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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.

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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!

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

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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/

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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Moral injury remains one of the most misunderstood challenges facing women veterans today. When actions during military service violate one's deeply held moral beliefs, the resulting invisible wounds can devastate lives long after uniforms are hung up. Unlike PTSD, moral injury hides beneath the surface—characterized by shame, guilt, and internal conflict rather than outward distress.

Dr. Daniel Roberts, president of Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen Inc., takes listeners through an illuminating exploration of how to recognize these hidden wounds. Drawing from his upcoming book "Moral Injury: A Guidebook for Women Veterans," he outlines the subtle yet profound indicators that something isn't right: social withdrawal that happens gradually, decreased work performance when once-driven servicewomen can no longer concentrate, sleep disturbances that range from insomnia to vivid nightmares, and spiritual distress that shatters previously held beliefs about justice and meaning.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is its comprehensive approach to identification. Beyond examining behavioral changes like substance abuse and anger issues, Dr. Roberts delves into the emotional landscape of moral injury—where women veterans might experience overwhelming guilt, profound loss of meaning, or betrayal that fundamentally alters how they view themselves and the world. The physical manifestations, from chronic pain to appetite disturbances, illuminate how deeply moral injury affects the entire person. For women veterans struggling with unexplained feelings of unworthiness or those who work with them, this episode offers critical insights and a path forward through understanding. Listen, share, and reach out for your free copy of the guidebook to begin the journey toward healing these profound wounds.

Women veterans can receive a free copy of the book by emailing Dr. Roberts at droberts@misns.org.

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/