Best Survivor Stories Podcasts (2024)

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103. Mac McDonald: A Second Visit, With a Close-up View of the Work That Goes into Healing 46:57

8m ago46:57

46:57

For those of you who have been following this show since the beginning almost 2 years ago, or who have had the opportunity to go back to listen to some of the early episodes, you’ll recognize this weeks’ guest: Mac McDonald. Mac was one of the four people who were on a panel of rape survivors who had been assaulted on their respective college campu…

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The Impact of Leadership: A Stroke Survivor’s Perspective on Electing Trump or Harris 1:01:10

22h ago1:01:10

1:01:10

Send us a text High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and diabetes are leading causes of stroke. One in three US adults has at least one of these conditions or risk factor Stroke is a leading cause of death for Americans. The risk of having a stroke varies with race and ethnicity. Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has…

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102. Aaron Stone: Retired Sergeant Major Continues His Mission of Healing and De-Stigmatizing Male Rape Victimization 34:55

3d ago34:55

34:55

I’ll start these notes off by providing you some important information about my guest this week, Sergeant Major Aaron Stone, US Army, Retired. This information is taken directly from Aaron’s website, https://18winters.com/#about 18 Winters – Shattering the silence I am a retired Combat Medic in the United States Army, and I have completed multiple …

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“Reimagining the Future: Dr. C. Lewis on Empowering the Next Generation” 24:56

6d ago24:56

24:56

Send us a text Dr. Cynthia Lewis, MD Dr. Lewis has over 20 years of experience in the field of Adolescent Medicine. Her areas of interest include health education, youth advocacy, and quality improvement in the delivery of adolescent health care. Dr. Lewis has provided leadership in the development of evidence-based Pediatric Resident training Curr…

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101. Lynn Stroud: Bravely Turning Her Rape Stories into Healing Help 1:01:22

10d ago1:01:22

1:01:22

In the deeply insightful podcast episode featuring Lynn Stroud, listeners are immersed in a profound exploration of what it truly means to be trauma informed. Stroud, a renowned advocate and expert in trauma recovery, eloquently guides us through the multifaceted layers of this crucial concept. At its core, being trauma-informed is not merely a set…

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100. Caroline Markel: Facing the Realities of Healing and Taking Responsibility for Our Part in the Trauma Response 29:49

17d ago29:49

29:49

It’s quite the honor to be hosting a podcast that has reached the 100th episode landmark, especially because hitting this commemorative occasion is a testament to the loyalty of you, my listeners, and because of the privileged circumstance of having made it this far. It’s a lot of work, but for me because of the amazing guests I’ve had the pleasure…

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99. Nicole Florisi: Reports of Shelter Abuses Exposed and Discussed 45:48

24d ago45:48

45:48

Here’s some information about Nicole, in case some of you are new to Sexual Assault Survivor Stories. Nicole is a frequent guest on this show, and I want you to know some information about her. This information is published by Force Science, Nicole’s employer, on their website: https://www.forcescience.com/instructor/nicole-florisi/ “Nicole Florisi…

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98. Tracy Rector: Shattering the Glass House of Abuse 53:58

1M ago53:58

53:58

Tracy endured and survived 23 years of domestic and spiritual abuse in a marriage to a prominent minister. For years she lost her voice and agency, living in silence as her spirit was bruised behind closed doors. In the early 80s, when emergency shelters were scarce and conversations about unhappy marriages were taboo, she struggled to even recogni…

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97. David Weeks: A Childhood Devastated By Abuse And Trafficking, Leads To An Inspirational Adulthood 56:11

1M ago56:11

56:11

To know David, you’d think he’s living a great lifestyle. And the truth is, he is! But it wasn’t always that way. David was born and raised in Virginia, but life started taking some harsh turns when David turned four. That’s when he remembers his father abandoned him, telling his mother that he couldn’t take being around David anymore. It wasn’t lo…

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96. Melissa Fairchild: Transforming Pain into Purpose in her Mission to Heal Others! 47:47

