S.O.S. (Stories of Service) - Ordinary people who do extraordinary work
From the little league coach to the former addict helping those still struggling, hear from people from all walks of life how they show up as a vessel for service and drive for transformational change. Hosted by Theresa Carpenter, a 29-year active duty U.S. naval officer who found service was the path to unlocking trauma and unleashing your inner potential.
S.O.S. (Stories of Service) - Ordinary people who do extraordinary work
From Bobsled to Baghdad: Active Duty Marine Riley Tejcek | S.O.S. #217
What happens when you refuse to let the world put you in a box? Marine Corps officer Riley Compton reveals the extraordinary journey that unfolded when she decided to pursue every passion without limitation.
Riley's story begins in the Midwest, where she never saw women serving in the military while growing up. After earning a Division I softball scholarship, a chance encounter with a Marine recruiter opened doors she never knew existed. What followed was a remarkable balancing act—commissioning as a Marine officer while simultaneously pursuing a spot on Team USA's bobsled team.
For five years, Riley competed internationally in bobsled, achieving a world ranking of 14th and winning a North American Cup gold medal, all while maintaining her active duty status. When a deployment opportunity to Baghdad arose, she volunteered for a billet typically filled by officers ranking above her. Upon returning from deployment, she went straight from the combat zone to competing on the world's fastest bobsled track in Canada—a testament to her unwavering dedication and resilience.
The conversation explores Riley's difficult decision to step away from bobsledding to focus on her Marine Corps career, her upcoming marriage to a Royal Marine, and her bestselling children's book "If You Can Dream It, Be It." With refreshing candor, she shares the behind-the-scenes struggles of publishing, including countless rejections, while maintaining her "never quit" mentality.
What makes Riley's perspective particularly valuable is her humility. Despite her achievements across multiple domains, she emphasizes that anyone can follow a similar path with enough courage and persistence. As she puts it, "Your job, the things you do, is what you do. It's not who you are." Her definition of wealth—measured in relationships, experiences, and discipline rather than financial gain—offers a refreshing counterpoint to conventional success metrics.
Ready to break out of your own self-imposed limitations? Listen now to discover how one Marine officer's story might just inspire you to dream bigger than you ever thought possible.
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From the moment we're born and lock eyes with our parents. We are inspiring others by showing up as a vessel of service. We not only help others, we help ourselves. Welcome to SOS. Stories of Service hosted by Teresa Carpenter. Hear from ordinary people from all walks of life who have transformed their communities by performing extraordinary work.
Speaker 2:Can you serve active duty in the Marine Corps and then, at the same time, be an inspirational speaker, a powerhouse athlete, a best-selling author and an all-around motivational person? I'm pretty much thinking you can, because, riley, you are an example of that. Riley, how are you doing today?
Speaker 3:Wow, thank you. I'm so excited to talk to you. You just made me put the biggest smile on my face.
Speaker 2:Well, I, like I said before the call, there's just not many people I am around where their energy and the things that they have accomplished is such a inspiration to all, and it comes from your values, the ways you, the way you were raised, and we'll get into all that during the call. But I always like to bring on the people who I think have this positive message of personal growth and development, and not always the trauma stories. Sometimes it really is the good news stories and you're an example of that. So, riley, I'm going to say a little bit about you and then we're just going to get right into the call.
Speaker 2:Since you've been here, you have been spending the past five years competing with Team USA Women's Bobsled, representing your country in two women's sled and monobob events and you 2022, 2023, you were ranked 14th in the world. World championship appearances in saint maurice, switzerland, winterberg and winterberg, germany. In 2024, you were a world ranking of 22 2025, you had the north american cup gold medalist, olympic team trials participant and world championships commentator, and then, beyond bobsled, you're a Marine Corps officer combat veteran. You deployed to Baghdad, iraq, from May to November 2024.
Speaker 2:We're also going to get into, since you've been on the show your children's book here, if you Can Dream it, which became a bestseller in 2024. And you've appeared on Family Feud Lingo. We talked about that the last time you were here and crowned Ms Military in both 2023 and 2024. So you've studied Russian in Kazakhstan. I might not be pronouncing that right to interning on Capitol Hill from division one college softball to Marine Corps athlete of the year, and I just love hearing about what you've been up to. Welcome back to the Stories of Service podcast, riley.
Speaker 3:I'm so happy to be back. I know I can't believe it. We do have some gaps. We have a lot of things to cover. Some things haven't changed. Some things have evolved, which is just really awesome to be able to see the before and to where we are now. I can't wait to catch everyone up Awesome.
Speaker 2:First off, let's start with your Marine Corps career. So the last time we talked, you were deciding, I believe, if you were going to go into a career in the Olympics and keep going down that road or if you were going to give it all up and stay active duty in the Marine Corps. And at the time I remember you telling me I'm going to stay active duty in the Marine Corps. You were a captain, you were an O3 at the time and I believe you're a supply corps officer correct or supply?
Speaker 3:Logistics Logistics Same thing, yep.
Speaker 2:So tell me about a little bit first off. For the people who don't know, you just give us a little bit of a backstory when were you born and raised and why did you decide to join the Marine Corps? We'll start with that.
Speaker 3:So, fun fact, I was born in San Diego but I can't call that home at all. I actually grew up and was raised in Carmel, indiana, so Midwest all the way. And my backstory just real fast is that my father was a professional baseball player, my mom was a self-made business woman and I ended up getting a division one softball scholarship to play at GW. I had never thought about joining the military because I never saw a woman serve in the military growing up in the Midwest, and it wasn't then until I met a Marine recruiter. I continued playing softball. I commissioned to the military. I wanted to find a way to keep competing. The Lord opened the door of bobsled to me. I was able to do bobsled and be active in the Marine Corps and had a successful five, six year term with bobsled. And now I'm continuing on my Marine Corps career and continuing to pursue other passions that exist and can continue to evolve, while still serving and giving majority of my time to service.
