Chris Stenger

The Physical and Mental Challenges #VeteranTransition #ShawnWelsh #ArmyLife #PhysicalRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #VeteranSupport #LifeAfterService #MilitaryToCivilian #Resilience #VETSOSPodcast

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The Physical and Mental Challenges #VeteranTransition #ShawnWelsh #ArmyLife #PhysicalRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #VeteranSupport #LifeAfterService #MilitaryToCivilian #Resilience #VETSOSPodcast

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HairStory: The USAF Tactical Cap Dear Base Commanders, As some of you implement local polices to restrict wear of the United States Air Force-approved Tactical Caps, let me help you. It’s me. Hi. I’m the problem. It’s me. The Base Commander who persisted for years to get the Tactical Cap approved for wear. Why? Simple. One size does NOT fit all. Many of you have the luxury of bi-weekly “3 on the top, 1 on the sides” touchups or the clean shave, so one hat works. For people with thick, wavy hair that grows like a chia-pet with just a hint of humidity, a cap with a mesh back and an adjustable band prevents from having multiple hats throughout the day. It also alleviates the multiple product reapplications throughout the day to keep hair tight that causes headaches, hair loss, and a growing forehead. I get it, you may not have that challenge. That is why I combed out my hair into all of her full afro glory for our smooth-headed United States Air Force (USAF) senior leaders to demonstrate how much I shift and shape myself daily to serve. Seeing is believing - see your Airmen locally for yourself. Our USAF Leaders approved it at CORONA. I am listening to understand why you don’t. For those that deny Defenders the Tactical Cap, I encourage you to stand watch at the gate at the height of hot/humid/wet weather in a wool beret with a leatherish band and no bill . . . can you rise to your best? Safety outweighs heritage. We need the best of America’s talent to serve in our formations if democracy is going to win, to include the thick, wavy-haired talent. Maybe that is why there were only 3 Afro-abled women out of nearly 300 base commanders that stayed to serve at that level while I was in base command and still none at the CORONA decision-making table. To improve the less than 20% of women in military service, let’s work together to remove barriers like the hat so all qualified Americans with the propensity have #TheFreedomToServe! Reach out, I’m happy to help! https://lnkd.in/emC3Vz-G

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🚨4 Lessons I’d Share w/ PFC Thomas 🚨 👉🏽 I’ve been out of the Military 16 yrs… If Dr. Brown & Marty McFly offered me the opportunity to jump in the DeLorean and gun it to 88 and go back in time There’s a few things I’d do-- 👉🏽 I’d tell the Falcons to RUN the damn ball in the 2nd half of the Superbowl 😐 👉🏽 I’d go see Prince in person 😐 👉🏽 I’d kick Bin Laden square in the arse 👉🏽 Put my ENTIRE 401k on the 2007 Giants 😐 👉🏽 Tell Anthony Bourdain AND Robin Williams we love them, we need them, and how much their loss hurt the entire planet ❤️ But 100%, I’d go back to Feb. 2007 to the day my #militarytransition began. Here are 4 Lessons I’d Share w/ the 25 yr old SGT Thomas, who transitioned out during the beginning of The Great Recession in 2007: 📌 STOP seeing yourself, selling yourself, branding yourself, to the marketplace as a soldier-- This will be tough to fully grasp, but soldiers don’t get hired, business professionals do.  👈🏽 Tell them how you can help their business make $, save $, or save time w/ your business skillset, not selling your combat skillset. 📌 HIRE A PROFESSIONAL RESUME WRITER. You’re not a writer, nor do you work in HR, so stop writing your resume to submit to a business, when you weren’t even taught the functions of a business.  📌 YOU HAVE ACCESS TO A BILLION $ NETWORK:   There’s this really dope website called LinkedIn, where you can reach out to recruiters, hiring managers, old/current co-workers, mentors/coaches, etc… You can find/attend conferences where business leaders in your area will gather and you can listen, learn, and maybe even lead, a conversation around business issues in your arena.  The World Wide Web is literally, worldwide w/ 1.8B + users on LinkedIn and most, if not all Fortune 500 companies and C-Suite execs. using it daily, why aren’t you more present in the conversation?  📌 YOU, LLC. Seriously consider starting a business, even if it's a small one.  You were trained for the combat battlefield, not the economic battlefield.  Reading about business is cool--     Applying sales techniques, marketing (the biggest reasons most fail anyway), finance, product delivery, digital marketing, offers, identifying clients, etc.. is a COMPLETELY separate skill set. 👉🏽 You may not be getting hired by one business, b/c maybe, just maybe, you were meant to start your own.  You got this, and I got you ❤️‍🩹👊🏽

