Marine Corps Association Podcasts

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we bring you another installment of World of Wargaming with two gamers who need little introduction: Aidan and Noah Ruble. These two were kind enough to come on (under threat of much tearing of clothes and gnashing of teeth from their father) and give us their review of Not AVery Good Teacher's memory game, Mission Match. Our experts give us their review of the game, discuss the game mechanics and how it is unique from other memory games, and what they like and don't like about it. It was a lot of fun to have these two on the show and to get an assessment of a kids' game from the targeted audience: kids. They do a great job and hope it motivates you to check out Mission Match and see what Not A Very Good Teacher is all about. Enjoy! notaverygoodteacher.com The post #247: World of Wargaming review of Mission Match first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This week, we welcome 1stSgt Chase McGrorty-Hunter back to the scuttlebutt. Chase is a first sergeant with 11th Marines, the first winner of the Modern Day Marine Obj 1 wargaming competition (now known as the Commandant's Cup) and our guest for Episode 200. Clearly, we're fans of this Marine. Chase is here to talk to us about the Marine Corps Association's Tactical Decision Game, or TDG, Competition. This was originally Chase's idea, and as he tells it, the Marine Corps Association was the perfect place to host this competition. We talk about what a TDG is and what it is designed to do, what the competition is and who is eligible (spoiler alert: everyone!), and how a competition like this will enable the critical thinking and imagination we want to foster. This is going to be a fun competition, and we are looking forward to seeing what you all come up with. Enjoy! tdgcomp@mca-marines.org instagram.com/chase_hunter linkedin.com/in/chase-mcgrorty-hunter-2a3ba9ab The post #246: The MCA’s TDG Competition with 1stSgt Chase McGrorty-Hunter first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome Josh Bates to the scuttlebutt. Josh is a retired Marine infantry officer, podcaster, and author of the book, Baghdad Shuffle, a noir crime thriller set in the backdrop of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It goes without saying that this is a genre-bending story. Josh talks to us about his path to the yellow footprints, serving with his dad, the impetus for writing a book that centers on a geopolitical murder mystery, and how his personal experiences in Iraq shaped the plot of Baghdad Shuffle. One topic Josh shares with us is his experience in getting a book “on the shelves” and the current state of publishing. It was really interesting to get his perspectives on veterans entering the literary world. Also, you can check out more of Josh on the Green Door Podcast, where veterans, innovators, and creatives share stories that bind the battlefield, intelligence, industry, innovation, and creativity. Enjoy! linkedin.com/in/josh-bates-8b08a623b doubledagger.ca/the-baghdad-shuffle instagram.com/author_josh_bates instagram.com/green_door_media The post #245: Doing the Baghdad Shuffle with LtCol Josh Bates (Ret.) first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This week, we bring another installment of our new series, Literary Lethality, to the scuttlebutt. In this series, we dive deep into the Commandant's Professional Reading List, exploring various titles and talking with authors about some of the books on the list. Today, we welcome Kacy Tellessen back to the show. Kacy talks to us about E.B. Sledge's quintessential war memoir, With the Old Breed. With the Old Breed has been on the Commandant's Professional Reading List continuously for 14 years and, having his own beautifully written memoir, Freaks of a Feather, Kacy was the perfect person to talk about this book. It was great to hear Kacy's thoughts on the book and to get a deep dive into literary arts by a literary artist. Enjoy! The post #244: Literary Lethality with Kacy Tellessen first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This week, we welcome David Kneiss and Dennis Mannion to the scuttlebutt. David is the director of the films The Gift and The Siege at Khe Sanh, and Dennis is a Marine Vietnam veteran and the subject of The Siege at Khe Sanh. Both The Gift and The Siege are such beautiful films, and David's skill as a filmmaker is evident in his winning the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation's Major Norman Hatch Award for The Gift in 2023 and this year's Sergeant William Genaust Award for The Siege at Khe Sanh. When we heard the award announcement, we knew we wanted to get David in studio, so when he suggested we invite Dennis as well, our collective heads almost exploded. And even with the anticipation, the actual interview exceeded our expectations. What a treat. We talk about the movies, David's vision and how it is that he sees the story in people, David and Dennis' backstory, and Dennis' experiences then and now. But honestly, it's all really good, and I hope you enjoy spending time with these two as we did. Enjoy! youtu.be/88XPMfJ1wfg?si=p3jKGYm5zt5YEBWZ The post #243: The Siege at Khe Sanh with David Kniess and Dennis Mannion first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This week, we bring another installment of our new series, Literary Lethality, to the scuttlebutt. In this series, we dive deep into the Commandant's Professional