Speaker 2:I absolutely love it. So tell me a little bit about the uh, where you sort of left the bobsled career since the last time we talked I think it was probably about a year and a half, two years ago Did you decide that you're going to now take a break from that altogether and focus solely on on well, not not focus solely on career, because I know you, like me, you're always going to kind of have all these little side projects going on. But did you decide that that's probably that part of your life and that chapter is going to go on the back burner a little bit? Or where are you at with that?
Speaker 3:Yes, just like we talked about last time, I knew a decision was on the horizon, I just didn't know how long we could push it off. There's some things that we're just like oh, we'll just keep the can down just a little bit further. We'll just maximize and squeeze this limit as much as we possibly can. Essentially, two years ago, when we last talked, I was a newer captain, I had just pinned on, I was in Quantico and I was trying to figure out what the heck does this look like and at the time, after we talked, I decided okay, I'm going to give everything I have to 2026. I either make it or I don't, and that will be the end of my career. And bobsled I took some report.
Speaker 3:I decided to stay in the Marine Corps. I went through my initial contract, you know I accepted and I've stayed on and since I have competed in so that year I competed, was able to make it to world championships that year that we had talked which was incredible in germany. This then deployed that may so I competed in world championships, finished competing in march, did pre-deployment training in April, went and deployed to Baghdad from May to November, which cut into summer training and beginning of bobsled season, which starts in end of September. October literally left bobsled and on my pre-deployment leave or post-deployment leave, like your cooling down period, I went straight to Whistler, canada, and was competing in the fastest and hardest track in the world.
Speaker 3:So I went literally straight from Baghdad basically to Whistler, vancouver, canada, and was competing straight away and was able to have an extremely successful season, despite missing everything, where I end up having my biggest success, where I won my first North American Cup gold medal for the first time that January, despite, like I said, again, training while I was in Baghdad. So it was incredible to see we end up competing in March for Olympic team trials and only three people can make it and I am one of six of those three and of the six of us. There's the reigning world champion, who's my best friend, the reigning gold medalist from the past Olympics, the reigning silver medalist from the past Olympics, another prior Olympian and another teammate of mine that have gone head to head, that have won her fair share of gold, silver, bronze throughout the season as well.
Speaker 3:So did you say stacked and I love that and I always tell us about people and I can generally smile when I say this. I just wanted to see how good can I be, and it wasn't about the other people, it was what can Riley do and how good can I get? Now, full disclosure. Do any of them work full time jobs, especially like the military? No, and that's not a bad thing. They were able to put their priority and focus in this, but I'm not going to sit here and use that as an out.
Speaker 3:If I gave Bob said everything I had, if that was my full-time job, could I have been more successful? Maybe, but that competition was still and still is incredible. And so at Olympic team trials, when I didn't get top three, I kind of felt the Lord put it on my heart and was just like, okay, like why would you keep going till February to find out? You know, maybe I'm gonna hold on. If someone got hurt or someone got injured or something, I can be an alternate, like I'm ready to go. Or when are you gonna prioritize the things that you said you were to include your military career, to include my upcoming marriage, that I'm getting married here?
Speaker 3:in the next couple of weeks to my fiance, who's a Royal Marine, coming over from England. You know when am I going to prioritize my children's book and speaking and other things that I really want to pour into and, oh, by the way, start a family and be a mom and with that just wasn't going to mix but especially with the military career. So when I accepted orders to come here to San Diego and do recruiting and anyone who knows recruiting knows that it requires a lot of you I knew that those two worlds could not exist, and so I made the decision recently that you know what I need to hang up my spikes? Um, it's time for me to step away from that, to let my ego and my identity not be rooted in sport, and realize that I have competed in world championships, I have won a gold medal, I have done something that a female marine has never been able to do in sport and I'm okay with that. And I'm not going to let the fact that I didn't make it to the Olympics be like a thorn in my side of oh, I didn't do everything or I'm not good enough or my story's not as good because I didn't do that.
Speaker 3:I actually think it's more realistic to be like I gave it everything I possibly could, absolutely. The cards didn't work out for me, but I can look back on it and be proud of the effort because I gave it everything. But also I stepped away on my own accord. The sport didn't push me out. I didn't have like a season sport ending injury. I was able to leave because I knew that I had other things that were demanding of my time, and the Marines especially deserve it. And so, as I want to continue to move up in the ranks and prioritize the Marine Corps and my family and my faith, I knew that Bob said was something that was eating up just too much of my time. So yeah, I have officially I love it.
Speaker 3:And now.
Speaker 2:I'm going to ask, I'm going to cut you real quick, just to ask a technical question. If we can, no-transcript, I'm on my iPad.
Speaker 3:Okay, oh, all right I can turn on my cell phone with data if you want.
Speaker 2:Yeah, do you mind? Just to see if I want, cause I want people to see you so clearly and you're just a little bit on the blurry side and I'm going to go full screen and update my audience on the New York city. Still swim while you do that.
Speaker 3:Okay, so I'm going to exit out and I'll come back in, okay.
Speaker 2:Yep, exactly, all right, guys. I just want you guys to see her in full screen. I noticed she was just a little bit on the blurry side as she was talking and because you guys know, I grab about four reels every show and so I have noticed that if I don't make sure that it's crystal clear for you guys, then you won't be able to get those snippets of the podcast. But this is a great opportunity to let you know that I am back in studio, as you see here, and it's wonderful to be back in Mississippi. We love it here. No traffic, no stress. It's just a wonderful place to be.
