378 From Combat to Competition: How Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans Redefined Resilience

On this episode of Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different, we engage in a profound conversation with Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans, a decorated veteran who served 27 years in the U.S. Army. Gretchen shares her inspiring journey, from her motivations for joining the military to her experiences as one of the few women in a male-dominated environment. She discusses the challenges she faced, including injuries that led to her hearing loss, and her post-military work with Team Unbroken, an adaptive athletic team she founded. Gretchen Evans' story is one of resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication to service. You’re listening to Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different. We are the real dialogue podcast for people with a different mind. So get your mind in a different place, and hey ho, let’s go. Honoring Veterans and Their Service: Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans Christopher opens the episode by expressing his deep respect for veterans and the critical role they play in society. He then introduces Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans, highlighting her remarkable journey and the challenges she faced, including injuries sustained in combat that led to her hearing loss. Christopher emphasizes Gretchen’s role as an inspiration, both during her military career and in her life after service, particularly through her work with Team Unbroken, an adaptive athletic team for veterans and civilians who have faced life-altering injuries or trauma. Early Motivations and Joining the Military Gretchen shares her motivations for joining the military, which were born out of necessity. After losing her parents at a young age, her older brother became her guardian. Struggling to make ends meet while juggling college and work, she was inspired by her father, a World War II veteran, and the values instilled in her. She decided to enlist in the military, finding a welcoming environment in the Army after being turned away by other branches due to her height. Breaking Barriers as a Woman in the Military When Gretchen Evans enlisted in 1979, there were very few women in combat roles. She reflects on the challenges of being one of the few women in a male-dominated environment, particularly during basic training. Despite the tough leadership from Vietnam veterans who were not accustomed to training women, Evans expresses gratitude for the rigorous training she received, which prepared her for the realities of military life. She shares her first experience of being deployed to a combat zone in Grenada in 1983, describing the mix of nerves and excitement she felt. Despite her youth and inexperience, she relied on her training and the guidance of her leaders to navigate the chaotic environment. To hear more from Gretchen Evans and her inspiring story of never giving up, download and listen to this episode. Bio Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans is a highly decorated U.S. Army veteran, motivational speaker, and author. With over 27 years of service, she served as a senior intelligence analyst and paratrooper in multiple combat zones, including Afghanistan, where a mortar blast resulted in a traumatic brain injury and hearing loss. Despite her injury, Evans continues to inspire through her resilience, sharing her journey in overcoming adversity. She leads Team UNBROKEN, the first all-disabled team in the “World’s Toughest Race” on Amazon Prime, promoting awareness about disability and perseverance. Links Follow Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans! Team UNBROKEN | LinkedIn |  Instagram We hope you enjoyed this episode of Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and subscribe on iTunes!