Reading List, exploring various titles and talking with authors about some of the books on the list. Today, we welcome Max Uriarte to the show. Anyone who joined the Marine Corps post-2010 knows the name. Max is best known for his comic, Terminal Lance, but he is also an author with a book on the CPRL. White Donkey: Terminal Lance is the first and only graphic novel featured on the Commandant's Reading List, a testament to both Max and the Reading List. We talk about his service and his transition to becoming a professional artist, how Terminal Lance came to be, the genesis behind White Donkey, and his thoughts on having the first graphic novel on the CPRL. This is a conversation I've wanted to have since I first laughed my ass off reading three squares in the back of the Marine Corps Times. Enjoy! terminallance.com instagram.com/tlcplmax Tweets by TLCplMax The post #242: Literary Lethality with Max Uriarte first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This week, we bring you another installment of Semper Cinema with our review of the 1970 made-for-TV movie, Tribes. Full disclosure, we chose this movie because we wanted to break the Semper Cinema paradigm and veer a bit off our normal course to go with a movie we knew was less than stellar. And Tribes does not disappoint. Aired as the ABC Movie of the Week, it is basically a boot camp movie, starring Jan Michael Vincent of Airwolf fame and Darren McGavin, probably most famously known for playing the dad in A Christmas Story. And although we have our criticisms, it did well, earning three Emmy Awards and ranking as the #8 boot camp movie by Screen Junkies. Tribes clearly influenced some of the more significant Marine Corps movies of the 80s and 90s, but for us, it mostly influenced us to not recommend portraying Marine Corps boot camp in a made-for-TV format. But as always, we have fun with it. Enjoy! The post #241: Semper Cinema – Tribes first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This week, we're super excited to be welcoming retired MajGen James Lukeman to the scuttlebutt. MajGen Lukeman is President and CEO of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. To go through his entire career would require a multi-episode documentary series, but needless to say, it is a huge honor to have MajGen Lukeman on the show. In this episode, we talk about his upbringing as a Marine son and how, as a chemical engineer, he chose to follow in his father's footsteps to the yellow footprints. We also discuss how the Heritage Foundation supports the National Museum of the Marine Corps and the importance of maintaining pride in the Marine Corps' role in American history. Not only among the ranks, but also to raise the awareness of the public. From sponsoring Major League Baseball Spring Training to the Heritage Foundation Annual Awards Dinner, which will take place this Saturday, April 25th, at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. His authentic passion and love for the Marine Corps are infectious, and we hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as we did. Enjoy! The post  #240: Marine Corps Heritage Foundation with MajGen James Lukeman (Ret) first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This week, we're talking Modern Day Marine 2026, so we brought the MCA's Director of National Military Association Engagement and Expositions, Marta Sullivan, and the Director of Strategy, Plans & Assessment at Headquarters Marine Corps Comms Directorate, LtCol Nick Mannweiler, to the scuttlebutt to talk to us about what's in store for the premier military exposition. From the key leadership engagements and TedTalk-style presentations to the Commandant's Cup wargaming tourney at Objective 1, there's something for everyone. And of course, there'sall the cool stuff. Vendors, large and small, will be presenting their innovations to support Force Design and the Marine Corps' modernization efforts. If that weren'tenough to get you hyped, we'll be there recording live from the showroom floor. Come check us out and say hi! Enjoy! marinemilitaryexpos.com The post #239: Modern Day Marine 2026 first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome August Cole back to the scuttlebutt. August joined us last year at Modern Day Marine in Episode 193 and was kind enough to come on again. Please go back and check that out. For those who missed it, August is the co-author of the books Ghost Fleetand Burn-In, managing partner of Useful Fiction, and a nonresident senior fellow in the Forward Defense practice of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. He was also a journalist for the Wall Street Journal and he talks to us about being a journalist and how his experience informs his fiction writing. We also dive into narrative and the power of storytelling, and how telling stories about what could be helps tell the story of what is. Also, with this being the ten-year anniversary of Ghost Fleet, he shares some insights into how “right” his books are. Enjoy! augustcole.com instagram.com/augustcole useful-fiction.com The post #238: The Power of Narrative with August Cole first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This week, we bring another installment of our new series, Literary Lethality, to the scuttlebutt. In this series, we will be doing a deep dive into the Commandant's Professional Reading List, exploring various titles and talking with authors about some of the books on the list. Today, we welcome