Tristan Irwin: US Army Civil Affairs - Ep. 97

Tristan Irwin is a nine-year veteran of the United States Army, where she served as a special operations Civil Affairs Officer. As a CA Team Chief, she led a four-person team in Moldova, conducting community-level development assistance to strengthen Moldova’s resilience and support its partnership with the US. 

She graduated from Yale University with a dual Master of Forestry and Public Policy degree. In 2012, she graduated from the United States Military Academy with a bachelor's degree in International Relations and another in German. 

Tristan serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors for The Valkyrie Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on optimizing health and human performance for military women through advocacy, research, education, and physical training programming.

https://www.thevalkyrieproject.org/

Timestamps:

00:00:25 Intro to Tristan Irwin

00:01:12 Tristan Irwin's Career

00:01:48 Why is the U.S. Interested in Moldova?

00:02:53 What Does a Mission in Moldova Look Like?

00:04:49 What Skills Are Being Taught on Missions in Moldova?

00:05:32 Missions That Stand Out in Tristan's Memory

00:07:05 Sustainability of What's Implemented on Missions

00:08:46 How to Get the Locals to Commit to Outreach

00:11:08 Lifestyle in an Eastern Bloc Village

00;13:04 Establishing a Cleaning Routine to Keep Your Food Safe

00:14:01 Civil Affairs Selection/Recruitment Process

00:15:53 What Kinds of Cognitive Testing Occurs?

00:17:09 What is the Turnout in Selection

00:17:57 How to Receive an NTR (Not-to-Return)

00:19:17 Qualification Process After Selection

00:20:43 Languages Spoken in Moldova

00:21:49 Differentiating Factor When You’re on the Cusp of Being Selected 

00:23:36 Physical Prep Before and After Selection

00:26:38 Pack Weight for the 12 Mile Run

00:27:01 Arbitrary Fitness Standards for the Military

00:34:22 Military Morale Issues

00:36:57 How the Measurement of Something Determines its Success Criteria

00:40:26 Tristan’s Valkyrie Project Story

00:41:28 How Do You Determine Your Own Successfulness?

00:43:27 What Specific Policies Does Tristan Hopes Will Change in the Military?

00:44:52 How Women Can Get Involved with Valkyrie

00:46:26 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received

00:48:01 Outro