We don’t talk enough about what it means to come home — not in the ‘you made it’ way, but in the ‘now what?’ way.”

In 2003, Shoshana Johnson became the first Black female POW in U.S. history. Her story made headlines — but her homecoming was quieter, harder, and far from over. Behind the ceremonies was a woman carrying invisible wounds, navigating PTSD, and trying to find wholeness after survival.

This blog isn’t about retelling trauma — it’s about recognizing the after. The part we rarely say out loud.

If you’ve ever returned in body but felt lost in spirit… you’re not alone.

Read the full story, and if you’re ready — share yours too.

Leaving the military isn’t just about turning in gear or writing a resume—it’s about letting go of an identity, navigating uncertainty, and rebuilding your life from scratch. This anonymous story captures the emotional truth of what it’s like to transition out of the military while still being the backbone of a family. It’s about fear, faith, responsibility—and the quiet strength of starting over.

We kicked off our very first episode of Open Door Policy by diving into something many service members are all too familiar with—the infamous “open-door policy.” On paper, it’s supposed to be a tool for transparency, a way for soldiers to feel heard when leadership falls short. But in reality? That door isn’t always as open as it claims to be.

In this episode, we got personal. We shared real moments from our own experiences navigating the military’s chain of command, what it felt like to speak up and not be listened to, and how those moments left us feeling more isolated than empowered. It’s not always easy to talk about—especially when humor is often the armor we wear—but we believe there’s strength in vulnerability. And honestly, we laughed a lot along the way (because if you don’t laugh in the military, you’ll cry… or smoke yourself voluntarily)

Let’s be honest—military culture and drinking go hand in hand more than most of us care to admit. In Episode 2 of Open Door Policy, we put down the beer (for now) and pick up the mic to talk about how deep the roots of alcohol run in military life.

From wild weekend binges to drinking rituals that start way too early in the day, we shared personal stories of what it was like to be young, stressed, and drowning more in Jack than in our emotions. There were laughs—like soldiers falling off stages mid-speech—and some serious moments too, like recognizing when the party stops being fun and starts becoming a problem.

There’s a moment some of us face when the uniform — once a symbol of purpose, pride, and identity — no longer fits the life we’re trying to build. In Episode 3 of Open Door Policy, I sat down behind the mic solo to talk about my own transition out of the military after ten years. Not to bash the system or dramatize the struggle, but to say what so many of us feel and rarely say out loud: it’s okay to want something different.

Leaving wasn’t about bitterness. It wasn’t even about frustration. It was about growth — about recognizing that the version of stability I had clung to for so long was holding me back from the kind of life I wanted to create for myself and my family.