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People matter more than position, and leadership starts with taking care of others. Doing that right means a million acts. SUMMARY Those are lessons Lt. Col. Steven “Meathead” Mount '08 shares with listeners in the Season 4 premier of Long Blue Leadership. For Col. Mount, becoming a pilot was a major milestone, but becoming a husband and father had the biggest impact. Don't wait, listen today and become a better leader tomorrow.   SHARE THIS PODCAST FACEBOOK  |  LINKEDIN   COL. MOUNT'S TOP LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS Adoption shaped my understanding of support and love. Leadership is about lifting others to achieve their best. Mentorship plays a crucial role in personal and professional growth. Balancing family and career is a continuous challenge. It's important to have tough conversations as a leader. Resilience is key to overcoming setbacks in life and career. Listening more than talking is essential for effective leadership. Recognizing the importance of support systems can enhance leadership effectiveness. Leadership is defined by consistent, everyday actions. The military community thrives on teamwork and mutual support.   CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Leadership Lessons 06:43 The Impact of Adoption on Leadership 14:53 Navigating Challenges at the Academy 22:49 Career Path and Opportunities in Aviation 33:31 Balancing Family and Military Career 44:18 Continuous Improvement as a Leader     ABOUT COL. MOUNT BIO Lt. Col. Steven “Meathead” Mount is a decorated officer in the United States Air Force with a career marked by leadership, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to mentoring the next generation. A command pilot with thousands of flight hours, he has served in a variety of demanding roles across multiple aircraft and theaters, bringing a wealth of experience in both combat and peacetime operations. Beyond the cockpit, Lt. Col. Mount is widely recognized for his ability to lead diverse teams through complex challenges, foster innovation, and develop leaders at every level. His career reflects not only technical expertise but also a people-first leadership philosophy that emphasizes accountability, resilience, and service. Known by his call sign “Meathead,” he brings both humility and humor to the serious business of leading Airmen. His story is one of dedication to mission and country, but also of shaping culture, inspiring others, and leaving a lasting impact on the Air Force community.   CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org    Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org  Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org      ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS     TRANSCRIPT SPEAKERS Guest, Lt. Col. Steven Mount '08  |  Host, Lt. Col. Naviere Walkewicz '99   Naviere Walkewicz Welcome to the first episode of Season 4 of Long Blue Leadership, the podcast where we share insights on leadership through the lives and experiences of Air Force Academy graduates. I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99. We're kicking off this season with a story that shows how our earliest experiences can shape the kind of leaders we become. Lt. Col. Steve Mount, Class of 2008, call sign “Meathead,” didn't fully realize that truth until later in life. Adopted as an infant, he came to understand that love and support aren't guaranteed. They're gifts. Over his 17-year career, Col. Mount has flown missions across a wide range of aircraft, from the C-130 to special operations to the U-2. And today, he's in command. But through every stage, one belief has stayed with him: People succeed not only through their own efforts, but because someone believed in them. In this conversation, we'll talk about how those early lessons have shaped criminal mom's approach to leading airmen, mentoring the next generation of pilots, balancing mission and family and building teams that are rooted in trust. His story is a powerful reminder that leadership isn't about the me game, it's about lifting others so they can achieve their best. So what better way to start our new season? Col. Mount, welcome to Long Blue Leadership. Lt. Col. Steven Mount Thank you so much, ma'am for having me. I really do appreciate this opportunity to at least try to share some of my stories, experiences and honestly, if anything touches base with those who listen in and resonates, that's why I'm glad to be here. Naviere Walkewicz Well, let's start right with a way for them to connect with you. You mentioned your call sign is Meathead. Let's start there. Lt. Col. Steven Mount OK, I'll do my best to tell the story as quickly as I can. And the fun thing about being a pilot — but also I think this plays true in any type of storytelling environment — is, you know, only 10% of the story has to be true when it comes to your call signs. So to start… Oh my gosh— I know there's some friends out there who are going to laugh at this, especially of mine. Going through pilot training… The last part of the pilot training, when I was in the T-1s, when you get to that last part, you know, after you've gone through all the ups and downs, you kind of celebrate a little bit more. And that's what I've done. I had gone out with a couple of my rugby brothers that I played with at the Academy, and we'd gone out to just a country, a little country dance hall, and, you know, we're just enjoying and celebrating. And one of my rugby brothers introduced me to one of his friends through his wife, and this individual, who I didn't know much about at the time, had said— I said, “Yeah, I'm starting T-1s here and all that good stuff. And I immediately, immediately — especially in the celebratory mood I was in — thought, “Oh, this is another awesome student that's coming through. Like, hey, let me start giving you the tidbits. Let me start laying out what to expect.” And that's how I treated this individual for the rest of that evening. You know, we're dancing and having fun and just talking it up. And it was a good evening. It was really good evening. Come Monday morning, I get the word I'm flying with this new instructor in the T- 1s. And I had no idea who this individual was. I did not recognize the name at all. And I asked our flight schedule, like, “Who's this?” Is like, “Oh, it's a new person coming in. I think you're one of his first flights back in the T-1s training wise.” And I was like, “Well, OK, I'm ready to go.” And I sit down, and then this instructor sits down right across from me, and it's a major and sure enough, it's this, the person I thought was a student at the Texas dance, the country dance hall that we were at.   Naviere Walkewicz Oh boy!   Lt. Col. Steven Mount He looks me up and down. Oh, it was one of those moments of shock, of like, “What do I… Where do I go from here?” And he looks me up and down, he goes, and he laughs, and he goes, “Man, you are just such a meathead.” And so that's where it started. And call signs and nicknames— sometimes, some people like, wanna try change it throughout their careers and try to like, “No, that's not who I am. I don't want that to define me.” So as I'm leaving pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio, I'm heading towards my first assignment in Tucson, Arizona for the EC-130 and I'm like, “OK, here we go. I'm gonna start fresh. I'm not that meathead that went through the Academy playing rugby. I'm not that meathead in pilot training to I just like to have fun. Just like to have fun. I do my own thing, and I'm gonna start fresh.” And I get out, and one of the very first meetings I had in the new squadron was with the DO, Lt. Col. Reimer. He sits down with me, and he says, “Come on in, because I'm in blues. He goes, come on in. Sit down. And then he's just quiet. I'm like, this is interesting. He looks me up and down and goes, “Yeah, you definitely look like a meathead.” And I'm like, “Whoa.” So sure enough, the major that I flew with was really good friends and had flown with this squadron, told this DO about me, and the DO got through his spiel, introduced me to my first flight commander before I deployed in Afghanistan, and goes, “Hey, this is Meathead. Take care of him. He's a good one.” I was like, “No, no, everyone, please, let's stop.” And then throughout the years, things kept happening that just reinforced the call sign, Meathead. I got into U-2s, me and a buddy, also pilots. We popped both tires on a T-38 at Long Beach Airport, and we closed down the airport for about five hours. It was on the local news. Not happy about that. And then there were multiple times where I tried to, like, get rid of the Meathead persona, the callsign, but I think it was finally solidified on a CNN interview on one of my U-2 deployments, where the lady interviewing us goes, “OK, we can't use your real name. So what name should we use? And before I could even say anything, one of my buddies just pops up and goes, “ It's Meathead.CNN lady, use Meathead.” And I was like, “OK.” And then international news in that interview, I am Capt. Meathead. And I never got away from the call sign, Meathead.   Naviere Walkewicz We are gonna find that clip of Capt. Meathead.   Lt. Col. Steven Mount It is out there, just U-2… I think the article under CNN: “U-2 spy plane carries out the mission against terrorist organizations.” You know, not that I didn't remember what it was called.   Naviere Walkewicz Well, I would say you heard it here first, but you didn't. You heard it maybe, if you heard it in the U-2 world or what have you. But we're gonna find it again. And so we're gonna resurrect here first, but we're so glad you're here. Yes, yes, this is awesome. And you know, I think one of the things I really enjoyed in our early conversation, and what we're gonna share today is how you kind of look back and you are very grateful and thankful for the upbringing you have. And so let's kind of go back to the fact, you know, not a lot of our guests share kind of their background, and the fact that you share that you were adopted. What did that kind of, what role did that play in your life? And, you know, was it insignificant? Or, you know, what did you glean from that? Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yeah, I really appreciate that question. And honestly, I really appreciate you giving the opportunity to kind of share that. It has played a huge role in my life. Adopted 11 months. And what it did for me is set the foundation of the family. It may not necessarily be one you have, it's the one who who's there for you, who supports you, who loves you. And then, honestly, the other part about being adopted, which I kind of— there were struggles, like, it wasn't perfect, but there were struggles in my mind where I wanted to show that those who adopted me, I wanted to show them that I could be more and thank them, you know, on a daily basis, for everything they had done for me, supporting me. So that drove me, that motivated me to get into the Academy, or even— back up, even like, do well in high school, get into the Academy, become a pilot. All of that was the basis of— I want to show that in a weird way, I want to show that your investment was worth it. You know, you found me, you gave me the love and support. So I'm going to give back to you by showing you what you were able to, you know, give a second chance, small, little child. And then the— but the other side of that, and I don't know how many of those who are adopted, who feel like this sometimes. Can't be the only one, but I can at least convey it here. There's a sense of, you know, “Why? Why was I adopted?” You know, what really happened in the sense that those who biologically brought me into this world, was I not worthy enough? Was I just a bad situation. And so there's that part I keep motivational wise to be like, “Well, I'm going to show them what they're missing out on.” And I know that's more of the negative kind of side of the whole internal conflict of being adopted. But I would be lying if I didn't say that that was part of the drive that kept me going throughout those years.   Naviere Walkewicz Something that came to my mind when you were saying that was, you know— when did you find out? And how old were you to kind of start having those, those thoughts and questions, you know, not only why, but how do I show that I am worthy?   Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yes, so my mother and father did an amazing job of, I remember, I can't remember the name of this particular book, but there was a book that she had given me that she read to me, and that, throughout the years, as I she utilized, helped me start reading and whatnot. And the basis of the book was, you know, cartoon with a little bit of words, is, “You were not purchased, you know, you were not bought at a store. You know you were, you were brought in and chosen and to be a part of a family.” So she, she wanted to have this idea that I always knew, that was adopted. She never wanted to surprise me, or she never wanted to be like, one day, like, “Hey, just so you know…” She did an awesome job of leading into that, Hey, you were adopted. But don't look at it as this, ‘We went to the store and we picked out the one we liked.' It's more of a, ‘We wanted you in our family.' And that's where it started.” It started, “We wanted a bigger family.” Whether they were, at the time, not able to grow or have themselves, they decided that, “We still want to grow a family. So let's look through adoption as a means.” So she had that book, I remember that book, and then the other book, which I still love to this day, and I got a copy for my kids, I Love You Forever, and how she would read that book to me every single night with the words, “…and I love you forever, like you for always. As long as you're living, my baby, you'll be.” That showed me that it didn't matter where I came from. This was my mom, you know, this was my family. So she did a really good job laying that foundation for me, for who I've become to be.   Naviere Walkewicz So would you put your parents in that bucket of inspirational leaders for you that have shaped you? And are there others?   Lt. Col. Steven Mount One-hundred percent. Like I said, the foundational piece of being that inspirational leader, to me in the sense of working on it all the time, right? It's not simple but accepting people for who they are. Where they're at in life. Accept them for their faults, accept them for the things that they don't like about themselves, but just accepting them and giving them the support, giving them the love that they need to show them, that they can do anything, I like to think for the most part, I'm an example of that because of what my parents did for me.   Naviere Walkewicz So, as a young boy, and you talked a little bit about this, you wanted to prove to them. So Was that something you feel over time, you continue to develop this desire to show your worth? And where have you seen that show up I guess even throughout your going— maybe even at the Academy, how has that kind of formed you as a leader individually?   Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yes, yes. So the showing the worth, the showing the value, or paying it back and showing my parents, once again, I use the word “investment” like it was good— I was good investment. Like I was a good return on investment. But it's helped when I've gone through those struggles, when I've gone— because the first time I put in for the Academy and… back up just a little bit. My dad likes to tell a story that I even told my fifth-grade teacher that she was, you know, “What do you want to do?” I was like, “I'm gonna be a pilot.” I said nothing else. Like, I want to be pilot. I want to fly. And then I had had an awesome mentor whose son, at the time, was going through the process of the Academy, sophomore year in high school, and she helped me with that. Good ol' Mrs. Williams, amazing. When I first initially applied for the Academy, I did not get it. I got a “Sorry, you are not competitive at this time.” Here starts some of those moments in your life to where, like, “OK. How can I bounce back? Do I accept the rejection, or do I find another means?” And even when that happened, that first time, my parents, they were like, “It's OK, it's OK. You don't need to…” They were always like, “You don't need to prove anything else. We love you, regardless.” I was like, “No, I need to prove this.” So I found other means, and I was, I will say, blessed in the sense that at that time, my running back coach for the high school reached out to the Academy. This happened early my senior year, and reached out and was like, “Hey, we have, I have someone who I think might do well for your program.” And then, sure enough, I got invited to come out for a football recruiting visit and I sat down with Fisher Deberry, and he just goes, “Would you like to play for this program?” And once again, I was like, “Wait a minute. No, no. I already got rejected. You know, I already gotten the…” But obviously I was going through my head, but all I said was, “Yes, sir, I would love to play for this program. I'd love to go the Academy.” And he made it happen. And I got recruited, and I got the invite to come out, to go the United States Air Force Academy. Wow. And once again, that only happened because my parents, they said, “Hey, we don't care what happens. We love you. Support you. You make the decision and we're here behind you.” And then I had a coach who was like, “I got you. I've seen what you do. I support this.” And went out on a limb for me. And then, in a sense, I guess Fisher DeBerry was also like, “I'm taking this football recruit, I hope he makes it through the Academy. So the love and support is, was there throughout.   Naviere Walkewicz What a path, I mean, that is quite unique. And, yeah, that's something to just kind of sit in a little bit, right? You know, the path of to your point, it just comes from support. And obviously you have to do the things to make sure that when the opportunity presents itself, you're ready to take that step, but what an incredible story of those who have supported you. Let's talk about a little bit before we kind of get into I think, what I think is the next real moment in your life — when you talk about becoming a father in your family. But while you're at the Academy, I'm just curious what more you learned about yourself as a leader, because you no longer had to prove to your parents that you were worthy of their investment, right? Like this is investment, right? Like this is a new season of your life. What did that look like for you as a leader?   Lt. Col. Steven Mount The challenges and the experiences I had the Academy — and I know I talked about this in one of my interviews previously with the foundation — was that I had to I went through my sophomore year and the rigors of academics, of the military side, of sports. It was taking this toll. I will say this many times. I'll continue to say I'm not the smartest crayon in the shed.   Naviere Walkewicz Wait, did you say crayon in the shed?   Lt. Col. Steven Mount I did. A little mixture of the sharpest tool in the box, exactly. I love it! I'm glad someone caught it. That's perfect! But yes, hard work was probably the foundation of what the Academy taught me was you persevere by hard work. You do the day in; you do the day out. You get after it. Because I was not getting after it after sophomore year. My GPA was not the best, and I had to approach my sophomore year, which very fortunate, because I had done my best to put in the time with the football program. But obviously I was losing ground in the academic side and that came back to almost biting, in the sense that I could have failed out. So I had had one of those— Once again, my father being an amazing mentor himself, whether he knows it or not. And I talked to him, and I said, “Dad, I think I have to quit football. I don't think I can continue with this, the rigors of all of this with the Academy.” And he goes, “Well, what was your dream?” I was like, “My dream was to fly.” He goes, “Well, did you go there to play football? Or did you go there to fly?” And that was an easy answer. But then I was thinking about all those coaches and mentors and those who helped me get to where I was, and I never really quit at something, and that's what it felt like. It really felt like I was quitting. I was quitting my teammates. I was quitting my coaches. And that weighs heavy on your soul, for all those out there who just are struggling, like, “Should I continue?” But my dad was right. My priorities weren't to become a football player, because I wasn't gonna be. I wasn't going to be. I wasn't going to become, you know, some — who can I name drop? — Chad Hall, you know, going to the NFL, doing amazing things. I wasn't going to be out there starting on, maybe third if they still have fourth string… maybe fourth string. So my dad helped me with those priorities by, once again, just being supportive. He never said one way or the other. He said, “What do you want to do?” And so I had that hard conversation with him, and went down to the Field House, and I said, “I apologize. I have to quit so I can concentrate on what I want to do for my dreams.” And once we had that was hard, that was very difficult. So that was one of the challenges at the Academy presented, and how I bounced back from that was you always go two ways. You always go into the woe is me and you know, just kind of beat yourself up and just hold on to that, that pride and ego being shattered. Or you can find a community, a support group, that will be there with you. And I found that almost immediately with my rugby brothers. They're just like me. They're like, “Hey, we just like to hang out at our own little table at Mitchell Hall. We like to just come out, play the sport, do what you love to do, athletic wise, and you'll have some more free time, obviously, for academics.” Not that I'd utilize that correctly still, but that's what it took to get me through those next couple years, that and my amazing roommates. I think all of us Academy grads and those who are going through right now, a support of a good roommate is huge. I that, uh, I appreciate the question, because now it's just dawning on me how much I just really appreciate my roommates at the Academy for their support as well. Very similar to my parents, it's like, “Hey, I don't care what you do, but I'm here to support you, love you regardless.” So I got a lot of that the Academy, and that's what helped get me through.   Naviere Walkewicz That's amazing. I think there's a couple of things I want to dig into a little bit. The first one is, you know, I think deciding to have that tough conversation where, one, you felt like you're already prideful, and you're having to, I'm putting in air quotes, “quit.” Can you talk about how you approached that, other than, I know you went and did it. But I think sometimes one of the most challenging things we can do as leaders is have a tough conversation when it involves us either stepping back or taking a step down from what seems to be the trajectory of what's next. And so I'm just— if you could just share a little bit more about that, I think that would be helpful.   Lt. Col. Steven Mount So, and I just want to clarify: As leaders, we have to recognize and we have to have the courage to have the tough conversations, because that wouldn't be the first time that I'd have to make a decision in that regard, or have the tough conversations to where it was gonna affect me personally or those around me. You deal with it understanding, one, give yourself a little bit of grace. Give yourself a little bit of grace in the sense that whatever tough decision you have to make, you're not alone. And I imagine you might not always be the first person who had either to make that decision or was going through something like that. I was not the only one going through something at that time like that. I didn't know that. And so I've had other conversations where others were like, “Yeah, I also, you know how to make that type of call to not play anymore or give up something, because my priority was this...” You know, what was driving me to succeed was something else, and that followed me well throughout my career, because I've had many, many tough conversations. I've had the tough talk as a leader. I've had to tell someone that, “I'm sorry, your dreams to become a pilot…” It's not going to happen because of their performance. I've had conversations on how to get through those tough moments and said how to get on the other side. And I know it's like a broken record, but it just comes through with the support of being there for that individual or being there to guide them to the next step. And I had that. I had that when I made that tough decision. I had someone want to give myself grace. Two, I realized I was not alone. And three, I had the support to get from this side of that tough decision bridge to the other side. And because that support was there, I learned that, and I learned to pass that on from all my leadership opportunities, to be like, “Let me be the one who guides you over this bridge. It's not gonna be fun. There's gonna be parts are gonna hurt. It's gonna be painful. But I will be next to you to get to the other side, to where we can get back to a good place. We get back to what really matters and get back to succeed in maybe another sense.” So the tough convos as leaders, you have to have those tough convos. Do not shy away from them. They're gonna happen, whether you like it or not.   Naviere Walkewicz I'm really glad you shared it that way, because I think it created a pathway to how to approach it, to your point. You know, it they're not comfortable, they're not designed to be that way. But if you start it with, you know, being that support in mind, and how to get someone, even if you're giving the worst news, the worst news where, “This was your dream, you're not gonna be able to do it because of this. And here's now where we're at, and how can I help you succeed through that?” I think that's what a wonderful lesson you just shared. And so I want to dive now into your career, because you had a really broad career, one that's not a traditional path, and I want to understand why it looked that way. So C-130, EC-130, Special Ops, you— talk a little bit about how you navigated that and what was the driving reasons behind that navigation?   Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yes, ma'am. So something you said earlier, which I really liked, I really love to try to convey to those around me, and actually, I've gone through some of these conversations over the last month and a half with younger instructor pilots. Luck is just the crossroad of opportunity and being prepared, and I'm pretty sure someone super smarter than me said that. I barely remembered. But the opportunities that present themselves to me for what I wanted to do, for my goals in the Air Force. So thankfully, even getting through pilot training, that was, in itself, amazing, transformational. Getting those wings, right? Getting those wings because pilot training, just like my Academy career, I had some ups and downs and some challenges but was able to get through because the sense of me becoming a pilot was first and foremost to fly. I want to be up there in the sky. I want to rush past the clouds. I want to touch the highest point I can. I want to be a pilot's pilot. And then right behind that was I want to accomplish the mission for whatever platform or whatever weapon system I'm given, aircraft wise. So those are my two biggest priorities. And that helped me understand that I had some failures of pilot training when I got to my first assignment, EC-130s. But that was perfect for me. That was— I never knew that. I never knew that in pilot training, that the EC-130 would fulfill me in that sense of my sense of purpose as much as it did. And I'm and getting out there, like said, four or five deployments to Afghanistan, as well as multiple TDYs. I was doing the mission, and I was happy, because I was— that's exactly what I wanted to do. That's exactly what young Meathead Mount was built for. But there were parts of me that still wanted to do more. Like, I felt like I could do more. I could be— I could help out more. I could— it's just itching, or not itching, but just burning in the back. It's like, “Hey, you are built for so much more. You can do more. Let's look for those opportunities.” So, funny enough, the first opportunity I had at that time, or I thought I had, was I reached out to— it's no longer around — but the 6th Special Operations Squadron at Duke Field. It was a combat aviation advisory mission. These individuals got to travel the world. I got to learn languages. Literally, they were sent to school to learn languages, to embed with other nations, to build those relationships, to be on the ground but still flying multiple different aircraft. I was like, “That's awesome. That sounds like me. That sounds like something I can do, and I can bring value to the table, and all the above.” So I put in my application; it was immediately rejected. In their eyes, I did not have the experience yet. I did not have what they were looking for, understandable. So here I am in another situation to where, like, “OK, well, what do I— is there any other means or ways that I can continue to fulfill my purpose as a pilot and get after the mission? Because that's what I really wanted to do, get after mission, whatever that looks like. I thought the sticks was an opportunity. They had said no to me, that's fine. And then I had an amazing friend reach out. He goes, “Hey, I heard you're getting a little long winded out there at EC-130s. You should put an application in for the U-2.” And I was like, “What are you talking about? I have no jet experience, other than the T-1. I don't have that background to be that type of caliber pilot.” He goes, “Nope, nope. They're looking for good guys and girls. They're looking for those who are motivated to do the mission. And if you could fly, you can fly, if you can't, well, you know, they'll figure that out, and they'll send you home.” And I was like, “OK.” And so I submitted for the U-2, put my application in, they call me out, and it's a two-week interview. The first week they have you in service dress, and you meet all the leadership, and you meet all the other pilots, and just have conversations. That's all, they just wanna get to know you. You know, “What's your true motivation for being here?” And I explained it, just like I've explained to you: “I wanna fly. I wanna do the mission. I wanna be a pilot's pilot. I wanna do all the cool stuff.” And they go, “OK.” Well, week two, they put you in U-2, a two-seater. They have two-seater trainers. They put you in a U-2. They give you all the weekend prior to study, and they say, “Cool, let's see what you got.” And they have an instructor, he instructs, he does his best to give you tidbits on how to safely land the U-2. And you have three days. You have two training flights and then a sort of assessment evaluation flight on that third day, and oh my gosh, did I ever humble myself as a pilot when I realized how horrible I truly was. I felt like I could not land the U-2 safely. I felt like I was messing everything up. I felt like— as soon as we got done with that third day of flying, and we got back into the squadron, and I remember the IP just being like, and then, you know, walks away because they have to talk to the squadron commanders. They have to go talk to the other leadership there. And once again, I find myself like, “OK, I 100% failed. I mean, I gave it my best. I gave it everything I had. But, you know, here I am gonna fall short again.” And they do this. And I realized this afterwards, that they do this, they do that like wait game, you know, they keep you in suspense for a reason. And I waited, it felt like hours and hours and hours. I imagine it probably might only be like hour, hour and a half. And a squadron commander called me in. He goes, “Yeah, the IP definitely didn't like some of this, some of these, these type of landings, some of this airmanship you're showing. I didn't really like this. But overall, he says you're a nice enough guy, so do you want the job?” And I was like, “Whoa.” And it blew my mind. And that was awesome. That was awesome because once again, leading up to that moment, it was the support of my friend who reached out. It was the support of my wife being like, “Yeah, I think you can do this.” And I had even called, my parents were like, “I had this opportunity to fly this really unique aircraft. It's going to be challenging. What do y'all think?” They're like, “Hey, we love you. Go get it.” And I was like, no other words of advice, no other like, inspiring — you know, my dad, a Florida farm man, was just like, “No, I think he'll do fine. We love you and just let us know how it goes.” I was like, man, I'm really missing out in motivational speeches. But you know what? The sentiment is there, and that's all I need. So I got that position, did a few years with the U-2. And then towards the end of the U-2 career, I got word from another friend saying the 6th Special Operations Squadron is growing. “We are looking for readily qualified and experienced people.”   Naviere Walkewicz And this is the one that rejected you.   Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yes, ma'am, I got rejected last time. He goes, “It's OK. Put in another application. You know, you're a little more experienced now, you've got a little bit more under your belt.” And I said, “OK,” and I put in an application, it got rejected again, and here I am, like, “What is going on?” My buddy reached out to me—   Naviere Walkewicz Your name is blacklisted in that group across the board. Like, “Oh, there's that Mount guy. Cross it out.”   Lt. Col. Steven Mount But I think that ended up being somewhat of a blessing. It was like, “Wow, This guy is motivated to come out here.” Because they had seen the last application years ago. They'd seen this one. And I think the word finally got around that's like, “Hey, he's actually really motivated to come try out, at least for this mission.” And so once again, from good mentors, they're like, “Go ahead, try it out. Put the application in one more time, see what happens.” I did, got picked up for assessment selection. It's another week, week and a half interview. They challenge you mentally, they challenge you physically. They put you in situations to see how you react. I don't wanna give too much away for that process, even though, you know, unfortunately that process is not there anymore. But after that grueling week, they once again, here I am in front of another squadron commander, and here they are opening my life in front of them, and they're saying, “Well, we don't like this. We definitely don't like this. Tell us a little more about this,” you know. And that was about an hour interview, sit down, and it's not just the squadron commander. It was leadership — four or five individuals. It was an Army lieutenant colonel's flight doc behind them, you know, kind of doing that very watching, waiting, assessing, and another one of the situations, I'm like, oh, “Here we go. I don't think it's gonna happen.” But then at the end of that interview, they sit down, squadron commander stands up and goes, “Welcome to the 6th.” And the only things I can think of — and I know a lot of listeners or viewers out there do the same thing, and I tell this to my young when they get their wings, I tell them this as well — think of that first person, or persons, that when something amazing happens to you, you immediately reach out to them and you tell them, “Thank you for the support, thank you for the love, thank you for believing in me when others didn't.” And that's exactly what I did after that one. I called my wife, and I called my parents. I said, “It happened. We got it. I got it,” you know, because it wasn't just me, and I know those experiences going from one mission to the next, and those setbacks have— I get to share these stories all the time with these young instructor pilots that I'm with, as well as students, because I get to utilize it as a leadership tool to be like, “Don't give up on yourself. That's first and foremost. And then even if you believe you might give up on yourself, trust me, there's someone like me or your family members or your squadmates, they won't give up on you. And just remember that.” And that's why I get to share these stories throughout my career, of like, “Hey, I failed at this. Look where I'm at now, because I had the support and because I kept going, Hey, I failed at this. Look how it played out. I'm here.” So a lot of my transition from different platforms and different experiences has helped shape that leadership side of me to say, simply put, “It's OK to fail, all right?” I mean, you're never going to succeed if you have this tried and failed a couple times, right? So, right,   Naviere Walkewicz Wow. Well, I want to go into— because you've mentioned this a couple times. We've talked about your parents, but you know, to have a career that's successful and to navigate that, you talked about your wife. So I'm curious if you can share with listeners who have to maybe the word is not choose between. But how do you navigate the importance of your marriage and that relationship with your profession, and trying to succeed in that trajectory, whatever that trajectory is for you. So maybe you can talk a little bit about how that, how that worked throughout all of those transitions.   Lt. Col. Steven Mount Oh, OK. I usually do better at this from a better half nearby, which she is, in a sense. She's trying to work out and give me her working space right now, which I love. I'm gonna start with this. It's not easy. It is work. It is reps, the day in, the day out. It's not easy. I don't believe I've ever had a convo with someone when they're trying to balance the work and family life to where it's like, “Oh, that was easy, you know, I just do this and they do this, and we're good to go.” No, it is constant conflict of schedules. It is sharing what's going on. It's the ups and downs. So I'd like to start with that: It's not easy. And if anyone ever tells you it is easy, please ask them how they're doing it, and then spread their wise words of wisdom to all of us. Because that's probably the first thing: It's not easy. Once you recognize that you can get past understanding like, “OK, I'm not alone in this, that this is not easy, and I can start talking and sharing my experiences and seeing from those who seem to have it together. What are they doing to make it work? So I start there. It's not easy. Second, you have to be a team. I think there's a lot of us that think that, and my wife definitely did initially, and that was on me, that she thought that my career was the most important, that what I did and how I executed the mission and where I was going, that that was the No. 1 priority. And I found it that's not the case. I found that's not the case, because, sure, when we didn't have kids yet, and we were in Tucson, it's a little easier, because I would go on my deployments, and she would go to the job, she would go to work, and she had and she supported that, because I was out there, you know, fighting the good fight, accomplishing a mission, doing everything the Air Force needed me to do. And that's what she knew was important for me. So she supported that through and throughout, and she supported it to where I imagined, to the sense of she didn't feel like she could speak to say things that maybe I would like in the sense of me doing my mission, or coming home from Afghanistan with some of my experiences. Ahe felt that maybe sometimes, that she didn't have a word to convey to like, “Hey, this really scared me.” Or, “Hey, when you were gone, I saw the news and I was frightened. And you know, when I saw this happen, I just wanted to reach out to you, and I just want to make sure you're OK.” And she never felt initially like that she could convey those feelings, because it might affect me. It might affect my, you know, mentality while being overseas and down range. So she held that in, she held it in. She kept strong. She put on the “I'm here to support you” and I feel bad, you know, thinking back on that, that I should have given her the space to like, “Tell me what you're feeling. Tell me what you're going through. I don't want you to, I don't want you to struggle in silence. If you know you see something or there's something that scares you, let me know.” And unfortunately, I didn't learn that lesson until way, way later in my career, because she'd always kept that strength in and even when we started having kids, she still did. I kick myself all the time now that— we got to California, in the U-2s, we had an incident down range to where they needed me to bump up my deployment out there, to get out there to take care of the situation. And I'd asked, I was like, “Well, how much sooner do you need me?” Because we had just had our first son. You know, the dynamic's changing. The family dynamic is changing, and especially with your first born. And they said, “We need you to leave in about a week.” Here I was once again. And I know we have kind of kind of mentioned that I was I was in the mean mentality I was in. I was gonna be a pilot's pilot. I was gonna get the mission done. I was going to do everything I could to prove myself, and if my country needs me to be out there in a week to take care of this mission, that my family and my wife will understand. And that was that was not the way I should look at it. It really wasn't. But because I was not seeing her as a teammate, and she held it in — and thank goodness we had her mother-in-law. We had some family come out and support with a new baby. But I could tell that was one of the first times to where looking back on it now that maybe I could have said, “Can you find someone else?” You know, maybe I should have what I'm doing, hopefully you're doing now and teaching others. You have to balance that family with mission and the prioritize what is truly important at that moment. And that's something I failed to do at that time. It would happen again later on, but thankfully— so when I got to the 6th Special Operations Squadron, and at this time, especially after we had our second child in California, the wife had mentioned more. She started coming out of the shell like, “Hey, I do need you a little bit more now. I need you, and I need to be able to express and convey what I do and don't like.” And I was listening, but I was not listening the way she needed me to listen. I was not being that teammate on my side. So I heard, “Hey, I just need more support with the family. So whatever career decision we make next, let's align that.” And I was in my head, I was like, “Yes, you're absolutely right.” That's why the 6th Special Operations Squadron, when I got that interview and I picked up, it was so important, because I had family in that area, and family could get to us easier. So I was thinking, “Awesome. I have the support system for you there. I got the assignment. You're going to be taken care of.” I can tell that's not yet what she was wanting. And I will credit good old Col. Valentino. I was spinning up to go to Lebanon with the team, and we're about to have our third child. And here I was once again, like, “Yep, gotta get back to the mission. Gotta show my value. Gotta get in there, do it.” And the wife understands. We have two kids already. We're gonna have a third. So we've already had two. We kind of know how this goes. We're good to go. But I could tell, once again, looking back, everything's— that she wasn't happy, but she was ready to put up that wall again, to be like, “OK, I have to support him. Have to support what he does, and I have to, because that's what the military is asking me. That's what this new community…” And then Col Valentino, he came down. He goes, “Hey, are you about to have another child?” And I was like, “Yes, sir.” He goes, “When?” And I gave him the date. And he goes, “Your deployment date is like, a month after that.” I was like, “Yes, sir. This is our third child. We'll be good to go. I have the support system for the wife now, and she'll be taken care of. Good to go.” And he goes, “No, you're staying home. I don't need you.” He goes, “Did you want to ask me if there's anyone else wants to go so you can be there for your wife and your family?” And that blew my mind, that just, I don't know. It came out of nowhere for someone in a leadership role to say, “No, I'm not gonna send you on this deployment. I want you to be there with your family.” And that held in tight, and from then on, everything changed, and how I led and how I would push the mission. But I wouldn't do it to the extent of, could I not help someone balance their family life with their mission? And that took too long for me to realize. So what I say to everyone out there, it's not easy, but you come home from a long day and you're mentally exhausted and the mission is not going good, or you're getting ready for deployment, take a moment, sit down and just talk with your teammate at home. You have to look at it as teammates. They are your partner. They will be just like I mentioned before. They will be your support system through thick and thin, because they've probably seen you at your worst, and they want you to be at your best. But you can't do that unless you take care of that home front and treat them as your teammate. Because I am still, to this day, trying my best to become the man that I hope that she sees in me and that she wants me to be one day, but I had to fail in seeing it back then so that could see it now. And I think that's one of these things I want to convey. Not easy, and they have to be your teammates.   Naviere Walkewicz Thank you for sharing that. And I think to have a leader that showed you that, which is, now you've imprinted that in your leadership style. You're thinking about the airmen that you come across and how to help them navigate some of those tough choices, but doing it with a, you know, a bigger view of not just the mission, but, like, how do you fit in that with your family? I think that's so powerful, and I'm really glad you shared that, because I know that some of our listeners and our viewers, that's gonna resonate with them as well, because they're gonna remember a time when, “Wow, I didn't even ask if I didn't have to go, or if I didn't have to do this, just because I'm so used to jumping when you say, jump,” right? And I think sometimes it's OK. It's OK. Just a question, like, I'm willing and ready to jump. I just want to make sure is someone else able to do it too because of these reasons, right? So I love that you share that.   Lt. Col. Steven Mount And those leaders have to know their people enough in that regard to also know because ultimately, when you get the mission, then yes, that's what we signed up for, yes. But those leaders know their people, and they know what situation they're in. For example, there's a few times in Special Operations to where we're going on another deployment. But we knew our people, and we knew that some did not have the balance at home, and things were not looking the best they could. “Hey, we can help you out. We can give you all the resources you need. We don't need you on this deployment.” But that takes good leaders, recognizing and taking care of their people and understanding that these individuals cannot be effective down range or where they go if their home life is not taken care of. So, I know that is something that's been talked about for all my leadership training for all the years, but actually applying it is going to start with our future leaders coming up to realize, know your people, know where you can take care of them so that they can take care of the mission.   Naviere Walkewicz That's right. That's right. So this has been incredible. I think the underlying lesson that you shared with us is, obviously having belief in yourself and doing the work and proving your worth, so to speak. But I think it's also recognizing that support network. So if I may ask, you, I have two questions. The first one is, what are you doing to be a better leader every day? Yourself, like, what is something you are actually doing to be a better leader?   Lt. Col. Steven Mount Oh my gosh. Well, I'm recognizing I know I'm not doing it right. Knowing that I'm about taking command already has the underlying nervousness and anxiety, and I realized taking command, why I have these emotions is because I'm afraid to fail, which that makes sense. That makes sense to any logical human being out there. That's like, yeah, I get that. But I have to realize, in that same token, it's OK to fail. It's OK to make mistakes. It's OK that some days you go in there, you're not gonna get it all right. This last year as a director of operations, I've walked out of that building, and there's days been like I didn't accomplish anything. I've messed things up. I didn't do this right. Why am I here? They could have found someone better. And then there were days where, like, yes, I did it, right? I got something accomplished. And on those days, I realized it's because I was taking care of the people and people's needs. And once again, when that happened, they were able to take care of the mission. And that's one of the things that every day I go into work and I ask myself, “Who can I help out? Who needs the motivational kick? Who needs someone to just talk with them? Who needs to share their story?” Because that's what leaders, ultimately, are. We take care of the people. And if I can go in there and just help one person every single day, I would like to think that that's a small success. So that's one thing I'm constantly working on. And it is an effort. It's not easy. It's not easy because you are taking so much and leaders, I don't care what level you're on, all the way from your very first flight command, all the way to your mission command, aircraft commander, all the way to where I am now. You're going to take a lot on your shoulders. You're going to bear, you know, the burden of others, pains, their grief, their successes, their failures. So I guess that's also answer that question. Get ready for that. OK? Because a good leader will do that. They will bear they will help hold the weight. They will support those who need it the most. And we got to do it day in, day out, the reps they have to. So I think I answered the first question, I apologize, was it was.   Naviere Walkewicz The second question is coming. So you're good, you're good. OK. What's something that you know now after having your 17-plus years in the in the military, but also just your life experience — but what's something you know now that you would share with a leader to kind of shorten that timeframe of, like learning those painful things to be better, right? So what would be something you'd share?   Lt. Col. Steven Mount Something I'd share to close that learning gap? Because once again, my call sign is Meathead— I learned lessons the hard way. Do your best to listen more than you talk. Do your best to just take the experiences of others, talk to others, but just listen. Just hear them. Just hear them. I believe that a lot of the things that I could have prevented may have already been told to me, or may have already been, you know, mentored to me, but I just didn't listen. Maybe they said something and “I was like, well, that doesn't jive with being cool or being a pilot, so I'm not gonna listen to that.” I'm pretty sure all of these lessons that hopefully either conveying or passing on, in a sense, I think I learned them early on. I just, I just didn't listen. So for all the leaders out there, do your best to listen, listen more than you talk. It will be wonders. Naviere Walkewicz Oh my gosh, that's just outstanding. And I what I really appreciate about that is, you know, you talked about how you're doing things to get better every day, but even just in the moment, you recognize like that's such an important piece of that is taking the time to listen and reflect so that you can actually really pick up on those cues, maybe, that someone needs your support. So yes, well, this has been incredible. As we wrap up today's episode, I keep coming back to something you said, which was all someone needs to do is just support you. Yeah. So here's the takeaway, leadership is found in how we show up for our people and how we believe in them, and how we remind them that they are capable for more than what they think they are. The question we can always ask ourselves today is, who needs me to believe in them right now? And you actually said that really well. So Col. Mount, I just want to thank you for joining us for this episode of Long Blue Leadership. Is there anything else you want to leave with our listeners today? Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yes. I don't think I'll ever be that leader that does one great act, and everyone's like, that's a great leader. I don't think I'll ever be that leader that gives like, one great speech, like, that's it. He nailed it. He's a great leader. No, if I'm gonna leave something with all of those you know at the Academy and the leaders in the Air Force now — which, by the way, thanks all of you. Me too, man, thank you for your service. You have no idea how much the world needs us right now, so you get out there and see it. So sorry. That was an aside. But thank you to everyone who's at the Academy now, who have served, whose families have served and will continue to serve. But one thing I'll leave to all those young leaders: Your leadership is defined by the acts, the million acts every day, not just by one act, not just by, like I said, not just by one amazing thing that you do. It's defined on you being there, and a million acts per day over a lifetime of your career, of showing up, showing that you care. That's huge, showing that you're fair and consistent. And they will see that your people will see that that those million acts day in day out, of how you treat them, and how you present yourself as a leader. And they will watch. They will watch, and if they can see that you care, and if they can see that you are doing those million acts day in, day out, and you're in there and you're in the grind and you're in the mud with them, they will give you everything, they will, and it's amazing to see, it really is, but that starts with you as the leader. So yeah, that's it, it's those million acts every day of a lifetime career that shows that you're a leader.   Naviere Walkewicz Well, we are so glad that you're out there leading and influencing so many. We're grateful for all of your years and more that you will do. Thank you so much.   Lt. Col. Steven Mount Thank you so much for the opportunity. I really, really enjoyed this. Thank you.   Naviere Walkewicz Good. Thank you for joining us for this edition of Long Blue Leadership. The podcast drops every two weeks on Tuesdays and is available on all your favorite podcast apps. Send your comments and guest ideas to us at socialmedia@usafa.org, and listen to past episodes at longblueleadership.org.   KEYWORDS Leadership, Resilience, Mentorship, Adoption / Family Foundation, Support Network, Perseverance, Tough Conversations, Mission & Family Balance, Trust, Listening       The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation      

