#142 - What Happens After the Mission? A Veteran’s Path to Recovery

<p>Air Force veteran Anthony “Tito” Dyer joins John and Victor for a candid conversation about combat aviation, military transition, trauma recovery, family, and the work of rebuilding purpose after service. Dyer reflects on a career that included weapons loading, firefighting, AC-130 aerial gunnery, and HH-60G rescue crewmember duties, including a 2018 East Africa rescue mission.</p><p><br></p><p>This episode is not only about operational experience. Tito discusses confronting the effect of drinking on his family, seeking help, and using prolonged exposure therapy, spirituality, peer support, and writing to process difficult experiences. His memoir, Moon Child, became both a personal creative project and part of a larger vision to help veterans share their own stories.</p><p><br></p><p>John and Victor also discuss practical transition issues facing the military community: a delayed VR&amp;E education plan, maintaining veteran connections, translating experience into civilian work, preparing for resumes and interviews, and responding constructively after a job rejection. Tito explains how he now applies his operational background as a civilian contractor developing flight-simulator scenarios at Cannon Air Force Base.</p><p><br></p><p>Episode Timestamps</p><p>00:06:51 Anthony “Tito” Dyer and Moon Child</p><p>00:09:42 The 2018 Jolly Green rescue mission</p><p>00:12:33 AC-130 weapons expertise and training</p><p>00:16:30 Quitting drinking and facing personal problems</p><p>00:17:10 Writing a military memoir</p><p>00:25:39 Transitioning from military to civilian life</p><p>00:30:49 Civilian flight-simulator scenario development</p><p>00:35:25 Maintaining veteran connections after service</p><p>00:37:19 Recognizing when it is time to get help</p><p>00:38:21 Prolonged exposure treatment for military trauma</p><p>00:39:06 Spirituality, recovery, and processing trauma</p><p>00:43:32 Moon Child and veteran storytelling</p><p>00:47:34 A nonprofit platform for veterans’ stories</p><p>00:52:03 Resume and interview preparation for transition</p><p>00:58:01 Job rejection and interview feedback</p><p>01:07:44 Future topics, guests, and listener engagement</p><p><br></p><p>Key Topics</p><p>• Air Force AC-130 gunner training and weapons-system expertise</p><p>• HH-60G combat search and rescue experience</p><p>• Military trauma recovery, prolonged exposure therapy, and peer support</p><p>• Recovery from drinking and the role of family and spirituality</p><p>• Veteran memoir