Same Uniform, Different Weight: Dakota Olson-Harris on Deploying Again as a Mother

About this episode

Dakota Olson-Harris discusses the emotional challenges of preparing for her third deployment as a mother of five.

Summary: What does it feel like to put the uniform back on when your life at home has changed so much? In this episode of Dog Tag Diaries , Dakota Olsen-Harris returns to the show for an honest talk about getting ready for her third deployment, this time as a wife and mother of five. She shares how this season feels heavier in new ways, especially with a toddler at home and older kids she will be leaving for the first time for such a long stretch. Dakota opens up about guilt, fear, missing milestones, and the deep love behind those emotions. She also shares the steps she is taking to help her children stay connected, why counseling helped her, and how support from family, friends, church, and community can make a real difference for military families. In this episode, we cover: Dakota’s military path from enlisting in high school to becoming an officer Her first two deployments to Iraq and the UAE What it feels like to prepare for a third deployment to Germany The emotional weight of leaving as a mother of five Helping kids cope through FaceTime, games, and a deployment wall Her fear of being forgotten by her young daughter Creating keepsakes like a voice-recorded stuffed animal…

People in this episode

Host: Captain Kim

Guest: Dakota Olson-Harris

Topics covered

• military deployment
• motherhood
• emotional challenges
• family support
• counseling
• military families

Keywords

• deployment
• military
• motherhood
• guilt
• support systems
• counseling
• family
• emotions
• military families

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Iraq, UAE, Germany

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