Podcasts about honor guard

The latest episode of the Cape Copcast welcomes Property Crimes Unit Detective Jenna Newton, who takes listeners on an eye-opening journey from the high-crime streets of Las Vegas to the canals of Cape Coral. Her story shows the contrasts between policing environments—trading two robberies per night and constant gang surveillance for unlocked garage doors and watchful neighbors.Detective Newton's path wasn't always aimed at investigations. She originally aspired to work in the K9 Unit, but discovered a passion for digging deeper into cases. Now as a property crimes detective, she tackles vehicle burglaries and construction site thefts while educating the community about crime prevention. Her insider perspective on why criminals target Cape Coral—precisely because residents feel safe enough to leave doors unlocked—offers valuable insight for people looking to protect their property.Beyond her detective work, Newton shares what makes the Cape Coral Police Department unique. From her service with the Honor Guard to her famous "joke of the day" that lightens the mood before shifts, you'll get a dose of humanity behind the badge. Her appreciation for Cape Coral's supportive community—where citizens regularly thank officers rather than antagonize them—highlights why she plans to retire in the same city where she serves.Whether you're curious about law enforcement careers, crime prevention, or simply want to understand your local police department better, Detective Newton's candid conversation offers something for everyone. Her message to residents: don't hesitate to report suspicious activity. As she puts it, "It's better to call and have it be nothing than to wish you had called later."

Operation Frequent Wind: Remembering the end of the Vietnam War THE INTERVIEW Air Force veteran Josh White hosts the award-winning podcast Hero Front, which focuses on mental health awareness and resiliency. Josh shares inspiring stories of veterans, authors, entrepreneurs, business leaders and other heroes. The storytelling podcast emerged from White's 20-year military career in the U.S. Air Force in maintenance, medical and military funeral honors. SCUTTLEBUTT If Hooters goes out of business, dining off base will never be the same Not just for Veterans: Medical breakthroughs that began at VA Special Guest: Josh White.

Send us a text and chime in!The Honor Guard at the Ernest A. Love Post 6 American Legion is impressive and dedicated. For 30 years, they have provided support and comfort to the families and friends of deceased veterans. Averaging 300 services and events a year, the honor guard is committed to paying respect and providing the final salute to those who have served their country. The American Legion Honor Guard provides military honors to deceased veterans who would otherwise not receive them, including folding and presenting the flag to survivors, and performing a three-volley gun salute at funerals. The 17-member team here in Prescott, Arizona... For the written story, read here >> https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/an-honor-to-serve-prescotts-post-6-guard/Check out the CAST11.com Website at: https://CAST11.com Follow the CAST11 Podcast Network on Facebook at: https://Facebook.com/CAST11AZFollow Cast11 Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/cast11_podcast_network

Steven Ferguson, Marine Corps veteran and founder of Honorguard Coffee, shares his journey from deployment to navigating the challenges of civilian life. He discusses how his service dog and alternative therapies helped him find healing and purpose. Inspired by his own struggles, Steven created Honorguard Coffee to break down barriers for veterans seeking service dogs and support. By combining entrepreneurship and advocacy, Steven is addressing the veteran suicide crisis and empowering grassroots organizations to make a real difference. This episode highlights resilience, the power of community, and innovative solutions to tackle mental health challenges. 01:00 - Steven's Marine Corps journey and deployments 05:30 - Challenges transitioning to civilian life after a medical retirement 12:00 - Finding healing through a service dog and alternative therapies 20:45 - The birth of Honor Guard Coffee and its mission 30:00 - Supporting grassroots organizations in combating veteran suicide 36:15 - Advice for veterans finding community and purposeLinks & ResourcesVeteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://honorguardcoffee.com Follow Honorguard Coffee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Honorguard-Coffee/61550838926220/ Follow Honorguard Coffee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honorguard_coffee/ Follow Honorguard Coffee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honor-guard-inc Follow Steven Ferguson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sferguson0352/TranscriptView the transcript for this episode.

