The Mettle of Honor Podcast: Veteran Stories of Courage, Strength, & Perseverance

'I had seen dozens of people die horrible deaths ... This time was different. This time it was a friend of mine dying in the dirt in front of me, and it was my job to save him.'

U.S. Army Colonel (COL) James Lynch, MD (retired) and Sean Mulvaney are the cofounders of The Stellate Institute.  Dr. Jim Lynch is a primary care sports medicine physician who joined the Regenerative Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (ROSM) team after serving 31 years in Army medicine. In April 2021, he co-founded The Stellate Institute in Annapolis, MD to serve as a center of excellence for an innovative PTSD treatment called Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB). Dr. Lynch earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1989, a Master of Science in healthcare improvement from Dartmouth College in 2001, and his medical degree from Brown Medical School in 2003. He is board certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. Dr. Lynch is a physician with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and has supported USA Swimming as a National Team Physician since 2011. He has supported elite athletes in international competition including multiple World Championships and Olympic Games. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Military and Emergency Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as well as Course Director of the NATO Special Operations Medical Leaders Course and Adjunct Faculty at the University College Cork, Ireland. His clinical interests include posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and regenerative injection therapies. He has been a pioneer in the world of PTSD treatment using a procedure called stellate ganglion block (SGB). He has published multiple articles in the medical literature on SGB and has presented his research in international forums in Germany, Australia, and Portugal. Colonel Lynch's 31 years of military service include deployments to Panama, the First Gulf War in 1991, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and throughout Africa in support of Special Operations. Dr. Lynch lives in Annapolis, Maryland with his wife Jodi of 29 years. His hobbies include running and supporting youth sports. He has traveled to over 60 countries, including 8 of the 10 most dangerous countries in the world. Dr. James Lynch is passionate about serving those in need.

"It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people."  -Martin Luther King Jr.

"The noblest question in the world is: What good may I do in it?"   -Benjamin Franklin

#ptsd | #ptsi | #PostTraumaticStressDisorder | #traumarecovery | #anxiety | #depression | #veteranshelpingveterans | #mentalhealthmatters | #YouveGotMettle 

The September 11 attacks were a series of airline hijackings and suicide attacks committed in 2001 by 19 terrorists associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda. It was the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil; nearly 3,000 people were killed. The attacks involved the hijacking of four planes, three of which were used to strike significant U.S. sites. American Airlines flight 11 and United Airlines flight 175 were flown into the World Trade Center’s north and south towers, respectively, and American Airlines flight 77hit the Pentagon. United Airlines flight 93 crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers attempted to overpower the hijackers. The plane was believed to be headed to the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. 

MILITARY EXPERT: Experienced Civil Servant with a demonstrated history of upholding the core values of integrity, service, and excellence. As the 17th Command Chief Master Sergeant for the Air Force Reserve Command and the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the Air Force Reserve, I was honored to represent the highest level of enlisted leadership.  I served as an adviser to the commander on all matters concerning the health, morale, welfare and effective management of more than 74,000 civilians, active duty/reserve officers and enlisted members at more than 66 locations.  I provided leadership and guidance to numerous committees, councils, boards, military and civilian functions worldwide.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY: Strong legal professional. As a law enforcement officer, I was responsible to safeguard and promote the security of the workforce.  I use professionalism, accountability, and vigilance to serve in a multitude of roles which included:  Less-lethal weapon instructor; Emergency Medical Technician; subject matter expert; presenter; coach and trainer.

Master's Degree in Business Administration | Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice focused on Pre-Law Studies and Languages.

Public Speaker | Coach | Trainer. Executive Director of The John Maxwell Team I am certified to facilitate, speak, train and coach individuals and groups in the areas of leadership development, professional skills and personal growth. Trained and mentored by John Maxwell and mentors of his world-class faculty, I am equipped with the tools, resources and experience to help you and your team improve your productivity, performance and profitability. Whether you are looking for a facilitator for group workshops, corporate training in leadership, speaking, sales, or coaching skills for your leaders, or a speaker for your next event, I have access to exclusive content that is only available through a certified Executive Director of the John Maxwell Team to help you reach your goals and objectives.

#YouveGotMettle #Resilence #Mettle #Grit

Kim DeFiori began her military career after graduating from West Point in 2008 as a Military Police (MP) Officer. She deployed shortly after to Afghanistan for a year, serving with military police and infantry companies. She was one of the first women to work alongside Afghan police day and night conducting raids with special operations units. She went on to serve as an aide-de-camp at the Pentagon.

However, Kim's story doesn't end there. She shares her personal story in this episode of her journey in dealing with the aftereffects of her deployment because, as she says, "The Army does a good job teaching you how to deploy but not how to come home." Part of the trauma occurred back home. Wearing a mask + drinking alcohol and neglecting treatment are not a good mix.

Kim DeFiori is a mental health advocate wants to reduce mental health stigma and hopes all who are suffering won't do so in silence and isolation but will have the courage to ask for help.

#LessonsFromThor | #MentalHealthMatters | #VeteransHelpingVeterans |#YouveGotMettle

LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE

Meet Army veteran SGM (R) Michael Weiss of Moyock, North Carolina. Michael originally entered the military from Southern California and retired after more than three decades of uniformed service. He is now the Executive Officer of J3 Khai Restoration.,

At my first duty station, Fort Sill, Oklahoma (home of the Army’s Field Artillery), I met, then Master Sergeant Michael Weiss who was the Installation Religious Affairs NCO (56M). At that time, the MOS was Chaplain Assistant (71M).  I believe his last assignment; he was the senior Religious Affairs NCO at TRADOC (Training and Doctrine Command). From the first time I met him and throughout my military career, I’ve known him as a compassionate leader.

It's been a pleasure maintaining contact with him throughout the years. SGM Michael Weiss, #YouveGotMettle

NAME Bruce Thompson |

BRANCH OF SERVICE: USMC 

CURRENT STATUS: USMC VETERAN, Retired (1992 - 2016). 

CURRENT OCCUPATION: Vice President of Vets to Industry

PLACE OF RESIDENCE: Jacksonville, Florida.