Ep. 69: Tiffany Zaloudek - Passion, Perseverance, and SERE Training

Passing The Torch with Martin Foster

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Roughly 1.25% of the Air Force hold the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. It’s already a tough milestone to achieve.
Tiffany Zaloudek is someone who did just that and made even more history recently by becoming the first female survival, evasion, resistance, escape (SERE) specialist to earn the rank of Chief Master Sergeant, the highest enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force.

SERE training is one of the most rigorous programs in the military, designed to prepare Airmen for survival in extreme conditions, evading capture, resisting interrogation, and escaping captivity.
Although not the first female SERE specialist, when she earned her beret in 2007, she broke an eight-year dry spell in which no women had graduated from the specialized training course. Reflecting on her initial recruitment, she remembers her recruiter handing her a SERE brochure with no women in it.
Her career is a testament to her dedication, resilience, and impact on SERE training and culture, inspiring countless Airmen.
Tiffany now holds the highest enlisted rank, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of female service members in elite and challenging roles.

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More Amazing Stories:
Episode 41: Lee Ellis – Freeing You From Bond That Make You Insecure
Episode 49: Ryan Hawk – Crafting a Legacy of Leadership
Episode 52: Riley Tejcek – Mission of Empowerment and Endurance

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1. Intro (00:00:00)

2. Why life is great right now (00:01:51)

3. Celebrating Recent Milestone (00:03:13)

4. BIG T Energy (00:06:15)

5. What inspired to pursue her current career and navigating early challenges (00:10:35)

6. Self-Imposed Barriers and holding herself back (00:15:24)

7. Go-To key phrase when taking on tough challenges (00:24:38)

8. How SERE training has evolved over the years and how to keep it relevant (00:27:29)

9. Common misconceptions about SERE training (00:32:44)

10. Who comes to mind when hearing the word resilient (00:37:05)

11. Other than parents, non-military people she considers role models (00:39:12)

12. Something she is world class at that people might not know (00:40:53)

13. Who comes to mind when thinking of a movie image that depicts leadership (00:41:57)

14. Who would play Tiffany in a movie or tv show (00:43:07)

15. Historical figure she most identifies with (00:44:42)

16. Saint Louis food everyone should try (00:45:25)

17. Being remembered in one sentence (00:47:11)

18. GIANT Billboard message for the world to see (00:49:23)