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 Irwin00:01:12 Tristan Irwin's Career00:01:48 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 Memory00:07:05 Sustainability of What's Implemented on Missions00:08:46 How to Get the Locals to Commit to Outreach00:11:08 Lifestyle in an Eastern Bloc Village00;13:04 Establishing a Cleaning Routine to Keep Your Food Safe00:14:01 Civil Affairs Selection/Recruitment Process00:15:53 What Kinds of Cognitive Testing Occurs?00:17:09 What is the Turnout in Selection00:17:57 How to Receive an NTR (Not-to-Return)00:19:17 Qualification Process After Selection00:20:43 Languages Spoken in Moldova00:21:49 Differentiating Factor When You’re on the Cusp of Being Selected 00:23:36 Physical Prep Before and After Selection00:26:38 Pack Weight for the 12 Mile Run00:27:01 Arbitrary Fitness Standards for the Military00:34:22 Military Morale Issues00:36:57 How the Measurement of Something Determines its Success Criteria00:40:26 Tristan’s Valkyrie Project Story00:41:28 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 Valkyrie00:46:26 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received00:48:01 Outro

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