Michael received the text message in the title of this episode from Jo Ellis, after the Pentagon enacted a directive set forth by President Trump, when he signed a ban on openly transgender people serving in the military. Jo Ellis has served for 15 years in the Virginia National Guard, most recently as blackhawk helicopter pilot. Now, her days are numbered - listen here as she tells her story. Original airdate 27 February 2025.
Jo has served 15 years in the Virginia Army National Guard. Her current rank and job title is Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2) – UH60 Black Hawk Pilot. She has served in combat zones in Iraq and other operations overseas. She is a transgender woman and recently transitioned while serving in the military. When not serving her country, she works as an IT Engineer in the private sector and previously worked as the Digital Media Manager for Smerconish.com. She enjoys flying airplanes, racing cars, playing musical instruments, and skateboarding. The views and opinions presented are those of Jo Ellis and do not necessarily represent the views of DoD or the Army.