1M ago47:47

47:47

This show seems to inevitably bring guests that are not only willing to share their sexual assault or rape experience with this audience, but who have the true desire to help, inspire, and uplift others on their own healing journey. Melissa Fairchild is an exceptional example, and I am honored that she reached out to me, asking to be a guest on thi…

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S4 Ep2 - Claire "I Ignored It and I Believed Him Because He's the Storyteller [Neil Gaiman]" 1:20:21

2M ago1:20:21

1:20:21

Claire (she/her) uses a pseudonym to share her story about being groomed and sexually coerced and manipulated by world-renowned author Neil Gaiman. We discuss the power of stories and fame, and she shares how journaling, therapy, and friendships have helped her find her center in her own story. We originally spoke in 2022, and at that time she deci…

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95. Ashley Bendiksen: Powerfully Inspiring Others with Hope and Healing 40:20

2M ago40:20

40:20

Sometimes I am flabbergasted by how things work out to bring someone into my life for the purpose of helping to heal others through this show. This is one of those times…I found Ashley Bendiksen through Instagram, being duly impressed with her mission and accomplishments of bringing her story to national audiences to help bring justice to victim an…

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Yasko Koko My life after Stroke 27:07

2M ago27:07

27:07

Send us a text Yasko KoKo is a stroke survivor that uses her voice as mission. ...listen! Reference to any specific product or entity during any episode of the Fried Eggs and Ham Podcast {the "Podcast") does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by DreamEfforttenacity.LLC or its affiliates. The views expressed by any guests are their own …

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"Impact of Trauma 2" Bill Clark, George Wade, with Special Guest Dr. Carla J Cooke Heal Together 34:40

2M ago34:40

34:40

Send us a text I have an absolute passion to speak up and out about mental health! This calling propels me to speak publicly about ways for audiences to enhance their emotional health, be their best selves, and move boldly and powerfully toward their goals and dreams That's why I wrote the On Being Well Workbook: Foundations of Positive Emotional H…

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94. John Jay Wiley: Host of Law Enforcement Talk Radio & Podcast Shares his Trauma Story 44:22

2M ago44:22

44:22

John Jay Wiley is a retired police officer (Baltimore Police Department) who is now the founder and host of Law Enforcement Talk Radio & Podcast…both a radio show and a podcast. I had the honor of being a guest on LET Radio in an episode that was aired on 09 June 2024. You can listen to that episode here. It was quite the experience, and I apprecia…

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93. Orvie B. Baker, Jr.: Producing a Documentary on a Monument Most Know Nothing About! 24:36

2M ago24:36

24:36

I sometimes surf social media in search of someone I think might be an excellent guest for this show. When I found retired US Army soldier Orvie B. Baker, Jr. I knew I had found true excellence! See, Orvie is a former SARC, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, for the Army SAPRO (Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office). He has tons of experi…

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92. Dave Markel: A Shared Episode of The Jan Broberg Show! 1:06:40

3M ago1:06:40

1:06:40

92. Dave Markel: A Shared Episode of The Jan Broberg Show! I am honored to be able to bring to you an episode from The Jan Broberg Show, in which Jan invited me to be a guest on her show. After it aired (June 18, 2024; https://www.thejanbrobergshow.com/trauma-informed-perspectives-understanding-the-neuroscience-of-sexual-assault-with-dave-markel/),…

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Let's take a ride With Oborne Celestain a cancer survivor through Tulsa Okahoma 48:23

3M ago48:23

48:23

Send us a text Riding with Osborne Celestain, a cancer survivor, through Tulsa, Oklahoma, would be a journey filled with inspiration and resilience. As you pedal alongside him, you might hear stories of his personal battles with cancer and how cycling played a crucial role in his recovery and ongoing health. Perhaps you'd ride through scenic trails…

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91. Caroline Markel and Bailie: I Count Myself Fortunate to Know Them Both! 1:00:08

3M ago1:00:08

1:00:08

If you haven’t already heard Bailie’s two-part interview, Episodes 49 and 50, give them a listen—you’ll hear one of the most compelling and intriguing interviews of sexual assault and rape that will hold you spell-bound and awestruck. You don’t need to listen to those episodes before you listen to this one, but definitely take the time to listen to…