Send us a textIn this episode of "Passing the Torch," Martin Foster interviews Staff Sergeant Joshua Alvord, a member of the United States Air Force Honor Guard, who serves as a body bearer. Alvord shares his journey in the Air Force, influenced by his family's military background and his personal passion for fitness. He highlights his roles in prestigious ceremonies, including the funerals of former President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter.Throughout the conversation, Alvord discusses his dedication to the Air Force Honor Guard, explaining how he transitioned from a maintenance role to joining the Honor Guard due to his fascination with their mission and precision. He emphasizes the importance of discipline, mental and physical wellness, and the sense of honor in his role. He also shares his involvement in the first United States Air Force Honor Guard Wellness Symposium, aimed at promoting physical and mental fitness among airmen.Additionally, Alvord reflects on the importance of embracing challenges, self-discipline, and how he uses his passion for powerlifting to stay fit and focused. The episode concludes with Alvord advising future service members not to limit themselves and to embrace opportunities. His humility, coupled with his achievements, serves as an inspiring example of carrying the torch of military service and personal excellence forward.Connect with Passing The Torch: Facebook and IG: @torchmartin More Amazing Stories: Episode 41: Lee Ellis – Freeing You From Bond That Make You InsecureEpisode 49: Ryan Hawk – Crafting a Legacy of LeadershipEpisode 52: Riley Tejcek – Mission of Empowerment and Endurance

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Greg Skordas  President Trump’s Inauguration Day is full of events and tradition. One of those traditions is known as the First Honors ceremony, or the “pass in review.” This event involves Honor Guard teams representing each of the military branches. Inside Sources breaks away from our regular show to describe this special event.   

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Greg Skordas  Analysis of President Donald Trump’s inaugural address The United States has a new president today, Donald J. Trump. Shortly after taking the oath of office, he spoke about several executive orders he would sign on Day 1. He also spoke of the need for unity in America and how he plans to “make America great again.” Inside Sources hosts Greg Skordas and Taylor Morgan break down some of the key points from today’s inaugural address and share their political insights.  Rep. Celeste Maloy shares her thoughts on Pres. Trump’s inauguration Utah’s Second Congressional Representative Celeste Maloy (UT-2) was fortunate enough to be at the inauguration, sitting amongst other high-profile leaders within the Capitol rotunda. She says there’s a renewed sense of excitement and dedication because of President Trump returning to office. She joins Inside Sources to discuss more of Inauguration Day.  Reactions to President Trump’s inauguration from Utah political insider When news broke that the inaugural ceremonies would be moving inside the US Capitol, many people who had planned to attend in-person were left in the lurch. Folks from Utah banded together and found a space to watch the ceremony nonetheless. Les Carpenter is the Vice President of The Elephant Club, a fundraising group in Utah’s Republican Party; she joins the show to describe her experiences attending the inauguration.  Hundreds of executive orders to be signed today by President Trump Day 1 of the new Trump presidency is set to see close to 200 executive orders signed by President Trump. Some of these include reinstating TikTok, declaring a national emergency on the Southern Border, and ending DEI policies throughout the federal government. The Inside Sources hosts preview what the new president may do with the stroke of his pen... all before the day is over.  Pres. Trump participates in the First Honors ceremony President Trump’s Inauguration Day is full of events and tradition. One of those traditions is known as the First Honors ceremony, or the “pass in review.” This event involves Honor Guard teams representing each of the military branches. Inside Sources breaks away from our regular show to describe this special event.  Last-minute preemptive pardons issued by outgoing President Biden The focus of today is on the inauguration. But something outgoing President Biden did warranted a discussion by the Inside Sources hosts. Today – just before leaving office – Biden issued several preemptive pardons for members of his family, Dr. Anthony Fauci, members of the Jan. 6th Committee, and many more. KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas explains the motivations for this unconventional move.  Previewing the start of Utah’s Legislative General Session It’s a busy week for the politicos in Utah – the presidential inauguration today and the start of Utah’s Legislative General Session tomorrow. Inside Sources hosts Greg Skordas and Taylor Morgan finish the show by sharing their expectations for the next 45 days.   

