71_Ageless Valor: Dr. Lanny Snodgrass on Military Mental Health

Normalize PTSD

Dr. Lanny Snodgrass, a veteran psychiatrist, became the oldest American to join the U.S. Army at 62. His book, The Ageless Call to Serve, challenges age-based military recruitment policies while advocating for psychological resilience and improved veteran mental health support.

Contact Information:

• Book Website: agelesscalltoservebook.com
• Publisher's Website: https://www.casematepublishers.com/9781636244174/the-ageless-call-to-serve/
• Media Inquiries: [email protected]

Dr. Lanny L. Snodgrass, MD, PhD, is a distinguished psychiatrist and U.S. Army veteran who made history as the oldest American to join the Army and complete Officer Basic Training at age 62 during the Iraq War. With over four decades of experience treating veterans and active-duty military personnel, he is a leading expert on PTSD and military mental health, having served as a Lieutenant Colonel and Gulf War veteran. His forthcoming book, The Ageless Call to Serve, published in 2024, challenges conventional military age restrictions and advocates for enhanced psychological resilience and mental health support for service members. Dr. Snodgrass’s unique journey from civilian psychiatrist to soldier at 63, coupled with his extensive expertise, offers profound insights into rethinking military recruitment and veteran care, making him a compelling voice in both military and mental health discussions.

When Dr. Lanny Snodgrass invited me for an in-person podcast episode, I sounded like a cartoon character talking a big swallow, convinced I’d botch it—and yep, I fumbled the video! Thankfully, the audio was saved, and what a blast this turned out to be! Lanny and Dave were an absolute delight to meet and chat with. It was a thrill picking the brain of this psychiatrist and U.S. Army veteran, who, at the ripe young age of 62, joined the Army and later penned The Ageless Call to Serve. Lanny shared tales of his pre-military days as a civilian psychologist in Bangkok during the Vietnam War, his bold 2003 decision to enlist despite a heart condition, and the real-deal challenges of military mental health. He passionately called for better mental health screening, early PTSD treatment, and training for commanders to grasp trauma’s impact. Plus, he threw shade at military age limits, cheering for the wisdom of older recruits & stressed how resilience, mentorship, and tight-knit units can curb PTSD and spark post-traumatic growth, drawing from his work with veterans and first responders like nurses. What a wild, wonderful ride this episode was!

Resources Mentioned:

• Screening:
  • Pre-enlistment psychological interviews/tests
  • Post-deployment one-on-one specialist interviews
• Therapies:
  • EMDR for PTSD
  • Music therapy (e.g., piano playing)
  • Jiujitsu for focus
  • Existential/maintenance therapy
• Programs:
  • Pre-enlistment resilience training
  • Commander mental health training
• Resilience Activities:
  • Group classes for positive mindset
  • Hobbies (meditation, golf)
• Intervention:
  • Early PTSD treatment
  • Crisis intervention for depression/anxiety

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