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🔧 Firearm Maintenance: What’s Your Biggest Challenge? 🛠️ Let’s settle this debate! When it comes to firearm maintenance, which part gives you the most trouble? A. Disassembly – “Why won’t this pin budge?!” 🤯 B. Cleaning – “Is the barrel ever truly spotless?” 🧼 C. Reassembly – “Where does THIS piece go again?!” 😅 D. Lubrication – “Too much? Too little? What’s just right?” 🤔 Drop your answer in the comments and let’s talk shop! 👇 #FirearmMaintenance #DIYGunsmithing #GunCareTips #Disassembly #Cleaning #Reassembly #Lubrication #GunOwnerLife #FirearmCommunity

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This is an important discussion, especially when shaping the perspectives of #leaders who currently serve. #Standards and their exemptions are set by the organization. Notably, standards are not a platonic #ideal, but have changed over time. For example, the 'high and tight' is a fairly young standard, when considering the age of the military services. It might be the only standard known by those in service, but it is not the only standard to have ever existed. Take a look to the past, and you quickly realize how 'unstandard' so many of our standards truly are. We could have the same discussion about #tattoos (a standard that seems to change every few years), the #PFT, the #CFT (which didn't exist when I first enlisted, but is now part of the shared memory of a generation of younger #Marines), and many other standards. As for grooming standards, it's also important to note that lawful exemptions to these standards - or checks made against them by legal challenges - are also that - lawful, something to account for when discussing good #order and #discipline. It's also worth digging into the utility of such standards. Did the British Army's allowance for its many colonial troops to groom or dress themselves in ways that respected their religious or cultural traditions degrade from their warfighting prowess? To the contrary, such formations were highly regarded for their #lethality and had sterling reputations as exceptional #warfighters. It's understandable that some want to defend the traditions they've always known, but when it comes to warfighting and the utility of standards, our approach must be sound, especially if #winning is the main effort. #ThinkFightWin

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🔥What is HOPE? HOPE is an Air Force program which trains and certifies Airmen with a Special Experience Identifier (SEI) or an Experience Set (ES) to be HOPE Providers in their squadron.  HOPE Providers are embedded in their unit, looking for those that need them the most.  They help others amid personal and peer-to-peer crisis.  HOPE Providers help Airmen find the support they need, serving as a bridge for your wingmen to the care they need. The intent of this initiative, is to produce Airmen who improve the resiliency of their unit with GRIT, courage, resolve; and strength of character In this video, I answer the second question of three on how HOPE supports our Airmen, Squadrons and Wing at each base. #HOPE, #SuicidePrevention, #GRIT, #Resilency 🔥Clink Link Below👇 HOPE Providers are lifelines. HOPE Providers are life-lines.

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D-Day: June 6, 1944, is known most commonly by the term D-Day and refers to the landing of Allied forces on the beaches of Normandy, France. Troops staged one of the most pivotal attacks against Germany during World War II. The codename Operation Overlord became known as the beginning of the end of World War II. Following the Battle of Normandy along a 50 mile stretch of beaches, including Utah and Omaha Beach, the attack became known as D-Day. While many explanations exist for the name, one reason may be due to the military countdown. The countdown designated the day and hour of the assault. D represented Day and H represented Hour in the military. The battle liberated Northern France. Britain, the United States and Canada sent more than 160,000 Allied troops under the leadership of General Dwight Eisenhower. The troops manned more than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft the day of the initial landing. After nearly five years of war, D-Day represents a vital turn in the war. During World War II, much of the world faced tragedy and hardships. D-Day continues to be a significant point in the war.

