Out of Uniform

Former Army command sergeant major Donald McAlister is hard ass— no two ways about it. But after a brutal deployment to the Arghandab River Valley in Afghanistan, he figures out that his toughest challenge is learning how to grieve.

Trinidad Garcia is your quintessential Marine: driven, decisive, and committed. When he got out, he used those same strengths to build Trinidad3 Jeans, made in the USA. And he designs special jeans to help fellow veterans.

Josue Barron grew up in an area known for warring gangs. He almost got sucked in, but joined the Marines instead. It cost him a leg and an eye, but saved him from the streets of an L.A. suburb.

Destiny Flynn-Draher is a veteran, Gold Star wife, and advocate for her second husband, a Marine special operator who has been in court martial limbo for over 3 years. She's a fearless fighter for military justice reform and wonders why some who say they'll take a bullet for a friend won't stand up for what's right. That's why she has a tattoo of Lady Justice on her arm.

Marine Kyle Carpenter nearly died saving his battle buddy on a rooftop in southern Afghanistan in 2010. Recovery was painstaking—involving more than 40 surgeries to rebuild the young man's body. But before he was fully healed, casualties from the war in Afghanistan began to mount, overwhelming the military health system. Kyle was sent home into the care of his parents, whose love overcame difficult diagnoses, struggles with wound care, and their son's waning hope. It was there that Kyle started the delicate process of rebuilding his self-worth. Now, he refuses to hide his scars.

This first of a two-part episode tells the story of one man's unbelievable act of courage to save the life of a fellow Marine. He has no memory of what he did. But it earned him the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration.

In Out Of Uniform, a co-production of Texas Public Radio and The Veterans Project, Tim travels the country talking with former service members about who they are, what motivates them, and, ultimately, their path to purpose.