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Lieutenant Colonel Alea Nadeem's story begins with trauma that would break many people – kidnapped at age eight by her own father and taken from the United States to Iraq for nearly four years. Born to an American Catholic mother and Iraqi Muslim father, cultural and religious tensions tore her family apart when her father took the family on what was supposed to be a visit to Iraq. When it came time to leave, he forced her mother to choose which daughter to take back to America, leaving young Alea behind.

This profound childhood betrayal left Alea with deep abandonment issues that continue to surface in her relationships today. She describes becoming "hyper-independent" as a protective measure – struggling to ask for help, reluctant to depend on others, and being devastated when someone fails to follow through on promised assistance. Yet rather than allowing this trauma to define her, Aaliyah transformed it into remarkable resilience.

"I've never had a harder day in my life since being kidnapped," she reflects, explaining how this perspective helps her face new challenges with confidence. After returning to America and overcoming cultural readjustment struggles, Alea joined the Air Force, rising through the ranks from enlisted to officer, ultimately becoming a Lieutenant Colonel and Commander.

Her proudest professional achievement came from recognizing a seemingly small but significant issue affecting servicewomen – outdated hair policies causing physical harm. Using her intelligence training, she gathered data proving these policies were founded not on operational necessity but on outdated cultural attitudes from the 1940s. Despite facing five years of rejection, she persisted respectfully through the chain of command until reaching success – changing not only Air Force policy but influencing similar changes across other military branches and even internationally.

Now Alea has set her sights on a new mission: running for Congress in her hometown of Toledo, Ohio. Focusing on manufacturing revival, combating the opioid crisis, and advocating for servicewomen's equipment needs, she hopes to bring her military leadership experience and problem-solving approach to government. Throughout her remarkable journey, her measure of success remains not positions or accomplishments but character – how she treats others and what kind of difference she makes in their lives.

Want to learn more or support her campaign? Visit https://aleaforcongress.com or find her on social media platforms.

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Help Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. provide the support it needs to women veterans by donating to our cause at: https://misns.org/donation or send a check or money order to Moral Injury Support Network, 136 Sunset Drive, Robbins, NC 27325. Every amount helps and we are so grateful for your loving support. Thanks!

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Have you ever wondered what happens when your entire world changes in an instant? When the person you thought you were suddenly doesn't exist anymore? Kijuan Amey's powerful story answers these questions with unflinching honesty and remarkable hope.

After ten years in the Air Force as an in-flight refueling specialist, Kijuan's life trajectory changed forever when a motorcycle accident claimed his eyesight in 2017. Waking up in darkness, he faced the devastating reality that his military career, independence, and future plans had vanished overnight. "I went from being this super independent 25-year-old to now being this crazily dependent 25-year-old," Kijuan reflects, describing the depression and suicidal thoughts that followed.

Yet amidst this profound loss, Kijuan discovered something remarkable – while he had lost his physical sight, his vision remained intact. "Before and after my accident, I was always looking to help others," he explains. This fundamental purpose became his anchor through rehabilitation, learning to navigate life as a blind person, and eventually founding Amey Motivation LLC to inspire others facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Kijuan's journey teaches us about resilience in its purest form. From learning to use assistive technologies to mastering everyday skills again, each small victory became cause for celebration. "I wasn't able to do that last week, and now I am," became the mantra that pulled him from despair toward purpose. His approach crystallized into what he calls "the Will to Overcome" – Win In Life's Lessons – extracting value from every experience, no matter how painful.

This conversation isn't just about blindness or disability – it's about the universal human experience of facing unexpected devastation and choosing to move forward anyway. As Kijuan reminds us, "Every situation in life teaches you a lesson." His upcoming book "Don't Focus on Why Me" expands on this philosophy, rejecting victimhood in favor of growth and possibility.

Ready to transform your perspective on life's challenges? Visit ameymotivation.com to connect with Kiwan, book him as a speaker, or explore his teachings on resilience, adaptability, and finding purpose through pain.

Support the show

Help Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. provide the support it needs to women veterans by donating to our cause at: https://misns.org/donation or send a check or money order to Moral Injury Support Network, 136 Sunset Drive, Robbins, NC 27325. Every amount helps and we are so grateful for your loving support. Thanks!

Follow us on your favorite social channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moral-injury-support-network-for-servicewomen/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.danielroberts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misnsconsult/

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Dr. Daniel Roberts pulls back the curtain on an overlooked trauma affecting thousands of military women—one that doesn't yet have a household name. As president of the Moral Injury Support Network for Service Women, he reveals how violating one's deeply held moral code creates wounds different from PTSD but equally devastating.

The conversation begins with shocking real-life examples: a woman forced by her commander to have an abortion, another treated as if her very presence in the military was wrong. These aren't isolated incidents. Conservative estimates suggest at least one in four female service members experiences moral injury, whether from a single traumatic event or death by a thousand cuts of daily disrespect and harassment.

What makes Dr. Roberts' approach revolutionary is addressing the broken support system itself. He describes how veterans typically must retell their traumatic stories repeatedly to different providers—a process that retraumatizes without healing. His organization implements a "tell your story once" model where veterans receive continuous case management, eliminating the isolation and abandonment so common in their recovery journeys.

Most powerfully, Roberts shares how healing is possible. A woman who carried guilt for decades over deaths during the Rwandan genocide discovered through therapy that only 5% of the situation was actually within her control. This perspective shift—along with forgiveness work—created a breakthrough that felt "like light from heaven." These transformative moments demonstrate why properly addressing moral injury could significantly impact veteran suicide rates.

Whether you're a veteran struggling with unnamable trauma, a care provider seeking better tools, or simply someone who cares about those who served, this conversation offers crucial insights into healing our deepest moral wounds. Reach out to https://misns.org to access free resources or volunteer to support this vital mission.

Support the show

Help Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. provide the support it needs to women veterans by donating to our cause at: https://misns.org/donation or send a check or money order to Moral Injury Support Network, 136 Sunset Drive, Robbins, NC 27325. Every amount helps and we are so grateful for your loving support. Thanks!

Follow us on your favorite social channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moral-injury-support-network-for-servicewomen/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.danielroberts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misnsconsult/