Communications Committee Deputy Chair CA Chris Ferguson talks with Scheduling Committee Deputy Chair FO Mikael Landau about how the Scheduling Committee and Scheduling Department address a broad range of scheduling-related issues for pilots involving PBS, DOTC, TTS, vacation, Mutual Base Exchange, TDYs, vacancies, and pairing analysis.

Send us a textStrap in, nerds — it's time for another brutally honest, occasionally aggressive PSA from your favorite cynical pipehitters. Aaron, Jared, and Trent are done pretending like your DMs are cute. This episode is a tactical nuke on all the dumbass questions that keep clogging our inboxes like an MRE-induced constipation crisis.Are you 25 and feeling “too old”? Shut up. Asking if you should delay shipping because your runtime is 0.3 seconds off? Delay your dreams forever, why not. Unsure whether you should be a PJ, CCT, SR, or join the FBI to fight aliens with the CIA? We're not your career counselor, Karen.This is the one-stop, soul-crushing episode you'll be angrily timestamping and rage-sharing with your overthinking wannabe operator buddies. We cover:Magical age limits and why the pipeline doesn't care about your birth yearWhy your “peak interest” is spelling itself out of selectionWhat training volume actually means (spoiler: you're not doing enough)The truth about SpecWar lifestyle, hot teammates, and why Air Force has the hottest dudes AND best hotelsOh, and yes — we talk about “Hot Kyle.” Again.