Ian Brown back to the show. Ian has been on a few times, participating in our World of Wargaming series and is one of the most prolific advocates for the benefits of wargaming and robust military education. He is also the author of A New Conception of War: John Boyd, the U.S. Marines, and Maneuver Warfare and Snowmobiles and Grand Ideas: John Boyd's Vision for Thriving in Chaos. Ian talks to us about A New Conception of War, the genesis of the project, and what it means to him to have his book on the Commandant's Professional Reading List three years running. And more than anything, why A New Conception of War deserves to be on the Commandant's Professional Reading List. Enjoy! linkedin.com/in/ian-brown-41b2bb94 x.com/ian_tb03 The post #237: Literary Lethality with Ian Brown first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us at the scuttlebutt. This week, the team comes together to form Voltron to recognize this month as the 110th anniversary of the Marine Corps Gazette being in continuous publication. It's no small feat for any publication to continuously be in circulation for this long, especially in this digital age where literary works, particularly those in pulp, are in decline. But the significance of the Gazette goes beyond the dates. Nancy, William, and I talk about some of the significance, in particular the Gazette's role in institutionalizing maneuver warfare. This is a wonderful milestone and it's awesome that the Marine Corps Association continues to provide a forum for the presentation of ideas and professional discourse. Congratulations to the Gazette staff, past and present. Enjoy! The post #236: Celebrating the Gazette’s 110th Anniversary first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome Josh Cannon to the scuttlebutt. Josh is a veteran Marine of OIF and the Director of Research for the Frederick Honors College at the University of Pittsburgh. He is also the author of Fatal Second Helen: A Modern Veteran's Iliad, a book that overlays his experience in combat with the themes of the Iliad. This was a fascinating discussion about what it is that the narrative of the Iliad did for the ancient Greeks, and how it applies to us today, especially those who wear the uniform. We joke about the action heroes of the 80s and 90s and how fun those movies were, but how those stories are infamous for being shallow and for having one-dimensional characters. Josh helps us understand that this tradition is actually prevalent throughout history, with the Iliad in particular (a text written around the 8th century BC) as not only one of the oldest surviving literary works, but possibly the first recorded action story, as it is so similar to the action genre of the Schwarzenegger and Stallone films. Also, we want to recognize that March is the 110th anniversary of the Marine Corps Gazette being in continuous publication. A wonderful milestone and congratulations to the Gazette staff, past and present. Enjoy! veteransiliad.com The post #235: A Modern Veteran’s Iliad with Josh Cannon first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This week, we bring another installment of our new series, Literary Lethality, to the scuttlebutt. In this series, we will be doing a deep dive into the Commandant's Professional Reading List, exploring various titles and talking to different authors about some of the books on the list. Today, Michael Jerome Plunkett was kind enough come on and talk to us about Karl Marlantes' novel, Matterhorn. Matterhorn is on the CPRL as part of the Leadership category, and Michael, as the creator of the PBA Abbate Book Club and host of the LitWar podcast, discusses the aspects of this novel that speak to leadership and decision making, some good and some bad, in life-or-death situations. We also discuss the origins of the novel, which actually started as a memoir written in the 70s, who the intended audience is, what Marlantes is trying to communicate with the book, and some of the takeaways for today's service members. And more than anything, why Matterhorn deserves to be on the Commandant's Professional Reading List. Enjoy! mca-marines.org/commandants-professional-reading-list-leadership/?pg=2 michaeljeromeplunkett.com Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War The post #234: Literary Lethality – Matterhorn with Michael Jerome Plunkett first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This week, we welcome Editor-in-Chief of Leatherneck and Gazette magazines, Col Chris Woodbridge, to the scuttlebutt to talk about the US's military operation in Iran. We recorded this episode on day 10 of the war, knowing that by the time you listen, things may have changed dramatically. But we didn't want to release an episode early in the conflict, given that much of the information, including the actual strategic objectives, was still not publicly known. Now that the campaign is in its second week, we figured we would jump into the fray. Col Woodbridge talks to us about the history of US-Iranian relations and the US's previous involvement in Iran to give us a better idea of how we got here and what the stated objectives of the conflict are. We also touch on what may be next. Hope is not a course of action, but hopefully you take something away from this that helps shape your impressions of what is going on and at least make some sense of the ever-churning new cycle. Enjoy! The post #233: Observation Post – Iran Conflict first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This