Host: Coach Guest: Carolyn Rasmussen Air date: Nov 25, 2024

"They've run hundreds of missions out here, and they're an incredibly nimble group. They create their missions the day before, and then they push out that morning with those missions." - Alex Jarbo, U.S. Marine Corps ‘13 - ‘17 This podcast is a slight departure from the regular SABM Podcast episode because of the hurricanes that have devastated communities in the southeastern U.S. For this episode, we interviewed Alex Jarbo, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, 10X Vets Member, and resident of Asheville, North Carolina – an area that has been heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene. Alex and a team of heroic volunteers are working to help local residents with rescue and reconstruction efforts. In this episode, Alex describes his first-hand experience of what's been happening on the ground and how people are coming together to help. To support their efforts, please consider donating to their GoFundMe campaign. How You Can Help As of this writing, 60 consistent volunteers, who will be up to 100 by this weekend, are running missions to help stranded, isolated, and hurricane-impacted residents in Western North Carolina There is an immediate need of $65,000 that will go towards chainsaws, fuel, and other supplies, with the eventual goal being $1,000,000, which will go into rebuilding roads and bridges in Western North Carolina. The team is doing incredible work. For example, there's an IV bag shortage and they were able to secure 10,000 IV Bags even before FEMA was able to, as FEMA is managing relief in multiple geographical areas impacted by multiple hurricanes. Equip Aerial Recovery Volunteers to Rebuild Western North Carolina After Hurricane Helene GoFundMe  Updates on Instagram As a seasoned expert in the short-term rental industry, Alex Jarbo owns 16 successful properties and founded Open Atlas, an investment and management firm dedicated to developing and acquiring distinctive short-term rentals worldwide. Over the past seven years, Alex has coached over 5,000 students and provided personalized guidance to more than 300 individuals, helping them build thriving vacation rental businesses. He is the lead writer on short-term rentals for BiggerPockets, a real estate investing community, where his blog posts have reached over 500,000 readers in the past year. Alex's ambitious goal is to develop or acquire 1,000 unique micro resort units within the next five years. Prior to his entrepreneurial journey, Alex served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 4.5 years as part of the Honor Guard in Washington, D.C. He holds an MBA specializing in Real Estate Development and is completing a Doctorate in Business with a focus on Leadership. In this episode, we discuss: The unexpected impact of Hurricane Helene on inland areas, such as Asheville, North Carolina, including severe flooding, which has not been seen in over 100 years. The initial lack of communication and awareness about the severity of the storm, including the loss of cell phone reception, and the overwhelmed 911 emergency system. Alex and his wife turning their bed and breakfast property, Engadine Inn and Cabins, into a base for relief operations. The partnership with Aerial Recovery Group, a nonprofit organization specializing in disaster recovery, and how they joined forces to respond to the crisis. How relief efforts have evolved quickly, starting with an initial team of 8-10 volunteers, then 50, and with expectations the team will soon grow to more than 200 people. The diverse range of missions conducted by the relief team, including aerial rescues, road clearing, food and supply delivery, and medical assistance. The involvement of diverse helpers, including ex-special forces personnel, general contractors, electricians, and even local Amish taking horses into areas inaccessible to vehicles. The challenges faced by the local community, such as the collapse of Asheville's water system and the destruction of key infrastructure, including concrete and gravel factories. The fundraising efforts initiated by Alex and his team to support the relief operations, with a goal of raising $1 million. The focus on acquiring essential equipment, like heavy-duty chainsaws and communication gear, to enhance the efficiency of rescue and recovery operations. The potential long-term impact of these private relief efforts, emphasizing speed and flexibility, in responding to community needs. Help Equip Aerial Recovery Volunteers to Rebuild Western North Carolina in the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene GoFundMe  Updates on Instagram Connect with Alex:  LinkedIn Engadine Inns and Cabins If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today. Subscribe and help out the show: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher Leave us a 5-star review! Special thanks to Alex for joining me this week. Until next time! -Scott Mackes, USNA '01

