Navy Veteran Yolanda Howard
00:01 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
Hello and welcome to the my VA Dayton podcast, where we dive deep into the stories and experiences for those who have served our country and explore the importance of ensuring veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve. Welcome to another episode of my VA Dayton. I'm your host, gregory Tucker. Today, our guest is Navy veteran Yolanda Howard. Yolanda, welcome to the show.
00:31 - Yolanda Howard (Host)
Thank you. Thank you so much. I'm glad to be here.
00:34 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
I would like to start out with asking why and what inspired you to join the military.
00:42 - Yolanda Howard (Host)
You know the funny story my husband at the time was an active duty Navy. He was a CB and his tour of duty had ended and being a Navy spouse, I said, oh wait a minute, I'm not ready. I'm not ready to not be a Navy spouse anymore, you got to keep going. He says no, I'm done. And so he did his six years and he separated from the Navy and I kept thinking you know, I can't do the civilian life, it's just not for me.
01:18
And so I tried, I applied to go active duty Navy but because you know, as a woman I had four dependents, I was told well, we can't use you active duty because you have too many dependents. So I opted to go reserve and I figured out where there's a will, there's a way, I'll go to the reserves and then I'll find my way active duty. And so I went reserves. So I went reserves and when I went reserve I was connected with the spec war unit, special warfare unit, which was Navy SEAL component support personnel, sorry. And so through them I was able to do so much active duty and just have so many different experiences. Long-term Navy on active duty. So that was my inspiration, was really my ex's departure of the Navy.
02:13 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
So how many duty stations during your career were you?
02:18 - Yolanda Howard (Host)
based in. I was in several, so I was in Puerto Rico, Rota, Spain, Germany, San Diego, California, again Norfolk, Virginia, the Amphib Basin in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and then just various places stateside.
02:40 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
Now, what did you do prior to joining the military?
02:47 - Yolanda Howard (Host)
stateside. Now, what did you do prior to joining the military Again, prior to joining the military, I was actually. I started going to school Again. I was a spouse, so my job was a housewife, but I worked as the spouse of an active duty member on base you know, commissary, active duty member on base, you know, commissary different office management positions. But then I started going to school and worked on getting my associate's degree in computer programming and then later, later down the road, I ended up getting my bachelor's degree in human services and the Navy. What was your job? The cook you can be. You can issue supplies, do inventory all avenues of logistics and procurement and acquisitions. Also, kicking box, you know you're kicking boxes, you're. You might even operate a crane at some point. So which I had?
04:02 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
So yeah, what provided you the opportunity for us to go ahead and make that transition to active duty?
04:10 - Yolanda Howard (Host)
Well, again, it was the deployment to Iraq. We were called to active duty for a 12-month tour in Iraq to run. By this time I was with the Department of Logistics Agency, dla, and so we were called to duty to run to operate the dermal yard still in supply, which the dermal yard was more like the Navy's junkyard. So you go where battle damaged vehicles were taken in and transported to different locations, different equipment, computer equipment or sensitive equipment, other equipments that we didn't want to get in the hands of the wrong people. We demilitarized, which, in other words, we destroyed and then shipped them off to different locations.
05:08
Initially, when I was a part of the Navy SEAL support team, you know we trained a lot. We trained like Navy SEALs trained. We trained with them, we were a part of them, we did missions with them, training evolutions with them. We were a part of them, we did missions with them, training evolutions with them. And so there was a thought in the back of my mind that it would be possible.
05:32
While I was with that unit, and at some point prior to that happening, I transferred from the Navy support unit to DLA. Right after I transferred is when the the deployment came. So I was like wait, wait a minute, wait a minute. This isn't happening right now, but I'm ready for it and I'm okay with it. You know, because you know one thing that I will say about, um, you know, being a part of the military, um is that we we did, we volunteered for it, but we volunteered in the is that we did, we volunteered for it, but we volunteered in the belief that we were truly serving our country and we were gung-ho and fired up and ready to go.
06:15 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
Being a mom was that pretty hard to leave your children.
06:19 - Yolanda Howard (Host)
You know, at the time my kids were older teenagers, 16, 17. So, no, it wasn't hard. It wasn't that hard for me. Again, I had the thought in the back of my mind that this was going to be. You know, this could possibly be a situation. My kid's dad, my husband, was. He was there in the backdrop to take care of the kids, and so, you know, it was our teamwork. We worked, he and I worked so well together that it wasn't. I had no concerns with my leaving. You know, I had all my ducks in a row. If anything were to, you know, to happen adversely, god forbid. Everything was taken care of.
