Permission To Speak Freely
Damon, Damo (active duty Command Master Chiefs), and Tisha (Retired Chief) share sea stories and have unfiltered conversations about current events, policies, and everyday life as a service member.
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Episodes
Sunday Feb 23, 2025
Sunday Feb 23, 2025
Damon’s back. Coby pops in. We start with the firing of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. We also discuss the DoD letting go of 5,400 probationary employees and share thoughts on the story of a veteran with four tours who got laid off—real situations with real impact. Plus, we’re breaking down the Deferred Resignation Program and what that means for those still serving. We switch gears to discuss the EMPLOY Program for Sailors who can’t deploy but still have value to bring and the latest on expanded VA GI Bill benefits—great info for anyone thinking about their next steps. Damon also opens up about what it was like stepping in as acting CMC—sharing honest lessons on consistency, staying motivated, and how to truly connect with your team, no matter where they come from. Damon was surprised about the Eagles’ Super Bowl run, and the guys discussed Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance. We dive into the concept of “playing the game” in the Navy, whether Sailors should prep their own packages, and how often folks might choose money over personal values—tough but necessary talks. In our “Do Better” segment, we’re setting the record straight on what Ombudsmen are (and aren’t) supposed to do and calling out some corrosion maintenance issues that definitely need some attention. We wrap things up with a quick review of our Book of the Week, “The Cure for Burnout” by Emily Ballesteros, dropping some key tips on avoiding burnout when the pressure is on. These topics and more are covered in this episode of ‘Permission to Speak Freely.’
Check out the links for all the stories we talked about:
CNO and Chairman of Joint Chiefs Fired
DoD to Fire 5,400 Probationary Employees
Veteran with Four Tours Laid Off
Deferred Resignation Program Details
EMPLOY Program Overview
VA Benefits Expansion
To have your “Do Better” reviewed on a future episode, please get in touch with us at ptsfpodcast@gmail.com
Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast
Book of the Week:
The Cure For Burnout (Emily Ballesteros) - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/721779/the-cure-for-burnout-by-emily-ballesteros/
Additional Credits:
PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0