Today's episode will be a great resource for those of you involved in the military. Heather and Nate sit down to discuss their experience through two deployments and one short tour over the last 10 years and how it affected their relationship and what they did to prepare each time. The couple tackles the controversial topic of whether or not they think getting married to your partner before a deployment is necessary or not. They share some tips on how you can create financial security for your loved ones back home, other emergency preparedness things to check off your pre-deployment checklist, and how a mindset shift can make the time go by more smoothly.Highlights:00:00 10 years, 2 deployments, and 1 short tour06:00 Do you need to get married before deployment?07:45 Updating your beneficiaries and other preparedness10:00 Our deployment experience as an engaged couple14:00 TDYs are HARD16:45 Shout out Royal Hawaiian!18:10 Communicating how you're feeling is key20:00 Ask those who have experienceLet's ConnectConnect with us HEREPodcast IG: chirpinwithchipTikTok: heather.demersWebsiteLINKS/CODES/DISCOUNTSFor business inquiries: heatherdemers@trend-mgmt.comFor all our favorite products:LTK is linked HEREShopMy is linked HEREThis episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Technology has had an incredible impact on how we live and work in the world today.  Our access to videos, websites, and social media platforms are just at our fingertips.  But does digital media usage affect our mental health?  Listen as Dr. Justin Rowberry discusses the impact that this usage has on our mental, emotional, and behavioral health…especially on our kids.   This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Luke Spouses' Club and Tyndall Spouses Club.  To learn more, visit https://www.lukespousesclub.org/ and https://www.tyndallsc.org/.   Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.   Show Notes:   Resources:   Bio:   Colonel Justin R. Rowberry is the Director of the Developmental and Behavioral Family Readiness Center (DBFRC), Defense Health Headquarters, Virginia. He is creating and leading an innovative health program designed to provide developmental, behavioral, and mental health care to remote or underserved locations across the Air Force. He has grown the DBFRC from a 4-provider pilot program in PACAF to now having 9 teams of physicians, nurses, speech therapists, and social workers across the globe. Col Rowberry ensures timely delivery of needed remote care through a combination of virtual video visits, specialty provider extender training, and provider TDYs. The DBFRC has proved crucial to readiness through strategic delivery of care where and when it is needed, decreasing EFMP denials, decreasing reassignments for medical reasons, and improving dependent healthcare outcomes.