07:01 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
And now we're going to go ahead and take a brief break.
07:07 - Speaker 4 (Host)
Our veterans put everything on the line to protect our freedom. We may never be able to repay them for their sacrifice, but we can show them just how much we appreciate all they've done. Every day, hundreds of people just like you volunteer to help our veterans. You can help by simply sharing your time, lending a warm smile, a supportive hand or a sympathetic ear to someone who needs it. Everyone can do something to make our veterans know how much we appreciate their service. What will you do?
07:36 - Speaker 2 (Host)
The Dayton VA changed my life. There was a time I was jobless and homeless. Didn't know where to turn for help. I felt like there was no hope for me. Then I learned about the Dayton VA.
07:46 - Speaker 5 (Host)
They helped me find Troublesome this message is from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans service organizations, often known as VSOs, offer many services for veterans and their families. To learn more, go to vagov.
08:23 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
Welcome back to my VA Day. Today we have Navy veteran Yolanda Howard here with us Now. Yolanda, after returning from Iraq and completing your obligation with the Navy, you transitioned back into civilian life. How was that transition? After being in a fast-paced environment, Now you're coming back into the world where things tend to slow down a bit.
09:06 - Yolanda Howard (Host)
It was tough. It was tough for a long time, understanding that we were on two different time zones, so we were literally 24 hours difference in time. The adjustment to the time was tough. I slept all day and was up all night until I adjusted to that part.
09:43
I know there was a little bit of depression may have set in a little bit, because it was like you're working it was a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week duty and so every day there's something going on. Every day you're doing something. We were allotted two days to just rest and recuperate. I'm sorry, I take that back one day to rest and recuperate. Or, I'm sorry, I take that back one day to rest and recuperate. So for me I couldn't find that balance anymore. You know, just having a regular restroom and not a port-a-john, taking a shower without there being a concern of whether the water was going to be hot or cold, you know those sort of sort of things.
10:41
Um, it was tough, you know, not being able, not being with my extended family, being back with my family but not my extended family, waiting to hear the bombs go off or waiting to hear the planes take off. It was very different, to say the least. Ironically, I would wager to say that I was ready to go back before I was ready to adjust. So I did get assistance from the vet center because I was still in the military. So I didn't want to jeopardize my career. I planned on being a lifer and so I didn't want to jeopardize that by, you know, with my struggle of coming back stateside. But I was constantly looking for another. You know, I have to go back, I have to do something, I have to go somewhere.
11:49 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
Now, what did you do after?
12:17 - Yolanda Howard (Host)
Now you're out of the military, you're out of the Navy, now you're in civilian life. So what career path or what did you decide upon? Going back to school, that's when I acquired my bachelor's degree in human services, looking to get into some counseling services or substance abuse or something to that effect, which I did and to that effect which I did, I ended up. After I completed my bachelor's degree, I moved to Florida, started working for the VA in Florida, worked several years there and then I came back to Ohio and became a substance abuse counselor. Here I started working towards a degree in social work and marriage and family therapy. But I found I think I found my most gratification in the substance abuse arena Just really focusing and trying to help people who needed those services, and that was both veterans as well as civilians.
13:22 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
Oh, okay, so you were in a civilian sector as far as working with the organization. Yes, I was in the civilian sector and then I we're going to take another break, I we're going to take another break, and then we're going to come back and talk about a little bit more about your experience with the VA and also about the PACT Act, registering with the PACT Act. So don't go anywhere. We'll be right back after these messages.
13:51 - Speaker 2 (Host)
I was in the military, I didn't know that when I left I was eligible for health care through the back. After these messages you, I'm a vet and it's my VA. Make it your VA today. Call 937-268-6511, extension 2159, to enroll, or visit daytonvagov.
14:24 - Speaker 5 (Host)
This message is from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. If you're having a tough time or thinking about suicide, you're not alone and there's hope. Va's Veterans Crisis Line has responders who listen and help. Many are veterans or have veteran family members and friends, so they're prepared to address your challenges. Don't wait. Dial 988, then press 1.
14:51 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
And welcome back to my VA, dayton. I'm with Navy veteran Yolanda Howard. Yolanda was sharing with us prior to the prior break how she utilized the services at the VA, along first with the Vet Center. Why did you feel that left you exposed? Or share with me your feelings?
