Aug. 28, 2024
From Air Force to Academia: Autumn's Story
What happens when a dedicated Air Force member’s career is abruptly altered by an unexpected illness? Join us as we sit down with Autumn, a former RPA sensor operator, who bravely recounts her journey from enlisting straight out of high school to facing a medical retirement after contracting COVID-19. Autumn’s story is one of resilience as she navigates multiple asthma attacks, hospitalizations, and a divorce, all while transitioning back to civilian life. With unwavering support from her family, particularly her parents, she moved back to Texas to regain stability and focus on her health, highlighting the critical role of a strong support system during challenging times.
Ever wondered how veterans cope with backlash and misconceptions about their service? Autumn opens up about her experiences sharing her personal story on social media, confronting negative feedback, and finding solace in a supportive community. As we dissect civilian opinions on military matters, Autumn’s insights emphasize the importance of veterans authentically telling their stories. She also shares invaluable advice for young adults considering a military career, stressing the necessity of investing in oneself through education and personal development, despite the hardships encountered.
Financial literacy, self-investment, and therapy are pivotal in Autumn’s post-military journey. She candidly discusses the difficulties of translating military experience into civilian terms during job interviews and the essential role of better transition programs. Autumn’s move to the University of Texas at Austin to pursue a degree in psychology and her aspirations in child therapy or military mental health serve as an inspiration. Her story underscores the importance of embracing new life chapters and viewing transitions positively, no matter the age or circumstances. Join us for a heartfelt conversation that offers hope and practical advice for those navigating similar paths.
Check out our website
Please Support & Donate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themorningform
USA Made socks with a Purpose. 20% off with code: TMF
https://www.solediersocks.com/tmf
Episode Powered By Act Now Education
Chapters
00:00 - Transitioning From the Military to Civilians
11:32 - Navigating Post-Military Transition Challenges
18:10 - Military Transition Advice for Education Opportunities
23:34 - Navigating Post-Military Career Challenges
34:46 - Overcoming Challenges in Military Transition
Transcript
WEBVTT
00:00:00.959 --> 00:00:02.144
Warriors fall in.
00:00:02.144 --> 00:00:03.549
It's time for formation.
00:00:03.549 --> 00:00:08.528
Today I have a guest that I met while I was well.
00:00:08.528 --> 00:00:10.372
I guess I met on my end.
00:00:10.820 --> 00:00:25.888
I officially met her today, but I was scrolling through TikTok about a year ago and this gal that I have as a guest today was telling a story about how she was in the Air Force and a lot of unexpectedness happened.
00:00:25.888 --> 00:00:51.630
Life happened and she found herself getting medically discharged out of the Air Force unexpectedly and at the same time life kind of threw her a curveball and some other personal matters and she was going through a lot and it kind of spoke to me in a way that I think is my reasoning behind volunteering as a board member for Act no Education, and it's part of the reason why I do this podcast.
00:00:51.630 --> 00:00:59.807
So I reached out to Autumn and just said hey, if you're ever interested in telling your story, please let me know.
00:00:59.807 --> 00:01:07.774
I'm interested in sharing it because I don't believe that any type of obstacle life obstacle that we go through should ever be in vain.
00:01:07.774 --> 00:01:10.968
It should be shared so that others can learn and grow as well.
00:01:10.968 --> 00:01:13.546
And so today I want to welcome to the show Autumn.
00:01:13.546 --> 00:01:14.829
Thank you so much for being here.
00:01:16.060 --> 00:01:16.742
Hello, Hi.
00:01:16.742 --> 00:01:18.950
How are you Excited to be here?
00:01:19.900 --> 00:01:21.043
I am fantastic Now.
00:01:21.043 --> 00:01:22.368
Do you prefer Monty or Autumn?
00:01:23.540 --> 00:01:24.382
I go by both.
00:01:24.382 --> 00:01:27.352
So Monty's fine, autumn's fine.
00:01:28.659 --> 00:01:29.240
Outstanding.
00:01:29.240 --> 00:01:47.621
So, autumn, I just want to give you an opportunity to introduce yourself and then go into your story and let us know basically you know why you're here today basically, you know why you're here today.
00:01:47.662 --> 00:01:51.811
Yeah, so I grew up in a small town in Texas and I graduated with about like 98 people, I think it was.
00:01:51.811 --> 00:01:58.947
I did not want to go, or I did not plan to go to college because it was just not financially.
00:01:58.947 --> 00:02:09.344
I wasn't financially ready to go to college and personally I was being lazy, but I didn't feel like filling out any scholarships or anything like that.
00:02:09.344 --> 00:02:13.242
And so my junior year I decided you know, my uncle went into the army.
00:02:13.242 --> 00:02:16.449
So I decided, well, and he told me not to go army.
00:02:16.449 --> 00:02:19.622
I don't know what he was like.
00:02:19.622 --> 00:02:22.207
No, you don't need to go there, because he had.
00:02:22.207 --> 00:02:24.794
He has his own story to tell.
00:02:24.794 --> 00:02:27.084
You don't need to go there because he has his own story to tell.
00:02:27.084 --> 00:02:29.687
So I ended up going into the Air Force straight out of high school.
00:02:29.687 --> 00:02:33.495
It was like I graduated and a week later I went straight into the military.
00:02:33.495 --> 00:02:45.806
I went into basic and, yeah, so I stayed in, or I went in oh my gosh, it feels like forever ago, in June of 2019.
