Damo and Tisha open the episode by discussing workplace arguments. Damo reads a comment responding to a PTSF YouTube short. Tisha explains why she “quit” social media. Is retirement really so hard? Prayers to everyone who has been impacted by this current Hurricane season. The Navy is celebrating our 249th birthday! Make sure you do it in accordance with the policy. The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) has had some major changes that everyone isn’t pleased with and we want to understand why. Damo and Tisha review the updates to MyNavyPortal. What’s the difference between GMT and CMT? The Navy has surpassed our recruiting goals this year! This is definitely a win, considering we were not expecting it. It’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month and we want to highlight the Family Advocacy Program (FAP) again. A “Do Better” from a listener is read. Damo and Tisha provide a little feedback. Tisha takes Damo on a personal journey about a “Karen” at her job. A Guardsman is trying to sue the government for Malpractice following a botched surgery in Walter Reed. Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.

To have your “Do Better” reviewed on a future episode please get in touch with us at ptsfpodcast@gmail.com.

Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast

Links from this episode:

U.S Navy Birthday Resources - https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/commemorations-toolkits/navy-birthday.html

Dissolution of EFMP Categories - https://mccareer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/dissolution-of-navy-efmp-program.pdf

Common Military Training - https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2024/NAV24209.txt?ver=s2MalZl5dN1qGOqyeF0Brw%3d%3d

Navy surpassed Recruiting Goals: https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2024/10/02/navy-bounces-back-surpasses-recruiting-goals-for-fiscal-year-2024/

Family Advocacy Program Resources - https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Support-Services/Culture-Resilience/Family-Advocacy/

Malpractice Suit: https://www-military-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.military.com/daily-news/2024/06/24/paralyzed-during-surgery-walter-reed-guardsman-asks-supreme-court-consider-feres-doctrine-challenge.html?amp

Books of the Week:

Damo - Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders (L. David Marquet)- https://davidmarquet.com/turn-the-ship-around-book/

Tisha - Damaged but Not Destroyed: From Trauma to Triumph (Michael Todd) - https://www.iammiketodd.com/damaged-but-not-destroyed

Additional Credits:

PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0

DISCLAIMER: The speaker(s) are NOT health professionals and do not intend any of the content of this podcast as health advice. If you need professional health advice, please seek out your closest military or civilian health providers immediately.

DISCLAIMER: The speaker(s) are NOT mental health professionals and do not intend any of the content of this podcast as mental health advice. If you need professional mental health advice, please seek out your closest military or civilian mental health providers immediately.

Retired Master Chief, Will Foster, host of the ‘Don’t Give Up The Ship’ podcast comes back to PTSF to chop it up with Tisha and Damo. First, have you seen that video about hitting our recruiting goals floating around on social media? Did we hit our recruiting goals? Is everyone in the navy wearing the wrong color socks? Damo starts his journey of weight gain, weight loss, and personal growth from early childhood to his most recent experiences at his current command. Will shares his story of how compounding responsibility and the need to work led to some compounded health complications in his life. He talks about his experience with cancer and mental health. Tisha discusses her transition from Sailor to Civilian and the impact it has had on her mental health. DGUTS discusses some of the cultural separation between Chiefs and junior Sailors and the need to build trust through vulnerability and transparency. Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.

To have your “Do Better” reviewed on a future episode please contact us at ptsfpodcast@gmail.com.

Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast

More information on the ‘Don’t Give Up The Ship’ podcast:

Don’t Give Up The Ship Podcast is a weekly podcast for the professional and leadership development and education of military members and veterans. The leadership lessons, however, can be translated to everyone’s professional and personal leadership challenges. We’re fiercely committed to your leadership development and education, to developing leaders as authentic leaders of people, who build trust amongst their teams to push a team in the direction of mission accomplishment.   

DGUTS Links and Social Media:

DGUTS Podcast Website: dgutspodcast.com

DGUTS Podcast Apparel: dgutsapparel.com

Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Listen on Soundcloud:  / usailorwillis  

Support on Patreon:  / dgutspodcast 

Watch on YouTube:  / dontgiveuptheshippodcast  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DGUTSpodcast

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

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/dgutspodcast/

Wisdom App:  @dgutspodcast

Discord: @dgutspodcast

Email: dontgiveuptheshippodcast@gmail.com

Store: dgutsapparel.com/shop

Additional Credits:

PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0

OSC Maurice Gibson, also known as Sir Lunchtime, joins the pod to chop it up with Damo in the absence of Damon and Tish. Though Sir Lunchtime is a food influencer by night, his day job is as an inspector for the Afloat Training Group (ATG) in San Diego. They start the discussion by discussing the role of inspectors and the impact they can have at a command. We can’t get together without at least bringing up the latest news about Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. Damo talks about two new NAVADMINS, one about uniforms and the other about BAH. The BAH NAVADMIN is a positive change for Sailors who have to execute duties in a Geographical Bachelor status. Is Geobaching always a choice? There are hundreds of new predatory lending apps putting junior Sailors in the same hole that the payday loans used to put us in. Do we need more financial literacy in the Navy, or do we need to attend the training and webinars that are already being offered? Sir Lunchtime discusses how he started doing food reviews. The guys rewind a bit and discuss what made OSC Gibson join the Navy and stay in, as well as what he learned from his biggest moment of adversity. The guys discuss some of their favorite foods in San Diego. Much love to our Filipino brothers and sisters. What are the logistics of putting together a food critique video? The guys discuss the San Diego food scene and what neighborhoods are the best places to get food from. How do you stay healthy as a food influencer? The guys discuss how physical and mental health are closely related. Sir Lunchtime discusses finding his “why” and dream destinations for food. Should lunchtime be protected? Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.

