There were several ways I could have ended this series and many interviews I could have done, however, when Matt mentioned that I should end it with him interviewing me, it felt right. So... here I am. Here we are. We share my reflections on the project, where things go from here, and most importantly, the power of championing others- especially your spouse. Special thank you to SO MANY PEOPLE who have supported me throughout the years, too many to mention here. I hope you enjoyed the series and will share it with others.

The Final credits song is "Thank You" by veteran and friend James Corbin.

This podcast is based on the book Military Culture Shift by clinical consultant and SME on military family culture, Corie Weathers.

Order your copy of Military Culture Shift https://militaryfamilybooks.com/products/military-culture-shift-by-corie-weathers

Listen to Corie's Lifegiver Podcast https://corieweathers.podbean.com/

Find out more about how you can work with and contact Corie https://www.corieweathers.com

In the final chapter of Military Culture Shift, I reference a theory of reconstitution written by Stoney Portis, after he commanded the 3-61 CAV troops that survived the now historic Battle of COP Keating and needed to somehow become mission-ready again. Reading his reflection on what it took to wholistically serve the battle-weary troops who had earned every right to hang up the one tattered uniform they had left, I knew it was a case study on what it would take to reconstitute an entire culture as well. So I invited now LT COL Stoney Portis to join Matt and me in a discussion about their shared sacred space in hopes it could validate the sacred spaces in your own life, but also inspire the healing of us all.

Read Stoney's Paper on Reconstitution: https://www.corieweathers.com/wp-content/uploads/Stoneys-Paper.-full-1.pdf

Read about the Battle of Cop Keating here

Watch the movie "The Outpost": https://www.netflix.com/title/81276140?source=35

This podcast is based on the book Military Culture Shift by clinical consultant and SME on military family culture, Corie Weathers.

Order your copy of Military Culture Shift https://militaryfamilybooks.com/products/military-culture-shift-by-corie-weathers

Listen to Corie's Lifegiver Podcast https://corieweathers.podbean.com/

Find out more about how you can work with and contact Corie https://www.corieweathers.com

Final Credits song is "The Hard Way" by Moda Spira https://modaspira.bandcamp.com/track/the-hard-way

Over the course of writing Military Culture Shift and especially present in the last three episodes, the phrase “moral injury” has come up again and again. Brought into mainstream awareness by Jonathan Shay in the 90s and early 2000s, his first book Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character introduced moral injury as a distinct second syndrome from PTSD.

As progress continues to evolve on the individualized treatment modalities for PTSD and moral injury, the Afghanistan exit, and its eerily similar characteristics with Vietnam, brings up the question of "How does an entire culture heal when it feels betrayed and morally injured?"

Surely the Afghanistan veterans and families that came out of two decades of war are not destined to carry similar burdens as our recent Vietnam veterans have.

I asked our good friend and mentor, Dr. Timothy Mallard, Chaplain, and Assistant Professor and Director of Ethical Development at The United States Army War College, and subject matter expert on moral injury to sit down with me just 60 days out from his own retirement. Still on his own journey of healing from his response to the 9/11 attack at the Pentagon, he has been a pillar of strength, wisdom, and comfort for many over the last several decades.

Final Credits Song: "There Is Always Hope" by Human Is Alive, Kieldfal, Silent Travelers

Arch Bishop Tutu Forgiveness Project: https://youtu.be/-M8wrQXIZmQ?si=od2rKrmquYXoJbZj

Recommended resources from Dr. Mallard:

Veteran's Association: https://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn17/moralinjury.asp

Jonathan Shay: Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character: https://a.co/d/e9eOpf3

The (Twin) Wounds of War, by Timothy Mallard: https://providencemag.com/2017/02/twin-wounds-war-spiritual-injury-moral-injury/

The Moral Injury of the Cross, by Timothy Mallard: https://providencemag.com/2024/03/the-moral-injury-of-the-cross/