is an episode that we wanted to do when we first thought up the idea of hosting a podcast, but never really thought we would actually get to do it. This week, it is an honor to welcome the 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen Eric Smith, and the 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, SgtMaj Carlos Ruiz to the scuttlebutt. The Commandant and Sergeant Major talk to us about prioritizing the amphibious ready group and MEUs, their thoughts on what a MEU should like look and the demand signal from the combatant commanders for this capability, how important the quality of life improvement initiatives are to them, their focus on suicide prevention, and the impact seven years of force design has had on the Marine Corps' role in the Joint Force. Also, a huge shout-out to Maj Nick Cline and GySgt Jordan Gilbert for their hard work in making this happen. Enjoy! The post #232: A Conversation with the Commandant and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This week, we welcome Mike LeBlanc to the scuttlebutt. Mike is a veteran Marine ground intelligence officer who is now the co-founder of Foundation, a company that specializes in robotics. He is also the author of the book, What If Anger is the Answer?, due out in June of this year, that touches on the transformational aspects of anger and aggression. Mike talks to us about his journey as Marine ground intel bubba, how he navigated transitioning out of the Marine Corps, and how the lessons and attributes he learned in the Corps have helped him succeed in a world that, on its surface, has nothing to do with the Marine Corps, especially Marine operators. Mike insists that the leadership training he learned in the Marine Corps, especially the way Marines cultivate an aggressive attitude, has made him successful. Mike is all about helping Marines, so please feel free to reach out to him. His email is below. Enjoy! mike@foundation.bot mikejleblanc.com The post #231: What If Anger is the Answer with Mike LeBlanc first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us at the scuttlebutt. This week, we welcome retired Master Gunnery Sergeant Adam Walker back to the show. Adam is on deck to talk with us about the Marine Corps' new E-8 Redesignation pilot program, which gives master sergeants and first sergeants a one-time option to “lat move” between the E-8 designations. Adam helps us understand the career progression for senior enlisted Marines, namely what happens when a gunnery sergeant is promoted, the differences between a first sergeant and master sergeant, how the Marine Corps views its E-8s differently from the other Services, and the significance of this policy change. Talking with Adam is always a lot of fun and super informative. This is a unique opportunity to see behind the curtain on how Marines are promoted and how this program addresses two of the primary things Marines are opposed to: how things are and change. You can also catch more of Adam's wit and insight in his recurring segment, Lessons from the Smoke Pit, in Leatherneck magazine. Shameless plug, but it's definitely worth checking out.   Enjoy! The post #230: Thoughts on the E-8 Redesignation Board Pilot Program with MGySgt Adam Walker (Ret) first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and your continued support. This week, we bring you another installment of Semper Cinema in reviewing the documentary, The Last 600 Meters, detailing the battles of Fallujah and Najaf during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Released last year, The Last 600 Meters chronicles the two deadliest battles of the Iraq War, Najaf in the south against the Shi'a Madhi Militia and Fallujah in the west against Sunni insurgents. Both battles occurred in 2004 and the interviews for this documentary were recorded in 2007. Due to internal issues at PBS, many of which have been revealed to be political, it was shelved until last year. We mention this dynamic in our review, but mainly focus on the specifics of the film, such as the narrative style and cinematic art, and how well the filmmakers used these tools to tell the story. Another controversy surrounding the release of the film is its use of graphic combat footage, including the deaths of US service members, so we also dive into the ethics of depicting graphic imagery and the moral decisions that go into it when trying to be authentic in illustrating the savagery of war. Enjoy! The post #229: Semper Cinema – The Last 600 Meters first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and for your continued support. In Dec of 2025, the Commandant's office released Gen Smith's update to the Commandant's Professional Reading List. In our pursuit of enabling professional development and self-study, throughout 2026, we will be doing a series of deep dives into the CPRL and some of Gen Smith's selections through “Amazon reviews,” sometimes with the help of some of friends of the show and distinguished authors. This week, the editor-in-chief of Leatherneck and Marine Corps Gazette magazines, Col Chris Woodbridge, helps us introduce the series by providing background and history on the Commandant's Professional Reading List, what it is, and the Commandant's office's intent in publishing this list of books. I always thought the CPRL was a staple of the Marine Corps since Gen Lejeune first made intellectual development a focus of combat readiness, so it was really interesting to hear