Speaker 2:I was on the road for about 10 days I think it was supposed to be nine but then an extra day to pick up a car today. So we have just been in and out and now I'm going to add her back to the stage. I'll be telling you guys more about that trip in the coming days, but here we go. I'm going to bring her back in. Riley. Oh, now I can see you beautifully. This is amazing, awesome, all right, yes, yes, I love it, all right.
Speaker 2:So, as we were saying, you decided to take a step back from bobsledding because you wanted to be more focused on your career, or really just because being on Team USA is such a huge commitment. It's not something that you can do and then still go full-time Marines, especially as you move up in the ranks. I remember talking to you about how you were getting to those 0405 pay grades, and that's when the military just starts getting even more of your time just because you're in increased levels of responsibility. So tell me, let's just go back before we talk about your current duty right now with recruiting. You went on a deployment too. Since the last time we talked, tell me a little bit about how the deployment came to be and a little bit about what was, what happened with that.
Speaker 3:So the way it happened was kind of unconventional. I was at the time a part of TCOM in Quantico and there was a tasker that came out that was pushed down and essentially asking if there was any volunteers for this deployment to go to Baghdad to be an operations officer, and the billet was slated for major. It was one up, one down. At the time a lieutenant colonel was filling the position and my boss, who had my back, completely knew that at the time I was going and I still am, but then was going full on towards the Olympics, and he basically sent it to me and was like hey, I need your response within the next 24 hours, of writing me a full, detailed page of why you're not able to take this deployment because of your athletic and bobsled endeavors.
Speaker 3:And in that moment I sat on, sat on it, I prayed about it, I called my parents and I said I'm not going to submit him that paper, not because I'm trying to not obey the orders of my commanding officer, but I think that this is actually something that I want and every Marine wants to deploy, I shouldn't say everyone. Majority Marines want to deploy, majority Marines want to be off of the bench, not a practice player, go out and do real life things. And for me, if I was going to go on deployment and there's nothing wrong with it I didn't want to go to Japan and go on a Mew Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just when I saw Baghdad and I saw operations and real life things that I could be affecting, I was like I think this is my time and no one else wanted it Right.
Speaker 2:That's what you find out Like the sexiest jobs. Sometimes nobody wants to go for them and it just blows my mind. I've had the same experience.
Speaker 3:I also don't blame some of them, because some of them are coming to Quantico, coming to T-Con for the first time, non-deployable units, where they have family or they have really small children, and they're like I've already been to Iraq, I've been there, I've done that, I don't want to go back. Well, for someone like me, I'm like hello, can I raise my hand any higher? And there was initially some pushback because it's like well, you're a captain, you're a new captain, we don't know, this is operations, you're not PME complete. You know all of these reasons, why and why not, to which, again, I think they're just asking the right questions. And it got to the point where no one else did at first. They're like you're going, you're not going, you're going, you're not going.
Speaker 3:And I was like should I please just go going? And I was like please, just go. And they allowed me to go and I worked with my bobsled team. I said, listen, I have to take this opportunity. It has to happen for my career, it has to happen for me to give the Marines a hundred percent of the effort that they have deserved. I will do everything that I can to train and be ready. And I basically then had asked bobsled like allow me to do this, trust me that I can have the discipline to wake up at 4am if I need to, and train at 99 degree heat in the middle of the morning and get everything that I need to done and be ready to go, and I'll. I'll meet you guys in Canada on several stops later and, by the grace of God, I was able to do it and I would do that experience 10 times over again.
Speaker 3:The deployment itself obviously is tough. It's tough being away from your family, missing things you know, living out of two and all the fun things that come with deployment that anyone who has been deployed can smile and think about. But from a career development, replacing Lieutenant Colonel acting in a major's position, working day-to-day with operations with 26 other nations and in joint command, was a dream come true and I truly-.
Speaker 2:Was it a NATO job? I'm curious, because a lot of people were like we didn't even know there were people still in Iraq. So tell me, can you tell me as much as you can about, like, what was the mission there?
Speaker 3:Yes, it was with OIR, Operation Inherent Resolve. So we still have a footprint there in Baghdad and it's very, very, very small. So there wasn't a big Marine presence. It's actually an army command that I was working under. There is a NATO presence that is there, that is working with the Iraqis still, which we were on the same base as them, which is why there was 26 nations in totality but very small base.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, I was a part of I believe it was OIR even in 2016 to 2018, when I was deployed with USS Nimitz, so I am familiar with that mission and I didn't I wasn't aware that it was still ongoing. So that's interesting. I bet you you get that from a lot of people.
Speaker 3:A lot of people were like, wait, what? And I was like, yeah, we still have people there. So it was kind of funny when things were being talked about and people like, oh, we don't have military members deployed and I'm sitting there and I'm like, well, I'm not home right now. We definitely are, but it's a smaller footprint and our mission there was advise, assist, enable. So, we aren't there doing, I think, what people normally think of when they think of early 2000s.
Speaker 2:Like coalition building and city, you know, city development or things like along those lines.
Speaker 3:Yeah, exactly so it's. It's definitely a combat environment because you get combat paid. There's dangers that are inherently involved. But I will tell you this I never felt extremely unsafe. I never had to draw my weapon Like there were bunkers. We only got in when there was Iran and Israel shooting missiles. But we were never a target, you know, by any means. So I say that, and it was as safe as it possibly could be.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 3:I don't want to overhype that. It was, oh, this big danger or anything, but I mean we are in the middle of a place where some people don't want us to be Exactly, and I say that about even those of us who deploy on Navy warships.