In this episode, the Nurses Uncorked podcast discusses the National Nurses Honor Guard with founder, Julia Godby-Murray. The conversation covers the history of the Nurses Honor Guard, the ceremony they perform at funerals, and the emotional impact it has on families and nurses. The funeral ceremony is to honor and pay tribute to nurses who have passed away. It involves wearing the traditional uniform, carrying a lit lamp, reciting a poem, and performing a final call bell for the nurse to be relieved from their service. The Nurses Honor Guard provides a sense of dignity and respect to the nursing profession and offers healing to both families and nurses. Julia also discusses the growth of the Nurses Honor Guard and how interested individuals can find a group in their area.    Thank you to our Enema Award Sponsor, Happy Bum Co. Please visit https://happybumco.com/ and use promo code NURSESUNCORKED for 15% off your first bundle. Thank you to our sponsor, Stink Balm Odor Blocker! Please visit  https://www.stinkbalmodorblocker.com/  and use promo code UNCORKED15 for 15% off your purchase! Interested in Sponsoring the Show?  Email with the subject NURSES UNCORKED SPONSOR to nursesuncorked@nursesuncorked.com    Help Us Keep This Podcast going and become an official Patron of Nurses Uncorked! Gain early access to episodes, patron only bonus episodes, giveaways and earn the title of becoming either a Wine Cork, Wine Bottle, Decanter Grand Preserve, or even a Vineyard member for exclusive benefits! Benefits also include patron only Zoom parties, newsletters, shout-outs, and much more! https://patron.podbean.com/nursesuncorkedpodcast    Chapters: 00:00 Shout Outs: Kapi'olani Medical Center Nurses & New Patrons! 03:00 Cocktail of the Week 04:00 Introduction Julia Godby-Murray and Nurses Honor Guard Ceremony 07:10 History of the Nurses Honor Guard 09:10 The First Annual National Nurses Honor Guard Coalition Conference 10:00 The Traditional Uniform 12:35 The Ceremony 20:00 Memorable Ceremonies 23:50 Problem of the Week 29:43 Recognition and Achievements 32:40 How to get Involved 34:28 The Significance of the Red Lining in the Cape 38:50 Happy Bum Co. Enema of the Week Award   Cocktail of the Week: Vodka Cran: Add vodka and cranberry juice to taste. Pour over ice.   Interested individuals can find a group in their area by contacting the state coordinator through: https://www.facebook.com/nationalnursehonorguard/  Or email: nnhc2024@gmail.com    Watch a ceremony here: https://youtu.be/LM5bV5J_Sm8?si=CfN7r8Qm-IiU-kFP  Kapi'olani Medical Center Nurses: See you on the strike line! We are fighting for you! The Kapi'olani nurses are represented by the Hawaii Nurses Association: www.Hawaiinurses.org     New episodes of Nurses Uncorked every Tuesday (Monday for patrons!). Help us grow by giving our episodes a download, follow, like the episodes and a 5 ⭐️ star rating!   Please follow Nurses Uncorked at!  https://www.tiktok.com/@nurses.uncorked?_t=8drcDCUWGcN&_r=1 https://instagram.com/nursesuncorked?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA== https://youtube.com/@NursesUncorkedL https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094678265742&mibextid=LQQJ4d You can listen to our podcast at: https://feed.podbean.com/thenurseericarn/feed. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nurses-uncorked/id1698205714 https://spotify.link/8hkSKlKUaDb https://nursesuncorked.com    DISCLAIMER: This Podcast and all related content [published or distributed by or on behalf of Nurse Erica, Nurse Jessica Sites or Nurses Uncorked Podcast is for informational purposes only and may include information that is general in nature and that is not specific to you. Any information or opinions expressed or contained herein are not intended to serve as legal advice, or replace medical advice, nor to diagnose, prescribe or treat any disease, condition, illness or injury, and you should consult the health care professional of your choice regarding all matters concerning your health, including before beginning any exercise, weight loss, or health care program.  If you have, or suspect you may have, a health-care emergency, please contact a qualified health care professional for treatment.   Any information or opinions provided by guest experts or hosts featured within website or on Nurses Uncorked Podcast are their own; not those of Nurse Jessica Sites, Nurse Erica or Nurses Uncorked Company. Accordingly, Nurse Erica, Nurse Jessica Sites and the Company cannot be responsible for any results or consequences or actions you may take based on such information or opinions. All content is the sole property of Nurses Uncorked, LLC. All copyrights are reserved and the exclusive property of Nurses Uncorked, LLC.  