00:02:45.806 --> 00:03:02.995
And then I was an RPA sensor operator, so I worked the camera and laser on the MQ-9 drones, and so I went to basic and then, yeah, I loved it.
00:03:02.995 --> 00:03:06.657
I had no plans to get out, no aspirations to get out.
00:03:06.657 --> 00:03:08.657
I was fine, I loved what I did.
00:03:08.657 --> 00:03:27.372
I had to train for my job for like over two years, almost two years and as soon as, like my two years and I, my two year mark came and I was already, I just graduated from my trainings and everything COVID hit.
00:03:27.372 --> 00:03:32.852
And then I contracted COVID in 2020.
00:03:32.852 --> 00:03:47.324
And then, by the beginning of 2021 is when I started feeling all of the like long-term effects that I started feeling, and so I had my first asthma attack in about February of 2021.
00:03:47.324 --> 00:03:49.588
And then, after that, it was just history.
00:03:49.588 --> 00:03:56.734
I was in and out of the hospital pneumonia, I was hospitalized and sedated, and sedated all in 2021.
00:03:56.734 --> 00:04:05.050
And so the Air Force decided to medically retire me and so I got out in February of 2022.
00:04:05.050 --> 00:04:10.104
So that whole year I was in and out of the hospital of 2021.
00:04:10.104 --> 00:04:12.449
And then, yeah, I had no plans.
00:04:12.449 --> 00:04:45.466
It kind of it was very it felt sudden, even though, like saying it out, within months, like within a year, it doesn't seem sudden, but it felt sudden like living it, because one moment I was just going to my job, working my 12-hour shift, going home and doing what I do, and then, all of a sudden is when I got the first asthma attack, and after that it was just one after another, after another and, yeah, I got out February 2022.
00:04:46.048 --> 00:04:53.956
And now it's been, oh my gosh, two years and my life like transitioning from the civilian world, even though I was only.
00:04:53.956 --> 00:04:55.360
I was in for three years.
00:04:55.360 --> 00:05:03.425
But especially when you're not prepared and you come out of it like that, it kind of like it's a culture shock, like I wasn't prepared.
00:05:03.425 --> 00:05:13.071
I lived in South Carolina when I got out of the Air Force and then I came back to Texas with my family and so it was just everything hit me.
00:05:13.071 --> 00:05:24.947
I also was going through a divorce, as we're, as I was getting out of like, transitioning out of the Air Force, and it was just life happened and so I had to come back to Texas.
00:05:24.947 --> 00:05:33.201
And it was just life happened and so I had to come back to Texas and then, um, yeah, just try to transition.
00:05:33.221 --> 00:05:34.384
Thankfully, I'm so thankful for my parents.
00:05:34.384 --> 00:05:51.509
If it wasn't for them, I don't know what would happen, because I was essentially, I wasn't going to be making enough money to pay like a living, like have a living for myself, and I wasn't in the obviously like physical aspect to get a job and get like myself back together.
00:05:51.509 --> 00:05:57.569
So thankfully I do have the most great, like greatest family ever that they let me.
00:05:57.569 --> 00:06:01.264
You know, come back home, not have a job, get healthy that was their main concern.
00:06:01.264 --> 00:06:02.668
I had to get healthy.
00:06:02.668 --> 00:06:17.636
Thankfully the Texas doctors knew better than the South Carolina doctors and then I got myself back on my feet, not by myself, I had my family and friends support and yeah, so I'm finally with July 2024.
00:06:17.656 --> 00:06:29.463
And now we're here hear that you're feeling a lot better.
00:06:29.463 --> 00:06:44.007
I followed you on TikTok and you kind of journaled your way through life and so I saw where you were really upset about getting out of the military, upset about the divorce, and then following that, you got upset about having to move back in with your parents, like, to some extent, can you?
00:06:44.007 --> 00:06:46.211
Did you feel like you were a failure?
00:06:46.211 --> 00:06:49.507
And also, too, talk to me about the whole social media aspect of it.
00:06:49.507 --> 00:06:50.391
Did that help you cope?
00:06:51.699 --> 00:06:54.326
Oh yeah, I definitely did feel like a failure.
00:06:54.326 --> 00:06:56.252
I started therapy as well when I got out.
00:06:56.252 --> 00:07:05.567
I think that was one of my main things of helping myself not feel like that, because, of course, I was on my own for three years of my life.
00:07:05.567 --> 00:07:24.223
I bought my, I ended up buying my own house in South Carolina and I was just essentially on my own, and so coming back to the small town that I grew up in, it was kind of like now I know I wasn't a failure, but at that point in my life I felt like, okay, I did all of that, for what?
00:07:24.223 --> 00:07:29.434
Now I'm back at square one, like it feels like I accomplished nothing, which wasn't true.
00:07:29.434 --> 00:07:35.973
I like did all of that within three years, but at the time I just felt hopeless and helpless.
00:07:35.973 --> 00:07:36.439
I didn't.
00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:37.963
I was so depressed.
00:07:38.043 --> 00:07:38.865
I stayed in bed.
00:07:38.865 --> 00:07:45.235
I probably was awake two to four hours a day, and the other like 20 hours I was asleep.
00:07:45.235 --> 00:07:47.579
I was, I slept constantly.
00:07:47.579 --> 00:07:59.129
I had no motivation at all, and I come from a Hispanic family and so my dad, being the dad that he is, he was like no, you need to get up, we need to find out what's wrong.
00:07:59.129 --> 00:08:02.483
Like you have to get out of bed like you can't keep doing this.