Speaker 2:I mean there's a reason why the USS Cole happened, there's a reason why ships collide at sea, so everyone puts themselves in harm's way when they serve. Now there are those people who fight on the ground and do ground combat operations, or there are special forces who, I think, take on an even heightened, obviously a heightened level of risk day in and day out, but it never diminishes the service that everyone takes when they raise that right hand. So I think what you did is outstanding. I mean, you made the decision, you walked away from something you were very passionate about to serve your nation in a more heightened way, and I think that's incredible and that's something that should be commended.
Speaker 2:And it is interesting when you take those hard jobs or hard fills. In fact, I read a book called Hard Fills about an officer who took all the jobs that nobody fills. In fact, I read a book called Hard Fills about an officer who took all the jobs that nobody wanted and they were always like the really unique mission sets that no one's ever heard of or that people don't know still exist, and he carved out his off the beaten path kind of career and I've done the same thing and that was really how I promoted was. I took the jobs that nobody wanted at the time. Becoming a carrier public affairs officer was not easy to fill because it was such a sacrifice of time and effort and a lot of PAOs didn't want to do it and I was all in. I joined the Navy to go to sea and to be on ships.
Speaker 2:So, that's what I was going to do, and there was just no doubt in my mind that that's that's where. That's where the action is, that's where the Navy is doing the Navy things. So this is where I want to be. I want to be where the action is happening. So good on you for doing that. How long were you deployed there? A year, six months, six months.
Speaker 3:Yeah, the Marines. We do six month rotations typically a year, six months, six months.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the Marines, we do six month rotations. Typically no-transcript around that time.
Speaker 3:Yes, I saw you in DC.
Speaker 2:Remember I ran into you.
Speaker 3:I got back in November, I went straight to competing and then, yes you, I saw you that following a couple months later, in January.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that was really neat. That was during the inaugural events that were taking place and that was just a total surprise to see you at that event. So I was very happy to meet in person. And then after that I remember you telling me that you were going to go to recruiting. So tell me a little bit about how that billet came up for you.
Speaker 3:I love just naturally talking about my life in the Marine Corps in a positive way. I know that there's a lot of military members out there that maybe are a little disgruntled or not happy and I'm not saying everything is sunshine and rainbows, like don't hear me out, don't miss me on that Like they're just like any job. There are things that are frustrating or challenging or that you might want to change. But I love being a Marine officer and I think it's one of the biggest blessings and gifts that I've ever been able to step into a path that I never thought was even feasible for me as a young child and into my adulthood. And I just love, naturally, talking to people and I like public speaking. So I think naturally recruiters used me as a proof source and I was able to say you know what I kind of like this recruiting thing, and at the time being an Oso wasn't really in the cards, like I said, because of bobsled and I wouldn't have been able to do both, and so I knew that I wanted to get involved. There was an opportunity that came up to go to Western Recruiting Region, which is actually at the Depot here in San Diego, and work for the whole Western half of the United States and support several OSOs and districts and be at a region level to be an asset, to go and help out while also doing normal officer procurement. My role is to recruit officers because I am one and I've kind of made it my mission to try to reach out to athletic programs in schools and universities, really try to see some of these athletes, because I was an athlete and I think there's a lot of really good similarities between people that have done athletics their whole entire life and don't really know what's next after college and being able to come in into the military and what I say is be a tactical athlete for several years later and have the ability to support and then help out as ever possible.
Speaker 3:So in a staff position working for, you know, the general who oversees all of Western recruiting region and under MCRIC, um, then at the region level. And so I'm two and a half months into this role and position, which is exciting, and I see why recruiting is so hard and my heart goes out to every single person that has done it and mission and induction and submission and all those buzzwords that people probably don't want to hear if they know what they mean, but my goal and my job actually is to assist, like I am here as a tool and I tell people I'm now took bobsled off my plate so I can now come and have the ability to go to you. How can I help? How can I get your foot in the door using my resume, not that, oh I, oh I'm so much better than you.
Speaker 3:But saying, hey, I have this team USA athlete that wants to come speak to your college might be a little bit better than hey, I'm a Marine officer, you're a stud captain, but maybe you never played collegiate sports. So they kind of push you off or push you to the side, maybe, and try to also help double down, which is what I've done. Hey, you have any, for example, athlete that walks through that door. Let me go on a call with them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 3:You know, let me be an additional proof source or you know this, that the other. And let's get creative. What do you need from a recruiting aspect and how, now that someone has a capacity to support, what do you need? So it's a really interesting and unique billet and role. I am an assistant to the officer of procurement, so I'm working for a major and overseeing that, but I'm also the youngest ranking officer with no Marines under me. The only enlisted Marine in my office is a master sergeant. So it's very complex and interesting and I'm having an absolute blast. But with it also comes some like growing pains of seeing okay, this didn't work, this is working and it's the natural environment and ebbs and flows that recruiting has.
Speaker 2:Right, and it's such a natural combination to recruit people who are already athletic or into team sports into the military, because they're going to bring with them an ethos that.
Speaker 2:I think is very beneficial for the military. I was never athletic growing up. I regret that I've gotten into some athletics. Since I've been an adult, I've taken up skiing. Right now my husband and I are playing pickleball. I'm very fortunate that my husband is very athletic, and so he pushes me to do more sports and to sort of let my guard down, allow myself to suck, allow myself to gently get better, and I'm having a blast with it. And there are some sports that I can do decent enough to get better, and so that's been really exciting for me to see that growth and to be able to start at a certain point and to get a little bit better. And then playing on a team is also really rewarding, and there's a lot of leadership that goes with that as well. So I think what you're doing is outstanding and we need good people.
