Military Transition with Rob Dufresne, Jenn Noonkester, & Michael DeSerio - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Episode 68

The Afghanistan Project Podcast

Welcome to Episode 68 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal.

For today’s topic of military transition, I have three special guests: Jenn Noonkester, a retired Air Force senior NCO; Michael DeSerio, a 15-year Army senior NCO, and Rob Dufresne, a retired Army Special Forces senior NCO.

Jenn, Michael, and Rob talk about their experiences leaving the military, including the difficulties they experienced and the programs that were indispensable. We touch on SkillBridge, which Jenn utilized with great results, and the Army’s Master Resilience Training, which Michael is a particular advocate for.

While Jenn and Michael’s more recent transitions came with slightly more assistance from their military institutions, Rob’s experience during his service and during his transition in 2015 were vastly different. The spectrum of experiences and the similarities in the issues all three discuss will be helpful for any veteran preparing for transition, or still struggling with adjusting to post-military life. This episode will also be a game changer for civilians who want to understand the transition process to better support their loved ones and friends during or after service.

About the host:

Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner. Follow her on Instagram or X ⁠@BWBailey85⁠.

For Afghan listeners:

If you would like to have your story considered for a future episode, please send us a letter about your experiences to our show e-mail address, [e-mail]. Please include as much detail as possible, and let us know if you would like us to give you a pseudonym to protect your identity.