In this podcast episode from Waiting Warriors, host Michelle Bowler engages in an insightful discussion with guest Amanda Scott, a military spouse, on the challenges and possibilities of maintaining one's career amidst the unpredictable and hectic TDY schedule. Michelle and Amanda offer actionable advice on building resilience, leveraging opportunities like remote work, and remaining proactive to ensure that careers are not solely dictated by military life. Amanda also discusses her personal experiences, underscoring the importance of mindset, openness with superiors, flexibility, and planning ahead to ensure career progress. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to the Waiting Warriors Podcast 00:39 Guest Introduction: Amanda Scott 01:01 Understanding the Impact of TDYs on Military Spouses 01:26 Amanda's Career Journey and the Role of RTX 02:10 The Challenges of Maintaining a Career Amidst TDYs 04:17 Defining 'Career' and 'Maintaining' in the Context of Military Life 05:07 Amanda's Personal Experience with Career Progression and Military Impact 11:43 Strategies for Maintaining a Career During TDYs 17:31 Examples of Workplace Accommodations for Military Spouses 20:23 Workplace Accommodations for Military Spouses 20:53 Understanding FMLA and Its Benefits 22:33 The Importance of Having a Plan 25:16 Advocacy and Communication in the Workplace 30:24 Overcoming Challenges and Thriving in Your Career 36:12 Connecting with Resources for Career-Minded Military Spouses 37:47 Amanda's Key To Thriving