Speaker 2:You remind me so much of Gervie Alotta. I'm sure you know who he is. He's the. I don't know if you know who he is. He's the 06 Navy captain. He was on on the john p martha. I've had him on twice as well.
Speaker 3:I know who he is.
Speaker 2:I follow him on instagram yes, he would him remind me. I mean, I swear to god, if you guys got together and did like a podcast together, it would be off the hook, because he's just. He's got the same energy and charisma that you do and he inspires me all the time and is just amazing on and knows how to use social media and I truly believe he's probably the exact same person you see on social media in person. He's just a positive, happy individual who loves serving, loves the service, and he turned his ship around when he was the commanding officer and then went on and now it does work in recruiting, just like yourself.
Speaker 2:And I think it's great because I think we need those positive role models because, as we talked before the call and you said on the call, the military is tough and it can get you down and there are a lot of things that are tough and we need to fix. But I think, on that same token, we need to put all our focus on what we do well and what we do great, and when we build up good leaders like yourself or like Gervie, we need to showcase those people and show that this is the caliber of individuals that are motivated for a life of service, and so tell me a little bit about what it's been like since you've been there to understand sort of the mission set of recruiting. I'm curious about how you see, like, where are the best people to pull from it If it's not through a team sport, but how, from a process standpoint, have you envisioned how you're going to go about doing this job?
Speaker 3:I think for me it just goes back to my story, because that's the only really story that I'm 100% confident in is I was a female athlete that loved my country and never thought serving was an option, because I didn't see it and I didn't know about it.
Speaker 3:So my personal mission is to meet with anyone who meets some of those similarities, someone who is patriotic and loves their country, someone who wants to have a meaningful, service filled lifestyle. What I mean by that? You're not motivated by money, you're motivated by impact and purpose. Like there's something that's a little bit different about you. That's like hey, I, if there's a job that's a $5,000 a year difference, but one I can really be proud of and tell my parents, I'm going to choose that one, even though the pay's not as much, because I'm actually getting rich and wealth and experience and relationships and pushing myself and boundaries. Those are the people that I look for. Now, obviously, if you're an athlete, there's things that I think translate well, like we talked about working as a team, prioritizing. When you have multiple things going on, you're used to getting yelled at and you generally have a level of physical fitness, yep, the military has standards, especially the Marine Corps, and they're hard.
Speaker 3:They're hard for the average person, so that's obviously why. But to your point, we can also take people and say, hey, we can make you faster and stronger. What I can't do is basically teach you how to care about one another. I can't teach you fully how to be selfless. I can't teach you to want to have a purpose and drive where the people around you you care about more than yourself. I can try, but I can't really teach you those things. So, as I'm going out and I'm talking to people, the way I envision and the way I've been doing is just being really honest and open, saying, hey, I'm not out here trying to literally recruit you because my branch recruits itself for itself, it does, it does.
Speaker 2:It's got the highest recruiting because people want desk discipline, they like standards.
Speaker 3:But I also want to stand out there and say, hey, I'm probably not what you think of when you think of a Marine officer.
Speaker 2:No, you're not.
Speaker 3:And there are several other Marine officers or Marines that are enlisted that don't look the way you think, that actually do have a similar background to yours and a similar story and path. And if I can do it, what's the reason why you can't? And if it's like I just want nothing to do with the military touche, if it's, I'm scared, I'm nervous. I'm the first one in my family like all of these things. I'm raising my right hand and say, yeah, that happened to me too. I've experienced that too. Let me tell you about this and let me show you that this is a possibility for you that is going to lead you to be successful in whatever you choose, whether it's four years, whether it's 30 years, whether it's anything in between, whether you deploy or you don't deploy, regardless of your MOS.
Speaker 3:Like I truly say this and I mean it Like that's why I went and asked to go to recruiting. Recruiting didn't just happen to me. The Marine Corps has given me the tools in my toolkit to be successful in almost anything that I do, which is why, when you're reading these accolades, I directly correlate all of that to the principles and the discipline that the Marine Corps has instilled in me and into my body that has allowed me to continue and do these things, and I am forever grateful and that's not why I stay in, but that's a big part of it, because I continue to grow and learn about myself every day. Oftentimes when I'm talking to people and different athletes and I can tell they're not listening, I always drop this on them.
Speaker 3:I'm like I believe I'm the wealthiest person in this room right now and then everyone looks at me you know plotting to either kill me or steal my wallet, or they're like how does she make so much money? And I'm like, and my response is, and I bet you want to ask me did I come from wealth? Or you know my parents rich, or you know whatever? And I said, but I'm the wealthiest person in this room and relationship. I'm the wealthiest person in this room and memories and in discipline and of so many other things Like I am truly rich in that and that's something that money, majority of the time, will not be able to buy you. So those are the people I'm looking for, the people that kind of scoot in a little bit closer, their mouth opens a little bit right, their eyes get a little bit bigger and I don't feel like I have to. It's hey, I'm looking for the best and if you think you're the best, come talk to me.
Speaker 2:I love it and I think that there's so many people that need to hear that message, riley, because they sometimes are not surrounded by people like you or leaders that are so positive and that really want the best for each other and want that sense of purpose and that sense of can be a part of it. Anyone can be a volunteer. Anyone can be a participant. There were women there that I truly believe were in no better shape than me and I was like I could do this. I might have to do a little bit of ocean swim training, but I really think I could do this and it's such a beautiful thing. And I told the leader of it who organizes it, bill Brown. I said that's what this is all about. This is all about community and brotherhood and teamwork, and that's what the military gave us. We all had that sense and that bond at some point in our careers.
Speaker 2:Now, not all of us have worked in the most positive working environments and sometimes, as we talk before the call, there are those people that sadly bring in their trauma and they bring in their personal issues to their leadership.
