Warrior Mindset & Motivation Podcast

It happened one night while sleeping in an open bay at Army AIT. If you didn’t want yelled at by a drill sargeant the whole time you were making your bed you slept on top of the covers. I also slept in PT uniform of a tshirt and shorts on the top bunk. I was woke up by a man’s (drill sargeant) hand slowly moving up my leg up over my body, and down my arm. I opened my eyes and when I saw him standing I immediately closed my eyes and froze. I could not move. The events that happened that night changed my life forever at age 18. I was afraid to report it at the time. I was one way a happy, trusting, PTSD free mindset. After I was depressed, rolled up in a ball on the floor crying, not knowing why. I was in complete denial. The moment I left I suppressed the incident ever happened.

Germany was my first duty station in 1991 during the Gulf War. I went from not drinking and never trying drugs to drinking excessively and doing a variety of drugs. Anything I could do to numb my feelings, and not face the pain. I did not know that I had PTSD. I just knew something was wrong.

I dated my future husband in Germany and we had a very on and off again relationship. It was hard for me to trust, or respect a man. We married in 1993 and I transitioned out of the Army to Ft. Bragg where he was stationed. I had a very hard time transitioning to civilian life. I joined the Army Reserves and was assigned with the 82nd Aviation as support. I got a civilian job in sales. I was fired because I could not make the sales quota. It felt like being thrown into another world and being expected to know how to do the job. After only 4 months out of active duty I reenlisted active duty Army as a Combat medic.

I was assigned to Womack Army Medical Center. I went from being the soldier that was picked for having the best uniform to escort the Generals around to not getting along with my chain of command. I was demoted and later on earned back the rank. I was the medic that the Army nurses came to do things because I was great at my job. I was assigned to Smoke Bomb Hill Family Practice to take care of Special Forces family Members. I helped manage the clinic. I struggled with getting along with my chain of command once again. I had separated from my husband at the time multiple times.

Still not knowing I had PTSD or what PTSD was. I just knew that I was would self sabotage my life off and on. I worked in stressful jobs as a nurse in the ER and other areas of healthcare. I felt drawn to the stress. Fast forward to 2019 I was really struggling. I was tired of my own shit for the last 30 years. I was considering suicide and was in a very low place and felt stuck there. I reached out to a veteran group for help. I started to notice that multiple vets were expressing they wanted to end their life. I reached out to them as a good listener and someone they could relate to.

I started working with a Veterans crisis team and I saw that I was making a difference in other veterans lives and giving them hope. I was still struggling myself with suicidal thoughts. I decided to go to the VA for help. I put in a claim for PTSD related to MST and after 2 years and much frustration I was awarded 100 percent. The counseling at the VA helped me, combined with networking with other veteran groups online. I networked with other veteran businesses online and found a community of support that I has really changed my life. My advice would be to get help early on. I let PTSD control my life for too long.

I started my own business Soldier Girl Coffee and affiliate program to help inspire other veterans that you can have PTSD and still find healthy coping mechanisms, and do anything you want to do in this life as long as you don’t give up. I found that CBD oil is a tool that has helped my PTSD. I am offering a 100% THC Free CBD infused coffee in the hopes others will find it can help them also. Https://sgcoffee.co; FB- Soldier Girl Coffee; IG- @soldiergirlcoffeecompany

Hello, I'm Luis Alicea, and I'm currently on active duty in the U.S Army, going on 20 years of active service and 21 years of total service to our nation. I will officially retire in August of 2021, culminating in my career as a First Sergeant.

I joined the Army on June 14, 2000 (Army Birthday), and served three years on active duty. In June of 2003, I transitioned into the reserve component of the U.S Army, where I served for nine months before enlisting on active duty for a second time.

In my career, I supported two peacekeeping missions, one to Saudia Arabia and one to Hungary. On both these missions, I served with Erik Castillo. I have also participated in four combat tours. Two tours in Iraq and two to Afghanistan. On my second tour to Iraq, I suffered wounds from a suicide vehicle born improvised explosive device. This event changed my outlook on life. I have also helped train future Army leaders in Morroco and Honduras. I've been stationed in Fort Bragg, NC twice, Baumholder, Germany, Fort Polk, LA, Anchorage, AK, Bloomington, IN, Dongducheon, Korea, and now Fort Drum, NY.

Upon retirement, I hope to work in the fitness industry as a strength and conditioning coach, helping people see their potential and helping young athletes learn about leadership and team development. I currently hold a USA Weightlifting Level 1 Certification, a Certified Weightlifting Performance Coach Certification, and a Certified Speed and Agility Coach Certification, both from NSPA. I'm also five classes away from a Bachelor of Science in Sports and Health Sciences with a concentration in Exercise Science.

You can follow him here:
Facebook - Luis Alicea
Instagram - @coach.alicea82

You can follow me here:
Facebook - Erik Castillo, Warrior Mindset and Motivation
Instagram - @curly815 @warriormindset.motivation
YouTube - Warrior Mindset and Motivation
LinkedIn - Erik Castillo

“Ben served as an Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) crewman with the 7th Marine regiment out of 29 Palms, CA. In 2003 Ben participated in the invasion of Iraq with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines. In 2004 and 2005 Ben deployed with the 31st MEU (SOC) out of Okinawa, Japan.



After his enlistment, Ben enrolled in to college and studied writing, web design, and branding between Portland Community College, Pacific University, and the Art Institute of Portland. In between classes he found a passion for small business, which propelled him into agency work and brand management.



In 2012 Ben helped launch a pilot non-profit aimed at rehabilitating veterans through permaculture. This program showed promise that agriculture can be an alternative treatment for Veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI. Looking for inspiration he found that the French Foreign Legion houses over 100 aging Legionaries on a vineyard chateau where they grow grapes, make wine, and find peace. Ben wondered – "Why not here?"



It wasn't until February 2014 that the idea of veteran viticulture re-emerged during a Walla-Walla wine trip with co-founders Ryan Mills and Paul Warmbier. Excited about the possibilities, the three launched Dauntless Wine Company that December!



On May 18th, 2017 Ben was awarded the Wine Studies "Emerging Leader" award for his efforts launching Dauntless Wine Company while attending the program. And in 2018 Ben graduated from the Chemeketa Wine Studies with an AAS in both winemaking and vineyard management.”

Anthony Norwood is an Army veteran who is still currently serving on active duty. He has served 21 years to date with five combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He has achieved the pinnacle rank of Chief Warrant Office 3 (CW3) in one of the most technical fields in the military (Targeting Officer/Field Artillery Technician).

He is a fitness expert with a passion for motivating and inspiring others. WIth his devotion to health and fitness, it is hardly a surprise that he has found success as a fitness trainer. Anthony is not only a personal trainer, he is the founder and CEO of Last Strike Fitness. Using his personal experiences while achieving his own fitness goals, Tony is able to understand his clients and motivate them to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams.

Always determined, Anthony is following his dreams of being a top fitness company in the world. He started in fitness at a young age and solidified his active lifestyle by playing football and wrestling at the collegiate level. Anthony has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Colorado Tech University (CTU). Coupled with his degree from CTU, he also has his Personal Training certification from the International Sports Science Association . Through his determination and dedication, he was able to expand Last Strike Fitness into a world known name in the fitness world.

Anthony also has over four years of experience with trading in the stock market. By no means is he an expert, but he has found success with trading equities market. Through selfeducation, he started to understand how the stock market moved and never looked back.

You can follow his businesses on Facebook:
-Last Strike Fitness
-Black Sky Group
Instagram: @laststrikefitnes @blackskygroup @twood0757