To have your “Do Better” reviewed on a future episode please contact us at ptsfpodcast@gmail.com.

Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast

Catch up with Sir Lunchtime social media:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sirlunchtime

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SIRLUNCHTIME

Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@sirlunchtime

Links From This Episode:

NAVADMIN 192/24: Basic Allowance for Housing Flexibility - https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2024/NAV24192.txt?ver=WkKibwK4TQqFtQN3BYBsMA%3d%3d

NAVADMIN 194/24: Uniform Policy and Uniform Initiative Update - https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2024/NAV24194.txt?ver=tntk-qYOrNWS1P0aE1tVhQ%3d%3d

Additional Credits:

PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0

Commander Desmond Walker (USS Stout) checked into the pod for a conversation that we’d been waiting to have. In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, they touch on the importance of mental health awareness, going into a very stressful holiday season. They also discuss the disconnect between some Navy policies and their implementation at the command level. Commander Walker discusses his personal experience of joining the Navy and whether his upbringing in Mississippi had an impact on his outlook as an African American Sailor. Damo asks him about any experiences with racism in Mississippi. He discusses his enlisted life, including his deployments and the challenges of being separated from his wife. Cdr. Walker also talks about his transition to becoming an officer and the importance of mentorship and teamwork. He highlights his various assignments and leadership roles, emphasizing the need for empathy and open communication within the command structure. CDR Walker details his leadership philosophy. Damo opens up a discussion on the “us versus them” mentality and the importance of seeing leaders as part of the team. What are the biggest differences between an XO tour and a CO tour? They also touch on the importance of using social media to celebrate and engage with sailors, as well as the different standards of accountability for khaki and junior enlisted personnel. Damo highlights his appreciation for the growth of the podcast’s audience. Are Khaki and junior enlisted Sailors held to different standards when it comes to corrective actions for disciplinary issues? The pod has a convo about the need for leaders to make timely decisions, have difficult conversations, and take appropriate action to maintain discipline and uphold standards. CDR Walker details what a “loss of confidence” means for a Commanding Officer. They also touch on the importance of diversity and inclusion in the Navy and the challenges faced by African-American officers. Cdr. Walker reflects on a mentor who inspired him in his early as an enlisted Sailor. Cdr. Walker honors the hard work of his crew on the USS Stout. He emphasizes the need for transparency, communication, and mentorship in creating a positive and inclusive culture. As a CO, how does he prepare his crew and family for deployment? Cdr. Walker reflects on the mentors and leaders who have influenced his career, from his early days in the Navy to his current command. He highlights the importance of investing in others and the impact that strong leadership can have on personal and professional growth. He emphasizes the need for leaders to see and appreciate the individuality of their team members and to assess their performance based on a known metric. Cdr. Walker concludes by sharing his motivation to continue serving in the Navy and the responsibility he feels to be an example and representation for others. Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.

To have your “Do Better” reviewed on a future episode please contact us at ptsfpodcast@gmail.com.

Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast

Cdr. Walker’s Book Recommendations:

The Right to Lead (John C. Maxwell) - https://lifeandleadership.com/book-summaries/maxwell-the-right-to-lead/

Black Officer, White Navy (Reuben Keith Green) - https://www.kentuckypress.com/9781985900295/black-officer-white-navy/

It Worked For Me (Colin Powell) - https://www.harpercollins.com/products/it-worked-for-me-colin-powell?variant=32129897431074

Suicide Prevention Month Resources:

The following resources are available 24/7 for mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual support:

  - National Suicide Hotline:

Dial 988

  - Veterans/Military Crisis Line:

Dial 988 (press 1) or Text 838255

  - Psychological Health Outreach Program (PHOP):

1-866-578-PHOP (7467) 

  - Military OneSource:

800-342-9647 / [www.militaryonesource.mil](https://www.militaryonesource.mil)

  - Vet Centers:

877-WAR-VETS (877-927-8387) / [www.vetcenter.va.gov](https://www.vetcenter.va.gov)

  - DON Civilian Employee Assistance Program (DONCEAP):

844-DONCEAP (1-844-366-2327) / [www.magellanascend.com](https://www.magellanascend.com)

  - Local Resources:

Fleet and Family Support Centers, Marine and Family Services, Military Family Life Counselors, chaplains, and your leadership

Additional Credits:

PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0