Parenting in Uniform

Julie Ryan is a businesswoman, an inventor, author, podcaster, and a serial entrepreneur. Her surgical device inventions are sold globally and she has founded nine companies in five different industries. Julie’s 'Angel Messages®' books are picture books that have angels answering kids’ tough questions. You can find her books on Amazon: Angel Messages for Truth: The Two-Minute Rule.  Julie’s talents continue…She is a Psychic Medium and Medical Intuitive. Julie can sense what medical conditions and illnesses a person has and facilitate energetic healings. She can communicate with spirits both alive and dead. Julie can scan animals, access people’s past lives, and she can tell how close to death someone is. Her book 'Angelic Attendants: What Really Happens As We Transition From This Life Into The Next' describes a series of events that involves angels, multitudes of deceased family and friends, the spirits of deceased pets, and countless serendipitous and miraculous moments. Each week, Julie scans callers on her 'Ask Julie Ryan' international podcast. Julie’s Psychic and Medical Intuitive skills are learned.Find more about here:Ask Julie RyanFacebook Instagram  TikTok LinkedInYouTubeCheck out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music  by audiblelemonade.com.

I had the honor of speaking at the Governor’s Mansion for the Garden Club of Columbia’s Memorial Day observance. Here’s my message in honor of 1LT Laura Walker, and Sergeants Robert Davis, Daniel Brewer,Chad Carletti, Cal Foster, and Leslie Andrews. You will always be remembered!Check out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music  by audiblelemonade.com.This episode is sponsored by Taming the High Cost of College. 

Brad Baldridge is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™, College Funding Consultant, and chief podcaster at Taming the High Cost of College. You can verify his background and experience at FINRA’s BrokerCheck.Brad  helps families plan and save for college by providing expert guidance, customize planning services, and insights on the latest tax, cash flow, and academic strategies.Contact Brad. Check out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, music, and show notes by audiblelemonade.com.

Check out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, music, and show notes by audiblelemonade.com.

Dominique, US Army Captain and Attorney,  and Juanita Sepulveda, USMC veteran and entrepreneur,  share their own personal experiences on preparing to take part in the Ms. Veteran America competition, where grace, poise, beauty, and service are the ingredients for all the women involved. Proceeds from this event provide housing for homeless female veterans and children.  First up, I share a little about where exactly I am at right now and some of the bigger changes that have taken place for my family and me in the past few months, returning to the U.S. after living overseas for a few years.  The first interview is with returning guest, Dominique, an active duty JAG officer. You can find her previous podcast here: Military Legal Talk with Dominique. She is also a co-author for the Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Post-Partum Army Directive, for which she was recognized by the Secretary of the Army. In this episode she passionately discusses supporting homeless women veterans through competing in Ms. Veteran America.Part II is with fellow Ms. Veteran America competitor, Juanita Sepulveda, mother of 7, and a former homeless vet.  She promotes positive community and financial growth through several organizations linked to education and community outreach and development. Juanita takes us through her own life and the struggles she overcame as she works to give back to those who positively affected her life, including the amazing accomplishments her children are now undertaking.Donate to Final Salute through DominiqueDonate to Final Salute through Juanita SepulvedaFinal Salute Inc. (FSI)'s mission is to provide homeless women Veterans and their children with safe and suitable housing. FSI was established to identify and meet the unique needs of homeless women Veterans and their children.Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS)VA Homeless Programs  Check out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, music, and show notes by audiblelemonade.com.

Christie Lado, of the Vida with Christie podcast and blog, provides a passionate discussion about raising empowered children and breaking intergenerational cycles. As a Peruvian-Canadian, she dives into raising kids while living in different cultures.  Find out more about Christie or listen to her podcast anywhere podcasts are found.Check out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music by audiblelemonade.com .

