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What happens when the warrior returns home? When the sense of purpose that fueled their mission suddenly evaporates? Anthony Dyer's powerful journey from combat aviator to author reveals the silent battles that continue long after the gunfire ceases.

Growing up in the rugged Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, Anthony carried that spirit of resilience into an extraordinary career as a Combat Special Missions Aviator in the U.S. Air Force. Over more than a decade, he flew 200+ combat missions and accumulated 2,700 flight hours across multiple aircraft, from AC-130 gunships to Pave Hawk rescue helicopters. His exceptional courage earned him the Air Force's Jolly Green Rescue Mission of the Year in 2018.

But the weight of war followed him home. Anthony candidly shares the traumatic rescue mission in East Africa that haunts him still—a mission where everything went wrong from the start, yet they managed to save five lives while losing one American soldier. "It's not what you do in life that haunts you, it's what you don't do," he reflects, articulating the burden carried by so many veterans.

As retirement approached after two decades of service, Anthony faced a profound identity crisis. His sense of purpose—ensuring operators returned home safely—was disappearing. This void, combined with unprocessed trauma, spiraled into alcoholism and depression until his wife delivered an ultimatum that became his lifeline. Through Military Family Life Counselors, prolonged exposure therapy, and medication, Anthony gradually found his way back to himself.

His memoir "Moonchild: The Roots and Wings of a Combat Special Missions Aviator" emerged from this healing journey—not just as personal catharsis but as a beacon for others navigating similar darkness. Anthony's story demonstrates that recovery isn't instantaneous, often requiring many therapy sessions before improvement becomes noticeable. It shows the critical importance of support systems and professional help, even when skepticism initially prevails.

Anthony's message transcends military experience: "Life circumstances can make you bitter or better. The choice is yours." Through vulnerability, professional help, and a willingness to confront difficult emotions, transformation becomes possible—not just healing, but renewed purpose. Listen and discover how even the deepest wounds can become the place where light enters.

Links to his book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/moon-child-anthony-dyer/1147103074 and https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Child-Special-Missions-Aviator/dp/B0DZMXBHJ4

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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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The invisible wounds of military service don't just affect the service member—they ripple through the entire family system. Dr. Marg Rogers pulls back the curtain on this often-overlooked reality, sharing powerful insights from her work developing research-based resources for families affected by moral injury and service-related trauma.

Drawing from personal experience watching her uncle struggle after Vietnam, Dr. Rogers explains how moral injury manifests in family dynamics. Parents experiencing moral injury often withdraw emotionally, not from lack of love, but from feelings of unworthiness or fear of "contaminating" their children. This withdrawal leaves children confused, sometimes blaming themselves for a parent's emotional distance. "It's a bit like having a garden," she explains. "Something really terrible happens at one end of the garden, and it can't not affect the other end."

The conversation explores how military and first responder families face unique challenges that compound these difficulties—frequent relocations disrupting support networks, career sacrifices by spouses, and children navigating educational instability. Despite these profound needs, families often fall through the cracks of support systems primarily focused on the service member.

In response, Dr. Rogers and her international team have created the Child and Family Resilience Programs—a remarkable collection of free, co-created resources including bibliotherapy storybooks and educational modules. These materials help children understand what's happening in their families and provide adults with tools to support them. The feedback has been transformative: "These are families I've worked with for so long, and nothing has hit them so hard and so honestly as that book did. It's a game changer for understanding."

Whether you're a service member, family member, educator, or support professional, this conversation offers invaluable perspectives on supporting the youngest casualties of service-related trauma—the children who never signed up for these challenges but live with them every day.

Check out the Child and Family Resilience Programs website to access these free resources and see how they might support the military and first responder families in your life: https://ecdefenceprograms.com/index.php/media-releases/. For more information, Dr. Rogers can be reached at:

Email: ecdefenceprograms@une.edu.au.

Support the show

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!

Follow us on your favorite social channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moral-injury-support-network-for-servicewomen/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.danielroberts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misnsconsult/

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When Jenna Carlton left the Navy in 2017 after serving as an aerographer's mate, she faced a question that would fuel her mission: "Where are all the younger veterans?" This powerful conversation reveals how she's addressing that gap through community building and targeted resources.

Fresh from her military experience, Jenna shares candidly about the realities women face in service—sexualization, harassment, and the personality shifts many adopt for self-protection. Her journey took her to Capitol Hill, where she hoped to influence veteran policy, only to discover that grassroots community building would be her most effective path forward. Now running the Millennial Veterans Facebook group and the South Jersey Women Veterans Group, she creates safe spaces where veterans can discuss benefits, mental health, relationships, and the complex transition to civilian identity.

Perhaps most striking is Jenna's insight into why younger veterans—particularly women—aren't accessing available resources. Despite significant improvements in VA services, veterans under 30 remain largely absent from these systems. Many don't feel entitled to benefits if they served shorter terms or didn't deploy, while others have internalized negative perceptions about VA care. This disengagement is especially concerning considering veterans aged 18-35 have the highest suicide rates among all veteran age groups.

Through her Veteran Workbook, Jenna provides a practical tool for processing military experiences and rebuilding civilian identity. The workbook asks questions that civilians wouldn't think to ask, helping veterans articulate their needs and experiences while planning for meaningful futures beyond service.

Ready to connect with resources tailored for younger veterans? Follow Jenna on Instagram @themillennialveteran, http://facebook.com/groups/themillennialveterans, or find her Veteran Workbook on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Veteran-Workbook-Jenna-Carlton/dp/B0C6W1GB96 to start your journey toward post-military wellness and community.

Support the show

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!

Follow us on your favorite social channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moral-injury-support-network-for-servicewomen/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.danielroberts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misnsconsult/