Speaker 2:But all we can do is try our best to bring in, like those people, those shining stars in their most youngest and impressionable way to say look, you can do this too. You've got to put in the work and you need to be selfless and you need to be motivated by something other than a paycheck, because guess what? If you've got enough money to live, that's all that really matters. Get your expenses paid and you can live off and I know you can $30,000, $40,000 a year and you can build a beautiful life traveling, living in a van, doing whatever and inspiring others with your message and speaking of your message, you've also taken this opportunity to not only use your platform to inspire people through recruiting. You've been in the Ms Military pageants. So tell us a little bit about the Ms Military pageant, because I don't think we talked about it the last time we were on here and I'm now friends on Facebook with Calvin, the owner, and he was excited to see your post and he's like she's one of our pageant winners.
Speaker 3:So tell us a little bit about the pageant. I will be truly honest and maybe like people who are listening, when I hear the word pageant, I am like oh, that's not me. Like I don't wear makeup very occasionally wear heels. I will but it's not my go-to choice and between you and I, I just personally don't like women being judged on their appearance and wearing bikinis. That's just a Riley thing.
Speaker 2:I get it.
Speaker 3:There's nothing wrong with it. I just I don't. I don't envision that for me. So when Calvin reached out to me, I kind of thought it was a prank and was like hey, we have this pageant and we think you'd be really great for it and I'm like ha ha, like I'm like me, like yeah.
Speaker 3:And once I found out more, it was actually revolving around community service and what you're doing for the veteran and military community and what it means to speak, and speak intelligently about things that are going on and things that you think that you can fix and help in the DOD and speak on behalf of this group of people that is living a life of service. And once I found that out, there was no bikini judging. It was more like questions and what else are you doing and what's a passion of yours. And I was able to talk about being a Christian and tithing and working down in San Diego with my church and serving the homeless population in an orphanage in Mexico and this at the other, and then talked about for veterans like, hey, I'm noticing these trends, here's what I would do differently, here's how I want to help and take care of people. And then, obviously, I got to talk about my hobby at bobsled, which was pretty cool. There's not right many people who do that, obviously so I went in with it with the same mindset that I did to everything. This is something that is out of my comfort zone, this is something that was hard for me, this is something that challenged me, so therefore, I wanted to do it and I had zero expectation. I was like, if I win, I win. Obviously I'm competitive, I want to win everything, but I was more looking forward to what can this element teach me about myself and how can I have some self growth through this process while representing, hopefully, my community in a very positive light.
Speaker 2:I love it, Absolutely love it, and so if you're interested in that, please look up the Miss Military pageant. Calvin has tried even talking to me about doing it and I had the same. I know, I know Now that you're kind of like talking me into it actually, now that we're having this conversation. But I know, I know Now that you're kind of like talking me into it actually now that we're having this conversation, but I know, I know, Well, I think it's because you know, I'm very much a speak truth to power person, so I'm always like man, they're probably not going to pick me because I'm a little bit, a little spicy, but I think it's always comes from a good place, or I'd like to think it's coming from a good place, and I try to show both sides of an issue.
Speaker 2:I realize life is not black and white. We all live in a shade of gray somewhere in life and really this platform and why I do this podcast is to give veterans a voice and to voice the things they're struggling with or the things that they're thriving with. It is really that simple for me in doing this show and in speaking of having a voice and dreaming big. Tell us a little bit about this venture right here.
Speaker 3:Yeah. So that, honestly, I tell people, is actually my most proud accomplishment that I've achieved thus far in life, more than the gold medal, more than any title title is being an author to, if you can dream it, be it. And the whole point of the story truly is to touch the lives of one to eight year olds that are growing up and they're trying to form these core beliefs of who they can become when they're, when they grow up. And the concept of interviewing people in your life that you look up to, taking the time, what are, what are the things that they do right? And looking into their stories and talking with them and, yeah, realizing who do I want to become, and realizing sometimes that this world wants to put limitations on you. They want to put you in a box and say, surely you can't do these things? Or how could you be a pageant winner and wear a dress and heels and then go into the field and have chemi paint on you and do all these things right? Like, surely those can't exist? And I just want to continue to break those barriers to inspire other people, especially children, because for me, as a young girl, I never saw a woman serving For me as a young girl, I never saw women be successful as professional athletes. For me I'm still like we just talked about. Never thought that it would be possible for me to be in pageants and actively serve in the military.
Speaker 3:So why I wrote this book is a part of my story to create impact, to love on people, to give them a positive, true life story.
Speaker 3:Of saying like, if you can dream it, if you can see it, if you're bold and courageous like Joshua one nine, my favorite Bible verse, says there's no reason why all these things can't exist. And if you need to see someone who has done it, let Riley be that example and know, from a very humble standpoint, there's no difference between me and them. I just right stuff out there and I tried and look what happened and trying to tell people. In a world where social media and the internet is becoming more prevalent in younger and younger ages, where they're finding out more and trying to again squish this beautiful creativity that young children have, I just want to open that back up. And then I wanted people to actually hold a book, because story time is my favorite thing before bed with my parents. It was a very bonding moment, I think, for children and parents and I just wanted to create and foster that for military families in particular.
Speaker 2:I love the book, by the way. I mean just the story and I don't want to give it all away, but basically a teacher giving their students an assignment and young Riley using her creativity and what it is she would want to do as a child, and I just love it. The illustrations are gorgeous. Shout out to Janet Samuel. This is such a neat collaboration of what you did here with this book. How did I love backstories? How did this even come about?
