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Episodes
Conversations about the challenges military-connected kids face as they navigate multiple education systems from birth through high school.
Episodes
Tuesday May 16, 2023
Tuesday May 16, 2023
Description: Amanda Dixon, shares how a CTE pathway can be a great fit as well as provide stability for military students.
This episode was made possible thanks to the generous support from the Hickam Spouses Club.
https://hickamosc.wildapricot.org/
Show Notes:
Career and Technical Education | NC DPI
CTE Webinar:
https://youtu.be/VBOl1RCpygI
Bio:
Amanda Dixon received her Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications with a concentration in Pre-Law & Leadership Studies from Methodist College, Fayetteville NC and her Master of Education Technology Degree from Lesley University, Boston Massachusetts. She holds a Graduate Certificate in School Leadership from Appalachian State University, Boone NC, and school business financial certifications from the North Carolina Association of School Business Officials and Program Planning and Management from LERN Institute. During her twenty plus years in education she has served as a Secondary English and Language Arts Teacher, Grant Writer and Program Developer, Instructional Coach, Innovative High School Liaison, Director of Indian Education, Director of Workforce and Economic Development in the post-secondary education sector and served as Director of Federal Programs and Career and Technical Education in various schools' districts in North Carolina. She is also a small business owner. Dixon has been named Teacher of the Year, North Carolina Career & Technical Education Sandhills Region Administrator of the Year and is recognized as NCLA Berryman Leadership and Development Award recipient for her efforts in leading innovative opportunities for students in North Carolina. Dixon is the 2022 recipient of the North Carolina Administrator of the Year for Career & Technical Education and was recognized as the NCACTE Outstanding Career and Technical Professional for 2023 where she received a nomination as an ACTE Region II Administrator of the Year and will complete that process with distinguished nominees from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands during the upcoming year. She is a champion for all children and is passionate about providing innovative and equitable opportunities for students and families as a servant leader for Career and Technical Education. She joined the NC Department of Public Instruction team in March of 2022 where she currently serves as the Southeast Regional Coordinator for Career and Technical Education. Her proudest accomplishment is being the mother of two (Madison and Jerrison) and “glammy” to two borrowed sons. She and her husband Hugh have been married for 18 years and reside in Laurinburg, North Carolina following his recent retirement from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
Tuesday May 09, 2023
Tuesday May 09, 2023
Description: Captain Heather McNatt, Recruiting Officer at AF ROTC UTSA, discusses how leaders aren’t born, but made in the Air Force ROTC.
This episode was made possible thanks to the Air Force Officers’ Spouses’ Club of Washington, DC.
Show Notes:
US Air Force ROTC:
US Air Force ROTC at UTSA:
ROTC Application Process with UTSA Webinar:
https://youtu.be/tr_R3uk90b0
Bio:
Captain Heather McNatt is an Assistant Professor and Recruiting Officer at Air Force ROTC Detachment 842 located at University of Texas in San Antonio. Detachment 842’s mission is to mentor, train, and equip personnel and cadets for entering into Active Duty while attending college.
Capt. McNatt was commissioned in the Air Force in 2017 as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer, receiving her commission through Texas A&M University. She gained experience at a B-1 maintenance unit as well as working in the 7th Equipment Material Squadron. She served as the Maintenance Flight Commander and the Assistant Director of Operations in the 60th Maintenance Squadron where she lead the mission effort for 135 military and civilian personnel who managed Repair and Reclamation for 58 KC-10s, C-5s, and C-17s, as well as Home Station Checks for the KC-10s. She furthered her experience with C-17s as the Officer in Charge for over 250 personnel.
Tuesday May 02, 2023
Tuesday May 02, 2023
Description: Major Mark Owens from United States Military Academy Admissions office explains the admissions process and what military students should think about when considering West Point.
This episode was made possible thanks to the Spouses of JB MDL (Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst)
Show Notes:
https://www.westpoint.edu/admissions/summer-program
https://youtu.be/Xc2RuwdAehM
Bio: Major Mark Owens
MAJ Mark Owens currently serves as the Southeast Regional Commander of Admissions at the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, NY. His responsibilities include the recruitment, evaluation, and yield of all applicants from MD, DC, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, and DC.
His previous assignments include duty as a Company Commander and Engineer Operations Officer for U.S. Army Africa in Vicenza, Italy as well as a Company Executive Officer and Platoon Leader for 25th Infantry Division in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He has also served time in Ethiopia, Senegal, Ghana, Thailand, South Korea, and the Philippines on peacekeeping operations.
He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Yale School of Management, a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Missouri Institute of Science and Technology, and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the United States Military Academy.
MAJ Owens is happily married to his wife, Michelle, with three children, Cole, Cora, and Juliette.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.