#142 - What Happens After the Mission? A Veteran’s Path to Recovery

Air Force veteran Anthony “Tito” Dyer joins John and Victor for a candid conversation about combat aviation, military transition, trauma recovery, family, and the work of rebuilding purpose after service. Dyer reflects on a career that included weapons loading, firefighting, AC-130 aerial gunnery, and HH-60G rescue crewmember duties, including a 2018 East Africa rescue mission. This episode is not only about operational experience. Tito discusses confronting the effect of drinking on his family, seeking help, and using prolonged exposure therapy, spirituality, peer support, and writing to process difficult experiences. His memoir, Moon Child, became both a personal creative project and part of a larger vision to help veterans share their own stories. John and Victor also discuss practical transition issues facing the military community: a delayed VR&E education plan, maintaining veteran connections, translating experience into civilian work, preparing for resumes and interviews, and responding constructively after a job rejection. Tito explains how he now applies his operational background as a civilian contractor developing flight-simulator scenarios at Cannon Air Force Base. Episode Timestamps 00:06:51 Anthony “Tito” Dyer and Moon Child 00:09:42 The 2018 Jolly Green rescue mission 00:12:33 AC-130 weapons expertise and training 00:16:30 Quitting drinking and facing personal problems 00:17:10 Writing a military memoir 00:25:39 Transitioning from military to civilian life 00:30:49 Civilian flight-simulator scenario development 00:35:25 Maintaining veteran connections after service 00:37:19 Recognizing when it is time to get help 00:38:21 Prolonged exposure treatment for military trauma 00:39:06 Spirituality, recovery, and processing trauma 00:43:32 Moon Child and veteran storytelling 00:47:34 A nonprofit platform for veterans’ stories 00:52:03 Resume and interview preparation for transition 00:58:01 Job rejection and interview feedback 01:07:44 Future topics, guests, and listener engagement Key Topics • Air Force AC-130 gunner training and weapons-system expertise • HH-60G combat search and rescue experience • Military trauma recovery, prolonged exposure therapy, and peer support • Recovery from drinking and the role of family and spirituality • Veteran memoir writing and sharing military stories responsibly • Military-to-civilian transition and finding a new purpose • Civilian flight-simulator scenario development • VR&E education-plan delays, resumes, interviews, and job setbacks • Veteran networking, VFW connections, and transition resources Resources Mentioned • Moon Child: the roots and wings of a US Air Force combat special mission's aviator • Warrior Care Coalition • Equinox Ranch • Wova app • TAP • The Green Logbook YouTube channel • [email protected] Whether you are preparing to leave service, navigating a difficult transition, supporting a veteran, or looking for a more honest conversation about life after the mission, this episode offers practical perspective and encouragement to keep taking the next step. #MilitarytoCivilian #Veteran #Veterans #WarriorMindset #Aviator #SpecialOperations #MentalHealth #Purpose #MilitaryTransition