
Shelley Rood on the Wildflower Assessment, Women Veterans, and Serving Without Losing Yourself
From Dog Tag Diaries by Captain Kim
May 28, 2026 · 43 min · Season 8 · Episode 88
About this episode
Shelley Rood discusses her journey as a woman veteran and the importance of personal identity beyond military service.
Summary: What happens when service becomes more than what you do and starts shaping who you are? In this heartfelt episode of Dog Tag Diaries, Captain Kim sits down with Shelley Rood, a former U.S. Army Intelligence Officer, speaker, and creator of the Wildflower Assessment. Shelley shares how 16 years of service, a painful discharge, faith, motherhood, and her love for women veterans led her to build a new way of helping others feel seen. Through her Others Over Self philosophy and the Wildflower Assessment, Shelley helps women veterans better understand their leadership style, communication needs, relationships, and personal growth. This conversation is full of honesty, friendship, purpose, and a powerful reminder that serving others should not mean losing your own spark. In this episode, we cover: Shelley Rood’s childhood and early drive for personal achievement How 9/11 led Shelley toward military service Her 16 years as a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer The painful end of her military career Shelley’s desire to become a chaplain Faith, divorce, motherhood, and personal growth Building stronger friendships with women veterans The origin of the Wildflower Assessment How the…
People in this episode
Host: Captain Kim
Guest: Shelley Rood
Topics covered
- women veterans
- personal growth
- military service
- leadership
- faith
- friendship
Keywords
- Wildflower Assessment
- military career
- personal achievement
- communication needs
- Others Over Self
- leadership style
- women veterans support
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: U.S. Army, Women Veterans Engage
More episodes of Dog Tag Diaries
- Marine Combat Correspondent, Navy Officer, and the Mission to Tell Stories That Matter with Amy Forsythe · June 10, 2026 · 48 min
- CIA Officer Rachel Cuda on Sexual Assault, Military Service, and Fighting for Accountability · June 3, 2026 · 59 min
- How Art Helps Veterans Heal: Navy Veteran Phyllis Thomas on PTS, Creativity, and Veteran Community · May 20, 2026 · 45 min
- Navy Veteran Yuri Acuna on MST, Sisterhood, and Healing Through Rescue Dogs · May 13, 2026 · 46 min
- Breaking Barriers and Building Legacy: Colonel Mary Fuller on Leadership, Opportunity, and 28 Years of Service · May 6, 2026 · 46 min
- Veteran Healing After MST: Didi Meindok on Service, Forgiveness, and Finding Hope Again · April 29, 2026 · 48 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Dog Tag Diaries podcast page.