Moral Injury: The invisible wound the VA healthcare system keeps missing – Tango Alpha Lima

Moral Injury: The invisible wound the VA healthcare system keeps missing – Tango Alpha Lima

Author: The American Legion May 5, 2026 Duration: 1:20:40

In 2003, Marine infantryman Ryan Roberts helped recover the remains of 18 comrades killed in the battle of Nasiriyah, many by friendly fire. The next day, his fire team stopped a vehicle at a checkpoint. When he opened the back door, he found two children aged four and six.

He had joined the military to protect the innocent. In doing the right thing, he violated that core value. And no one — not in 17 years of VA care and private treatment — ever gave him the language for what that did to him.

On this episode of Tango Alpha Lima, Roberts and Dr. Lynette Averill, trauma scientist at Baylor College of Medicine, explain why moral injury is not a variant of PTSD. It's a categorically different wound, rooted not in fear but in the violation of values. And the healthcare system has largely been missing it.

Together they discuss what healing actually requires, the promise of emerging psychedelic-assisted therapies, and why peer support and community may be the most critical ingredients the clinical world keeps leaving out.


Also on this episode: the new DoD zero visible mold policy, a tribute to military caregivers for Military Caregiver Month, and resources for those supporting veterans at home.

Your stories. Your service. Your community. This is Tango Alpha Lima.




Learn more about








VA Caregiver support resources

Find an American Legion Service Officer

Task & Purpose: Pentagon issues standards for barracks


Hosted by three veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, the Tango Alpha Lima Podcast from The American Legion is a weekly conversation built on shared experience. Each episode sits down with fellow veterans and influential voices from the military community for discussions that are as substantive as they are engaging. Listeners will hear candid stories about the transition to civilian life, moments of valor, and the ongoing journey toward mental wellness, including frank talk about overcoming PTSD and navigating VA benefits. But this podcast is more than just interviews; it’s a reflection of military camaraderie. The hosts bring a familiar, often humorous dynamic to the table, blending playful joking and vibrant discussion with their takes on current events, interesting trends, and the quirky stories that resonate with those who have served. It’s a mix of heartfelt personal narratives, practical advice, and timely commentary, all delivered with the authenticity only insiders can provide. Tune in for a connection that feels like pulling up a chair with old friends who aren’t afraid to tackle the tough topics or share a laugh about the lighter side of life in and after the uniform.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Tango Alpha Lima Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Best of 2025: Ken Burns previews American Revolution documentary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:15
First up in our Top 6 most impactful guests from 2025, renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns talks about his new documentary film on the American Revolution, his Vietnam War documentary series, his path to a career in…
Miss America Cassie Donegan at Army-Navy Game USAA Media Row [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:11
2026 Miss America Cassie Donegan joined American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast hosts Joe Worley and Adam Marr live at Media Row in Baltimore before the 2025 Army Navy Game presented by USAA. Donegan talks about how her…
MandatoryFunDay and VivaLaVargas live at Army-Navy Game Media Row [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:20
Social media influencers @MandatoryFunday (Austin von Letkemann) and @VivaLaVargas (Johnny Vargas) join American Legion Tango Alpha Lima Podcast hosts Joe Worley and Adam Marr to kick off a day of live interviews from US…
The Fight to Fight: Women Warriors Breaking Barriers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:05
The battle for equality in the U.S. military didn't happen overnight. It took decades of courage, persistence and women who refused to back down. Documentary filmmakers Joy Bronson and Ellen Haring reveal the untold stor…