about how the CRPL came to be and how it has evolved. Enjoy! mca-marines.org/commandants-professional-reading-list marines.mil/News/Messages/Messages-Display/Article/4351724/update-to-the-commandants-professional-reading-list-for-fiscal-year-26 The post #228: Introduction to our Commandant’s Professional Reading List Series first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and for your continued support. This week we welcome Peter Cook to the scuttlebutt. Peter is a former Marine turned high school economics teacher and author of the book, Bootleg Heroes. Released last year, the fictional narrative of Bootleg Heroes is inspired and informed by his time serving as a Marine embassy security guard in Ecuador, Spain, and Haiti. Peter talks to us about his experiences in the Marine Corps, how it informs the way he teaches, and how it served as the impetus behind the book. He puts a strong emphasis on literacy, the power of literature, and his passion for education is infectious. Peter dedicates his life to making a difference, and it was great to share insome of that with him. Enjoy! peterdanielcook.com The post #227: Bootleg Heroes and the Power of Literacy with Peter Cook first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in. If you're like me, the news cycle churns at a dizzying pace, and events come and go off the radar like submarines in The Hunt for Red October. To that, the situation in Venezuela is still very fluid and fraught with hazards. Carrier groups remain in the Caribbean, and there are clearly forces still operating in the Pacific near Central and South America. To help us digest all that has transpired in Venezuela and understand the implications, Ben Connable was kind enough to come down and help us conclude our discussion of Operation Absolute Resolve, the military operation in Venezuela to capture President Nicolás Maduro. Ben was recently on in Episode 219 to talk us through the cautionary tale of military intervention in Venezuela, so it only made sense to have him come and give us his thoughts on the raid and to speculate what's next. We also talk through how operational and tactical success doesn't guarantee strategic victory, and what a foreign policy that embraces spheres of influence means to the global community. We made this caveat during our conversation, but it is important to continue to emphasize that none of us are experts on Venezuela, and so we discuss our ideas and theories based on the open-source, unclassified information available at the time, which oftentimes leads to speculation. Enjoy! benconnable.com battleresearchgroup.org The post  #226: Impacts of Military Action in Venezuela with Ben Connable first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and your continued support. This week, we continue our discussion of Operation Absolute Resolve, the military operation in Venezuela to capture President Nicolás Maduro, with the editor-in-chief of the Gazette and Leatherneck Magazine, Col Chris Woodbridge. Whereas last week we dove into the implications of Absolute Resolve for Taiwan and great-power competition in the first island chain, this week we zero in on, what we know, of the Venezuelan military operation. Col Woodbridge discusses the history of Marine Corps operations in Latin and South America, what it means for a military operation to be legal, what may lay ahead for US-Venezuelan relations, and finally what the implications operations like this and those in Iran and Nigeria have on the Marine Corps' Force Design. We made this caveat during our conversation, but it is important to continue to emphasize that at the time of this recording, the situation was still very fluid, and so we discuss our ideas and theories based on the open-source, unclassified information available at the time. Enjoy! The post #225: US military action in Venezuela with Col Chris Woodbridge first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Welcome to 2026 and thank you for listening and your continued support. We hope you all had fun holidays and a safe New Year's Eve celebration. This week, we kick off 2026 with another Strait Talk with Dr. Michael Hunzeker. Earlier this week, the US executed Operation Absolute Resolve, the military operation in Venezuela to capture President Nicolás Maduro. Mike is here to talk to us about the implications this operation has on cross-Strait relations. Being that China just finished its military demonstration/exercise in the Taiwan Strait, named Justice Mission 2025, at the end of last month, what does the unilateral US action in South America signal to our allies and adversaries? Mike also discusses his efforts in establishing the Taiwan Security Monitor, a student-driven initiative using a range of satellite imagery, mapping, and data visualization tools. He has also recently published the book, America’s Taiwan Dilemma: Allies' Reactions and the Stakes for US Reputation, which offers a rigorous open-source analysis of how America's key allies—Japan, South Korea, and Australia—would respond to US intervention or inaction in a Taiwan conflict. It goes without saying that he has been a busy guy so we're really happy that he was able to make some time for us to talk about the ripple effects of recent events. Enjoy! tsm.schar.gmu.edu cambriapress.com/pub.cfm?bid=1182 The post #224: Strait Talk with Dr. Michael Hunzeker first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us. We hope you are having a wonderful holiday season