00:08:02.483 --> 00:08:05.170
He's like I understand you're struggling, but you need to get out of bed.
00:08:05.170 --> 00:08:05.872
Like you can't keep doing this.
00:08:05.872 --> 00:08:07.357
He's like I understand you're struggling, but you need to get out of bed.
00:08:07.377 --> 00:08:29.918
And at the time I was like like, get away from me, like I didn't want help, because you know it takes when you're at that step in life, it takes for you wanting to get help, to get help, like a lot of people could sit here and tell you you need to get help but until you're ready to get up and get help, then you won't get it.
00:08:29.918 --> 00:08:39.666
But yeah, I was super down, depressed and so finally I got on like multiple vitamins and medication to get my body back to where I need to to be able to work.
00:08:39.666 --> 00:08:42.369
So I ended up starting to work.
00:08:42.369 --> 00:09:05.660
I was a substitute, transitioning from that in my small town and, yeah, there was definitely moments getting on my medicine and getting the help that I needed.
00:09:05.660 --> 00:09:07.403
It really helped me grow.
00:09:07.403 --> 00:09:17.544
And yeah, I worked at the school and then, yeah, I've done a lot of things since then.
00:09:17.544 --> 00:09:26.052
You know like transitioning from the military into civilian world was very different and yeah, there was a lot of points.
00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:38.697
So does it kind of surprise you to know that someone like me was kind of on the other end of your social media watching your progression as you transitioned out of the military?
00:09:38.697 --> 00:09:58.947
Because you mentioning substitute teacher, I remember that I remember you getting asked about becoming a substitute teacher and I thought to myself like wow, that's great, like I'm glad that she's getting and I don't even know you, but can you talk about some of the social media and like, what kind of feedback did you get from that?
00:09:59.009 --> 00:10:07.065
Was it a positive experience for you to journal, like your overall transition out of the military, or was it something that you probably should have like held back from?
00:10:08.971 --> 00:10:24.229
so the reason I started posting about social media, because one before I even went into the military, like I love being able to create content and try to just like help people understand, I guess, where I'm coming from.
00:10:24.229 --> 00:10:50.333
And so I started social media like kind of when I was in, but kind of not because I didn't want, because my job was such a unique job like we're told we can't post about it, and so it was kind of like I hesitate to like share what I share, but I also want you know, want other women in the military to be shown on the social media aspect.
00:10:50.333 --> 00:10:59.028
And so when I got out I was like, like you said, journaling my story is a lot.
00:10:59.028 --> 00:11:04.246
There's a lot to unpack with what happened with me, to unpack with what happened with me.
00:11:04.246 --> 00:11:10.515
And so I just started posting the content that I did.
00:11:10.515 --> 00:11:27.215
And it's crazy because one of the first TikToks I posted that went semi-viral was about the divorce in my house and that got like 2.5 million views and that feedback was not good, it was all negative.
00:11:27.215 --> 00:11:31.789
It was a lot of like people asking like what did I do?
00:11:31.789 --> 00:11:40.701
What happened, blah, blah, blah, and it was just very negative and so that's why I have it privated now I don't like I don't, I'm going to unprivate it soon.
00:11:40.701 --> 00:11:42.304
I was talking to my sister about it, but I don't.
00:11:42.304 --> 00:11:45.288
I didn't want anybody to see that because I was like that was a lot.
00:11:46.211 --> 00:11:49.434
And then once they saw they would like see that video.
00:11:49.434 --> 00:11:51.605
And then obviously like click on my profile.
00:11:51.605 --> 00:11:54.604
And then that's when my they started seeing my military videos.
00:11:54.604 --> 00:12:04.291
And then that's when they started seeing me saying that I got medically retired, because I use medically retired and medically discharged like synonymously.
00:12:04.291 --> 00:12:08.606
And so people were like are you medically retired, are you medically discharged?
00:12:08.606 --> 00:12:09.509
What's your percentage?
00:12:09.509 --> 00:12:17.548
And like there was a lot of negative feedback when it came to my military content because they're like this is why women shouldn't serve.
00:12:17.548 --> 00:12:28.624
And there was just a lot of like little keyboard warriors, like just trying to paint me in a negative light because I was a female getting out of the military.
00:12:28.624 --> 00:12:31.441
And they're like well, you're just taking advantage of the military.
00:12:31.461 --> 00:12:35.331
And I was like I promise you guys, I don't have any plan after the military.
00:12:35.331 --> 00:12:43.182
I was like I wanted to keep, like I wanted to start my career, like I didn't want I had no aspirations to go into college.
00:12:43.182 --> 00:12:43.886
I, I wanted to stay in.
00:12:43.886 --> 00:12:44.630
It was just what I wanted to do.
00:12:44.630 --> 00:12:45.658
I had no aspirations to go into college.
00:12:45.658 --> 00:12:46.080
I wanted to stay in.
00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:48.047
It was just what I wanted to do.
00:12:48.047 --> 00:12:58.724
I was like I promise you, if it was my health over like they would say, stealing benefits from the military I would choose my health all the time, like I.
00:12:58.724 --> 00:13:01.311
People ask me all the time like would you rather have stayed in?
00:13:01.311 --> 00:13:07.312
Yes, I would rather stay in healthy doing what I was doing, other than having to get out.
00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:19.451
And then I was very unhealthy and so, you know, when I had posted that on social media, I got a lot of negative feedback, but there was also a lot of positive ones, of people saying can you speak on this more?
00:13:19.451 --> 00:13:21.586
I'm going through the same thing.