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90. Chris McGhee: A Man on a Mission to Change a Law—Because his Daughter Was Sexually Assaulted by a Cop 42:15

3M ago42:15

42:15

This story is compelling for lots of reasons: because it’s told by a man, Chris McGhee, whose daughter was sexually assaulted by a cop; because the cop was convicted, but didn’t serve any jail time; because Chris and his daughter are working hard to get a Pennsylvania law changed so that cops are charged with a felony instead of a misdemeanor when …

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89. Erika Shershun: From Tragedy to Triumph – A Journey of Healing from Unimaginable Trauma 51:53

3M ago51:53

51:53

Erika’s life story sounds like a fictional crime novel…but the amazing aspect is that the truth really is sometimes stranger than fiction. The truth of Erika’s horrific story is that her father killed himself when Erika was just 15. Years later, a brother also ended his own life. At 19 Erika was raped by a friend of the young man she was dating; an…

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88. Laurie McBride: Her Evolving Light, From Desperation to Providing Aspiration 59:40

3M ago59:40

59:40

Laurie McBride was sexually assaulted by her brother when she was a young girl. She was also emotionally abused by her mother while growing up, and then when she was in high school, she was the victim of two separate rape attempts. By the time Laurie was 18 and left home, she felt lost. In a situation like Laurie’s, it isn’t difficult to understand…

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"Enlightened Perspectives: Two Buddhas Discuss the Gaza Conflict" 26:38

4M ago26:38

26:38

Send us a text Support the show Lifeline Crisis Chat (Online live messaging):https://988lifeline.org/chatBy Host William Clarke

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87. Caroline Markel: She’s Back This Month; "Big, Bold, and Unapologetic!" 36:02

4M ago36:02

36:02

Because Caroline was traveling so much of last month, I wasn't able to record an April episode with her. But now, she’s back home and busy at work. But not so busy as to miss another episode with me! This month, Caroline talks about where she was these past several weeks, who she was traveling with, what they were doing on this extended trip, and t…

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86. Kelly Justus: Embracing Her Own Healing Through Action—Promoting Project Callisto's Mission 36:40

4M ago36:40

36:40

Kelly and I have a few things in common: our admiration and support of the mission of Project Callisto, and our belief that normalizing the converstation around rape and sexual assault will help reduce the prevalence of rape culture. With regard to Callisto: I won’t go into the full explanation of how Callisto works, you can find out that informati…

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85. Roger Canaff: A Former Sexual Assault Prosecutor and Highly Qualified Expert Gives Us His Insights! 30:21

4M ago30:21

30:21

Having Roger Canaff join me on this show has long been a goal, and I finally was able to reconnect with this former colleague. I met Roger when I was working for the US Army in a position known as a Highly Qualified Expert for the Criminal Investigation Command (known as CID-Criminal Investigation Division). Part of my job was co-managing a 2-week …

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Burnouts: Stoners Quest Written and Produced by Brain Kairo, Travis Simmons Directed by Logan Allen 31:50

4M ago31:50

31:50

Send us a text Brian Kairo is a Producer/Actor based in Atlanta, GA, they are currently working on their first feature film project; Burnouts: Stoner Quest Brian was born in Nairobi, Kenya and spent their first 17 years living there before moving to the US in fall of 2019. Brian went to an international school that followed the British curriculum a…

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84. Jessica Michaels: Raped by Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, Jess is Now Promoting Sexual Assault First Aid-PART 2 41:15

4M ago41:15

41:15

When it came to healing from her rape by Jeffrey Epstein there first had to be a realization by Jess Michaels that she was raped. Because, Jess had been taught by society and the culture of the 90’s that what had happened to her must not have really been rape…she hadn’t screamed, she didn’t try to fight him, she hadn’t even tried to push him off he…

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83. Jessica Michaels: Raped by Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, Jess is Now Promoting Sexual Assault First Aid; Part 1 50:09

5M ago50:09

50:09

It’s difficult to imagine having a bright future with a life full of promise, fame, and prestige, living that life doing exactly what you were wanting to do: dancing, modeling, acting, singing, and a career trajectory that was leading to Broadway and world travel and fame on July 8, 1991…and then on July 9, 1991, having it all stomped out in just a…

