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Behind The Mission

Behind The Mission

By: Duane K. L. France
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Because fewer than 7% of Americans have served in uniform, most Americans are unfamiliar with military service and culture. As a result, members of the military and Veteran community are at greater risk for disconnection and lack of belonging with the civilian community. PsychArmor’s mission is to bridge the military-civilian divide by educating and training a Nation. Each week, Duane France, a combat Veteran and Clinical Mental Health Counselor, will dig deep into the stories “Behind The Mission” - and create a conversation with organizations and leaders on how they are utilizing their expertise and networks to support the military-connected community.©2021 PyschArmor, INC Education Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • BTM261 – Maria Gonzales – Muertos Fest and Veteran Suicide Awareness

    BTM261 – Maria Gonzales – Muertos Fest and Veteran Suicide Awareness
    Mar 24 2026
    Show SummaryOn this episode, we have a conversation with Air Force Veteran Spouse, Maria Gonzales. Maria and her husband, Gabe, raise awareness about Veteran Suicide and plant-based medicines through their alter at Muertos Fest, the largest Day of the Dead celebration in the United States. Provide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you. If you PsychArmor has helped you learn, grow, and support those who’ve served and those who care for them, we would appreciate hearing your story. Please follow this link to share how PsychArmor has helped you in your service journey Share PsychArmor StoriesAbout Today’s GuestMaria and Gabe Gonzalez are the co-founders of Operation Solace, a San Antonio-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans through alternative healing pathways, including psychedelic-assisted therapies and integrative wellness practices. Drawing from their lived experience as a military family navigating the challenges of post-service mental health, their work is rooted in advocacy, access, and community-based healing.Maria, a public health professional and veteran spouse, brings both professional insight and personal perspective to their mission, while Gabe, an Air Force veteran, leads with lived experience shaped by his own recovery journey. Together, they have built Operation Solace to reduce barriers to care, raising funds to help veterans access transformative healing experiences, and to create spaces for remembrance, connection, and restoration.Their work extends beyond direct support to public engagement and awareness, including their nationally recognized veterans suicide prevention altar at San Antonio’s Muertos Fest, an effort that honors those lost while creating meaningful pathways for dialogue, healing, and community connection.Links Mentioned During the EpisodeArticle about Muertos Fest featuring Gabe GonzalesOperationSolace WebsiteOperationSolace on InstagramPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s PsychArmor Resource of the Week is Episode 255 of the Behind the Mission podcast. On this episode, we have a conversation with Jesse Gould, founder of the Heroic Hearts Project and a former Army Ranger, about what it means for veterans to heal when traditional systems don’t have all the answers. Heroic Hearts works with leading medical researchers to improve veterans access to psychedelic programs for the treatment of PTSD.You can find the resource here: https://psycharmor.org/podcast/btm255-jesse-gould-heroic-hearts-project-and-psychedelic-assisted-therapy Episode Partner: Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on XPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
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    31 mins
  • BTM260 – Jessica Benson – Immersive Technology for Veteran Mental Health

    BTM260 – Jessica Benson – Immersive Technology for Veteran Mental Health
    Mar 17 2026

    Show Summary

    On this episode, we have a conversation with Keith Hotle, the Chief Executive Officer of Stop Soldier Suicide, a nonprofit with the goal of reducing service member and veteran suicide by using enhanced data insights, focused client acquisition, and suicide-specific intervention services.

    Provide Feedback

    As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you. If you PsychArmor has helped you learn, grow, and support those who’ve served and those who care for them, we would appreciate hearing your story. Please follow this link to share how PsychArmor has helped you in your service journey Share PsychArmor Stories

    About Today’s Guest

    Jessica Benson is Vice President of Market Development at Mynd Immersive, where she leads national outreach and partnerships focused on expanding the use of immersive technology to improve the lives of older adults and veterans. In this role, she works with healthcare systems, senior living communities, veteran organizations, and clinical partners to bring virtual reality–based experiences into long-term care, hospice, and rehabilitation environments. Her work centers on using immersive technology to reduce isolation, support cognitive wellness, and provide non-pharmacological tools that can help manage stress, pain, and anxiety among aging populations.

    Links Mentioned During the Episode

    Mynd Immersive Website

    Mynd Immersive Veteran Programs

    PsychArmor Resource of the Week

    This week’s PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Connecting with the Veteran In Your Life. This course provides information to help caregivers understand and address a lack of connection with the Veteran in their life. The new course incorporates a strengths-based approach to connections between a caregiver and a Veteran.

    You can find the resource here:

    https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/connecting-with-the-veteran-in-your-life

    Episode Partner:

    Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities

    Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media

    Email PsychArmor

    PsychArmor on X

    PsychArmor on Facebook

    PsychArmor on YouTube

    PsychArmor on LinkedIn

    PsychArmor on Instagram

    Theme Music

    Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.

    Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com

    Show more Show less
    33 mins
  • BTM259 – Keith Hotle – Stop Soldier Suicide

    BTM259 – Keith Hotle – Stop Soldier Suicide
    Mar 10 2026

    Show Summary

    On this episode, we have a conversation with Keith Hotle, the Chief Executive Officer of Stop Soldier Suicide, a nonprofit with the goal of reducing service member and veteran suicide by using enhanced data insights, focused client acquisition, and suicide-specific intervention services.

    Provide Feedback

    As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you. If you PsychArmor has helped you learn, grow, and support those who’ve served and those who care for them, we would appreciate hearing your story. Please follow this link to share how PsychArmor has helped you in your service journey Share PsychArmor Stories

    About Today’s Guest

    In his previous role as Chief Program Officer at Stop Soldier Suicide, Keith was responsible for all programmatic activities and strategic efforts. During his six years with the organization, he has developed, implemented and evaluated a best-in-class clinical service model to deliver suicide prevention and early intervention treatment and support services to veterans and service members. Keith directly oversees our operations for the ROGER wellness service, research and evaluation activities, and community-based suicide prevention efforts including the development of veteran firearm safety teams in three North Carolina counties. Prior to his tenure at Stop Soldier Suicide, Keith was a senior public health administrator at the Wyoming Department of Health for ten years, as well as CEO of the Prevention Management Organization, a statewide public health prevention agency. Keith has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Wyoming and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas Law School.

    Links Mentioned During the Episode

    Stop Soldier Suicide Web Site

    The ROGER Wellness Program

    The Black Box Project

    PsychArmor Resource of the Week

    This week’s PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course The Basics of Veteran Suicide Prevention. This course is designed to equip you with knowledge to make a difference, providing you with essential insights and practical abilities to positively impact your community by nurturing hope, healing, and resilience

    You can find the resource here:

    https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/basics-of-veteran-suicide-prevention

    Episode Partner:

    Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities

    Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media

    Email PsychArmor

    PsychArmor on X

    PsychArmor on Facebook

    PsychArmor on YouTube

    PsychArmor on LinkedIn

    PsychArmor on Instagram

    Theme Music

    Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.

    Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com

    Show more Show less
    32 mins
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