Resilient and Rowdy Podcast: Guaranteeing military women a "seat at the table"

Resilient and Rowdy host Jess Jaimes during her service. (Courtesy Photo provided by Jess Jaimes)

Jess Jaimes is a United States Army veteran who wants to guarantee that every possible military perspective is heard. Especially those that have not typically had a “seat at the table.”

Jaimes joined the Army nearly a decade ago. Since then, she has narrowed down how she wants to spend her life post-service.

According to Jaimes, her time is now spent providing a “retreat or workshop” to her listeners.

She described her podcast, Resilient and Rowdy, as a refuge for open discussions on military life and everything that follows.

Jaimes informed Pop Smoke Media yesterday that her goal as the host is to be a “representative of people who have gone through hardship.” She also acts as a “voice for upholding survivors, instead of victimizing them.”

Time Spent and Lessons Learned

When asked about her reason for enlisting, Jaimes told Pop Smoke she wanted to “protect the liberties that were given to her family as U.S. citizens.”

Jaimes joined the Army around 2012, and swiftly learned exactly what kind of leader she wanted to be. She attributed this learning experience to the first leadership examples she encountered, describing them as “unproductive.”

Eventually Jaimes took the knowledge from these lessons in leadership and moved to a unit, with call sign Lima Six Recon. With Lima Six, she was tasked with operating an M1135 Stryker Nuclear Biological Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle (NBCRV).

She was a Private at the time of this change. This made Jaimes the lowest ranking member in the unit, as well as the youngest. Which as all Veterans remember, presents its own set of difficulties.

As one of the only women in her unit, Jaimes purposefully acted as an example for others. And she continues to amplify that perspective today.

Resilient and Rowdy Podcast

If you are looking for open-ended military discussions, as well as representation for the underrepresented, Jaimes’ Resilient and Rowdy podcast is an excellent place to start.