Ashlee Leppert is an American hero, a Coast Guard veteran who saved dozens of lives during Hurricane Harvey. For her valiant efforts, she was recognized by President Trump during the 2018 State of the Union address.
Leppert has dedicated her life to her country, serving as an aviation electronics technician in the United States Coast Guard. Last year, she rescued dozens of Americans imperiled during the devastating hurricane season. Nothing has left more of a mark on Leppert than her efforts to lift a woman to safety in a helicopter basket. The woman was clutching a few bags of what Ashlee thought were clothes. As she drew the woman near, however, Leppert saw four sets of children’s eyes looking at her as their guardian angel. – Veterans Administration, 2018
Downhill moments
“So when I medically retired out of the military in 2019, I found myself feeling a bit lost in the sense of my identity, because all I knew was that I was Ashley Leppert, the United States Coast Guard helicopter mechanic. That was who I became. But when that title was stripped from me and I began to reinvent myself and who I was, I knew that I needed help and I needed to be in a place that was faith-based that would build me up, and not just spiritually, but on all four pillars to include social, psychological, and spiritual. And the Be Resilient Clinic at SOF Missions did just that. I walked in feeling hopeless and without purpose, and I left after one week feeling resilient, hopeful again, and knowing exactly where my identity was and what my purpose on this planet was.”
Ashlee is now a strong believer in Jesus Christ and is giving back to the military, working with Florida-based SOF Missions, to help combat veteran suicide by mentoring female veterans who have experienced life-changing trauma.
Her own traumas
Ashlee was encouraged by the Christian outreach to help cope with her own past traumas.
“My father became addicted to opioids and my mother was an alcoholic, and so growing up watching that, it is a struggle as a child to see your parents hurting and not know how to fix them or help them.”
“Because, I too, had to deal with my own personal trauma. I lost my best friend Nash in a boating accident. I was assaulted at 19, and so there was my own result. Trauma, just like I watched my parents. Unfortunately, that learned behavior became something I did. I didn't talk about it. I became isolated with my trauma instead of finding ways to heal and because of which I ran, I ran from God. I was sort of angry. How could a loving God allow these things to happen?
But then I came to a point that I'm going to share about in my second book that I'm working on, but I came to a point where God met me right where I was. He met me right where I was, and he opened his arms to me and brought me right back close to him again.” (Her first book)
“Due to what I saw them (my parents) struggle with, it is now my mission to be a voice for them and talk about unresolved trauma. And so that's a part of my mission now, is to share how God is the ultimate restorer in that we can bring our struggles and our trauma to him and he will heal us.”
“This nonprofit is out there saving lives, and I'm included in that group.”
Jesus was Savior, but not Lord
“But I can tell you one specific moment that changed my life. I had made Jesus at 19 my Savior. He gave me my salvation, but I was living a life in which he was not my Lord. So, it started with me being obedient to realize I can't do this on my own. Life is hard, right? If we're living the human experience, we are going to go through struggles. But it came to a point for me in my life where I had to surrender control. I had to allow God into my life to actually begin the healing process and make him not just my Savior, but the Lord of my life. And when I did that and slowly began to learn of his character and his compassion and his grace and mercies, that's when I was really able to face my personal trauma and my pain and get restoration that only God can provide.”
“So I'm turning my trauma and my pain into purpose, and it's so fulfilling and rewarding.”
Ashlee’s role at SOF Missions
“Yes, it is an honorable, honorable position. I work specifically with the females going through clinic mainly because I think it's very important to have a relatable individual that isn't just coming from a place of clinical knowledge, which is great, but I think being able to tell them like, 'Hey, I've been through what you're going through. I know where you're at and how you're feeling.'
So, I have the privilege as the spiritual mentor to be there and just speak life and speak hope into the lives of our broken heroes. These heroes that served our nation, whether it be in the military or in the first responder role, or law enforcement. I mean, they all see trauma and sometimes that's hard to unpack, but we give them a safe place to face some of their darkest moments. And it's not just like, okay, a week, see you later. We're in your life forever. We are there as a layer of support all the time, and it's such a beautiful process to see hope restored.”
In our podcast interview, just below, Ashlee describes her amazing rescue work with the Coast Guard, and emphasizes the reliability of a loving God once you turn to Him. And she shares the powerful help SOF Missions can provide, free of cost.
