CSM (Retired) Lamont “Chris” Christian discusses the importance of mental health and well-being within the military community. He includes strategies to find positive ways to change and begin healing, and how post traumatic growth is an integral part of the process. This podcast is made possible by generous funding from BAE Systems, Inc. To learn more, visit https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/home. Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. Show Notes: Resources: https://www.thebigredbarnretreat.org/ https://bouldercrest.org/ Bio: Lamont Christian, Command Sergeant Major (R) is a native of Brooklyn, New York. He entered the Army Reserves as a Parachute Rigger in 1986 and later entered active duty, completing Infantry One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He held every leadership position including Team leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant and Command Sergeant Major. He is recognized around the world as America’s Drill Sergeant having led the Army’s only Drill Sergeant Academy and having his voice premiered in the Gatorade HARD WORK military cadence commercial. Later he was hand selected by the Army’s senior leaders to serve as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the Commander of the world’s largest training post and center of excellence for initial military training at Fort Jackson, SC. Additionally, he has served and continues to serve the community at-large nationwide in various nonprofit causes for the betterment of social, economic and progressing services for veterans, first responders and those who support them and their Families. He has served on countless committees of change to include assisting the FDNY in meeting and exceeding federal mandates as well as being part of the National Major Gang Task Force. Since retiring in 2018, after 33 years of service, he continues to assist nonprofit organizations, Law Enforcement and First Responder organizations by providing leadership, training improvement and development. He is currently serving as the Director of Post Traumatic Growth at the Big Red Barn Retreat in Blythewood, SC and he is also serving as a Richland County Reserve Sheriff’s Deputy.