Ever wondered about the unique challenges and experiences of belonging to the Zennial/Xennial generation, wedged between the millennial and Gen X generations? Join Dan and I as we navigate our generational identity and discuss the importance of staying abreast with technology in our fast-paced world. Our insightful chat with Dan Kephart introduces you to the complexities of motivating airmen in a tech school setting. Unravel the significance of KPIs, talent development within the air force and how it all ties back to unit leaders. A little bit later, we delve into the hurdles faced by those who haven't had many PCSs or TDYs and the value of supervisor experience. We also touch upon the necessity of honest feedback to our team, fostering growth and avoiding stagnation. Lastly, we open up about our personal experiences transitioning out of the Air Force, the accompanying regrets and internal struggles tied to the values held by the Air Force. As we reflect on the significance of upholding the oath of enlistment, we also ponder the possible decline of patriotism and the impact social media may have on the younger generations. From internal struggles related to our values and patriotism to the physiological impacts of caffeine consumption on our wellbeing, join us for this journey filled with personal experiences, honest feedback, and in-depth discussions about technology.Be a ⭐️ of the

Today on Failure to Stop Last Call, Tansey and Dead Leg discuss the new purposed UFO legislation and what it actually tells us. An American willfully crosses the DMZ and the Air Force cancels bonuses, stops all TDYs and there are talks about a stop loss. Why is the Air Force out of money? All this and more on today's Last Call the episode of the week that gives you something else to talk about other than the job. Brought to you By Ghostbed.com/wolfpack Factor Fresh Promo Code Wolfpack50 for 50% off Mybookie.com promo code Wolfpack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you craving better communication during your spouse's deployment or TDY?    I'm breaking down the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to deployment communication, and providing actionable tips to improve communication that allow you to connect deeper with your spouse, even across different time zones and limited availability.   Deployments and TDYs bring unique communication challenges, but with the right mindset and strategies, you can maintain a healthy and meaningful connection with your partner.    So don't just accept that deployment communication will not be great while they're away. Join me in this episode as we explore:   Four practical ways to improve communication during deployment How you can get what you need most when your spouse is away Ways to approach the conversation when there is something pressing you need answered or you have something bothering you An effective tool you can use anytime to improve communication How your mindset plays a crucial role in all of this   FREE CHALLENGE! How to get through deployment without dread, resentment or fights: https://lindsaycavanagh.com/july-2023-challenge   Check out my course for more support during deployment! In The Trenches: Mastering Deployment for a Stronger Marriage: https://lindsaycavanagh.com/in-the-trenches   Connect with me for a FREE Military Marriage Breakthrough Call:  https://marriedtomilitary.satoriapp.com/offers/236651-military-marriage-breakthrough-call   Follow me on Instagram so you don't miss a thing! https://www.instagram.com/marriedtomilitary/ Continue the conversation in my private Facebook group Married to Military: https://www.facebook.com/groups/449431269700869

