Military Women's Voices: Moral Injury and the Fight for Authentic Leadership

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What happens when your personal values collide with the organization you're expected to serve? For military women, this clash often leads to a profound sense of moral injury that can impact every aspect of life.

Shelly Rood brings a refreshingly candid perspective to this challenging reality. As a former military intelligence officer who now coaches high-achieving leaders, she shares powerful insights about navigating the tension between excellence and authenticity. The conversation takes us beyond typical military discussions into the raw, human experience of feeling perpetually at odds with systemic expectations.

"When I watched Cinderella," Shelly reveals, "I wasn't identifying with the princess waiting to be rescued—I was the little mouse making things happen." This telling observation illuminates the fundamental disconnect many service women experience when their natural leadership tendencies clash with traditional gender expectations both within and outside the military structure.

Dr. Roberts and Shelly discuss the false dichotomies that plague military culture—the myth that compassionate leadership somehow compromises combat readiness, or that family support inherently conflicts with operational demands. Their conversation explores how these artificial divisions particularly impact women who are navigating dual identities as leaders and caregivers.

The statistics are sobering: the average female veteran is 46 years old, and more than half are single. Traditional support systems rarely address their unique needs, leaving many to create their own networks from scratch. Through her work with Others Over Self and Woman Veteran Strong, Shelly is building those crucial communities where authentic conversations can flourish.

Whether you're a current service member, veteran, or simply interested in authentic leadership, this episode offers valuable perspective on how to maintain your core values while operating in challenging environments. Discover why Shelly believes we need to strip away gender from these conversations and focus instead on our shared humanity—creating space for genuine connection and growth.

Learn more about Shelly and her organization at:

https://missionambition.org

https://othersoverself.com/

https://othersoverself.com/woman-veteran-strong/

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Help Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. provide the support it needs to women veterans by donating to our cause at: https://misns.org/donation or send a check or money order to Moral Injury Support Network, 136 Sunset Drive, Robbins, NC 27325. Every amount helps and we are so grateful for your loving support. Thanks!

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