15:21 - Yolanda Howard (Host)
Well, you know, again, when you talk about PTSD, you talk about anxiety, you talk about depression, you talk about all of those things as it relates to veterans or anyone, there is that stigma, right, there is that stigma right. And so you know, you talk about walking into this huge building with tons and tons of people all over the place and you know that stigma just written all over your forehead, type of feel, and so that was a definite pause for me. And, um, so you know, going to the vet center, on the other hand, it's a smaller facility, um, you know, it's less um, intimidating, if you will, um, and you know, thankfully, post, um, you know post COVID now and all of all of that, you can even do appointments, telehealth and by phone. So that was a huge thing for me because, you know, I was just that tough girl. You know some of us are just those tough girls and we can't let them see us sweat. You know I grew up in that era back then, right, so that was a huge part of it also.
16:52 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
Okay, now let's go to the PACT Act. Have you registered for us for the PACT Act?
17:01 - Yolanda Howard (Host)
I have registered for the PACT Act based on the exposure to the burn pit. It was, it appeared to me to be, a very seamless, painless process. You spoke to a medical professional. They asked you a few questions and made notes of it, talked to you about, you know, some information that they had to share with you in terms of, you know, the possibility of applying for disability benefits based on you know, whatever exposure you may have had or whatever, if you have a diagnosis of any kind that is related to the burn pit and that sort of thing.
17:51 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
Okay, so that you've gotten your toxic screening Right Now. We do part of my job approach veterans who are not enrolled in the VA, along with sharing information and having veterans assisting veterans register for the PACT Act also. So if you were telling some of your shipmates why they should enroll for VA health care, what would that be?
18:29 - Yolanda Howard (Host)
I would highly encourage each and every one to register with the VA for health care. You know, just be for number one, you know it's a part. They're entitled to the coverage Right, and it has been my experience that I've gotten really good care through the VA there's. The VA offers a lot of different information with regards to, you know, health care, what's available, what's not available, that sort of thing. I mean, it's just, it's a really good opportunity to get connected into your health care. If you're not, whether you're going to a private doctor or, and especially if you don't have a doctor at all, I would highly encourage it. I've had some fantastic providers at the VA that I I tell you. I call them just to say, hey, I miss you, You've been on vacation, I miss you. Glad to see you back at work, you know, because they actually, you know, they make me feel like they care.
19:50 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
And the VA does have a women's clinic as well.
19:55 - Yolanda Howard (Host)
Yes, I do go to the women's clinic.
19:57 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
And what about the PAC for registering with that?
20:00 - Yolanda Howard (Host)
As far as registering for the PAC to act. Again, it's very informative. You know because again you're you're asked certain you're, you are asked certain questions with regards to your exposure what that was like, what it looked like. You know if you have experienced any symptoms of any kind and if you have experienced, um, whether or not it's related to the pact act, whether it's not, as related to possible exposure to the burn pit or whatnot, Um, so it gives you, it really educates you as to what you may have. You know what you may be experiencing. So, for example, you know a lot of us we don't want to go to the doctor, we don't want to get checked down. We think, oh, this cough or this scratch or this, this or this, that it's just normal to go away in a couple of weeks. But it doesn't go away and you just kind of ignore it, whereas you know you go and you get the exam and the doctor says, oh wait, you know that's that was related to the burn pitch. You might want to talk to your provider about that.
21:13 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
And, most importantly, it's painless as far as to register and to go through the toxic screening as well, right, okay. Well, with that, I'm going to be wrapping things up right here. I want to say thank you for your service, Yolanda, for all that you've done for us, and also thank you for appearing on the program and sharing your story.
21:49 - Yolanda Howard (Host)
Thank you for having me Again. I really appreciate being here and just having the opportunity to spend this time with you. Thank you so much.
21:58 - Gregory Tucker (Host)
As we come to the end of the program, I want to extend a heartfelt call to action to all veterans listening. I want to extend a heartfelt call to action to all Veterans listening. Your service to our country has earned you not only our eternal gratitude, but also a range of benefits and support through organizations like the Dayton VA Medical Center. If you're a Veteran who hasn't enrolled yet in VA health care or explored your earned benefits, I urge you to take that step today. Your health and well-being are paramount and the VA is here to provide the care and support you deserve. Reach out to the Dayton VA Medical Center to learn more about the benefits available to you and to enroll in the health care services that are rightfully yours. Don't hesitate to take advantage of the resources and assistance available to you as a veteran. Thank you for your service and remember you're not alone. The VA is here for you. I'm Greg Tucker. Thank you for listening.
