SOCRS086- Jeff Lodick- "Freedom, Baseball, and Life"

Straight Outta Combat Radio-Honoring Combat Wisdom

Jeffrey Lodick was born in Buffalo, NY. He joined the Army in 1997, a year after graduating high school and enjoyed a 20-year career. Jeffrey was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, Korea, Fort Jackson, SC, Stuttgart, Germany, and MacDill Air Force Base, FL, but had the pleasure of seeing the world! He served as a Squadron Sergeant Major, Operations Sergeant Major, First Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant, and Drill Sergeant. He was a Paratrooper, a Master Rated Jump Master, a Pathfinder and a graduate of the Battle Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Course among other military schools.

He has continued his service by assisting transitioning Service Members as an Associate Instructor for FourBlock and is the host of On The Other Side: Leadership After Transition, a podcast designed specifically to allow experienced Veterans and those who truly want to assist Veterans the ability to provide insight on leadership and the transition process.

In 2002, at the age of 23, Jeffrey was diagnosed with testicular cancer. This was the first time in his life that he realized his mortality and he began to appreciate living. During his time as a Drill Sergeant in 2005 through 2007, he found his passion to help those who truly wanted to help themselves and who were simply asking for guidance. With his passion for life and his desire to teach, coach, and mentor, upon his retirement, he opened Change Your Forecast, LLC, an organization that uses organized sports to teach life and leadership lessons to student athletes at both high school and collegiate level. He is an inspirational speaker, a member of the National Speakers Association, and a member of Toastmasters.

He is married to Alexandria with 4 children, 3 girls and 1 boy ages 14, 12, 4 years, and 10 months.