Stories of Service, Sacrifice and Strength
Podcast Transcription
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Maddy: Welcome to PFCU's Money Talk podcast. I'm your host Maddy. Today in honor of Veterans Day, I was privileged to sit down with a remarkable individual whose service and sacrifice remind us of the courage and commitment behind the uniform. This guest is a veteran who has not only served our country, but through her story, we can see that she continues to impact her community in meaningful ways. In this episode, we'll hear firsthand about Jen's journey and the impactful message that she shares.
So please join us as we honor our veterans, reflect on their stories and express our deepest gratitude.
Well, hi Jen.
Jen: Hello Maddy.
Maddy: How are you today?
Jen: Good. Excited to be here.
Maddy: I'm so excited to have you. So, we are here today to talk a little bit about your experience in the military. Veterans day is, it’s already October, so it's gonna be here before we know it, it's crazy.
Jen: Then Christmas, it's crazy.
Maddy: I know, I know, except we're still dealing with 80-degree weather.
Jen: Right.
Maddy: So, it doesn't feel like fall at all. So could you just start with just a little bit about your background with the military, what role you had in the military, what branch you served in, all of that.
Jen: Absolutely, so I joined the Air Force in 1992, way, way back when. I was just, I graduated from high school in ‘91, wasn't sure what I wanted to do. And actually, I was home with my mom watching TV and I don't know how many people will know the show Laverne and Shirley, but they had joined the army. And so, at the time I was just waitressing and I'm like, I can do that. I could join the army. That's something I can do. And my mom said, well, join the Air Force because my dad was in the army and she's like, they were always marching and the Air Force was more like a job.
Maddy: Okay, yeah.
Jen: Like a nine to five kind of job. You know, not really, because it's military, but they were more professional. And so that's what I did. I contacted a recruiter. So, it all started with Laverne and Shirley.
Maddy: Wow. Okay.
Jen: Yes, contacted a recruiter and joined, went in in ‘92. And the first place I got stationed was in Alaska. I called my mom crying because I wanted to go someplace warm or, you know, like I was thinking Hawaii or Germany, someplace, you know, and so I got Alaska, which turned out to be a great experience. And then from there, I went to Wright-Patterson in Ohio and then in ‘97 I got out.
Maddy: That's an interesting story of how you got started in that.
Jen: Yeah.
Maddy: That's so funny. And you said your dad had served in the Army.
Jen: Yes, my dad had been in the Army. His two brothers, his sister. So yes, I was the only one that went into the Air Force.
Maddy: Well, thank you for your service.
Jen: You're welcome.
Maddy: Can you share how your experience shaped you into who you are today, maybe lessons that you learned from that experience?
Jen: Absolutely. So, I didn't go in with a career already picked, so they kind of picked one for me. And it was in transportation. And I thought it was going to be household goods. And it turned out that I worked in, like, the actual warehouse of moving cargo. And so, I was kind of at that age, a little miss prim and proper, just thought that I’d just do an office job and it ended up being in a warehouse driving a forklift, packing materials, very dirty. And I was like, there's no way I can do this. I'm just not capable. But I had a great sergeant at the time who just really told me, you know, to embrace everything, to not set boundaries on myself. And I just really ended up excelling at it. I just dove in headfirst and just learned so much and realized that I was more capable than what I thought. And so, it really, I ended up, like, getting certified to move hazardous materials, bombs, explosives, worked on the flight line to make sure that things go on a plane and wouldn’t go boom. And just really, it really taught me a lot like not to set an “I can't” mindset, to always at least give it a try because it just turns out to be a surprise how well you can really excel at something that you thought you couldn't do at all.
Maddy: That's amazing. And that's a lesson I'm sure you've taken with you over the years.
Jen: Yes, absolutely. I mean one thing that really shaped me especially at that age, you know, where you kind of leaving home or starting to be an adult, you kind of don't really know how you're gonna adult or what kind of adult you're gonna be and so going into the military really taught me number one thing for me is integrity. That is most important to me for somebody to have integrity and to have integrity myself. I always walk through life with integrity but also organization, discipline, not to be so confrontational, how to kind of hold my tongue and listen. And so, I just feel like those really shaped me and just stayed with me through all of my adult years.
Maddy: Is there anything you wish more people understood about serving in the military or veterans in general?
Jen: Yes, I think that, you know, it's important for people to know if you served at all, you are a veteran. I know at one time I worked for Michigan Veterans Affairs and that's how I found out that a lot of women don't identify as veterans. Like, a lot of times somebody thinks that they have to be in combat or they had to go to Afghanistan or Iraq and so they never check to see for benefits or anything. So, I think that's the major, you know, message I want to get out to people is that if you served at all, you're a veteran. And so whether you did two years, five years, 10 years that you're a veteran. And then I suggest that everybody go to their, like, county veteran service office for Veterans Affairs and see if they're eligible for benefits. I think that's really important.
Maddy: Speaking of community resources, is there anything that means a lot to you in the community? Do you wish communities did more for veterans? Do you work closely with any organizations? Can you speak to that?
Jen: Yes, I've worked with a lot of organizations from my time that I worked with Veterans Affairs and I just think it's important for us to uplift a lot of veterans. Veterans have a high suicide rate and so I think it's important to take that time to talk to them, identify any benefits they may need. Do they need help? Do they need mental professional? Do they need any health benefits? Are they eligible? You know, at the time that they serve things like Agent Orange, you know, the Veterans Affairs federally has opened up what qualifies for medical. So, I think it's just important that, talk, if you know a veteran, talk to them, see how they're doing. Is there something missing or something that they need? And, you know, reach out to at least here in Michigan, start out with Michigan Veterans Affairs. Contact them. They will get you to your local county office or any benefits and get you on that road. Whether you need therapy or just healthcare or whether it's substance abuse, anything, they can get you those resources. And I think that's the most important thing for veterans is to provide them with resources. They're in our community and a lot of times they're struggling and a lot of times a veteran is going to be the one that's most proud, that's not going to ask for help. And so, it's really important to have those difficult conversations if they're struggling in any way. It's an awkward, maybe an awkward conversation, but it's really important to have those conversations.
Maddy: Yeah, and it's as simple as if you know a veteran, just talk to them.
Jen: Yeah, just talk to them. Ask them, how was their service? Just ask them any question to get them to open up. And then that way you can get that ball rolling. Is there anything that you need? Anything that I can help you with? Sometimes it's just listening.
Maddy: Is there anything else you'd like to share about your time in the Air Force, maybe before you entered, after?
Jen: I always recommend it. I talk to a lot of people. I've had family members and friends, have their children contact me to get an honest opinion. And I say it's the best thing that I ever did. You know, sometimes you look back and you think, I wish I would have went to college, had that whole college experience, did all of that. But I got to go to Alaska for three years. I got to walk with bears and see glaciers and whales and so I mean, you might just, you never know where it'll take you and it really, I want to say, it'll only enrich your life and not take it away, won't hinder you in any way so I just think there's wonderful benefits and I think especially shaping a young adult. It's definitely, I recommend, the way to go.
Maddy: Awesome. Well, thank you so much for your time today.
Jen: Thank you. I appreciate being here.
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