John Spencer is an award-winning scholar, professor, author, combat veteran, and internationally recognized expert and advisor on urban warfare and other military related topics. Considered the world’s leading expert on urban warfare, he served as an advisor to the top four-star general and other senior leaders in the U.S. Army as part of strategic research groups from the Pentagon to the United States Military Academy. Spencer currently serves as the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point and as host of the Urban Warfare Project podcast. He also serves as a Colonel in the California State Guard with assignment to the 40th Infantry Division, California Army National Guard as the Director of Urban Warfare Training. Serving over twenty-five years in the active Army as an infantry soldier, Spencer has held ranks from Private to Sergeant First Class and Second Lieutenant to Major. His assignments as an Army officer included two combat deployments to Iraq as both an Infantry Platoon Leader and Company Commander, a Ranger Instructor with the Army’s Ranger School, a Joint Chief of Staff and Army Staff intern, fellow with the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Strategic Studies Group, and Co-Founder, Strategic Planner, and Deputy Director of the Modern War Institute at West Point.In his new book, Connected Soldiers: Life, Leadership, and Social Connections in Modern War (July 1, 2022, Potomac Books), Col. Spencer delivers lessons learned about effective methods for building teams in a way that overcomes the distractions of home and the outside world, without reducing the benefits gained from connections to family. Spencer holds a Master of Policy Management from Georgetown University. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, LA Times, NY Daily News, Wired Magazine, Politico, The Hill, Foreign Policy Magazine, Defense One, Army Magazine, and many other publications. Spencer is also a regular military analyst and commentator for CNN, MSNBC, BBC, and numerous news and media organizations. He currently lives in Colorado Springs, CO, with his wife and three children. He looks forward to connecting via Twitter@SpencerGuard.Check out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music by audiblelemonade.com .

Marie Fiebach of Feed Your Family Tonight, helps busy families plan and execute weeknight dinners, even when life is crazy. She shares some great tips on how to prepare meals despite being short on time or patience. Follow Marie for more helpful info:FacebookInstagram https://feedyourfamilytonight.com/Resources/Recipes Mentioned:Free Weekly Meal Planning SheetCheeseburger Baked PotatoesLemon Ramen Chicken Stir FryBean and Cheese QuesadillasPodcast: How to Pick a Recipe Your Family Will Eat (Episode 146) Check out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music by audiblelemonade.com .

As service members we’re fortunate to have great healthcare coverage, TRICARE, but it can be complicated to understand.  John Letaw learned to unravel TRICARE living as a retiree overseas and wrote a book, TRICARE Around the World , that explains everything you could ever need to know about making the most of your benefits like the various coverage plans, making claims, and more. We dive into the new coverage for the use of  doulas and lactation consultant services that started  on January 1, 2022., adding coverage for a new family member, TRICARE for Guard and Reserve, retirement coverage, TRICARE while traveling/living overseas, and much more. Military.com Article:  Tricare to Cover Doulas, Lactation Consultants for Some Starting Jan. 1Find out more about John Letaw and TRICARETRICARE Overseas Facebook pageCheck out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music by audiblelemonade.com .

U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Kelly Bell is a powerful advocate for military women, in particular for pregnant and postpartum mothers in uniform. We discuss the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) signed into law by President Biden on December 27, 2021, and dive into the details of this law as a major win for all military families.      President Biden's Signed NDAA including the following:- Creates a new category of bereavement leave for military personnel that would permit servicemembers to take up to two weeks of leave in connection with the death of a spouse or child.- Increases parental leave to 12 weeks for all servicemembers for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. (This is inclusive of the 6 weeks maternity convalescent leave for the birth parent which runs concurrently.)- Establishes a Basic Needs Allowance to ensure that all servicemembers can meet the basic needs of their families.- Directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments and Superintendents of the military academies, to develop policy that includes the option to preserve parental guardianship rights of cadets and midshipmen.- Authorizes the Secretary to conduct a pilot program providing direct hire authority to hire military spouses stationed at a duty station outside of the United States to a term position within the DOD.To find more about regulations & resources for all branches of the U.S. Military, check out Breastfeeding in Combat Boots.Check out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music by audiblelemonade.com .

Laura Stack of Johnny's Ambassadors, talks to us about the dangers of today's marijuana.  Johnny’s Ambassadors mission is to educate parents and teens about the dangers of today’s high-THC marijuana on the developing adolescent mind and get them to #StopDabbing.  Bottom line: marijuana is not the safe or natural drug we're used to hearing it is from our high school days.  It now contains dangerously high levels of THC.  Research shows today’s high-potency marijuana causes mental health issues and higher incidence of suicide when used recreationally and illegally under 21 years of age. What is dabbing? Dabs are marijuana extracts (shatter, wax, budder are some examples) made by pouring a solvent such as butane, ethanol, propane, or carbon dioxide over marijuana, which allows THC to leave the plant material and dissolve into the solvent. This concentrated THC solution is then filtered and placed in a tray. The result of the extraction is sticky oil that typically appears bronze in color. It’s not a plant and is highly potent, containing up to 99% THC. Dabs are typically heated on a hot surface and the vapors are inhaled through a dab rig or dab pen.Teen Webinars and other Educational Materials.Laura's son Johnny, told her three days before he died by suicide:  "I want you to know you were right. You told me marijuana would hurt my brain. It’s ruined my mind and my life, and I’m sorry. I love you.” Check out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music by audiblelemonade.com .

