In this episode, Katt Whittenberger — retired Navy Senior Chief and Executive Director of Mountain Valor Veteran Services — speaks directly to civilian mental health providers about the realities facing service members, veterans, and their families (SMVF), especially in rural communities.

Drawing from personal experience transitioning out of the military, Katt explores isolation, loss of belonging, communication fatigue, and the deep mistrust that can form when systems fail to protect or understand veterans and survivors. She also addresses why many veterans — particularly women — go unidentified in civilian settings, and how military sexual trauma can erode trust in all systems, not just the military.

This conversation is not about turning civilian clinicians into VA experts. It's about recognizing the hidden context veterans carry into civilian care — and understanding how clarity, consistency, and presence can change outcomes.

• The disorientation of military-to-civilian transition

• Loss of identity, belonging, and shared language after service

• Why isolation is often protective, not avoidant

• Communication fatigue and constant self-editing after transition

• Why some veteran spaces still don't feel inclusive — especially for women

• Rural veterans and compounded access barriers

• Military sexual trauma: prevalence vs. reporting

• How institutional betrayal erodes trust across all systems

• Why many women veterans don't identify as veterans

• Practical ways civilian providers can better support SMVF clients

• Veterans may present guarded not because they're resistant, but because trust has been broken before.

• Isolation is often a rational response to repeated misalignment.

• Military sexual trauma affects both men and women — with higher individual risk for women and higher raw numbers for men.

• Trauma experienced within systems often leads to mistrust of all systems later in life.

• Asking "Did you ever serve in the military?" identifies more veterans than asking "Are you a veteran?"

• Navigation barriers — not lack of motivation — often drive distress.

Mountain Valor is a veteran-led nonprofit serving rural Virginia through weekly in-person outreach, education, and benefits navigation for veterans, caregivers, spouses, and survivors. Mountain Valor also hosts Mountain Valor Fest — the state's only large-scale rural veteran outreach event — and is expanding in 2026 to include focused outreach in elder care and aging veteran settings.

Learn more: https://www.mtnvalor.org

• Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention & Response (SAPR) Program

• VA Office of Rural Health

• Rural Health Information Hub (Veterans & Rural Health)

This episode discusses military sexual trauma and systemic harm. Listener discretion is advised.

When a veteran is struggling, the impact ripples far beyond them. Spouses, caregivers, children, and extended family often carry invisible weight — trying to hold everything together while navigating complicated systems for help. In this episode, we talk honestly about what support for veteran families really looks like, where to find it, and why asking for help isn't a weakness — it's a survival skill.

We'll cover:

• How to connect with trusted mental health resources

• Where veteran families can find caregiver support

• Crisis resources for veterans and their loved ones

• Why early intervention matters in rural communities

📞 If you or someone you love is in crisis:
Call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 (Press 1) or text 838255.

🎥 New: Video versions of our episodes are now available here on YouTube!
If this conversation helps you or someone you know, please like, share, and subscribe to help us reach more veterans and families who need these resources.

🌐 Learn more about Mountain Valor and find support at: www.mtnvalor.org

Every generation has one defining moment. For mine, it was 9/11. I still remember standing aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt as the attacks unfolded — and the way our country pulled together in the days that followed.

But over the years, that unity faded, leaving too many veterans isolated. Isolation isn't just lonely — it's dangerous. Rural veterans die by suicide at higher rates than their urban peers, and one of the strongest protective factors isn't a program or a prescription. It's connection.

In this episode, I talk about the cost of isolation, why connection is so hard, and how rural communities like Floyd are proving that it is possible to bridge the gap between the 1% who served and the 99% who didn't.

Mountain Valor Fest is part of that solution. On Saturday, September 13th at Crooked Mountain Campground in Floyd, we'll gather for music, food, kids' activities, and a 4 p.m. Remembrance Ceremony honoring those lost on 9/11 and in the wars that followed. More than an event, MVF has already broken the mold and shown that rural communities can lead the way in reducing veteran isolation — and with continued community support, we can expand this model across Virginia in the years ahead.

Sponsors
This episode is made possible thanks to the support of our community partners:

• BAE Systems

• Angels in the Attic

• Firebrand Media

• Finn Graphics

• Wild Roots Consulting

Your support helps us continue this mission — one connection at a time.

Some people think if a homeless veteran turns down help, it's because they don't really need it. The truth? It's rarely that simple. In this episode, Navy veteran and Mountain Valor Executive Director Kathryn Whittenberger breaks down why some veterans say "no" to shelters and services—even when their needs are urgent.

