Episodes
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
I’ll Always Be an Army Brat
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
Description: If you ever wanted to know what military teens really think, this is the episode for you. Listen as Hadley and Katie share how they feel about being army brats, retirement and the final move.
This episode was made possible thanks to the generous support from HEB Operation Appreciation.
https://www.heb.com/static-page/operation-appreciation
Show Notes:
Ahh! Retirement! (bloommilitaryteens.org)
Bio:
Hadley is a junior at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin, Texas. She was raised in a military family, moving 7 times, including to Germany, before her dad retired from the Army in 2022. Volleyball is a passion she would love to continue in college. She is the captain of her high school Varsity team, and a hitter on a nationally ranked club team. Hadley enjoys crocheting, reading, writing for military-teen website Bloom, playing with her two dogs, studying history, and eating her dad’s homemade ice cream.
Katie is a junior at Fayetteville Christian School in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She was raised in an Army family, moving 6 times before her dad retired in 2022. Though she will miss seeing new places, Katie is thrilled to finally be able to paint her room her favorite color, orange.
Drama gives Katie the opportunity to showcase her art skills where she is the lead set designer for the school’s productions. She’s also the captain of her high school Varsity soccer team and runs for the Varsity Cross Country team. In her spare time, Katie loves watching Asian cooking shows, hanging with her older brothers and anything related to cows. Katie is dedicated to bringing attention to teen suicide and has been a featured speaker and podcast guest on this topic.
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
By Choosing Family I Chose Myself
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
Description: Marianne Delatorre, Community Manager at Elizabeth Dole Foundation, shares her journey from being a Hidden Helper to transitioning into an adult caregiver. Marianne is hopeful that by sharing her story it will empower the community around their own Hidden Helpers.
This program is powered in part by Wounded Warrior Project® to honor and empower post-9/11 injured service members, veterans, and their families.
Show Notes:
EDF Hidden Helpers
https://hiddenheroes.org/resources/hiddenhelpers/
Bio:
Marianne Delatorre serves as the Hidden Heroes Caregiver Community (HHCC) Program Coordinator for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, where she is liaison between the Foundation and military and veteran caregivers in the HHCC online community. Prior to her role, Marianne was the Community Outreach Specialist at a local non-profit in San Diego County called Southern Caregiver Resource Center. She oversaw military community and legislative outreach, served as the physician/healthcare provider liaison, and developed/presented Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) community presentations. As a military caregiver for her Navy veteran mother, Marianne is passionate about driving resources and empowerment to Hidden Heroes and their families. She is proud to oversee the Hidden Heroes Caregiver Community where she believes wholeheartedly in the power of peer-based communities to uplift and support caregivers.
Marianne is very active in her local hometown, National City, and San Diego County sitting on several boards and commissions. She holds a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Ethnic studies from the University of California, San Diego.
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
You Will Always Have Family
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Description: MOMC Guest Host, Jake, chats with fellow Hidden Helper, Kylie, and her mom, Jenny. They discuss the unique dynamics of being a Hidden Helper and share advice about leaving home for college.
This program is powered in part by Wounded Warrior Project® to honor and empower post-9/11 injured service members, veterans, and their families.
Show Notes:
Hidden Helper Coalition:
https://hiddenheroes.org/resources/hiddenhelpers/
Bio:
Kylie Briest is a 21-year-old from Yankton, South Dakota. In 2005, Kylie’s father, Corey, was deployed to Iraq with the South Dakota National Guard for the second time. A few months into his deployment, Corey was injured in an IED blast that killed three of his fellow service members. Kylie and her mom, Jenny, are Corey’s primary caregivers. Jenny had to move Kylie and her younger brother across the country from their home in South Dakota for 18-months while Corey recovered in hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Family photos from those days show Kylie with her family in the hospital, providing comfort and letting her father know that his family was there.
Kylie’s upbringing has inspired her to pursue a career in the medical field, as she is currently studying Nursing at the University of South Dakota with the goal to be a NICU nurse. Though she was forced to grow up and mature faster than other kids, she says it developed a strong bond between her and her mother as they strive to get the best support for the strongest man she knows.
