Dog Tag Diaries

Summary:What does it mean to step into roles that were never designed with you in mind?In this episode of Dog Tag Diaries, we sit down with Colonel Mary Fuller, U.S. Army Retired, whose 28-year career reflects a pivotal era of change for women in the military.Entering service during the “last of the WACs,” Mary moved into positions that had only recently opened to women and helped shape the standard for those who followed.From Airborne School to commanding a weather station in Alaska, serving in Germany, and working inside the Pentagon, Mary shares what it looked like to build a career across constantly evolving roles.This conversation goes deeper than milestones. It explores uncertainty, leadership under pressure, identity, and the long-term impact of being one of the first.In this episode, we cover:Growing up curious, athletic, and drivenChoosing the Army for opportunity, education, and adventureWhat it meant to be part of the “last of the WACs”Becoming one of the first women in Airborne School and combat divisionsLeading across communications, intelligence, and acquisition rolesLessons from assignments in Alaska, Germany, and the PentagonFacing moments of doubt and stepping into the unknownLeading in spaces where women were still proving their placeThe power of mentorship and lifelong relationshipsPreparing for transition out of the militaryWhy saying yes to opportunity changes everythingNotable Quotes & Moments:“It’s not about the positions that you hold. It’s about the people that you meet.” Colonel Fuller on the lasting value of military relationships [00:12:13]“One of the best lessons I ever learned when I first joined the Army was trust your sergeants.” Colonel Fuller on early leadership [00:14:05]“You may hate the job you have. You may hate where they sent you, but it’s not about that. It’s about the people.” Colonel Fuller on finding meaning in service [00:43:39]Timestamps:00:00:00 - Introduction to Colonel Mary Fuller’s groundbreaking Army career00:02:08 - Childhood, sports, family history, and growing up with military parents00:06:22 - Studying radio, TV, and film before joining the Army00:08:00 - How civilian jobs led Colonel Fuller to military service00:11:17 - Joining the last direct commission class of the Women’s Army Corps00:13:19 - First assignment as a Signal Corps officer in Germany00:14:05 - Trusting her platoon sergeant and learning how to lead00:18:14 - Airborne School and being assigned to a combat division00:24:31 - The final jump, a lost helmet, and soldiers taking care of each other00:29:53 - Rising through the ranks from second lieutenant to colonel00:35:20 - Women, family decisions, and the hard choices of military life00:39:07 - Preparing for retirement and life after the Army00:43:09 - Colonel Fuller’s advice for women in military serviceAbout Mary Fuller:Colonel Mary Fuller is a retired U.S. Army officer who served for 28 years during a time of major change for women in the military. She entered during the final chapter of the Women’s Army Corps and became one of the first women in Airborne School and one of the first assigned to a combat division in Germany. Her career included leadership roles in communications, intelligence, acquisitions, and senior Army-level positions at the Pentagon.Be sure to follow or subscribe to Dog Tag Diaries wherever you listen to podcasts.Learn more about the Reveille and Retreat Project: reveilleandretreatproject.orgInstagram: @reveilleandretreatprojectFacebook: Reveille and Retreat ProjectYou aren’t alone.If you’re thinking about hurting yourself or having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veteran crisis line: Dial 988 then press 1, chat online, or text 838255.