Speaker 3:Well, and the backstory was I was in DC on a news interview and they asked me you know, riley, you've done so much in your life. What's next? Everyone loves that question. At the time I just shot from the hip and I just was something that's on my mind, but I never said out loud. I said before I'm 30, I want to write a book. And the next day I said, oh my gosh. I just said that out loud, which is the power of speaking your goals out loud. But now I'm like now I have to hold myself accountable.
Speaker 3:At the time I was 26,. I'm 28 now. So I definitely made the goal, but I didn't know what I wanted to write, how I wanted to write. But I knew that that was something I wanted to do and I actually fractured my foot in bobsled a week before teen trials and I was in a place of.
Speaker 3:I was starting to spiral and like get depressed and get upset and I told myself the Lord has given me this time. I can either use it and sulk and feel bad for myself and watch garbage TV, or I can pursue a goal and sit down and take this time to write and give back and flips a positive onto this, ultimately what feels like negative situation. So I just started writing and it was supposed to come out in August but, like we talked about, I was in Baghdad, so it got pushed and it got pushed again. But it's finally out and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences getting feedback but seeing the young minds of children just light up, with their mentality shift and, hopefully, a core belief that is now ingrained into their hearts from a young age, realizing that as a female or a male, there's no limitations to what they can become and the jobs and career and success they could have as they continue to grow up.
Speaker 2:But how did you find, I mean, I think I also want to just know from a tactical standpoint, like, how did you find the people like the publisher, the uh, the publisher, the illustrator, uh getting people to read the book, I mean, and to give feedback like, how, how was what? Was your process? Like that's? That's that's also what I'm curious about, cause a children's book is a little bit different than someone just getting a book coach and then going on Amazon and self-publishing. I mean, this is, this is a really nice, beautifully bound book. So how did you did you just start researching people to work with?
Speaker 3:Essentially, I knew that I wasn't going to reinvent the wheel. I had no idea where to start, so I did research on my own. I called up friends and people that I knew that had written all kinds of books and I was just like teach me what worked well, what didn't, what would you do again, what was not? And I ultimately had the decision decision did I want to self publish or did I want to work with a publisher? And at the time again, this was right in the height of my season and I knew that I was very close to making the national team for the second time and I knew that I wouldn't have the time to do everything. I wanted to self-publish and I was just real about that.
Speaker 3:So I was looking for publisher. I was able to find a publisher, lock them on and they had asked me, from an illustration standpoint, what was it that I'm looking for? To send them examples. So I sent them examples and they contracted Janet. I've never met Janet I've talked to her but I've never met her in person and she's just a lovely soul and has done incredible work and really just saw this book come to life. So a huge shout out to Endgame Press. That's my publishing company. They are the magic behind all this happening, but it was really cool to see that this started as a word doc and just my story on paper, and then, yeah, turning it to what the book is now. Obviously I'm biased, but I couldn't ask for anything better. Like it truly is everything I wanted it to be, and more.
Speaker 2:I mean it's beautiful. It really is Like it's got like the nice, you know shiny cover to it, and then the illustrations itself are just gorgeous and they match the story and then the story is inspirational. I mean this is like the kind of book that, like every, every young child should have man or woman or anything. It's just, it's just so motivating. And what I love also about your message is that you are very humble about it. You, you basically say this is something, this is. I did all this, but you guys can do this too.
Speaker 2:And that is such a that's such a piece to this that I think a lot of people sometimes miss. They think, oh well, well, she could do that, know she has all this. Well, no, no, she. She worked for those things and manifested those things in her life and and did the work to make those things happen. And sure you had roadblocks along the way and people who told you no, or you can't do this oh yeah, and that's what I want to like just share really fast.
Speaker 3:I was told no, and my feelings were hurt more when writing this book and trying to get it out than anything else. But I tell you what this is the behind the scenes that people don't see. I wake up, I go to work, I train, I come home and I spend an hour firing off emails, linkedin messages, this, that and the other have spent hours on podcasts and news, but me reaching out to people, me offering you know to, to go out of my way, to do this, that and the third. And I have been told no so many times that it actually hurts because I'm like man. Do you all not see what I see like I think this is, this is a possibility to do something, but if you knock on a hundred doors, the odds that one of them open statistically in your favor?
Speaker 2:there is no difference.
Speaker 3:There is a whole lot of never quit mentality and there's a whole lot of. I'm not going to take this personally when people say no, and I'm going to be a hard charger and I'm going to keep pushing because I believe in this.
Speaker 2:Oh God, I can relate to that, Like how many times I've said to Sean Ryan Sean Ryan, please cover false allegations. They do happen, I swear they happen, and I don't know if he'll ever do it, but I'm still looking at you, sean Ryan, I'm still hoping you'll do it. I've heard you've asked about it, so I'm hoping, hoping hoping.
Speaker 3:But I tell people this just like you said if you never ask, the answer is always no.
Speaker 3:Yep and insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different outcome. So if you want something, at least ask for it. And like I'm obviously a strong christian, talks the bible like ask and you will receive, you will receive. Doesn't mean it's going to be a yes, but you will receive an answer, um, and sometimes that answer is no, sometimes answer is not yet, not yet. And sometimes it's yes, and so I mean I would. You would be blown away by how many people sometimes just reach out to me and say wow, I didn't even think that you would reply. And I'm like I tell people all the time I reply to everything as long as it's appropriate, right, like you don't know if you don't ask, you don't know if you don't try, and failure, in my opinion, is wanting to do something and never even trying.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're right, you're right. And it's not failure if you never hear back. It's not failure if nobody replies. I feel the same way. Sometimes I have these great ideas and nothing comes of them, and then I just move on to another idea and I try something new, because I go, okay, that didn't work. Or I just keep talking about it and I entertain myself with the thought that it might happen one day, and then maybe it won't. And I'm okay with that, because I know there are enough good ideas out there and ways to be creative and ways to create meaningful change that you just don't put all your eggs in one basket. You just hope that the things that you're creating are going to make an impact. In some places they will make an impact. In some places they won't.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you just make your peace with it and you have your peace with it, exactly, riley. Well, I absolutely love it. So tell me a little bit, as we're winding down the call, what is on the horizon next for you?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I, I'm so excited to tell people they're never expecting this, but I am getting married, um, to the absolute love of my life, um, daniel Waldron. Uh, he is a. He is a Royal Marine, which means he serves in England. Uh, coming over here and going to be living with me in the United States and we're going to get married and I cannot wait. My next big goal and accomplishment is to become a mother.