00:13:21.586 --> 00:13:24.809
I'm going through the medical examination board.
00:13:24.809 --> 00:13:26.802
I'm going through the same thing.
00:13:26.802 --> 00:13:28.505
I'm going through the medical examination board.
00:13:28.505 --> 00:13:32.192
Can you please explain how you filled out certain paperwork and your process on that?
00:13:32.192 --> 00:13:40.313
And then I really felt like I wasn't in a position to talk about it because I was going through it.
00:13:40.313 --> 00:13:42.644
So I was just as confused as everybody else.
00:13:42.644 --> 00:13:53.417
But what I what happened was I did all my research and I made a few videos for people, but and then grief happened.
00:13:53.417 --> 00:14:02.600
We had a loss of a family member, and so I stopped posting, posting and just everything happened all over again and I was just very down.
00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:04.482
But I am going to start posting more.
00:14:04.482 --> 00:14:11.777
So social media is a big part of my life and my story and that I need to tell.
00:14:12.325 --> 00:14:14.091
It's a double-edged sword, for sure.
00:14:14.384 --> 00:14:28.610
And it wasn't all negative, because here you are today on a podcast and talking about your story and in a sense, I'm kind of glad, autumn, that you went through that, because I can tell you, as a veteran that's been out, you say you joined the military.
00:14:28.610 --> 00:14:29.835
It seems like a lifetime ago.
00:14:29.835 --> 00:14:32.311
So, autumn, I joined the military in 1999.
00:14:32.311 --> 00:14:41.164
Okay, so that's what I joined, and then I got out in 2007.
00:14:41.164 --> 00:15:01.491
But, as a veteran that's quite a bit ahead of you in years I can tell you that you are always going to hear the opinions of the 94% that never served in the military, because those 2.5 million people that made comments there's no way that any large percentage of those people that had opinions knew what the hell they were talking about.
00:15:01.491 --> 00:15:03.856
That's just the God's truth.
00:15:03.856 --> 00:15:14.908
And the one thing that I think veterans that get out of the military have to cope with is the opinions of the civilians that don't know really what they're talking about, but they have strong opinions.
00:15:14.908 --> 00:15:22.855
So I'm kind of glad that you went through that, in a sense, because now you know that these opinions don't matter.
00:15:23.096 --> 00:15:28.971
Put yourself out there, tell your story, be honest about it.
00:15:30.735 --> 00:15:47.369
To some extent you got to be vulnerable, because even on this podcast, I can tell you that I've had some negativity as well, but at the end of the day, I really don't care what anyone thinks, because when I look at my resume and when I look at many others, there's not really there in comparison.
00:15:47.528 --> 00:15:53.785
So good for you for getting back on the horse again and your willingness to put yourself out there.
00:15:53.785 --> 00:16:07.636
And I just, I simply want to thank you for being on this show because I wanted you on this show, to share your story about the obstacles that you've had to overcome just from your transition out of the military.
00:16:07.636 --> 00:16:26.650
Now I wanted to ask you overall, what would be your advice and what advice do you give to people young folks, young adults that are considering going into the military and are planning on being lifers?
00:16:26.650 --> 00:16:35.291
Because for me, as a young officer, I used to always tell young folks to take advantage of the benefits, whether you think you're going to need them or not.
00:16:35.291 --> 00:16:41.049
Anything that you do for education purposes is an investment in yourself.
00:16:41.049 --> 00:16:45.288
So what are your thoughts now that you've gone through all these different things and you are where you are?
00:16:47.071 --> 00:16:47.371
Yeah.
00:16:47.371 --> 00:16:56.634
So I had a um, a supervisor, who would always tell me you need to get into college, you need to start investing in yourself, investing your time.
00:16:56.634 --> 00:17:06.734
And I would always be like, no, I want to stay in here, I'm just going to cruise and just live my life, not do anything extra, just come here, go to work, go home.
00:17:06.734 --> 00:17:11.255
And she's a very big inspiration to mine.
00:17:11.255 --> 00:17:13.333
Shout out to Megan Rush, love her.
00:17:13.333 --> 00:17:15.372
I still keep in contact with her.
00:17:15.372 --> 00:17:28.890
And she sat me down and was like okay, well, if you're even wanting to stay in here for life, you're going to need more education, because for your oh my gosh, it's been so long I forgot what it's even called.
00:17:28.890 --> 00:17:36.587
But in order to progress into the like, progress in the military, and so finally I started.
00:17:36.627 --> 00:17:38.811
I took a CLEP, it's like the test.
00:17:38.811 --> 00:17:44.026
I took one CLEP and then I decided, oh my gosh, that was kind of easy, let me start going even more.
00:17:44.026 --> 00:17:45.667
But that was it, that's all I did.
00:17:45.667 --> 00:17:49.471
So my biggest advice is to take the courses.
00:17:49.471 --> 00:17:54.016
Take all the CLEP courses that you can, because I wasn't even sure if I was going to pass.
00:17:54.016 --> 00:17:57.239
And then I passed and look at there, I have college credit.
00:17:57.239 --> 00:18:10.371
Now, like I have that credit, but that was the only credit that I had when I got out, and so that was kind of like what I don't really regret, but I wish I would have done.
00:18:10.585 --> 00:18:18.315
And if somebody is in the position that I was, do the college courses, take all the tests that you can, because you never know what's going to happen.
00:18:18.315 --> 00:18:26.458
I thought I was going to be in there for life and then I got out and then I had nothing like no college degree to fall back on.
