BTM220 - CSM(R) Julia Kelly - Supporting AI/AN Veterans in Post-Military Life

Behind The Mission

Show Summary

On today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Retired Command Sergeant Major Julia Kelly of the Crow Nation from Pryor, Montana. We talk about Julia’s Native heritage and her membership of an advisory group to PsychArmor for content related to Native and Tribal veterans.

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About Today’s Guest

Julia Kelly “Baassáannee Xiassaa” (One Who is in Front)” is of the Ties The Bundle / Piegan Clans of the Apsáalooke (Crow) Nation, from Pryor, Montana. Julia brings experience of military service and working with non-profit organizations across the Nation.

Julia entered the US Army July 31, 1981, as an Ammunition Specialist, PVT/E1. She retired October 31, 2010, as a Command Sergeant Major with over 28 years of service. She has two combat tours to Iraq and had many assignments in leadership positions, culminating with her last military career assignment as the Command Sergeant Major for the 299th Brigade Support Battalion, 2ndBrigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.

Julia spends much of her time helping Native Veterans/Veterans across the United States in connecting them with resources that serve Veterans. She currently resides in Huntsville, Alabama. She has five children, 11 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

PsychArmor Resource of the Week

This week’s resource of the week is the recently released podcast episode with another member of PsychArmor’s Native and Tribal Advisory group, Dr. Chepa Rank in episode 214. In that episode, we talk about Chepa’s experience as a military family member and member of the Húŋkpati Dakota Tribe as well as her work as a a dedicated social worker whose mission centers around holistic wellness and well-being within Tribal and Indigenous communities.

You can find the resource here:

https://psycharmor.org/podcast/dr-melita-chepa-rank

Episode Partner:

This week’s episode is brought to you by Humana, a leading health and well-being company that has joined forces with PsychArmor to develop campaigns and courses that support veterans and their families in achieving their best health. To learn more about how Humana honors and serves veterans visit healthequity.humana.com/veterans

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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