Jacob Dickson Adkinson is an 18-year-old from Mesa Arizona. In 2003 Jake’s dad Dave was deployed to Iraq. There he developed illnesses due to chemicals and burn pits. Jake helps his mother take care of his dad and has grown up faster than most. He is a thoughtful and determined son who works hard to make bad situations better.
Jake has found a passion in taking care of others and is studying nursing next year at Northern Arizona university. He connects and bonds with military members and their families. He cares deeply for service members and their sacrifices. Through love and determination, he has found strength and continues to devote his strength and time to others.
Jenny Briest
Dole Caregiver Fellow (South Dakota-2021)
Yankton, SD
Cares For: Husband, Corey (pre- and post-9/11, National Guard)
In 2005, Jenny Briest was a 23-year-old teacher and mother of two when her husband Corey deployed to Iraq with the South Dakota National Guard for the second time. A few months into his deployment, Corey was injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast that killed three of his fellow service members. Early news of the incident led Jenny to believe Corey would also lose his life. She began contemplating the worst and thinking about Corey’s funeral when a doctor told her that Corey seemed to be holding on to his brain function.
Corey returned home blind and dependent on a wheelchair. Jenny had to move her family across the country from their home in South Dakota for 18-months while Corey recovered in hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Her hardest challenge as a caregiver was her constant battle for Corey’s medical benefits to pay for cognitive care that would enable him to eventually live at home. Thankfully with the help of their doctor and their congressional leaders, they were able to obtain those benefits, though Jenny still struggles with navigating the VA at times.
As Corey’s caregiver, Jenny supports him in every aspect of the day including meal prep and managing medications. Jenny has lobbied with the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) for the Caregiver Act, appeared as a spokesperson for a WWP commercial, and met with senior leaders at the VA to provide input on the VA Fiduciary system. In their free time, Jenny and Corey and their family enjoy attending school events and time at their cabin, swimming, boating, and floating, doing their best to live their ‘new normal’ to the fullest.
Tuesday Apr 04, 2023
I Don’t Want Your Pity, but I Do Need Your Understanding
Tuesday Apr 04, 2023
Tuesday Apr 04, 2023
Description: Meet MOMC guest host, Jake, who is a high school senior and a youth caregiver. Listen as he shares his story as well as advice on how to support Hidden Helpers.
This program is powered in part by Wounded Warrior Project® to honor and empower post-9/11 injured service members, veterans, and their families.
Show Notes:
https://hiddenheroes.org/news/hiddenhelperslaunch/
Bio:
Jacob Dickson Adkinson is an 18-year-old from Mesa Arizona. In 2003 Jake’s dad Dave was deployed to Iraq. There he developed illnesses due to chemicals and burn pits. Jake helps his mother take care of his dad and has grown up faster than most. He is a thoughtful and determined son who works hard to make bad situations better.
Jake has found a passion in taking care of others and is studying nursing next year at Northern Arizona university. He connects and bonds with military members and their families. He cares deeply for service members and their sacrifices. Through love and determination, he has found strength and continues to devote his strength and time to others.
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
Building a Mental Health Toolbox
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
Description: Lisa Howard from the Barry Robinson Center shares how to build personal and community resources when your child needs additional mental/behavior support.
This episode was made possible by the Luke Spouses Club.
https://www.lukespousesclub.org/
Show Notes:
Barry Robinson Center: https://www.barryrobinson.org/
Mental and Behavioral Health Changes in Military Connected Children:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jnb7vx_VS9WZSYJrUTzfOw
Bio: Lisa Howard, VP Government Affairs and Community Engagement- Barry Robinson
Lisa Howard has been a military spouse for 28 years. She served as both an enlisted Soldier and officer within the United States Army Reserve from 1986 to 1998. Lisa earned a Master of Social Work in 1999 from Savannah State University. She has two children: Lucas (22, adopted in 2002 from Baku, Azerbaijan) and Madeline (20, born in Germany). Her family has relocated 13 times for Army assignments- twice to Germany.
Lisa has first-hand experience with the struggles associated with raising a special needs child in the military culture. Through multiple moves and school transitions, she experienced difficulties coordinating specialized education plans and supports. Later, Lisa traversed the challenges of finding therapeutic and medical resources for her son’s mental health needs.