Summary:What happens when a veteran’s service is questioned, her trauma is dismissed, and healing feels out of reach? In this episode of Dog Tag Diaries, host Captain Kim welcomes back Navy veteran Didi Meindok for a powerful conversation about truth, survival, and recovery. Didi shares her experience serving during Operation Desert Storm, the pain of military sexual trauma, and the long fight to have her service and story properly recognized. She also opens up about the support that helped her keep going, including the VA, the National Center for PTSD, Home Base, and the Operation Red Wings Foundation. This episode is a moving reminder that healing is hard work, but it is possible, and no veteran should have to fight alone.In this episode, we cover: Didi’s Navy service during Operation Desert Storm What it felt like to have her service questioned and records dismissed How institutional erasure can impact veterans’ mental health The role of the VA, Vet Centers, and the National Center for PTSD in her care How Operation Red Wings Foundation helped Didi return to service and support others Didi’s experience at Home Base in Boston and why it changed her healing path The power of somatic yoga, self-reflection, and choice in trauma recovery Why forgiveness became a way for Didi to reclaim control Her advice to women veterans who are still fighting to be seen and heard Why veteran-led and community-based support mattersNotable Quotes & Moments:“I was very, very lost and very, very disenfranchised and really suicidal.” Didi on feeling isolated post-military [00:15:36]“I can’t save anybody. They have to save themselves.” Didi on supporting veterans through healing [00:19:32]“Finding your way home is possible.” Didi on hope after trauma [00:42:01] Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Didi Meindok’s return to Dog Tag Diaries 00:03:07 - Didi recaps joining the Navy and serving during Desert Storm 00:04:52 - Returning home and facing erased records, doubt, and official narratives 00:07:47 - Finding support through the VA, National Center for PTSD, Home Base, and Operation Red Wings Foundation 00:15:25 - Didi opens up about feeling lost, angry, and suicidal after service 00:17:39 - Losing a veteran client and stepping back into healing work 00:22:14 - What the Home Base program was like day to day 00:29:39 - Somatic yoga, trauma, and the body’s response to stress 00:35:12 - Forgiveness, faith, and reclaiming control 00:40:11 - Didi’s advice to women veterans: never stopAbout Didi Meindok:Didi is a U.S. Navy veteran of Operation Desert Storm, an attorney, and a trained medical scientist. Known as the FilaEstonian, she comes from a long line of seafarers and is a fierce advocate for truth, justice, and integrity in military service and beyond.Connect with Didi: Email: [email protected] mentioned:Home Base https://homebase.orgNational Center for PTSD https://www.ptsd.va.govVet Center Program https://www.vetcenter.va.govOperation Red Wings Foundation https://orwfoundation.orgBe sure to follow or subscribe to Dog Tag Diaries wherever you listen to podcasts.Learn more about the Reveille and Retreat Project: reveilleandretreatproject.orgInstagram: @reveilleandretreatprojectFacebook: Reveille and Retreat ProjectYou aren’t alone.If you’re thinking about hurting yourself or having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veteran crisis line: Dial 988 then press 1, chat online, or text 838255.

Summary: In this episode of Dog Tag Diaries, host Captain Kim sits down with Army veteran Makissa Lewis for a deeply honest conversation about service, survival, and sisterhood. Makissa shares her path from Jamaica to New York, then into the Army right out of high school, where she hoped to prove she was stronger than people expected. She opens up about surviving military sexual trauma before there was even common language for it, deploying to Iraq after 9/11, and living with the lasting effects of PTSD. Most of all, she talks about turning pain into purpose by founding My Seester, Inc., a nonprofit that supports women veterans in South Florida. This episode is a powerful reminder that healing often starts when someone decides to create the support they needed most.In this episode, we cover:Why Makissa joined the Army straight out of high schoolHow books, writing, and faith helped her cope through hard transitionsHer experience with military sexual trauma in GermanyWhat Iraq was like and how combat stress stayed with her after coming homeWhy women veterans are too often unseen in military and civilian systemsHow My Seester, Inc. was born out of a need for real, in-person supportThe healing power of art, community, and women showing up for each otherMakissa’s advice for women currently serving in the militaryNotable Quotes & Moments:“She survived military sexual trauma before it even had a name.” [00:00:05]“I felt it was a, I’ll be able to grow up and show them that I’m not a nerd.” [00:04:30]“There was no one protecting me.” [00:15:36]“If you don’t deal with your mental, it takes all over your whole world.” [00:27:15]“We are so not seen, cause they think we’re invisible.” [00:28:26]“The military cannot be the end and be all of everything you are.” [00:40:28]Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Makissa Lewis and her service story 00:01:11 - Makissa’s background, Army service, and nonprofit mission 00:04:06 - Why she joined the military after high school 00:05:01 - Moving from Jamaica to New York and then Florida 00:09:31 - Entering the Army in 1996 and adjusting to military life 00:14:30 - First duty station in Germany and the trauma she experienced there 00:19:42 - Deployment to Iraq after 9/11 00:22:40 - PTSD symptoms and the hard return to civilian life 00:25:45 - Finding support online and starting My Seester, Inc. 00:31:05 - The Retina Project and healing through art and conversation 00:35:13 - Supporting deployed women and honoring fallen service members 00:37:10 - How Makissa takes care of herself today 00:39:18 - Her advice for women still serving 00:41:16 - Women Who Serve Magazine nomination and closing reflectionsAbout Makissa Lewis:Makissa Lewis is an Army veteran who served from 1996 to 2010 and is a combat-disabled survivor of military sexual trauma. Born in Jamaica and raised in New York and South Florida, Makissa joined the military straight out of high school.After experiencing MST, combat deployment to Iraq, and ongoing challenges accessing equitable care, she began asking critical questions about housing, resources, and support for women veterans. Those questions led her to found My Seester, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to serving female veterans in South Florida.Makissa is also working on an anthology documenting her experiences during and after her military career.Connect with Makissa:Instagram: @my_seesterWebsite: www.myseester.comEmail: [email protected] note:This episode includes discussion of military sexual trauma and may be activating for some listeners. If you or someone you know needs support, confidential help is available.VA Military Sexual Trauma Support: Contact your local VA Medical Center and ask to speak with the Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator. Care is available regardless of discharge status.Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988, then press 1, or text 838255 for confidential support 24/7.RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE (4673) or online chat at rainn.org.Be sure to follow or subscribe to Dog Tag Diaries wherever you listen to podcasts.Learn more about the Reveille and Retreat Project: reveilleandretreatproject.orgInstagram: @reveilleandretreatprojectFacebook: Reveille and Retreat ProjectYou aren’t alone.If you’re thinking about hurting yourself or having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veteran crisis line: Dial 988 then press 1, chat online, or text 838255.