00:18:26.458 --> 00:18:36.210
I had nothing and I went back to start one to the start, had nothing and I went back to start one to the start.
00:18:36.210 --> 00:18:49.509
And so that's my biggest concern is take all the college courses for free, or the tuition assistance like take the CLEP courses for free before you get out, because when you get out you're going to have to find something else to do and you're going to want something to be able to fall back on.
00:18:50.991 --> 00:19:11.657
And that's really really sound, really sound, really great advice for folks out there who either are going to join the military or currently in the military right now and I am a board member for Act Now Education and what we do is we're a nonprofit, we're led by the founder and CEO is Jay Salters, who is currently a Navy service member.
00:19:11.657 --> 00:19:40.894
Everyone on the board is either a spouse or a service member or a veteran, and the one thing that we do is we offer services, certification services to active duty or folks that are veterans or spouses or dependents, and that's free, like we go out and we get money and then we turn around and we pay, like project management professional, we pay comp, tia, we pay scrum master for these certifications for our military community.
00:19:40.894 --> 00:19:42.516
So take advantage of those as well.
00:19:42.516 --> 00:19:54.446
And for those out there listening, clep, from my understanding, is an opportunity where a service member can take a test and get in the past and get automatic college credit.
00:19:54.446 --> 00:19:54.909
Is that right?
00:19:54.909 --> 00:20:01.932
Yes, yes, and one of the things that I used to always talk about when I was a young officer in the military.
00:20:01.932 --> 00:20:03.836
I used to say, hey, I get it.
00:20:03.836 --> 00:20:11.547
You're young, you want to go out, have a good time, you know, spend your time at the club or whatever else with all your other barracks buddies.
00:20:11.547 --> 00:20:15.529
Work hard, play hard is what I used to always say.
00:20:15.529 --> 00:20:21.135
Spend at least Friday or Saturday night at the education center getting some type of education.
00:20:21.135 --> 00:20:21.616
I get it.
00:20:21.616 --> 00:20:32.486
You want to go out one of the nights and live young and everything, but you got to remember the concept of work hard, play hard and Autumn.
00:20:32.506 --> 00:20:41.634
I want to ask you for parents out there, this might be a difficult question because for parents out there that are sending their young son or daughter to the military, what advice do you have for them?
00:20:41.634 --> 00:20:48.019
Because the one thing I always saw was I would see someone come to the formation on a Monday.
00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:54.753
They're brand new to the unit, they just got out of basic training in AIT and I would say hey, what are your aspirations?
00:20:54.753 --> 00:20:58.048
They're like well, I joined because I want to get some college education.
00:20:58.048 --> 00:21:01.195
I would say great, so go to the education center.
00:21:01.195 --> 00:21:05.556
I'd follow up with them two weeks, three weeks, four weeks, five weeks later and they still haven't gone.
00:21:05.556 --> 00:21:12.373
And the challenge is is when you're young, you're getting put in barracks with other kids your age, you're getting paid.
00:21:12.373 --> 00:21:15.176
You're away from anyone that's going to hold you accountable.
00:21:15.176 --> 00:21:23.465
What advice do you have to parents that are going to send their kids I would say kids, young adults to the military and it's their first time away from home.
00:21:26.310 --> 00:21:26.730
I think.
00:21:27.172 --> 00:21:40.278
Well, I think, give them a little bit more space as they're progressing through their senior year, if they're coming right through high school, because, like you said, most people come in straight out of high school don't know what to do.
00:21:40.704 --> 00:21:48.857
They do not know what to do and they go a little bit crazy and start spending money going everywhere, like every time they get a chance to.
00:21:50.965 --> 00:22:05.218
I think being able to let them make the mistakes under your watch would be perfect, because then you can sit there and guide them and help them, and so when they go into the military, they have that little bit of freedom without their parent with them.
00:22:05.218 --> 00:22:08.012
They're not like, oh my gosh, what am I going to do?
00:22:08.012 --> 00:22:12.310
And then make a mistake they're going to regret for the rest of their lives.
00:22:12.310 --> 00:22:39.080
It's just giving them a little bit more like individuality in high school as they progress, of course, as they mature and everything, so they can learn what to do and what not to do, what's okay and what's not okay, because it is a culture shock going from your family's house for 18 years of your life and then coming out and everybody's running around with their heads like chickens, with their heads cut off.
00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:44.531
And, yeah, just helping them make the little mistakes.
00:22:44.531 --> 00:22:52.431
Not helping them, but helping them through when they make the little mistakes in high school and so when they do transition, it's not that big of a culture shock.
00:22:53.712 --> 00:23:04.675
Yeah, I think what you mentioned was transitioning and moderately transitioning, so that you're learning how to hunt at a slow pace.
00:23:04.675 --> 00:23:11.199
So, like you're in high school, you know, have the accountability there, teach them how to do finances and things like that.
00:23:11.199 --> 00:23:14.267
Because and also too, it falls on the leadership as well.
00:23:14.267 --> 00:23:16.090
I think that what am I?
00:23:16.090 --> 00:23:29.034
Personally, one of my most important purposes of being there when I was lieutenant, when I was a platoon leader, was to do what I was doing as far as trying to instill folks with the idea of investing in yourself.
00:23:29.034 --> 00:23:30.297
Go get that education.
00:23:30.297 --> 00:23:33.535
I don't care if you think you're going to be for 20 years Go to the education center.
00:23:33.535 --> 00:23:37.395
And I at the time also was getting my master's degree.