Speaker 2:Oh my God, I can't wait.
Speaker 3:Yeah, there's nothing that I want more, honestly, and that means I also had to shift priorities, which is why, again, bob's let how to go down and, um, this job is going to with where I'm at, non-deploying and stuff like that. Right, it just it's a time, so we'll see what the Lord has planned, but that is something that I'm really putting a lot of my effort and energy and focus on, which I know that means other things are going to have to shift in my buckets, but I can't wait for that. I'm also really trying to get more and more involved with public speaking, because I get so much joy from that. Um, I'm always looking for opportunities to read and enjoy having a book that's out and to, like, touch the lives of young children through it. But public speaking as well, because I can hit a wide range of all people. I know everyone technically could say that they're a public speaker, right, but I still think that there's a message that needs to be heard from people and I have one that I'd love to share.
Speaker 3:And then, ultimately, you're going to see me continue to compete in certain things. Me and one of my best friends are going to do a high rocks in December, which is like kind of like a new thing. So I'm going to still find ways to compete. I'm going to say it out loud because I'm going to have to do it at some point. I'm going to do a half marathon. I don't think I have, I don't think I want to do a full, but I've been extending my distance. Now that Bob sleds out, finding a little bit of a release running. I still don't have that runner's high or love it yet, so I'm still still waiting on it, but I'm enjoying hitting new goals. And, wow, I just did a 10 K Like I never thought I could do that really for fun?
Speaker 3:Um, so I I just want to keep challenging myself, I want to keep pursuing goals and things that seem hard and intimidating, and I want to just keep being an inspiration, but a realist, to people as I go through the process and say, hey, you know, I fail more times than not. Here's, here's my honest life. Here's what it looks like trying to balance all these things and sometimes you just you just can't and it's okay to let things go. Um, your job, the things you do, is what you do. It's not who you are. Your purpose is not ingrained in that. And, just like this, just try to continue to uplift other incredible women, learn from each other and just support everyone I possibly can as we navigate this crazy journey of life.
Speaker 2:I love it. I love it. I'd love to see you at the swim the New York city. So so, so, honestly, I will, riley, I'll send you the information about it, cause I could totally see you doing it. I got to see the whole thing this past weekend and it's incredible. I mean literally like the whole city of New York like pulls out the stops to allow this event to happen, like streets get closed down. It was just insane the level of participation and support from the community and then all the passerbys seeing like what are these people in strange t-shirts and short shorts and no shirts? I mean, it was just, it was so cool and I really could totally see you doing it. So I will send you some information about it after the call.
Speaker 2:There's different ways to organize on a team and all kinds of things. I feel like you would be perfect for it. But, with that stated, I just think the world of you. Riley, it was so wonderful talking to you. Mandy Feint, my sister in arms, who went on the uh the seal swim with me she was on there as well Uh, and uh says you're doing a great job and keep going, uh, so absolutely, riley, I just I just think the world of you, as you know. So keep, keep, keep it up and keep in touch with us. I'm sure I'll. I'll probably host you back on another show and maybe a year or two, and we'll see where you are then.
Speaker 3:Yeah, no, as always. Thank you for creating this space for me and for other people. You are such a light and I just thank you for being a leader and mentor to young military members like me and bringing people along with you and uplifting them. I think more people and senior leaders need to emulate the time that you take for others.
Speaker 2:Awesome. Well, thank you, I appreciate it. I love doing this and podcasting is definitely my thing, having a father who is a broadcaster who, by the way, I didn't even play his Welcome to Stories of Service podcast at the beginning, so I'm going to have to just play it really fast. I'm so sorry guys, but post-welcome here, it is just 26 seconds.
Speaker 1:From the moment we're born and lock eyes with our parents. We are inspiring others by showing up as a vessel of service. We not only help others, we help ourselves. Welcome to SOS. Stories of Service hosted by Teresa Carpenter. Hear from ordinary people from all walks of life who have transformed their communities by performing extraordinary work.
Speaker 2:And you are definitely an example of that. So with that, thank you so much. I will meet you backstage to say goodbye, but thank you so much for coming on the Stories of Service podcast. As always, it was a pleasure having you on Riley. All right, guys. That wraps it up for today. It is Tuesday.
Speaker 2:This Thursday I have another podcast because I am a glutton for punishment, or a glutton for having more people on, and decided to have the gentleman who created the Hots and Cots app. So you might not have heard of that, but that is an app where service members can voice their opinions about the dining services or about the housing services through an app, and that app has the attention of our senior leaders. So where the senior leader's attention is is a good thing, and it is definitely a good place for people to voice their concerns with the hope of positive change. So I can't wait to talk to him. He is actually an army veteran, the founder of it, and we're going to get more into his story why he created the app and how it works. So can't wait to talk about it and dive deep. And with that, as I always finish these calls, please take care of yourselves, take care of each other and enjoy the rest of your day. Bye, bye now.