Are you craving better communication during your spouse's deployment or TDY?    I'm breaking down the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to deployment communication, and providing actionable tips to improve communication that allow you to connect deeper with your spouse, even across different time zones and limited availability.   Deployments and TDYs bring unique communication challenges, but with the right mindset and strategies, you can maintain a healthy and meaningful connection with your partner.    So don't just accept that deployment communication will not be great while they're away. Join me in this episode as we explore:   Four practical ways to improve communication during deployment How you can get what you need most when your spouse is away Ways to approach the conversation when there is something pressing you need answered or you have something bothering you An effective tool you can use anytime to improve communication How your mindset plays a crucial role in all of this   FREE CHALLENGE! How to get through deployment without dread, resentment or fights: https://lindsaycavanagh.com/july-2023-challenge   Check out my course for more support during deployment! In The Trenches: Mastering Deployment for a Stronger Marriage: https://lindsaycavanagh.com/in-the-trenches   Connect with me for a FREE Military Marriage Breakthrough Call:  https://marriedtomilitary.satoriapp.com/offers/236651-military-marriage-breakthrough-call   Follow me on Instagram so you don't miss a thing! https://www.instagram.com/marriedtomilitary/ Continue the conversation in my private Facebook group Married to Military: https://www.facebook.com/groups/449431269700869

Have you ever found yourself feeling resentful of your spouse or their career? Or maybe just the military in general? We've all been there. It might be because of how much it has impacted your ability to pursue your dreams. It might be because it doesn't feel like there is equilibrium in the relationship. It might be because you're just tired of the frequent moves, and TDYs, and deployments. Or it might just be because you feel like your spouse is having success and chasing their dreams, while you're still stuck in a life you don't love.   Whatever the reason, if we don't address the resentment, it will only grow and cause even more problems. So today, we're going to talk through five practical steps you can take to release resentment, and experience more peace and purpose in your life.     Better Together, Christine   MENTIONS Ready to reclaim your life and dreams? FREE CLARITY WORKSHOP: https://milspousemastermind.com/workshop   RESOURCES FEELING LOST? FREE CLARITY WORKSHOP: https://milspousemastermind.com/workshop FEELING OVERWHELMED? WHAT MATTERS MOST WORKSHEET: https://milspousemastermind.com/values  FEELING ISOLATED? FIND YOUR TRIBE:  https://milspousemastermind.com/community DESIGN A LIFE YOU LOVE: https://milspousemastermind.com/growthwheel CRAFT A LIFE WITH PURPOSE: https://morethanamilspouse.com UNSTUCK COACHING: milspousemastermind.com/unstuck LEAVE A SHOW REVIEW: https://milspousemastermind.com/show CONNECT VIA EMAIL: hello@milspousemastermind.com CONNECT ON IG: @milspousemastermind

Military life is full of separations, and while they can be difficult for you and your whole family, it's a great time to get extra work done in your small business. I recently experienced a TDY with my service member, Nick, and this episode goes over my top tips (and things I did wrong) during our TDY when it comes to running your small business. This is episode 130 of the Moments with an MEO podcast.In this episode, I chat about: The importance of healthy boundariesGoal setting during TDYs and other separationsWhy you shouldn't give in to hustle culture just because you're aloneThe cost of burn outIf you have tips for small business ownership and TDYs, feel free to message me on Instagram: @new_altitudesCheck out MilSO Box here: www.milsobox.com

Nearly one in eight families struggle to get pregnant or sustain a pregnancy. And yet infertility is one of those subjects that isn't talked a lot about. For couples walking through this struggle, it can be extremely isolating and shame-inducing. This struggle is only exacerbated by life in the military as couples seek to build families around frequent deployments, TDYs and cross-country moves.   This week is National Infertility Awareness Week. I sat down with my friend and 2019 Armed Forces Insurance Scott AFB Spouse of the Year Cat Vandament, to discuss her journey as an infertility warrior and adoptive mom, as well her advocacy work on behalf of military families. Whatever pain in your life you have walked through, or are currently walking through, you will find hope and encouragement in Cat's story.  I can't wait to share this conversation with you.   Better Together, Christine   MENTIONS https://infertilityawareness.org   Connect With Cat Instagram Email Linked In   LINKS START HERE: How To Get UNSTUCK And Craft A Life With PURPOSE (FREE ASSESSMENT) https://milspousemastermind.com/growthwheel STOP THE OVERWHELM: How to Prioritize What Matters Most to You (FREE WORKSHEET) https://milspousemastermind.com/values  FIND YOUR TRIBE: Join the Free MilSpouse Mastermind FB Community https://milspousemastermind.com/community DISCOVER WHO YOU ARE MEANT TO BE: MilSpouse Purpose Playbook  https://morethanamilspouse.com GET SUPPORT: Request a Get Unstuck Coaching Session hello@milspousemastermind.com LEARN MORE: https://milspousemastermind.com LEAVE A SHOW REVIEW: https://milspousemastermind.com/show CONNECT VIA EMAIL: hello@milspousemastermind.com CONNECT VIA INSTAGRAM: @milspousemastermind

Listen in as we talk with A1C Michaela Gundersen (Air Traffic Control), A1C Kyle Heimbruch (Environmental and Electrics), and A1C Lillian Oliver (Boom Operator) as they talk about what they have been up to since finishing their First Term Airman Course. From getting their journeyman skill levels, to TDYs, deployments, and finding things to do around base. They've done a lot, collectively!

Hi friend, I think a big question for many of us as military spouses is, “How do I fit it all in?” We feel overwhelmed between the unpredictability of our kids' schools, and health diagnoses, and deployments, TDYs, deaths, kids activities, and volunteer (voluntold) opportunities, not to mention the mental load of the managing our homes.   We're searching for the silver bullet – the thing that will somehow make us more productive and make life feel less overwhelming. Is it a better way to meal plan, or a better calendar system, or life planner?   In today's episode, I'm sharing my top 3 things that have really helped me THE MOST when it comes to living with   I hope this episode encourages and blesses you in your military spouse journey!   Christine   P.S. Have you joined our Facebook community for military spouses? This is where we share our struggles, our wins and we encourage one another on this crazy journey of military life. I hope to see you inside. JOIN HERE   LAST CHANCE TO WIN – OCTOBER 25 at 11PM EST   Lizann Lightfoot is giving away a free copy of her new book, Open When, Letters of Encouragement for Military Spouses to someone in the MilSpouse Mastermind community   To enter, you can:   Grab a screenshot and share the MilSpouse Mastermind Show in your social media feed or stories and tag@milspousemastermind 2. Find the IG giveaway post on @milspousemastermindand TAG a friend in the comments who might also like this giveaway. or Leave a review on Apple Podcasts (worth 5 entries!)   Contest ends October 25 at 11PM EST!!   !!!! JOIN THE MILSPOUSE PURPOSE PLAYBOOK LAUNCH TEAM !!!!   The course goes live NOVEMBER 1, but it is now available for PRE-ORDER!!   And the first FIVE people to pre-order the course will become part of the launch team – early access, 50% OFF the course price, and an exclusive feedback session in exchange for a course testimonial.   JOIN HERE Questions? Email Christine@milspousemastermind.com   MENTIONS   Ep 22 - Are You Thriving or Just Surviving as a Military Spouse? How to Practically Own Your Day So it Doesn't Own YOU (My Morning Routine)   Ep 24 - MilSpo Prioritization Playbook, Part 1: Create more TIME and Do Less BETTER   Ep 25 - MilSpo Prioritization Playbook, Part 2: The #1 TOOL YOU NEED to Prioritize Your Time & Schedule   Ep 36 -  Are You Missing One of These 3 FUNDAMENTAL Needs? Why No One Is Getting The Best Version of You as a Military Spouse (And What To Do About It)   LINKS   PREORDER MilSpouse Purpose Playbook -> https://milspousemastermind.com/clarity START HERE! (Learn how to stop feeling pulled in all direction & prioritize what matters most) -> https://milspousemastermind.com/values Join the Free MilSpouse Mastermind FB Community -> https://milspousemastermind.com/community Free Download: Growth Wheel Assessment (Assess which areas of your life are out of balance) https://milspousemastermind.com/growthwheel Request a Get Unstuck Coaching Session -> christine@milspousemastermind.com Full episodes, blog posts and more -> https://milspousemastermind.com Connect -> hello@milspousemastermind.com Instagram -> @christineh Listen on Apple Podcast -> https://milspousemastermind.com/show Listen on Google -> https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=%3D

