Stronger Together: Veteran Fellowship, Mentorship, and Advocacy with Colonel Arthur L. Jenkins, Jr. Artwork

Untold Valor: Veterans Recovery in Action

Welcome to Untold Valor, a podcast with a unique focus on veterans with stories of courage, recovery, perseverance and strength. Listen as veterans share their perspectives on what it's like to battle mental health challenges, combat addictions, and overcome other adversities unique to those who have served. We'll also speak with experts who have valuable experience working with veterans through their recovery journeys. Our mission is to reach veterans with a message of recovery and hope. Untold Valor is made possible by Voice & Vision... Bringing help, hope and healing to individuals, families and communities affected by mental illness, addictions, and disabilities in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Voice & Vision's work with veterans began with one veteran meeting another who had mental health challenges and was very isolated. The impact of that relationship on both veterans was life-changing, and a mission to expand that work led to CompeerCORPS, a network of military veterans who provide peer mentoring friendships with other veterans. These veterans spend time together each week promoting mental health and substance use recovery through the healing power of camaraderie, support and friendship. Financial support for Untold Valor is provided by a Veterans' Trust Fund grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Resources: Voice & Vision: https://voiceandvisioninc.org/ CompeerCORPS: https://voiceandvisioninc.org/compeercorps/ #Recovery #WholisticHealth #Community #podcasting #podcasts #podcastcommunity #podcasterthoughts #veterans #camaraderie #support #friendship #mentalhealth #mentoring #UntoldValor #help #hope #healing #individuals #families #communities #mental illness #addictions #disabilities #battle #courage #recovery #perseverance #strength #life #lifechanging #brokenness #willingness #understanding #therapy #communication #thriving #success #negativethoughts #win #openness #suicide #family

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Untold Valor: Veterans Recovery in Action

Stronger Together: Veteran Fellowship, Mentorship, and Advocacy with Colonel Arthur L. Jenkins, Jr.

January 18, 2024 • Voice & Vision, Inc. & CompeerCORPS

Join us for an inspiring episode with Colonel Arthur "Art" L. Jenkins, Jr. We’ll learn more about his 40-year military journey, from his early enlistment to leading as the Taskforce Medical Commander for Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) in 2021, and what he has learned about veteran hardships along the way.

Stay tuned as Art talks about the important role that mentorship played throughout his life and discusses the need for veterans to come together and support one another. Now serving as the Delaware County Director for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in Pennsylvania, he aims to raise awareness about the health and financial benefits available to veterans and their families.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 - Intro
2:22 – Art’s background in the military
9:36 - The challenges and diverse experiences of military service
12:38 - Connecting veterans with the right resources
21:27 – Art’s new role at the Delaware County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Colonel Arthur L. Jenkins, Jr.

"Art" completed Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and graduated from Reserve Component Officer Candidate School. Commanding the 2290th United States Army Hospital in Washington D.C., he was appointed as Commander of the Department of Defense's largest Wounded Warrior Company for Reservists and National Guardsmen. Art served as the Mobilization Medical Officer for the Military Intelligence Readiness Command and led the 1493rd Combat and Operational Stress Control Battalion, co-authoring the SWAT concept for stress reduction among Servicememembers and their families.

After Resident War College, he became Deputy Commander of the Innovation Army and Applications Group. In 2021, as the Taskforce Medical Commander for Operation Allies Welcome, he aided in resettling over 50,000 Afghan Allies in the U.S. and oversaw significant clinical operations during the COVID pandemic.

His accolades include the Meritorious Service Medal (4), Army Commendation Medal (5), Army Achievement Medal (4), and Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal with Bronze Device (2). Art, the only Medical Geneticist in the Army Reserves, contributed significantly to education and STEM initiatives, completing an advanced curriculum at the Howard University School of Medicine. He is married to Nicole and has four children.

EPISODE LINKS

The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

https://www.delcopa.gov/vetaffairs/index.html

Delaware County Veterans ID Discount Program

https://www.delcopa.gov/vetaffairs/discountprogram.html

RESOURCES

Need immediate help? Contact the Veterans Crisis Line via phone, text or online chat. Dial 988 then Press 1 or text 838255 or use the online chat at https://bit.ly/3OunXzg

Voice & Vision: https://bit.ly/3miwFoy

CompeerCORPS: https://bit.ly/3GgKryU

Information on how to apply for VA Healthcare Benefits from anywhere in the USA: https://bit.ly/40PtrrN or call 877-222-8387 (M-F 8am-8pm EST)

To apply for veteran’s benefits and find resources in Pennsylvania veterans need to contact their County Office of Veterans Affairs as listed in this document: https://bit.ly/3m8PBWS

View more about PA’s resources for veterans: https://bit.ly/416cf0Q

Financial support for Untold Valor is provided by a Veterans’ Trust Fund grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.