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If you want an example of abuse of the word "honor", look no further than this photo. Civilians who want to join the USAF attend Basic Training at Lackland AFB and those who go on to be Security Forces Airmen have their Tech School at the same base. This "hall of honor" is there. What do we notice? We notice that the colors display violates AFI 34-1201, which states ❌staffs in the same display are to be the same length. It also states that ❌flag spreaders are prohibited. ❌The national colors are lower than the org. ❌Wrong staffs. ❌Stands are to be silver. But, slap on the word "honor" and it covers a multitude of violations, right? ⚠️You'll be moving the POW to the far viewer's right after Memorial Day, right SF HQ? That's where it belongs the rest of the year except for the 5 holidays. I bet you thought this display was like flying it outdoors on a federally owned flagpole. It's not. Totally different protocol for an indoor colors display and an outside flag display. If anyone is going to start whining about how it's not the Airman's fault in the photo. No kidding. He's done a fine job in starting his USAF career. He just happens to be in the photo. Concentrate on the subject of the post. From recruiter @ssgtcormier • • • • • 🔆Education is 🔑! . 🔹Read your manuals! Download them free at the Resources page here: www.thedrillmaster.org . Prov 1:7b, Fools despise wisdom and instruction . 🔹https://lnkd.in/e6u7K8v2 . 🔹I educate, train, & certify cadets, military, judges, & 1st responders . 🔹Ask about a professional critique of your performance . 🔹If you choose to, you can learn more about D&C with my books on Ceremonial, Regulation, & Exhibition Drill: https://lnkd.in/ebVva2E . #honorguard #ceremonialguard #JROTC #AJROTC #MCJROTC #NJROTC #AFJROTC #SFJROTC #YoungMarines #CAP #CivilAirPatrol #SeaCadets

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🗣️ Slow Down ‼️ Stop trying to get that check in the box. It’s one of (if not the biggest) mistakes I see people transitioning out the military make. What do I mean by that? All too often I see people want to rush the process. Get that ✅, so they can. Turn out thier DD2648 (TAP eform) Turn in thier DD2656 (financial form) Turn in thier #dodskillbridge package File thier VA claim Route their leave request Go on terminal Create that LinkedIn page and connect with “EVERYONE” ….but During this entire process, they really have not done any research, and taken in information, or even self reflection. Just rushing the process. ✅ no real understanding about thier finances ✅ picked the easiest Skillbridge ✅ took the first available job ✅ went with the first VSO ✅ no real “network” ( Just a few examples ) All to find out, that that they are in a spot they’d rather not be. So Treat the process as a “transition” not as a ✅ You better call Tyrone Photo credit: Adobe Stock

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Representation matters. When building connectedness towards a Culture of Excellence, acknowledging, not ignoring, what makes each Sailor unique, is a key to evaluating/assessing performance while helping others self-assess. Our experiences and background, PRIOR to military service, shape who we are. When leaders invest in learning what motivates their teammates, they build bridges that help add value to individual commitments to mission accomplishment. A conversation prompted by this article in USNI Proceedings from 2020: https://lnkd.in/gGhJrzm

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Good morning, warriors! As we dive into a new week, remember this: Don’t let losing one great love cost you another. This isn’t just about relationships—it applies to the things we’re passionate about, too. Sometimes, we pour ourselves into a goal, a project, or a dream, only to see it fall apart. The disappointment can make us hesitant to give our all again. But holding back because of one setback can keep us from discovering our next great passion. This week, don’t let past losses or failures steal your drive. Stay committed to what fuels you, and keep pushing forward. Passion isn’t about never facing obstacles—it’s about continuing to chase what sets your soul on fire, no matter what. There’s always another opportunity ahead, but you’ve got to stay open to it.

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POP-TARTS or HOLISTIC approach to developing Airmen? Below is an article written by Ch Eddy Sanders, who is on my team, it focuses on a Holistic teaching approach to develop Airmen that we use at Sheppard AFB. 🔥The initiative is Airmanship 200 - produced with a Comprehensive Airmen Fitness mindset. 🔥To develop Mission Ready Airmen - we need them to be Core resilience. 🔥As Eddy states in his article, “If we find ourselves in a high-end fight, we can’t afford to have half our Airmen sent back early, due to personal problems.” 🔥A Holistic approach to training ensures our Airmen have a solid foundation of Grit, Steadfastness and Warrior Spirit. —- The Kind of Airmen that win wars. #Resilience, #Grit, #Warriorspirit

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The Senkaku Islands, known as the Pinnacle Islands, Diaoyu Islands in China, and Tiaoyutai Islands in Taiwan, are an uninhabited group of islands in the East China Sea, currently administered by Japan. These islands are central to a territorial dispute between Japan, China, and Taiwan. China claims to have discovered and owned the islands since the 14th century, while Japan has maintained ownership since 1895 until its World War II surrender. From 1945 to 1972, the United States administered the islands under the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands. The islands were then returned to Japanese control under the Okinawa Reversion Agreement. Interest in the islands intensified in 1968 with the discovery of potential undersea oil reserves in the area.