and pray that you will be safe as we enter into the new year. This week, we welcome the founder and executive director of History Flight and honorary Marine, Mark Noah, to the show. This is our last episode of 2025, and we are ending the year on a high note with Mark Noah. Mark talks to us about how he came to start History Flight, its mission's impact not only on the force but on American society, and his feelings on becoming an honorary Marine. Also, we at the MCA know how stressful and challenging the holiday season can be. Mental health challenges and suicide continue to take far too many of our active-duty service members and veterans. We want you to know that you are not alone. If you need help, please ask for it. And if you think of someone you haven't heard from in a while, please reach out to them. You cannot dismiss the power of contacting someone, even in a text, asking how they are doing. Do your comm checks, and if you need help, please reach out. We all want to see you in 2026 and beyond. Semper Fidelis. historyflight.com The post #223: History Flight Founder and Honorary Marine, Mark Noah first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome Michael Jerome Plunkett to the show. Michael is a former machinegunner, EMT, co-founder and executive director of the Literature of War Foundation (with friend of the show, LtCol Tom Schuemann) and host of The LitWar Podcast. He was also a Virginia Center for the Creative Arts Fellow in 2021, was a scholar in the 2024 Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program at the George W. Bush Presidential Center and was a 2025 resident in the Edith Wharton Writing Residency. He also led the PB Abbate Book Club for veterans. And if that wasn't enough, he is the author of the amazing book, Zone Rouge, which was published in September of this year and has received high praise for his beautiful prose. Michael talks to us about his journey from a teenager in New York during 9/11, to stepping on the yellow footprints, to becoming an author. This was such a fun conversation and we totally nerd out on the beauty of good writing and the value veterans bring to the art. We have to get him back on, but we hope you enjoy this episode as much as we do. Enjoy! michaeljeromeplunkett.com instagram.com/michaeljeromeplunkett The post #222: Zone Rouge with Michael Jerome Plunkett first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for hanging out with us. We're excited to have Gunnar Spafford from Toys for Tots back on the show this week. Gunnar first came on the show with John Haehn this spring during Modern Day Marine, and it was great that we had a chance to catch up with him. As we jump into the holiday season with both feet, it's really easy for our focus to turn inward and, whether intentionally or unintentionally, ignore the struggles of those to the left and right of us. Toys for Tots is the balm for our holiday season tunnel vision. One of Toys for Tots' slogans is, “It's more than just a toy,” and having personal experience supporting Toys for Tots, I can say that is totally true. Gunnar talks to us about the ways that a toy is so much more than just a toy, Toys for Tots year-round and disaster-relief initiatives, and ways for both individuals and corporations to give. I can't emphasize enough what an amazing charity organization Toys for Tots is and I'm happy that Gunnar was able to carve out some time during this busy season to come hang out with us to get the word out about Toys for Tots. Also, we at the MCA know how stressful and challenging the holiday season can be. Mental health challenges and suicide continue to take far too many of our active-duty service members and veterans. We want you to know that you are not alone. If you need help, please ask for it. And if you think of someone you haven't heard from in a while, please reach out to them. You cannot dismiss the power of contacting someone, even in a text, asking how they are doing. Do your comm checks, and if you need help, please reach out. We all want to see you in 2026 and beyond. Semper Fidelis. Enjoy! toysfortots.org The post #221: Toys for Tots with Gunnar Spafford first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome Douglas K. Daniel to the show. Douglas is a journalist who served for nearly three decades as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press and teaches journalism at Kansas State University and Ohio University. He is also the author of Kill – Do Not Release: Censored Marine Corps Stories from WWII, which explores the use of censorship in the Marine Corps during WWII. He uncovers a trove of previously classified material withheld from the public because of government and public relations concerns at the time. Douglas talks to us about his background in journalism, how he stumbled on this topic and the existence of combat correspondents, and how he came into this topic by researching various journalists who served as Marine combat correspondents during the war. The book is so interesting, and it is great to hear about the experiences of the Marine combat correspondents and the previously unpublished stories from WWII. Enjoy! fordhampress.com/kill-do-not-release-hb-9781531510398.html The post #220: Marine Corps Censorship and Combat Correspondents with Douglas K. Daniel first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and your continued support. This week, we welcome Ben Connable back to the show. Ben recently co-authored (with Colin