From chronic trauma and PTSD to shame, addiction, and distrust of the systems meant to help, Katt pulls no punches in explaining the complex, deeply human reasons behind those refusals. She also shares how events like Mountain Valor Fest create safer, trust-building spaces that can turn a "no" into a "maybe," and a "maybe" into a "yes."

If you've ever felt confused, frustrated, or helpless watching a homeless veteran refuse help, this conversation will give you the context—and compassion—you need to see the situation differently.

VA Support for Homeless Veterans: https://www.va.gov/homeless/

DESCRIPTION:
You don't have to be a veteran to change a veteran's life.

In this episode, Katt Whittenberger, Executive Director of Mountain Valor, shares how everyday community members—from librarians to farmers—are stepping up to support rural veterans in powerful ways. We'll explore why connection matters, how isolation impacts those who served, and what you can do to help… no uniform required.

Whether you're a caregiver, a neighbor, or just someone who wants to make a difference, this episode is for you.

Mountain Valor Fest is coming up on September 13! Learn how to get involved at www.mtnvalor.org or follow us @MountainValorVeteranServices.

Special thanks to our partners and sponsors:
BAE Systems, Walmart, Angels in the Attic, Roanoke Co-op, Finn Graphics, and Wild Roots Consulting.

In this episode, Katt breaks down the uncomfortable truth about suicide rates among rural veterans—what's driving them, what systems are failing, and how we can push back.

You'll hear data straight from a VA-led mental health summit, along with boots-on-the-ground insight from Mountain Valor's outreach work across rural Virginia. Most importantly, we're talking real solutions: how to enroll in VA healthcare, what you'll need, and why it matters right now.

• Why Virginia has the highest rate of eligible-but-unenrolled veterans

• How firearm access affects suicide fatality rates

• The dual risk of veterans who are also farmers

• The critical difference between VA healthcare and VA benefits

• How to apply for VA healthcare today

• Why community events like Mountain Valor Fest matter

Veterans can apply in three ways:
✅ Online: https://www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply
✅ By phone: Call 877-222-8387 (Mon–Fri, 8am–8pm ET)
✅ In person: Visit your local VA Medical Center or Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC)

You'll need:

• DD-214 (discharge papers)

• Social Security numbers for you and dependents

• Recent tax return or W-2s (proof of income)

• Any insurance info you currently have

• List of deductible expenses (if applicable)

💡 Important: VA healthcare and VA disability benefits are separate systems. Applying for one does not affect the other.

Mountain Valor Fest – September 13th, 2025
📍 Floyd, VA
💬 Open to everyone – veterans, families, and the community
🎶 Live music | 🐐 Baby goats | 🍴 Food trucks | 🎖️ 40+ resource booths
Details: https://mtnvalor.org/fest

We're raising funds through GiveLocalNRV to support our ongoing outreach and mental health education work.

🎯 Donate here:
https://www.givelocalnrv.org/organization/Mountain-Valor-Veteran-Services

Episode Summary
In this episode, Katt Whittenberger—founder of Mountain Valor and retired Navy Senior Chief—dives into the heart of our mission: supporting veterans in rural communities. With fewer services, higher rates of isolation, and lower access to benefits, rural veterans face unique challenges that too often go unaddressed.

We break down:

• Why veterans in rural areas are more likely to be older, underserved, and invisible to larger systems

• How policy shifts and benefit changes (including those in recent years) create confusion and gaps in access

• What Mountain Valor is doing differently: mobile outreach, hands-on navigation help, and community-first support

• The critical needs of elderly veterans and surviving spouses—and how we're stepping in with clear answers and real solutions

• How YOU can get involved to help us reach more veterans across rural Virginia

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Mountain Valor Outreach Schedule: www.mtnvalor.org/outreach

• Virginia Department of Veterans Services: www.dvs.virginia.gov

• GiveLocal Fundraising Campaign (June): https://www.givelocalnrv.org/organization/Mountain-Valor-Veteran-Services

• Contact us: kattw@mtnvalor.org

Upcoming Events
🧠 Veterans Panel – Mental Health Summit at Virginia Tech
📍 June 17, 2025 – Blacksburg, VA

🎪 Mountain Valor Fest
📍 September 13, 2025 – Crooked Mountain Farm & Campground, Floyd, VA
🎶 Live music, veteran resources, food trucks & more

Connect with Us
🌐 Website: www.mtnvalor.org
📱 Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn: @MountainValor
🎙️ Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your shows!

Check out this update on what we're doing to help our rural Virginia veterans and their families, and a quick preview of Mountain Valor Fest - heading to Floyd, VA, Sept. 13, 2025.

For more info, check out mtnvalor.org/fest