00:23:37.395 --> 00:23:42.911
So it wasn't like I was just not talking the talk and not walking the walk, you know.
00:23:42.911 --> 00:24:21.450
So I think it's kind of a double-edged sword where, like the parents, you need to stay on top of them, but also the leadership you got to make sure that your folks are investing in themselves and they're financially intelligent enough not to go spend their money, because a lot of young folks, when they go in the military, will literally take that first paycheck and they will blow it on everything, and that's there's a reason why outside most military bases there's there's what there's strip clubs, there's car dealerships, there's loan places all those really bad things are literally right off post.
00:24:21.450 --> 00:24:23.375
So teaching them how to hunt is really important.
00:24:23.394 --> 00:24:33.327
I like what you said about that, as far as you know, giving them that early responsibility and having them transition when they get out so that they can kind of ride the bicycle on their own without the training wheels.
00:24:33.327 --> 00:24:50.634
So, autumn, I want to ask you, like when you got out and you were sitting across the table from employers and you had to and I'm sure it was a 10 minute conversation Cool, you were in the air force, I had an uncle in the air force.
00:24:50.634 --> 00:24:53.527
Or cool, you worked with drones that's awesome.
00:24:53.527 --> 00:25:09.125
But then when all that that's cool talk was over with and you had to talk about the position you were applying for, and you knew outside that door there was like six or seven other people and some of them were never in the military and some of them might more education than you.
00:25:09.125 --> 00:25:12.214
What was that like to have that competition?
00:25:12.214 --> 00:25:23.078
And what was it like to try to explain to someone that potentially never served in the military your value and what you have to offer that position and that potential employer.
00:25:24.944 --> 00:25:25.910
Yeah, I'm going to be honest.
00:25:25.910 --> 00:25:31.391
The first couple of places that I applied for outside of the military- all those interviews were not good.
00:25:32.433 --> 00:25:34.567
I personally it wasn't good.
00:25:34.567 --> 00:25:42.023
I did not know how to interview for a position and so it was quick.
00:25:42.023 --> 00:25:45.715
I didn't know how to answer them, I didn't know how to act.
00:25:45.715 --> 00:25:51.190
I never really had to have a formal interview like that because I just went straight into the military.
00:25:51.190 --> 00:25:56.979
So, yeah, the first couple of jobs I was very intimidated because I never got a call back.
00:26:06.565 --> 00:26:24.688
But it's also because, like you said, being able to transfer my military work into, like civilian terms and civilian work was very difficult because there's not, you know, mq-9 drones in the like at a bank, like it's just you can't transition that job that well if because I'm not able to fly anymore with the drones.
00:26:24.688 --> 00:26:36.029
So I was applying for like a bank or like receptionist, like jobs like and they're like, well, what experience do you have in this field?
00:26:36.029 --> 00:27:10.317
I'm like none, like I I don't know what else, I didn't know what to do, honestly, and it was just it was very difficult because, like one of those transition programs that I had out, like it called transition assistant program in the Air Force, we had a course that talked about like trying to turn the military terms on your resume into the civilian world and like with my job specifically, that's very difficult, especially since I can't talk about the contents of my job.
00:27:10.317 --> 00:27:14.910
And so I was like I was just in the interviews, like please just give me a chance.
00:27:14.910 --> 00:27:19.648
I was like I promise you, like you can see that I'm like determined and hard working.
00:27:19.648 --> 00:27:27.053
I was like, yeah, I may not know that much about the job that I'm applying for, but just give me a chance.
00:27:27.094 --> 00:27:43.537
So it was very intimidating at first because it was like and I honestly I went into those interviews not knowing what I was going to talk about or what to talk about, how to talk about it, and it took the first like three or four interviews where I got the hang of it.
00:27:43.537 --> 00:27:48.165
I'm like, ok, this is, this is how you transition these words, this is how.
00:27:48.165 --> 00:27:56.865
Because I would say like squadron or like my flight, and I'm like wait, you could say like team in your office flight.
00:27:56.865 --> 00:28:11.491
And I'm like, wait, you could say like team in your office, like it's just those little words that you need to make sure you transition to the civilian words in order for them to understand, because if you're talking to somebody who's never served or, you know, is a veteran, they're not going to know what your squadron is Like.
00:28:11.491 --> 00:28:15.608
They don't know that's like the office of your people, like they don't know that was your team.
00:28:16.609 --> 00:28:28.108
And so I think that's where the disconnect was happening in the first interviews, where I was just straight up talking military terms and, of course, people not understanding.
00:28:28.108 --> 00:28:29.795
So I think that was one of my biggest things.
00:28:29.795 --> 00:28:32.451
I would even ask my sister, my mom.
00:28:32.451 --> 00:28:34.276
I'm like, how do you say this word?
00:28:34.276 --> 00:28:38.182
Or how do you say this word, or like how do I um do this?
00:28:38.182 --> 00:28:39.487
Like what would you use?
00:28:39.487 --> 00:28:42.553
Yeah, what would you use for this word in the civilian life?
00:28:42.553 --> 00:28:46.448
Uh, and yeah, that was one of the difficult things.
00:28:46.448 --> 00:28:50.037
But it takes a lot of practice and a lot of like just asking people.
00:28:50.037 --> 00:28:56.131
Like it's not, there's no harm in asking somebody how you say something in civilian terms.