Currently, Lisa is the Associate Vice President, Government Affairs & Community Engagement for The Barry Robinson Center where shares the mission of BRC with the military community through multiple formats. She briefs military leadership, sits on the TRICARE for Kids Coalition, Congressional Leadership, joint family readiness agencies and civilian community engagement opportunities. Lisa is always available to talk and assist BRC families as their child resides in the program. Lisa knows first-hand the program, as her son Lucas was a former resident.
During the 28 years of active-duty service with her spouse, she has been an active member at the unit and community level. Lisa has the honor and privilege of holding a permanent volunteer position as an Army Arlington Lady at Arlington National Cemetery
Tuesday Mar 21, 2023
Strengthen Relationships and Build Memories
Tuesday Mar 21, 2023
Tuesday Mar 21, 2023
Description:
National Military Family Association joins us to discuss their Operation Purple Programs, which offers camps and retreats for military kids and their families at locations around the country. Operation Purple gives military families a respite from daily life, strengthens participants' well-being, and supports communication and connection inside families and our broader military family community. NMFA recently launched a new Operation Purple opportunity just for teen Hidden Helpers.
"This program is powered in part by Wounded Warrior Project® to honor and empower post-9/11 injured service members, veterans, and their families”.
Show Notes:
National Military Family Association
https://www.militaryfamily.org/
Bio:
Becca Garrison, Director of Military Family Programs:
Becca began her career as a classroom teacher and has spent the last thirteen years channeling her passion for transformational learning and growth into action for schools, nonprofits, and social impact startups across the country. She is honored to support the incredible NMFA program staff in developing, implementing, and delivering programming serving military children, spouses, and families. Becca is a proud daughter of a Marine, and gratefully celebrates the service of her brother and father (both USMC), her sister-in-law (Army), her cousin (Air Force) and every family member that has supported them in their service and many deployments and moves. Becca is consistently amazed at the courage, resourcefulness, and determination of military spouses, like her mother, Ann.
Natalie Mizell - Program Manager, Operation Purple Program
Natalie was born at Fort Meade Hospital to Air Force parents, so marrying a military man was inevitable and they have a daughter. Being a military kid, spouse, and parent, she understands and enjoys working with her military community. Her education is in Business and Project Management and background includes finance, event planning, research, and customer support. This background is perfect for her position at NMFA to oversee logistics, locate and work with partners that fit our Operation Purple Family Programs for service members, veterans, and their family. Natalie enjoys learning new things, helping others, and being a part of our Association because of our passion for military families.
Tuesday Mar 14, 2023
Giving Military Kids the Gift of Confidence, Connection and Community
Tuesday Mar 14, 2023
Tuesday Mar 14, 2023
Description: The organization, Our Military Kids, shares how they recognize the sacrifice of children of deployed National Guard, Reserve, and post-9/11 combat-injured service members with extracurricular activity grants.
This program is powered in part by Wounded Warrior Project® to honor and empower post-9/11 injured service members, veterans, and their families”.
Show Notes:
Website: https://www.ourmilitarykids.org/
Grant Application: https://www.ourmilitarykids.org/apply/
Contest: https://www.ourmilitarykids.org/contest/
Bio:
Kara Dallman- Executive. Director
A retired Navy Veteran and military spouse of 20 years, Kara Dallman joined Our Military Kids as Executive Director in June of 2020. She has 16 years of experience in the military nonprofit space with a proven track record of collaboration with investors, thought leaders, and other nonprofits. Highly driven and entrepreneurial, Kara has led Our Military Kids toward 67% favorable program growth by designing and directing strategies that enhance organizational operations, optimizing fundraising, and maintaining sound financial practices.
In her military career, Kara was an Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) officer leading shore-based teams to conduct anti-submarine warfare and strategically integrate with air and surface assets in real time. After 12 years on active duty, she transitioned to the Navy Reserve and was mobilized a month after 9/11 leaving her young military children behind which makes the mission of Our Military Kids very close to her heart. She retired from the Reserve in 2008 as a Commander.
