Send us a text

When Jenna Carlton left the Navy in 2017 after serving as an aerographer's mate, she faced a question that would fuel her mission: "Where are all the younger veterans?" This powerful conversation reveals how she's addressing that gap through community building and targeted resources.

Fresh from her military experience, Jenna shares candidly about the realities women face in service—sexualization, harassment, and the personality shifts many adopt for self-protection. Her journey took her to Capitol Hill, where she hoped to influence veteran policy, only to discover that grassroots community building would be her most effective path forward. Now running the Millennial Veterans Facebook group and the South Jersey Women Veterans Group, she creates safe spaces where veterans can discuss benefits, mental health, relationships, and the complex transition to civilian identity.

Perhaps most striking is Jenna's insight into why younger veterans—particularly women—aren't accessing available resources. Despite significant improvements in VA services, veterans under 30 remain largely absent from these systems. Many don't feel entitled to benefits if they served shorter terms or didn't deploy, while others have internalized negative perceptions about VA care. This disengagement is especially concerning considering veterans aged 18-35 have the highest suicide rates among all veteran age groups.

Through her Veteran Workbook, Jenna provides a practical tool for processing military experiences and rebuilding civilian identity. The workbook asks questions that civilians wouldn't think to ask, helping veterans articulate their needs and experiences while planning for meaningful futures beyond service.

Ready to connect with resources tailored for younger veterans? Follow Jenna on Instagram @themillennialveteran, http://facebook.com/groups/themillennialveterans, or find her Veteran Workbook on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Veteran-Workbook-Jenna-Carlton/dp/B0C6W1GB96 to start your journey toward post-military wellness and community.

Support the show

Help Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. provide the support it needs to women veterans by donating to our cause at: https://misns.org/donation or send a check or money order to Moral Injury Support Network, 136 Sunset Drive, Robbins, NC 27325. Every amount helps and we are so grateful for your loving support. Thanks!

Follow us on your favorite social channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moral-injury-support-network-for-servicewomen/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.danielroberts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misnsconsult/