Episode 22 - Tanner Yackley: Drone Warfare Veteran, PhD Trauma Researcher, and Military Mental Health Advocate
Tanner Yackley: Drone Warfare Veteran, PhD Trauma Researcher, and Military Mental Health Advocate
In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, I sit down with Tanner Yackley—a former MQ-9 Reaper Sensor Operator and combat instructor with over 3,000 flight hours in remote warfare operations. Today, Tanner is a trauma-informed advocate, PhD researcher, and the founder of Remote Warrior, a groundbreaking initiative supporting drone veterans and intelligence professionals navigating the long-term impacts of Complex PTSD and moral injury.
From his early days flying missions in the Global War on Terror to his current work reshaping how military trauma is understood and treated, Tanner offers a deeply human and technically insightful look into the world of invisible combat zones. With a unique voice at the intersection of tactical experience, psychological research, and systems change, Tanner is leading a new generation of warrior-advocates confronting the unseen costs of war.
In this episode, Tanner shares:
His personal journey from North Dakota to the U.S. Air Force
The critical role drones played in the Global War on Terror
A behind-the-scenes look at how drones are used in modern combat
The often unseen mental health toll of remote warfare on operators
Critical gaps in awareness when it comes to supporting remote warfare veterans
How tools like the Fog of War CPTSD Guide and Panic Packs are reshaping veteran care
Practical ways civilians, clinicians, and policymakers can help close the gap
Plus so much more!
With raw honesty and deep expertise, Tanner sheds light on a warfighting domain that’s often overlooked—but no less consequential. Whether you’re a defense professional, policymaker, mental health provider, or veteran, this conversation will challenge assumptions and ignite action.
Don’t miss this powerful episode with one of today’s most compelling voices in modern warfare.
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About the Guest:
Tanner Yackley is a former MQ-9 Reaper Sensor Operator and combat instructor with over 3,000 flight hours in remote warfare operations. Now a trauma-informed advocate and PhD researcher, Tanner is the founder of Remote Warrior, a mission-driven initiative supporting drone veterans and intelligence professionals living with Complex PTSD and moral injury.
Through his signature tools like the Fog of War CPTSD Guide and Panic Packs, Tanner blends lived experience, psychology, and tactical insight to drive systemic reform in military mental health. His work has reached national platforms and is actively reshaping how trauma in invisible combat zones is understood and treated.
Whether he's speaking to policymakers, clinicians, or fellow veterans, Tanner brings clarity, urgency, and heart to one of the most overlooked crises in modern warfare.
Connect with Tanner:
Remote Warrior Website: https://remotewarrior.carrd.co/
Fog of War and Panic Pack funding:https://Ko-fi.com/reapersshadow
Panic Pack Amazon Wishlist: https://a.co/gC6KLU7