Summary:In this episode of Dog Tag Diaries, host Captain Kim welcomes back Navy veteran, leader, speaker, and now author Jenn Donahue. Jenn first appeared on the podcast sharing her military journey and leadership story. Since then, she has turned some of her hardest lessons into a new book, Becoming a Warrior: Harnessing the Power of Self-Doubt.In this conversation, Jenn opens up about the real reason she wrote the book. It was not to talk about her career, but to help people move forward when fear, pain, and self-doubt try to hold them back. She reflects on the emotional process of writing, the dark season that followed her deployment to Afghanistan, and the system she built to pull herself back.This episode is about more than a book launch. It is about being seen, owning your story, and learning that taking care of yourself is not selfish. It is necessary.In this episode, we cover:Why this book is about helping people move forward, not just telling a military storyHow lessons from military service translate into everyday life and personal growthThe reality of self-doubt at every level of leadershipThe emotional process of writing and releasing something deeply personalWhat it means to be seen beyond your title or rankThe importance of celebrating yourself and your milestonesThe power of community and being surrounded by people who show up for youNotable Quotes & Moments:“She didn’t write this book to talk about her career. She wrote it to help people move forward.” [00:00:00]“Writing a book is really about being vulnerable.” [00:09:01]“We all seem to have this mean little voice that’s in the back of our head.” [00:14:44]“What we need to do is we need to switch our brain over to a positive bias.” [00:19:21]“The warrior framework helped me to find myself again.” [00:25:55]“It’s not selfish to try to take care of yourself first.” [00:39:49]Timestamps: 00:00:30 - Welcome to Season 8 of Dog Tag Diaries and Jenn Donahue’s return 00:01:36 - Jenn’s new book, Becoming a Warrior, and why this conversation matters 00:03:37 - How Jenn and Captain Kim first connected and built a friendship 00:04:21 - Jenn’s book launch celebration and what it meant to be celebrated 00:06:59 - How the book idea grew out of Jenn’s keynote speaking 00:08:40 - Writing the book to help others and facing hard personal truths 00:11:25 - Jenn shares the dark season that inspired the Warrior Framework 00:17:47 - Moving from fear of failure to trusting your own ability 00:19:21 - Retraining the brain and building a positive bias 00:21:16 - Using “Perceive, Assess, Ready, Act” in everyday life 00:24:43 - Jenn reads a powerful excerpt from the book 00:27:26 - How long it took her to write the book 00:28:29 - Early reader feedback and why the book is not just about Jenn 00:30:05 - How support from readers is changing how Jenn sees herself 00:33:44 - Fear, vulnerability, and what release week felt like 00:35:55 - The USA Today bestseller list goal and what success really means 00:38:37 - Jenn’s leadership philosophy: take care of yourself first 00:41:00 - Closing message and support for military women through Reveille and Retreat ProjectAbout Jenn Donahue:Jenn Donahue is a Navy veteran, former leader, speaker, and author of Becoming a Warrior: Harnessing the Power of Self-Doubt. Drawing from military service, leadership, and personal recovery, she created the Warrior Framework to help people challenge negative thoughts, move through fear, and take action with confidence.Through her book and speaking work, Jenn encourages others to stop letting self-doubt make their decisions for them. Her story is a strong reminder that even after seasons of pain, burnout, and questioning, it is still possible to rebuild, move forward, and help others do the same.Connect with Jenn: Support the Book: https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Warrior-Harnessing-Strength-Self-Doubt/dp/B0FW5S12TYEvery order matters right now as Jenn’s book is in the running for the USA Today Best Seller list.https://www.instagram.com/iamjenndonahue/https://www.facebook.com/iamjenndonahue/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenndonahue-phd-pe/Website: www.jenndonahue.comhttp://www.thewarriorframework.comhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FW5S12TYBe sure to follow or subscribe to Dog Tag Diaries wherever you listen to podcasts.Learn more about the Reveille and Retreat Project: reveilleandretreatproject.orgInstagram: @reveilleandretreatprojectFacebook: Reveille and Retreat ProjectYou aren’t alone.If you’re thinking about hurting yourself or having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veteran crisis line: Dial 988 then press 1, chat online, or text 838255.