Have you ever thought to yourself, “When my active duty spouse is gone, I'll get all these things accomplished?” And then Murphy's Law of Deployment happens.   The car breaks down. The kids get sick. The air conditioner stops working. If your spouse is gone, that's inevitably when something goes wrong. But while we may be more acutely aware of this phenomenon, the truth is there are things that will always get in the way of us pursuing our goals. Any time we try to make a positive change, we will face obstacles.   It's called resistance. And it's the reason why most new years' resolutions are never kept. Why most dreams simply stay dreams.   In today's episode, we unpack what resistance is, why we face it, and we discuss 3 specific strategies to keep us moving forward despite the obstacles in our way! P.S. MilSpouse Purpose Playbook is almost here!! I'm so excited to get this into your hands. This is your step-by-step guide to getting unstuck and pursuing a life of meaning and purpose regardless of your current circumstances or season of life! Join The Waitlist!   MENTIONS The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield   LINKS GET ON THE WAITLIST! MilSpouse Purpose Playbook -> https://milspousemastermind.com/clarity START HERE! (Learn how to stop feeling pulled in all direction & prioritize what matters most) -> https://milspousemastermind.com/values Join the Free MilSpouse Mastermind FB Community -> https://milspousemastermind.com/community Free Download: Growth Wheel Assessment (Assess which areas of your life are out of balance) https://milspousemastermind.com/growthwheel Request a Get Unstuck Coaching Session -> christine@milspousemastermind.com Full episodes, blog posts and more -> https://milspousemastermind.com Connect -> hello@milspousemastermind.com Instagram -> @christineh Listen on Apple Podcast -> https://milspousemastermind.com/show Listen on Google -> https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL01pbFNwb3VzZU1hc3Rlcm1pbmQvZmVlZC54bWw%3D

Sarah and I sit down this week to read and react to your follower submitted stories about surviving TDYS, deployments, and DETS. As military spouses, we all know that when your loved one is gone, that is when people or things either get trashed, smashed, or just plain crash- whether that's your AC unit combusting in the middle of the summer, your kid breaking leg, or maybe your hot water heater exploding all over your brand new hardwood floors. Could also just be your sanity! Either way, things just get weird. So we asked ya'll to share with us your most cringiest, weirdest, funny-even-though-at-the-time-not-so-funny stories, and as always, the RHFP fam did not disappoint. We aren't saying misery loves company, but I think we can all relate and commiserate with a few of these. Plus, they are had us rolling! So sit back, pour yourself a coffee or cocktail (time of day isn't important, we aren't judging) and buckle up.

-Discipline displayed leading up to Nationals 2021? -23yr old Active Duty USAF, juggling TDYs, training, work/life schedule-Training routine leading up to Nats? -Weight loss advise? -camaraderie/sportsmanship in WL

Welcome to our first episode with our new, re-imagined content! What do TDYs and murder have in common? Listen in to find out. We cover the tragic murder of A1C Bradley Hale and give you the low down on what a TDY is. Sources for this episode come from articles on stripes.com, airforcetimes.com, ksla.com and shreveporttimes.com. True crime not really your thing? No problem! We have a military related topic as well. Skip ahead to minute 29 to get right to it! What does TDY even stand for? Veronica has all the ins and outs for you for our military topic this week. Also if you'd like to hear more about Anderesen AFB and Navy Base Guam, check out episode 37 where Veronica highlights them. We'd love to know how you like our new content. Send us feedback and suggestions to Dependasplaining@gmail.com, Facebook or DM us on Instagram! Check us out on the Milsomuster app! Wonderful military related podcasts, blogs and spouse-owned business!

We as military spouses are now not only facing our "normal" stressors (deployment, TDYs, PCSing) but also making attempts to adapt amid all things CV-19.

This episode is sponsored by Christopher Travel.Are you thinking of planning a road trip this summer, Christopher Travel is excited to offer a 50% discount to the Women of the Military Podcast followers on all its semi-custom and custom road trip itineraries, or opt for the basic pre planned itinerary for just $5. Each itinerary includes the high level of detail for which Christopher Travel is known. These itineraries immerse you in the fun, quirky and quintessential experiences of the great American road trip. Wherever the road leads, you can just relax and enjoy the adventure because Christopher Travel has done all the planning for you visit them on the web to learn More go to https://christopher.travel/womenofthemilitarypodcast/. Benefsheh Verell (Benef) is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel with twenty years of active duty service. She graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point in 1997 and has a Masters of Science in Physical Geography from the University of Maryland. She spent ten years as a Military Police officer and ten years as an Information Operations officer. As a retiree, Benef remains passionate about educating service members of the benefits mindfulness practices have on the mind and body. She’s trained to teach trauma sensitive yoga and is also on the board of directors of Warriors at Ease, a non-profit organization that brings mindfulness practices to the military and veteran communities. She’s an iRest (Integrative Restoration) meditation teacher and advocates to have mindfulness practices as part of a regular resiliency program that starts in basic training and continues throughout a service member’s career. Benef continues to serve as a spouse and retiree through volunteering in the community as the president of the Zama Community Spouses Association, the treasurer for the Boy Scouts, advocating for mindfulness practices in the military, educating senior leaders about the benefits of mindfulness, meditation, and yoga, and mentoring service members and spouses. She is the author of Military and Mindful: Eight Essential Elements to Manage Your Military Career and Motherhood.In this episode we talked about the challenges of attending West Point. We also covered the challenges of being dual military. It is often difficult for dual military couples to manage their service, having a family and being separated due to deployments and TDYs. Benef found herself struggling with life and that is when she found yoga as a place of healing and refocusing. It changed her life. After 20 years of service she transitioned out of the military. She found many challenges, although she was ready to leave the military. She wasn’t ready for the transition and what life would mean without her military service. She transitioned to the role of military spouse and mom. It has been a struggle, but through hard work and learning who she was and who she wanted to be she is thriving today and even wrote a book. Connect with Benef (contains affiliate links):Military-Mindful-Essential-Elements-MotherhoodInstagram accountMentioned in this Episode (contains affiliate links):Beyond the Point by Claire GibsonRelated Episodes:Mourning My Military Service – Episode 47From West Point to Iraq – Episode 38Serving in Iraq (the kickoff, the surge, the drawdown) – Episode 32Post 9/11 Female Work Force Experience - Episode 78Include Transitioning guide for the graphic for this blog post 

This topic is near and dear to my heart because I 100% understand the frustrations of employment as a military spouse. It was a struggle for me to work in the financial services industry in the midst of deployments, long TDYs and PCSing. In fact, my whole business was born out of my personal struggle to do what I love and can make money at but also that fit into balancing our family and military life. My guest today is Beth Conlin. Beth is the Senior Advisor for Careers with Blue Star Families. She is a fellow Milspouse and understands the challenges other spouses face when it comes to employment. I’m chatting with Beth about a Blue Star Families program called Spouseforce. Spouseforce is a program working with employers to create employment and training solutions to help Milspouses with jobs that work with their lifestyle. And let’s face it, it’s hard to explain to a new employer you need three weeks off because your hubby who you haven’t seen in a year is coming home. Or that you have to come in 30 minutes later than everyone else for work because you have no one, not a spouse, friend or family member to get your kids to school because you have just arrived at a new duty location. In this episode we discuss: What Spouseforce is and how does it work Who can us Spouseforce The need for this program Costs Spouseforce sign up Experience requirements for the program Training provided Volunteer Work Can people/companies search Podcast Links Blue Star Families Career Center SpouseforceWhat’s on Lacey’s Mind Silent Sacrifice on the Homefront Becoming Special Thank You A special thank you to my brother, Brian for coming on for What’s on Lacey’s Mind. Thank You for Podcast Reviews! I appreciate your review of Military Money Movement Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, TuneIn, iHeart Radio and Stitcher. It helps me make this podcast better and better. Plus it helps other people find the show. Connect Subscribe to The Military Money Expert™️ Subscribe to The Military Money Show on Apple or Android Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Subscribe to Lacey’s YouTube Channel Disclosure These notes may contain links to my affiliate products or services which means I might get compensation when you click or buy. That said, I’m only going to put affiliate links that are in line with my podcast discussion.

In this episode, the second part of our mini-series covering all things related to extended separations due to military life, our special guest expert, Juno, tells about her personal experiences leaving kids behind for deployments and TDYs. Juno is an Active Duty Air Force mom of three and her stories provide invaluable insight into challenges military women face as they prepare their families for extended separations, sustain them throughout the separation and reintegrate after a separation. Listen in for relatable stories and great advice!

After having a career in film and television Maria found herself looking for a new career that was stable enough for her to grow a family while her husband was frequently away on TDYs and deployments but could grow with her as they PCSed. Maria created Moving with the Military to help celebrate military family life while also helping them transition and feel at home in their new locations. Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/milhousingnetwork Follow us on Instagram: @milhousingnetwork Connect with us: www.milhousingnetwork.com Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/milhousing-nation/id1380968002?mt=2