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82. Dr. Lori Pitts: From Childhood Sexual Assault to Founder of Still Whole Wellness, Dr. Lori Recognizes Her Gift of Healing 56:46

5M ago56:46

56:46

It was only two weeks ago that I had Anne Winslow on this show to talk about her new role as Co-Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Advocacy Network, SAAN, an online community of advocates, victims, and survivors of rape and sexual assault. During our discussion, Anne mentioned that the former Executive Director of SAAN was Dr. Lori Pitts, who…

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81. Cassie Nicholas Returns: New Trauma Memories Lead to New Ways to Heal! 1:08:02

5M ago1:08:02

1:08:02

By Dave Markel

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80. Anne Winslow: A Gentle Yet Powerful Voice for Survivors 33:27

5M ago33:27

33:27

The last time Anne was on this show was just over a year ago. She shared with us her harrowing story of enduring almost 30 years of intrafamilial rape as well as marital domestic violence and rape. Yet, despite all of that, Anne managed to become one the most softspoken advocates for others who’ve endured similar experiences as she advocated and gu…

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79. Ray Epstein: The New Kid in Class Brings Hidden Terrors 53:35

6M ago53:35

53:35

Some communities are safe harbors of individuals who identify as an assemblage who have known each other for a long time…grown together, supported each other, learned together…who have the common denominator of having gone through the same things together, particularly school. Such was the case for Ray Epstein as she progressed through a very small…

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How misogyny and discrimination impact our financial health 1:03:39

6M ago1:03:39

1:03:39

In this episode, Carly Woods is joined by Jewlz Ellem, Owner of Catalyst Plus who has seen an incredible amount of misogyny and discrimination when it comes to their finances, and discusses how they got through it all. Jewlz provides plenty of tools which can help to elevate your money skills, as they are a strong believer in having control of your…

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78. The Month of March with Caroline Markel and Safe in Harm’s Way 36:15

6M ago36:15

36:15

As promised in January, Caroline Markel is back for her monthly episode on SASS. Caroline Markel (no relation to myself, at least that we know of!) is the CEO of Safe in Harm’s Way, a non-profit organization dedicated to “providing online trauma-informed resources to survivors, their children, and pets, while identifying the unique needs based on r…

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"We Can Heal Our Bodies With What We Eat" Johanna P Salazar MS, RDN speaks with the ScrambledEggs&Ham Team 51:04

6M ago51:04

51:04

Send us a text Johanna uses functional and integrative medicine and tests in her practice. Her passion is to help clients heal their bodies through the proper foods and mindset. Health is not only the foods you eat but also the thoughts you think and how you manage your emotions. Her mission is that you leave each program with a life transformation…

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Starting a business from nothing and all the challenges that come with it 1:06:53

6M ago1:06:53

1:06:53

In this episode, Carly Woods chats with Co-Founder of Love Hair, Deborah Maguire. Deborah was brought up in a household where money was treated as a scarcity, despite them being well off at the time. Deborah speaks on how this impacted her relationship with money and gives tips on changing this mindset.…

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77. Angela Galbreath: Activated Memories Lead to Hidden Meanings in Behavior 1:08:16

6M ago1:08:16

1:08:16

When long lost memories, suppressed for decades through fear and dissociative amnesia, start to surface in the cognitive mind, the results can lead to frustration and confusion over what the memories stem from. Emotional trauma survivors often spend an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out the cause and meaning of these memories that are o…

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76. To Tell or Not To Tell: The Sexual Assault Survivor’s Conundrum 13:43

6M ago13:43

13:43

Sexual assault is a deeply personal and often traumatic experience that affects millions of individuals worldwide. For survivors, the decision to share their stories with the public is one fraught with complexities and potential consequences. In this episode I’ll help examine and explain the pros and cons of someone telling their sexual assault sto…

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75. Weapon Focus: Explaining Some of the Formation of Trauma Memory 15:46

6M ago15:46

15:46

Part of the common experience in doing interviews of victims and survivors of rape, sexual assault, and other interpersonal violence, is to hear the person I’m interviewing say that they only remember certain parts of their trauma experience, or that there are parts that they’ve tried really hard to remember, but just can’t. Or say that there are p…