00:00:00.959 --> 00:00:02.144
00:00:02.144 --> 00:00:03.549
00:00:03.549 --> 00:00:08.528
00:00:08.528 --> 00:00:10.372
00:00:10.820 --> 00:00:25.888
00:00:25.888 --> 00:00:51.630
00:00:51.630 --> 00:00:59.807
00:00:59.807 --> 00:01:07.774
00:01:07.774 --> 00:01:10.968
00:01:10.968 --> 00:01:13.546
00:01:13.546 --> 00:01:14.829
00:01:16.060 --> 00:01:16.742
00:01:16.742 --> 00:01:18.950
00:01:19.900 --> 00:01:21.043
00:01:21.043 --> 00:01:22.368
00:01:23.540 --> 00:01:24.382
00:01:24.382 --> 00:01:27.352
00:01:28.659 --> 00:01:29.240
00:01:29.240 --> 00:01:47.621
00:01:47.662 --> 00:01:51.811
00:01:51.811 --> 00:01:58.947
00:01:58.947 --> 00:02:09.344
00:02:09.344 --> 00:02:13.242
00:02:13.242 --> 00:02:16.449
00:02:16.449 --> 00:02:19.622
00:02:19.622 --> 00:02:22.207
00:02:22.207 --> 00:02:24.794
00:02:24.794 --> 00:02:27.084
00:02:27.084 --> 00:02:29.687
00:02:29.687 --> 00:02:33.495
00:02:33.495 --> 00:02:45.806
00:02:45.806 --> 00:03:02.995
00:03:02.995 --> 00:03:06.657
00:03:06.657 --> 00:03:08.657
00:03:08.657 --> 00:03:27.372
00:03:27.372 --> 00:03:32.852
00:03:32.852 --> 00:03:47.324
00:03:47.324 --> 00:03:49.588
00:03:49.588 --> 00:03:56.734
00:03:56.734 --> 00:04:05.050
00:04:05.050 --> 00:04:10.104
00:04:10.104 --> 00:04:12.449
00:04:12.449 --> 00:04:45.466
00:04:46.048 --> 00:04:53.956
00:04:53.956 --> 00:04:55.360
00:04:55.360 --> 00:05:03.425
00:05:03.425 --> 00:05:13.071
00:05:13.071 --> 00:05:24.947
00:05:24.947 --> 00:05:33.201
00:05:33.221 --> 00:05:34.384
00:05:34.384 --> 00:05:51.509
00:05:51.509 --> 00:05:57.569
00:05:57.569 --> 00:06:01.264
00:06:01.264 --> 00:06:02.668
00:06:02.668 --> 00:06:17.636
00:06:17.656 --> 00:06:29.463
00:06:29.463 --> 00:06:44.007
00:06:44.007 --> 00:06:46.211
00:06:46.211 --> 00:06:49.507
00:06:49.507 --> 00:06:50.391
00:06:51.699 --> 00:06:54.326
00:06:54.326 --> 00:06:56.252
00:06:56.252 --> 00:07:05.567
00:07:05.567 --> 00:07:24.223
00:07:24.223 --> 00:07:29.434
00:07:29.434 --> 00:07:35.973
00:07:35.973 --> 00:07:36.439
00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:37.963
00:07:38.043 --> 00:07:38.865
00:07:38.865 --> 00:07:45.235
00:07:45.235 --> 00:07:47.579
00:07:47.579 --> 00:07:59.129
00:07:59.129 --> 00:08:02.483
00:08:02.483 --> 00:08:05.170
00:08:05.170 --> 00:08:05.872
00:08:05.872 --> 00:08:07.357
00:08:07.377 --> 00:08:29.918
00:08:29.918 --> 00:08:39.666
00:08:39.666 --> 00:08:42.369
00:08:42.369 --> 00:09:05.660
00:09:05.660 --> 00:09:07.403
00:09:07.403 --> 00:09:17.544
00:09:17.544 --> 00:09:26.052
00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:38.697
00:09:38.697 --> 00:09:58.947
00:09:59.009 --> 00:10:07.065
00:10:08.971 --> 00:10:24.229
00:10:24.229 --> 00:10:50.333
00:10:50.333 --> 00:10:59.028
00:10:59.028 --> 00:11:04.246
00:11:04.246 --> 00:11:10.515
00:11:10.515 --> 00:11:27.215
00:11:27.215 --> 00:11:31.789
00:11:31.789 --> 00:11:40.701
00:11:40.701 --> 00:11:42.304
00:11:42.304 --> 00:11:45.288
00:11:46.211 --> 00:11:49.434
00:11:49.434 --> 00:11:51.605
00:11:51.605 --> 00:11:54.604
00:11:54.604 --> 00:12:04.291
00:12:04.291 --> 00:12:08.606
00:12:08.606 --> 00:12:09.509
00:12:09.509 --> 00:12:17.548
00:12:17.548 --> 00:12:28.624
00:12:28.624 --> 00:12:31.441
00:12:31.461 --> 00:12:35.331
00:12:35.331 --> 00:12:43.182
00:12:43.182 --> 00:12:43.886
00:12:43.886 --> 00:12:44.630
00:12:44.630 --> 00:12:45.658
00:12:45.658 --> 00:12:46.080
00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:48.047
00:12:48.047 --> 00:12:58.724
00:12:58.724 --> 00:13:01.311
00:13:01.311 --> 00:13:07.312
00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:19.451
00:13:19.451 --> 00:13:21.586
00:13:21.586 --> 00:13:24.809
