Justin Jordan on PTSD, Mortuary Affairs, and Warriors Heart
In this episode of Oscar Mike Radio, I sit down with Air Force veteran Justin Jordan for one of the most honest and powerful conversations I’ve had about trauma, healing, and finding purpose after military service.
During his Air Force career, Justin served in mortuary affairs, entrusted with the sacred responsibility of caring for America’s fallen service members. It is a mission few people truly understand, and one that carried an enormous emotional weight. Justin shares how those experiences followed him long after he returned home, leading to severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and olfactory hallucinations that served as constant reminders of the invisible wounds he carried.
Rather than allowing those experiences to define him, Justin chose to confront them.
We discuss how writing his book, And Then I Cried, became a critical part of his healing journey. Putting his experiences into words gave him the opportunity to process years of pain, grief, and trauma while opening the door for other veterans to recognize they are not alone.
Like many veterans, Justin also faced the difficult transition from military service to civilian life. He speaks candidly about the challenges of finding a new purpose and the work required to move forward when the uniform comes off.
That journey ultimately led him to Warriors Heart, the nation’s first private treatment program built exclusively for veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders. With campuses in Texas and Virginia, Warriors Heart provides a 42-day residential program that combines evidence-based treatment for PTSD, trauma, TBI, addiction, and other co-occurring conditions in an environment where warriors are surrounded by people who understand their experiences. Their philosophy is simple and powerful: “Warriors Healing Warriors.”
One of the organization’s most ambitious goals is to bring one million warriors home, not simply by treating symptoms, but by restoring purpose, connection, and hope for those who have carried the invisible wounds of service.
What resonated with me most was the reminder that healing begins when warriors no longer feel they have to explain the culture they come from. Recovery becomes possible when veterans and first responders are surrounded by others who understand sacrifice, service, and the weight that often comes with both.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about Warriors Heart and its programs for veterans and first responders, visit:
Justin, thank you for trusting me and the Oscar Mike Radio audience with your story. Your courage, honesty, and commitment to helping other warriors find their way home are making a difference.
We are Oscar Mike, Mission in Flight1
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