Host: Cliff Van Rickley
Guest: Sally Rejas – 82nd Airborne Combat Veteran, Civil Servant, American Legion Post Commander
Service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off — it evolves.
In the Season 2 premiere of Return to Base, host Cliff Van Rickley sits down with Sally Rejas, an 82nd Airborne combat veteran whose journey spans from growing up in rural Puerto Rico to jumping out of planes with the Army’s tip of the spear, and ultimately becoming a leader for veterans in her community.
Sally shares how resilience shaped her early life, how an Army recruiter “accidentally” recruited the right sister, and what it meant to join the military just before 9/11 changed everything. From Airborne School and deployments to Kuwait and Iraq, to transitioning out as a single mom and rediscovering her identity as a veteran, Sally’s story is about leadership, visibility, and continuing to serve beyond the uniform.
Now a civil servant and the first female commander of her American Legion Post in Richmond Hill, Georgia, Sally is helping reshape what leadership looks like for today’s veteran community — especially for women who often go unseen.
This episode is a powerful reminder: your mission may change, but your purpose doesn’t.
Episode Links
Learn More About the American Legion: https://www.legion.org
Find a Local Post: https://mylegion.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Find-a-Post
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Navy Federal Credit Union proudly supports the military and veteran community — on active duty, in transition, and long after service ends. From banking to home loans and financial education, Navy Federal is here to help you build what’s next.
Visit navyfederal.org to learn more.
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