Summary:In this episode of Dog Tag Diaries, host Captain Kim welcomes back Navy veteran, advocate, and author Leah Stiles. Leah first appeared on the podcast sharing her journey through military service and life beyond the uniform. Since that conversation, she has transformed many of those experiences into a powerful memoir, Battle Scars & Body Wars. In this conversation, Leah reflects on the emotional process of writing the book and what it meant to revisit some of the most defining moments of her life. She also shares the deeply moving experience of launching the book surrounded by family, shipmates, mentors, and friends from every chapter of her story. Her Albany book launch quickly sold out, with readers purchasing multiple copies to share the message and celebrate the courage it takes to speak openly about life after service. This episode explores the invisible battles many veterans carry and the healing that can begin when those stories are finally told. At the heart of Leah’s message is a simple but powerful idea. If you need a light, be a light.In this episode, we cover: Leah’s early childhood experiences with homelessness, foster care, and instability Why she joined the Navy in search of structure, family, and purpose How eating disorders can be hidden and made worse in military culture What led her to write Battle Scars and Body Wars, finally How memory loss after retirement pushed her to begin recording her story Why she turned the book into both a personal story and a resource guide Writing for service members, leaders, clinicians, families, and parents The fear, doubt, and imposter syndrome she faced while publishing the book How community support helped strengthen the medical and research side of her work Her emotional return to Albany and visit with youth at a treatment facility The sold-out book launch and what it meant to feel truly seen Her message, “Need a light, be a light,” and how purpose can grow from pain Practical advice for people struggling with food, body image, and shame Why no one should have to heal aloneNotable Quotes & Moments: “There comes a moment when silence becomes heavier than the truth.” [00:12:08] “I wrote this book because I survived and because too many others did not.” [00:12:46] “I’ve always wondered what my purpose was.” [00:21:10] “When you are in the dark, it means your story doesn’t end there.” [00:22:26] “You deserve support.” [00:34:22]Timestamps: 00:01:09 - Leah Stiles returns to Dog Tag Diaries and shares what she has been working on 00:04:07 - Her childhood, search for structure, and why she joined the Navy 00:04:53 - Hiding an eating disorder during recruitment and service 00:06:58 - The first real push to write her story into a book 00:07:32 - Memory loss after retirement and how it led her to document her life 00:09:02 - Building each chapter with research, stories, and support resources 00:10:20 - Writing the book for leaders, providers, families, and those struggling 00:11:44 - Leah reads a powerful excerpt from Battle Scars and Body Wars 00:15:20 - Fear, self-doubt, delays, and launching the book anyway 00:17:49 - Becoming an Amazon bestseller and hearing from readers who felt seen 00:21:02 - Leah reflects on purpose, pain, and becoming a light for others 00:25:34 - Why she chose Albany for the launch and her visit with youth at Northern Rivers 00:29:31 - A sold-out event, emotional response, and community support 00:33:56 - Leah’s advice for anyone struggling with eating disorders 00:36:50 - Why healing begins with one trusted person and one small stepLeah Stiles is a Navy veteran, advocate, nonprofit founder, and now author of Battle Scars and Body Wars: A Personal and Professional Journey Shining a Light on Eating Disorders in the Military. She is the founder of SeaWaves, a nonprofit that supports veterans and others affected by eating disorders, and she has become a strong voice for honest conversations around service, trauma, identity, and healing.Through her writing, public speaking, and advocacy, Leah is helping others understand that eating disorders do not always look the way people expect, and that support should never be out of reach. Her story is a moving reminder that survival can lead to purpose, and that sharing the truth can help someone else stay here.Connect with Leah:https://linktr.ee/SEAWAVESORGGrab a copy of her book: https://a.co/d/0aqYkYfhBe sure to follow or subscribe to Dog Tag Diaries wherever you listen to podcasts.Learn more about the Reveille and Retreat Project: reveilleandretreatproject.orgInstagram: @reveilleandretreatprojectFacebook: Reveille and Retreat ProjectYou aren’t alone.If you’re thinking about hurting yourself or having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veteran crisis line: Dial 988 then press 1, chat online, or text 838255.