PsychArmor’s Community of Practice (CoP) on Supporting LGBTQIA+ Veterans is a dedicated space designed to equip providers with the knowledge, strategies, and resources necessary to improve care for LGBTQIA+ Veterans.Provide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the show in this short feedback survey. By doing so, you will be entered to receive a signed copy of one of our host's three books on military and veteran mental health. About Today’s GuestLindsay Church (they/them) is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Minority Veterans of America, a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to creating an equitable and just world for the minority veteran community including veterans of color, women, LGBTQ+, and (non) religious minority veterans. Lindsay has over a decade of experience rooted in military and veteran advocacy and grassroots organizing and has worked among numerous coalitions to usher in transformational policy changes and reforms. They have facilitated agency-wide cultural competency trainings and assessments to ensure organizations and governmental entities are able to serve their minority and veteran constituencies effectively, efficiently, and in a culturally informed manner.Lindsay received their graduate degree, with a focus in international conflict and countering violent extremism, and their undergraduate degree, in Near Eastern Language and Civilization and Comparative Islamic Studies, from the University of Washington. They also hold an associate degree in Persian-Farsi from Defense Language Institute. Lindsay is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where they served as a Cryptologic Technician Interpretative.Lindsay currently serves on the Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans, an interagency council charged with providing recommendations for public land managers and organizations to increase access to outdoor recreation for service members, veterans, and their families. Prior to founding and leading the Minority Veterans of America, Lindsay served as the Assistant Director and co-founder of Student Veteran Life at the University of Washington. Their previous appointments include LGBTQ Commissioner for the City of Seattle, Co-Chair of Congresswoman Suzan Delbene's (WA-1) Veterans Advisory Council, steering committee member for Recreate Responsibly Coalition, and Co-Chair of the Military Advisory Council for OutServe-SLDN (now Modern Military Association of America). Links Mentioned During the EpisodeMinority Vets Website PsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the previous episode on STEP, episode 30 of the Behind the Mission Podcast. On this episode, Navy Veteran, CEO and Co-Founder of the Support the Enlisted Project, Tony Teravainen, talks about the need to support junior enlisted service members with financial education and assistance. You can find the resource here:  https://psycharmor.org/lgbtqia  Episode Partner: Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on XPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

BTM233 – Laura White Ludvik – Support the Enlisted Project

Show SummaryOn today’s episode, we feature a conversation with Laura White Ludvik, President of the Support The Enlisted Project, an organization with a focus on improving financial wellness to address food insecurity, homelessness, mental health conditions, suicide, and other crises through counseling, education, and financial support for enlisted service members, veterans and their families.Provide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the show in this short feedback survey. By doing so, you will be entered to receive a signed copy of one of our host's three books on military and veteran mental health. About Today’s GuestLaura White Ludvik, President of the Support The Enlisted Project, is a dedicated leader in the non-profit sector. She previously served as the Vice President of Philanthropy at Support The Enlisted Project before serving as the President of the USS Midway Foundation. With over two decades of experience, she has a proven track record in fundraising, community engagement, and organizational development, particularly focused on underserved populations in San Diego. A proud graduate of California State University, Chico, Laura combines her passion for ethical leadership with her extensive expertise in strategic communications and project management.. Laura is actively involved in the community, serving on multiple boards and receiving accolades such as the San Diego Business Journal's Women Who Mean Business Award. Outside of her professional life, she is a committed mother and wife, drawing inspiration from her family and her father's service as a Vietnam veteran.Links Mentioned During the EpisodeSupport The Enlisted Project Web site PsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the previous episode on STEP, episode 30 of the Behind the Mission Podcast. On this episode, Navy Veteran, CEO and Co-Founder of the Support the Enlisted Project, Tony Teravainen, talks about the need to support junior enlisted service members with financial education and assistance. You can find the resource here:  https://psycharmor.org/podcast/tony-teravainen Episode Partner: Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on XPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com