Dominique, an Army attorney, or judge advocate, discusses all things legal. From how to seek free legal assistance and advice to the various roles and responsibilities of a judge advocate. CORRECTION: TDS assist with Article 15s, not legal assistance.Check out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music by audiblelemonade.com .

From free Space-A flights around the world to retiring overseas, Stephanie walks us through the many perks and opportunities military and retired military have to see the world. She tells us how to take our families along on adventures you may not have thought was affordable - not deployments, but actual fun tourist vacation travel! We recorded this episode last spring during high travel restrictions, so we waited until now to share this since travel has opened up. Find out more:https://www.poppinsmoke.com/Air Mobility Command: https://www.amc.af.mil/Home/AMC-Travel-Site/AMC-Space-Available-Travel-Page/Check out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music by audiblelemonade.com .

Athena Thriving II:  A Unit Guide to Leading Pregnant and Postpartum SoldiersCheck out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music by audiblelemonade.com .

Abby Theuring is The Badass Breastfeeder blogger and a host of the Badass Breastfeeding Podcast. She helps bust myths so that moms can reach their breastfeeding goals without all the of the confusion. We discuss safe bedsharing practices, and so much more! Listen more to Abby: Badass Breastfeeding PodcastContact Abby: Badassbreastfeedingpodcast@gmail.comDr. James McKenna article: There is no such thing as infant sleep, there is no such thing as breastfeeding, there is only breastsleeping  Safe Cosleeping Guidelines: Guidelines to sleeping safe with infantsCheck out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music by audiblelemonade.com .

Command Sergeant Major Natasha Santiago walks us through how and when to use the open door policy.  By regulation, every unit commander has an open door policy to allow subordinates an opportunity to speak directly with their commander.  This is ideal when a military service member is not able to resolve an issue with the assistance of their immediate supervisors. But we’re often discouraged by our supervisors to go to our commanders directly. CSM Santiago helps us determine when it is appropriate to do so, and empowers us with the information we need to speak up when necessary. For the latest in pregnancy and postpartum regulations, check out Athena Thriving II:  http://companyleader.themilitaryleader.com/2021/04/30/athena-thriving-ii/Check out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music by audiblelemonade.com .

1LT Silver Beaty, mother of 3 in the Montana Army National Guard, speaks about her experiences from single motherhood to dual military, her work with the Army Mom Life Facebook page, deployments, and her efforts to stand up the Women’s Inclusion Committee (WIC) as a state-level counterpart to the DoD Women’s Initiative Team (WIT). Connect with Silver on Twitter @MostSeniorElTee.  Check out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music by audiblelemonade.com .

Lt Col Jessica Ruttenber discusses parental equality and the need for the military to catch up with the private sector when it comes to allowing parents, both parents, more time at home to bond  after birth, adoption, or foster placement. Under current military regulations, women after birth are allowed up to six weeks of maternity convalescent leave, and a household’s primary caregiver can receive an additional six weeks of leave. Secondary caregivers in the Army and Air Force can take three weeks of uncharged parental leave, while Navy and Marine Corps members are eligible for only two weeks. Under the new proposal with Congress, primary caregivers (which are designated by the family, not the service) would be granted 12 weeks of uncharged leave in addition to any available convalescent care to be used within a year of the child’s arrival.  AND secondary caregivers would also get six weeks.  Parents would be able to use the time off in multiple increments if they do not want to take all of the time at once.Learn more at Lt Col Ruttenber’s site, Hidden Barriers, where she has several blog posts  including:  One leave to rule them all: how the military can create parental equalityCheck out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music by audiblelemonade.com .

Is your unit failing to provide a lactation space?  Are you afraid to ask because you don't think there's room?  Bring your chain of command the solution!  Mamava  is the creator of freestanding lactation pods.  Suzie explains how Mamava pods provide breastfeeding parents with a private, clean, and comfortable space to pump or nurse—at work and on the go. The pods can even be ordered through GSA and DLA ECAT, which makes them easy for military units to order.  They also have a free app to help you find places to pump or nurse when you're on the go.  Learn more at mamava.com.  Questions, or need help understanding how other units got their pods?  Email Suzie directly at suziem@mamava.com Check out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music by audiblelemonade.com .

Former Marine, Brandon Childers, uses principles of psychology to provide understandable resource-management education and improve financial literacy. Check out his app that uses a cognitive-behavioral approach to improve money management.  Learn how the same principles used to addict us to slot machines and social media can be used to improve our own spending habits for a brighter financial future.https://www.freelancecorporal.com/Check out the Parenting in Uniform Facebook pageFollow on Twitter:  @MomInUniformEmail:  ParentingInUniform@gmail.com Editing, voiceover, and music by audiblelemonade.com .