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Warrior Rescue (501c3 Nonprofit) US Army repost 2020; ⁣Please share this post. 🇺🇸 ⁣ I have been waiting to do a formal posting on this until all the facts came out:⁣ ⁣ 1. I have posted about the other cases but let’s focused on these two soldiers. Both of these women were murdered and there was a gross lack of leadership and accountability. Their chain of command was worthless and in the case of #lavenajohnson all the evidence that’s shared to the public shows us that there was absolutely a cover-up. ⁣ 2. The US Army’s response time and handling of these cases was not acceptable. ⁣I have been told by reliable sources that there is not much CID can do as for one they’re being overworked and there’s so much corruption in the system. 3. #VanessaGuillen was stationed at Fort Hood and not only have they had multiple missing persons reports, high suicide rates, and AWOLS (some of which end up dying), but they also found other bodies while searching for Vanessa. ⁣ 4. There should be a congressional inquiry. Why are our worthless politicians in Congress not taking this up? Where is the outcry from those congresspeople that claim to be for abused women? You can hear some of them saying little bullet points about these cases but no action. DO SOMETHING, Congress! 5. Lavona Johnson was murdered. She did not kill herself. She did not knock her own teeth out. She did not split her own chin. She did not rape herself. She did not burn her own genitals. She did not unclothe herself. Yet the DOD ruled her death as a suicide.⁣ 6. If Vanessa Guillen’s case was not brought up by the family and social media, her death would’ve probably been ruled a suicide. Somehow they probably would’ve concocted the idea that she bludgeoned her head with a hammer. That she cut her body up and then burned it. And then that somehow she buried herself pouring concrete over her dead body. Sounds far fetched but at this point anything is possible with these cases with the Army. 7. Therefore, it is mandated, we are not asking, that both political parties get off their ideological drama and work on a bipartisan bill to protect military members from sexual assault. Enough is enough 8. These two murders and the others are not a reflection of the military as a whole. However, they do need to be addressed and the guilty parties need to be held responsible no matter how high their rank is. And this includes all those that failed in their leadership roles.

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Post retirement pay and benefits for short-service officers (officers serving a limited-term contract) vary significantly across countries like the USA, China, Russia, and India. *USA (United States Armed Forces) Healthcare: Free healthcare through TRICARE for service members and their families. Pension: Short-service officers may not be eligible for full retirement benefits but can still receive benefits from the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), a retirement savings plan similar to a 401(k). Education: Benefits like the GI Bill can help cover the costs of further education, both during and after service. Life Insurance: Officers are covered by Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI). *China (People's Liberation Army - PLA) Healthcare: Free medical care is provided to all military personnel and their families. Pension: Short-service officers are not eligible for full pension benefits but may receive severance pay on a monthly basis upon leaving. Education: Officers can receive state-funded education or training, with support for transitioning to civilian careers post-service. Job Placement: There is a strong emphasis on job placement for former officers within state-owned enterprises or government positions. *Russia (Russian Armed Forces) Healthcare: Free healthcare for officers and their families. Pension: Short-service officers may receive a modest severance package but not full pension benefits unless they serve longer. Education: Officers have access to education and retraining programs, especially in technical fields, to help transition to civilian careers. Other benefits: Benefits such as subsidized food, discounted transportation, and access to military recreational facilities are common. Across the USA, China, and Russia, short-service officers enjoy a range of pay and benefits, though the specifics differ due to each country's economic conditions and military structure. While the U.S. military offers some of the most comprehensive benefits (especially for healthcare, education, and housing), the Chinese and Russian systems also provide benefits like healthcare, housing, and job placement support, but with a pro-rata system. However, the INDIAN ARMY is providing extraordinary benefits like: NO PENSION NO FREE MEDICAL FACILITIES NO JOB PLACEMENT NO FREE EDUCATION NO INSURANCE Reason… ???

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This is what Courage and Character is all about when faced with Adversity.

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