Welcome back to Warriors Unmasked - The Podcast!

Some stories stay with you long after the mission ends.

After 21 years in the United States Air Force, Derrick Jackson knows what it means to serve, sacrifice, and carry the emotional weight that comes with military life. From working as a jet engine specialist to becoming a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Derrick’s career took him across the world and into situations most people never see.

This conversation dives into the discipline, pressure, and emotional cost of service. Derrick opens up about the guilt he carried as a father while being deployed, the weight of sitting across from people on the worst days of their lives, and the challenge of transitioning out of active duty into civilian life.

He also shares how writing became an unexpected form of healing. Through his debut novel Shadow One, Derrick turned pieces of his military experience into fiction, creating a story that reflects the pressure, doubt, and humanity behind service.

Derrick’s journey is a powerful reminder that healing doesn’t always happen by forgetting what you’ve been through. Sometimes, it begins when you finally give it a voice.

Always in your corner,

Chuck

Guest Bio

Derrick Jackson is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran, former Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and fiction author.

During his 21 years of service, Derrick first worked as a jet engine specialist on aircraft including the F-15 Eagle, C-5 Galaxy, C-141 Stratofortress, and C-17 Globemaster. After 10 years, he was recruited into the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, where he worked in criminal investigations, counterintelligence, protective services, and economic crimes.

His assignments took him across the U.S. and overseas, including work supporting Air Force Special Operations Command missions worldwide. In 2014, Derrick retired from the Air Force after more than two decades of service.

He is now a fiction author and released his debut novel, Shadow One, as part of the Shadow One series in 2024.

You'll hear About

Why Derrick joined the Air Force after making a life-changing decision in seconds
How military discipline shaped his growth and leadership
The emotional cost of serving as a special agent
How guilt affected him as a father during deployments
Why talking, faith, family, and support helped him release pressure
How writing became an unexpected form of therapy after military service

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Episode Introduction
01:15 Meet Derrick Jackson
02:15 Why He Joined the Air Force
04:15 Starting at the Bottom and Learning Discipline
08:00 Climbing the Military Ladder
10:00 Why Your Environment Matters
14:15 The Emotional Cost of Military Service
15:00 Carrying Guilt as a Father
19:00 The Weight of Being a Special Agent
22:30 Finding Support Through Coworkers, Faith, and Family
26:00 How Writing Became Therapy
29:00 Transitioning Out of Active Duty
34:45 The Story Behind the Shadow One Series
40:45 Derrick’s Message for Anyone Carrying Heavy Weight
43:15 Final Reflections and Key Takeaways

Connect with Derrick

Website: DERRICK M JACKSON
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djakz27
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@djakz
Get his book here: Books – Shadow One: Jackson, Derrick M

Chuck’s Challenge:

This week, take one honest step toward releasing something you have been carrying.

Maybe it is guilt. Maybe it is stress from your work. Maybe it is a memory you have tried to push down. Maybe it is a weight you convinced yourself you had to carry alone.

Find one safe way to let some of it out. Talk to someone you trust. Write it down. Pray about it. Sit with yourself and admit what is really going on.

Because as Derrick shared, healing does not happen by burying the weight.

It begins when you are willing to recognize it, give it language, and take one step toward support.

Connect with Chuck

Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-thuss-a9aa044/
Follow on Instagram: @warriorsunmasked

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