P. Clarke) an The post #219: War Against the Cartels with Ben Connable first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and your continued support. This week, we want to start of by saying, Happy 250th Birthday, Marines! As our final, concluding episode of our Road to 250 series, The post #218: Happy 250th Birthday, Marines! first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you joining us and your continued support. This week, we're Catching Up with Old Friends and hanging out with Brian O'Hare again. Depending on your definition The post #217: CUWOF with Brian O'Hare first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continue support. This week, as we recognize the 42nd anniversary of the Beirut bombings, we welcome Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff to The post #216: Remembering Beirut bombings with Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and your continued support. This week, we are joined by Col John Atkinson and SgtMaj Justin LeHew to give us updates on The post #215: Amphibious Tractor Memorial Updates first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for listening and your continued support. This week, we bring you the penultimate episode of our Road to 250 segment, celebrating the Marine Corps' 250th The post #214: Road to 250 – Operation Odyssey Dawn first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome Adam Walker to the show. Adam is the creator of Leatherneck Magazine's newest segment, The post #213: Lessons from the Smoke Pit with Adam Walker first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome a saxophonist from the Marine Corps' President's Own Band, Gunnery Sergeant Connor Mikula. This The post #212: Jam Sesh with the President's Own' saxophonist, GySgt Connor Mikula first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and for your continued support. This week, we welcome Chaplain CDR David Duprey and Dr. Lelia Brady to the show. Chaplain Duprey The post #211: Recognizing Suicide Prevention Awareness Month with Chaplain CDR David Duprey and Dr. Lelia Brady first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for listening and your continued support. This week, we continue our Road to 250 segment, celebrating the Marine Corps' 250th birthday in 2025. Throughout the The post #210: Road to 250/Semper Cinema – Heartbreak Ridge first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in. This week is the conclusion of our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, we were recording from The post #209: MDM 2025 – Toys for Tots first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and for your continued support. This week, we continue with our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, The post #208: MDM 2025 – Homecoming 250 with George Leone first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for listening and your continued support. This week, we continue with our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, we were The post #207: MDM 2025 – Matt Watkins and Operation Headshot first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for listening and your continued support. This week, we continue our Road to 250 segment, celebrating the Marine Corps' 250th birthday in 2025. Throughout the The post #206: Road to 250 – Vietnam War with Leatherneck Legend Paul Thompson first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we continue with our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, we The post #205: MDM 2025 – MCWL Sergeant Major, SgtMaj Christopher Singley first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This week, we continue with our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, The post #204: MDM 2025- GySgt Kevin Harris, SOI-E first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we begin our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, we were The post #203: MDM 2025 – Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation President, Tim Parkhurst first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This week, we welcome Ryan Pavel to the show. Ryan is the CEO of the Warrior-Scholar Project The post #202: Warrior Scholarship and Transitioning into Higher Education with Ryan Pavel first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we continue our Road to 250 segment, celebrating the Marine Corps' 250th birthday in 2025. Throughout The post #201: Road to 250 – WWII Amphibiosity with SgtMaj Justin LeHew first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. Well, here we are, episode 200. We can say with all sincerity that this milestone is as much The post #200: Capturing the Narrative with 1stSgt Chase McGrorty-Hunter first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome Jonathan “JT” Taylor to the show. JT is a retired sergeant, a former scout The post #199: Telling the Scout Sniper story with the President of the Scout Sniper Association, Jonathan “JT” Taylor first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome Brian O'Hare to the show. Using the term “welcome to the show” is a The post #198: Shenanigans with the author of the book Surrender, Brian O'Hare first appeared on Marine Corps Association.

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we continue our Road to 250 segment, celebrating the Marine Corps' 250th birthday in 2025. Over The post #197: Road to 250 – The Interwar Period with Col Chris Woodbridge, USMC (Ret) first appeared on Marine Corps Association.