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From being in 1.5M in debt to having a thriving business 45:38

7M ago45:38

45:38

Today's episode, is one for the entrepreneurs. Carly Woods is joined by Owner of Freez Clothing, Lisa Allen, who speaks on her experience of being $1.5 million in debt, and the struggles she went through during the pandemic, and the global financial crisis. This episode is full of advice for aspiring business owners, as well as general money-savvy …

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74. Tracy DeTomasi: CEO of Callisto 40:29

7M ago40:29

40:29

Several months ago I started noticing on my Instagram feed, several posts and reels that were initiated by an organization called Callisto. I was not particularly paying attention to these posts until one day I noticed one that was entitled “Sexual Assault Prevention,” and had the phrases, “Holding perpetrators accountable,” “Consent education,” “C…

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"Resilient Faith: Black Voices in Dialysis Care" by George A Wade and Bill Clark 41:09

7M ago41:09

41:09

Send us a text George A Wade's "Black Voices in Dialysis Care " is a story about a man with incredible Strength and Resilience. George owned and operated two car dealerships and raised a family, while helping in his community with the development of Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism which he practices. Support the show Lifeline Crisis Chat (Online live m…

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73. Merle Yost: From an Unimaginable Childhood to an Uncompromising Dedication to Helping Others 48:11

7M ago48:11

48:11

Activation and discretion warning: This episode contains explicit and graphic descriptions of physical assault, animal abuse, sexual assault, and rape. Caution and discretionary action are required. This episode is not for children. Please use extreme self-care in listening to this episode and if you are activated or triggered and need help, call t…

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Crippling debt to thriving business, how one woman changed her fate 54:32

7M ago54:32

54:32

In today's episode, Carly Woods is joined by Founder and Owner of Angel Debt Solutions, Kitty Thomas. It wasn’t an easy road for Kitty but she was able to crush her money monsters by digging herself out of thousands of dollars of debt and coming out on top. She now uses what she went through to help people reach financial freedom. In this episode, …

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72. Caroline Markel Hammond: There’s Power in Keeping Your Story Your Story 41:51

7M ago41:51

41:51

In the grand scheme of this podcast, my goal has always been to provide a platform for victims and survivors to tell their stories of rape or sexual assault in a safe environment, to help bring justice to victims and survivors of rape or sexual assault, and to provide my listeners with insights, education, and guidance to help survivors on their he…

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A single mother who faced the loss of everything, a story of resilience 1:02:22

7M ago1:02:22

1:02:22

Carly Woods is joined today by Founder of Eda Property, Anissa Cavallo. Anissa went through personal turmoil as well as financial, and has come out the other side now owning 15 properties on her own. Tune in to hear Anissa's advice on how to get into the housing market in today's climate, as well as the importance on perspective, and staying positi…

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71. Tiffany Thomson: Doing Her Part to Bring Justice to Victims and Survivors of Trauma 36:25

7M ago36:25

36:25

Some might find this episode and think, “This is a shameless plug for Dave’s wife’s cousin.” But the honest truth is, that is not my intention at all! I ran across my wife’s cousin’s Facebook page and saw that she had started a new business. “She” is Tiffany Thomson. The thing that caught my eye was that Tiffany, who I haven’t seen since about 2005…

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70. Plamen Draganov: Healing After Being Kidnapped, Beaten, and Raped at Fifteen 46:09

8M ago46:09

46:09

Activation and discretion warning: These notes and this episode contain explicit and graphic descriptions of kidnapping, physical assault, and rape. Caution and action are required. This episode is not for children. Please use extreme discretion in listening to this episode and if you are activated or triggered and need help, call the national sexu…

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69. CSM Marisa Saucedo: Yeah, I Fell…But I Got Back Up! 55:25

8M ago55:25

55:25

Being in the US Army Reserve requires discipline. And commitment. And top-notch performance. If you fail at any of these there can be serious consequences…including being discharged. One of the requirements is that during “battle assembly” (weekend training) you have to be there; if a Soldier fails to attend on a consistent basis, they can face tha…

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