Kara has a BS from the College of the Holy Cross where she was commissioned through Navy ROTC, an MBA from San Diego State University’s Fowler College of Business, a Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate from Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy and was a member of the first DEI cohort conducted by Compass, a nonprofit with a mission to inspire business professionals to engage with their local nonprofits to transform communities. In 2013, Kara was awarded the prestigious Sanctae Crucis Award by the College of the Holy Cross.
Michelle Tran is the Program and Operations Manager for Our Military Kids. She works closely with families and Veterans within OMK’s Combat-Injured Program. Tran holds a BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Virginia Tech and has worked on the Our Military Kids program team for the past 13 years.
Michelle “Chelly” Criqui is the Marketing and Communications Manager for Our Military Kids. A military kid herself, Criqui received an Our Military Kids grant to row on her high school’s crew team while her father was deployed overseas with the Army National Guard. Chelly graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Writing. She began volunteering with Our Military Kids in early 2018 and officially joined OMK’s communications team that same year.
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
Reflect and Connect: Social Emotional Learning
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
Description: Elizabeth Dale-Deines from SAAM, discusses the use of artwork to exercise interpersonal skills and build strategies for connecting with other.
This podcast was made possible thanks to the generous support from the North Country Spouses Club.
https://www.northcountryspousesclub.com/
Show Notes:
https://americanart.si.edu/education/learn-from-home
Bio:
Elizabeth Dale-Deines, Teacher Programs Coordinator at Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Elizabeth collaborates with DC-area schools and cultural organizations to incorporate interdisciplinary thinking and student-driven learning into established curricula. During the pandemic, she was proud to collaborate with educators across the Smithsonian to create fun, printed learning resources for students in DC and nationwide. Elizabeth has a B.A. in psychology from the University of Virginia and an M.A.T. in museum education from George Washington University.
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
What Mil-Kids Actually Need From Schools
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
Description: Jasmine and Charlotte discuss how some schools struggle to meet the needs of military kids and the vital role a school plays in the overall wellbeing of these students.
This podcast was made possible thanks to the generous support from HEB Operation Appreciation!
Show Notes:
Purple Star School Program: https://www.militarychild.org/purplestarschools
Military Family Life Consultants:
Student to Student Program:
https://www.militarychild.org/programs/student-2-student
BLOOM Blog:
https://www.bloommilitaryteens.org/blog/categories/military-life
Bio:
Jasmine is a 17-year-old aspiring journalist who attends Byron P. Steele High School in San Antonio Texas. She enjoys hanging out with friends, skateboarding, and writing.
Charlotte is currently in the 8th grade living in Texas and has attended 6 schools. She has attended schools on base in England, and Germany. Charlotte was born in Texas, moved to Germany, then Ohio, then England, and now Texas. Moving has always been a challenge for Charlotte, especially moving back to the US, but hanging out with other military children had made her adjustment a bit easier. Charlotte enjoys playing volleyball in her free time and hanging out with friends.
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
How to Thrive and Connect Back to Purpose
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
Description: Vishal Amin, Travis Manion Foundation Mentor, shares how his journey taught him the strength of character in others can help identify your own purpose. As parents we can help our kids to recognize and utilize their own strengths to thrive with direction.
This episode was made possible thanks to the support from the Kirtland Spouses Club.
https://kirtlandspousesclub.com/
Show Notes
TMF: https://www.travismanion.org/
Bio:
Vishal Amin is a Travis Manion Foundation Mentor, Presidential Scholar, and the General Manager of Microsoft's Defense Security, Compliance & Identity business. Leading Cybersecurity professionals and technical specialists focusing on Microsoft's Security, Compliance, Identity, Management & Privacy (SCIM-P) growth in support of the US Federal Government. Vishal has served within several agencies and organizations, through various capacities, as a recognized leader, technical specialist and Cybersecurity thought leader, building, and shaping industry partnerships to better connect both the Private and Public Sector.
Prior to joining Microsoft and his work within industry, Vishal spent the first 21 years of his career within the Department of Defense and the United States Marine Corps. During his distinguished Military service, Vishal served as an Aviator in the F-18 Fighter community and has built organizations within the Joint Special Operations community supporting multi-national operations. Outside his professional accomplishments, Vishal sits on multiple Cyber advisory and philanthropic boards where he invests his time driving diversity in Cyber and empowering those who serve their communities through various veteran service organizations and nonprofit organizations.