00:13:24.809 --> 00:13:26.802
00:13:26.802 --> 00:13:28.505
00:13:28.505 --> 00:13:32.192
00:13:32.192 --> 00:13:40.313
00:13:40.313 --> 00:13:42.644
00:13:42.644 --> 00:13:53.417
00:13:53.417 --> 00:14:02.600
00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:04.482
00:14:04.482 --> 00:14:11.777
00:14:12.325 --> 00:14:14.091
00:14:14.384 --> 00:14:28.610
00:14:28.610 --> 00:14:29.835
00:14:29.835 --> 00:14:32.311
00:14:32.311 --> 00:14:41.164
00:14:41.164 --> 00:15:01.491
00:15:01.491 --> 00:15:03.856
00:15:03.856 --> 00:15:14.908
00:15:14.908 --> 00:15:22.855
00:15:23.096 --> 00:15:28.971
00:15:30.735 --> 00:15:47.369
00:15:47.528 --> 00:15:53.785
00:15:53.785 --> 00:16:07.636
00:16:07.636 --> 00:16:26.650
00:16:26.650 --> 00:16:35.291
00:16:35.291 --> 00:16:41.049
00:16:41.049 --> 00:16:45.288
00:16:47.071 --> 00:16:47.371
00:16:47.371 --> 00:16:56.634
00:16:56.634 --> 00:17:06.734
00:17:06.734 --> 00:17:11.255
00:17:11.255 --> 00:17:13.333
00:17:13.333 --> 00:17:15.372
00:17:15.372 --> 00:17:28.890
00:17:28.890 --> 00:17:36.587
00:17:36.627 --> 00:17:38.811
00:17:38.811 --> 00:17:44.026
00:17:44.026 --> 00:17:45.667
00:17:45.667 --> 00:17:49.471
00:17:49.471 --> 00:17:54.016
00:17:54.016 --> 00:17:57.239
00:17:57.239 --> 00:18:10.371
00:18:10.585 --> 00:18:18.315
00:18:18.315 --> 00:18:26.458
00:18:26.458 --> 00:18:36.210
00:18:36.210 --> 00:18:49.509
00:18:50.991 --> 00:19:11.657
00:19:11.657 --> 00:19:40.894
00:19:40.894 --> 00:19:42.516
00:19:42.516 --> 00:19:54.446
00:19:54.446 --> 00:19:54.909
00:19:54.909 --> 00:20:01.932
00:20:01.932 --> 00:20:03.836
00:20:03.836 --> 00:20:11.547
00:20:11.547 --> 00:20:15.529
00:20:15.529 --> 00:20:21.135
00:20:21.135 --> 00:20:21.616
00:20:21.616 --> 00:20:32.486
00:20:32.506 --> 00:20:41.634
00:20:41.634 --> 00:20:48.019
00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:54.753
00:20:54.753 --> 00:20:58.048
00:20:58.048 --> 00:21:01.195
00:21:01.195 --> 00:21:05.556
00:21:05.556 --> 00:21:12.373
00:21:12.373 --> 00:21:15.176
00:21:15.176 --> 00:21:23.465
00:21:26.310 --> 00:21:26.730
00:21:27.172 --> 00:21:40.278
00:21:40.704 --> 00:21:48.857
00:21:50.965 --> 00:22:05.218
00:22:05.218 --> 00:22:08.012
00:22:08.012 --> 00:22:12.310
00:22:12.310 --> 00:22:39.080
00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:44.531
00:22:44.531 --> 00:22:52.431
00:22:53.712 --> 00:23:04.675
00:23:04.675 --> 00:23:11.199
00:23:11.199 --> 00:23:14.267
00:23:14.267 --> 00:23:16.090
00:23:16.090 --> 00:23:29.034
00:23:29.034 --> 00:23:30.297
00:23:30.297 --> 00:23:33.535
00:23:33.535 --> 00:23:37.395
00:23:37.395 --> 00:23:42.911
00:23:42.911 --> 00:24:21.450
00:24:21.450 --> 00:24:23.375
00:24:23.394 --> 00:24:33.327
00:24:33.327 --> 00:24:50.634
00:24:50.634 --> 00:24:53.527
00:24:53.527 --> 00:25:09.125
00:25:09.125 --> 00:25:12.214
00:25:12.214 --> 00:25:23.078
00:25:24.944 --> 00:25:25.910
00:25:25.910 --> 00:25:31.391
00:25:32.433 --> 00:25:34.567
00:25:34.567 --> 00:25:42.023
00:25:42.023 --> 00:25:45.715
00:25:45.715 --> 00:25:51.190
00:25:51.190 --> 00:25:56.979
00:26:06.565 --> 00:26:24.688
00:26:24.688 --> 00:26:36.029
00:26:36.029 --> 00:27:10.317
00:27:10.317 --> 00:27:14.910
00:27:14.910 --> 00:27:19.648
00:27:19.648 --> 00:27:27.053
00:27:27.094 --> 00:27:43.537
00:27:43.537 --> 00:27:48.165
00:27:48.165 --> 00:27:56.865
00:27:56.865 --> 00:28:11.491
00:28:11.491 --> 00:28:15.608
00:28:16.609 --> 00:28:28.108
00:28:28.108 --> 00:28:29.795
00:28:29.795 --> 00:28:32.451
00:28:32.451 --> 00:28:34.276
00:28:34.276 --> 00:28:38.182
00:28:38.182 --> 00:28:39.487
00:28:39.487 --> 00:28:42.553
00:28:42.553 --> 00:28:46.448
00:28:46.448 --> 00:28:50.037
00:28:50.037 --> 00:28:56.131