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“Combat mode can lead you through war; it cannot lead you through life.” — Clay Rojas

U.S. Marine veteran and counsellor Clay Rojas joins me to unpack the hard transition from combat to civilian life—covering post-traumatic stress (drop the “D”), dialling down “combat mode” at home, and how families and communities can become real rally points for veterans. Practical steps, plain language, and resources from The Forge Initiative and Clay’s book, Rally Point.

Key Takeaway Insights & Tools 

• “Combat mode” must be turned off on purpose. Hypervigilance saves lives in theater; it wrecks home life if left on. [12:26–16:15]
• Drop the “D” from PTSD. Framing it as post-traumatic stress removes the stigma of “disorder” and restores hope. [18:36–21:47]
• The first step to victory is surrender—to love. Admitting “I can’t recover alone” is strength, not defeat. [22:24–24:22]
• Rebuild belonging on purpose. Replace lost unit cohesion with peer groups and service—meaning needs a place to live. [27:45–29:09]
• Civilians can be rally points. Learn the terrain, handle with care, and line up veteran-specific help. [49:00–52:22]

Bio

Clay Rojas is a USMC veteran (2001–2005) with three combat deployments who has lived many lives—teenage dad, police officer, convict, pastor—and is now a counsellor and Regional Director at The Forge in Tulsa, OK. He specializes in post-traumatic stress management for military veterans and first responders, drawing on extensive research and frontline experience. During his service, he led an infantry squad with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, and served as a squad leader with 2nd FAST Company. His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star and Combat “V” distinguishing device.

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/clay-rojas-8b2590a6/

The Forge:  https://theforge.org/veterans-support/

Content Warning

This episode discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion advised.

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