Brig. Gen. Gavin Marks '96 discusses the absolute importance of standards and integrity in leadership, and how a new, more rigorous approach at the Academy will build that in to cadets making them Day-1 leaders. SUMMARY Brigadier General Gavin P. Marks, Commandant of the Air Force Academy, shares his journey from being a young man in Atlanta, Georgia to becoming a pilot and eventually serving as the Commandant. He discusses his experiences at the Air Force Academy, including basic cadet training and the challenges he faced. General Marks emphasizes the importance of perseverance, leaning on support networks, and maintaining high standards in leadership. He also reflects on the impact of the Academy on his personal and professional development. General Gavin Marks reflects on his personal journey and the impact of his wife on his military career. He discusses the importance of being adaptable and humble as a leader and the unique responsibilities of command. He shares his decision to return to the Air Force Academy and the changes he is implementing to better prepare cadets for the challenges of great power competition. General Marks emphasizes the love and passion that the leaders at the Academy have for developing future officers and encourages listeners to continue dreaming big.   OUR FAVORITE QUOTES "How you do anything is how you do everything." "There's always somebody better." "I want to make sure that they feel like they got their money's worth from a military development perspective or military training perspective."  "The leaders at the Air Force Academy, from top to bottom, love deeply, deeply love the institution, and are incredibly passionate about the development of these young men and women into officers in the Air Force and the Space Force." "Continue to dream big. Don't let anyone dissuade you from goals that you have. And as it relates specifically to the Air Force Academy, it is absolutely worth it."   SHARE THIS EPISODE LINKEDIN  |  FACEBOOK   CHAPTERS 00:00:  Introduction and Background 01:53:  Returning to the Air Force Academy 02:52:  Young Gavin Marks: Childhood and Calling to Serve 07:04:  Challenges and Growth in Basic Cadet Training 08:29:  Lessons in Leadership and Perseverance 11:45:  Choosing the Air Force Academy and Pilot Training 15:06:  Reflections on the Academy's Impact 20:52:  Leadership Experiences as a Cadet 23:43:  Lessons in Leadership and Perception 27:55:  Successes and Career Progression 32:35:  Meeting His Wife and Reflecting on Tinker Air Force Base 37:25:  Personal Journey and the Impact of Relationships 57:54:  Changes in the Life of a Cadet 01:05:48:  Challenges and Partnerships 01:09:39:  Rigor and Expectations 01:11:09:  Love and Passion for Developing Future Officers 01:12:34:  The Value and Worth of Attending the Air Force Academy   TAKEAWAYS The importance of perseverance, resilience, and grit in overcoming challenges, especially during difficult experiences like the Air Force Academy. The value of having a strong support network, including family and friends, to help navigate challenging times. The significance of leadership roles and experiences during the Air Force Academy in shaping one's development and future success. The Air Force Academy's focus on evolving its training and development methods to better prepare cadets for the challenges of great power competition. The deep passion and commitment of the Air Force Academy's leadership in developing leaders of character who are ready to serve their country.   ABOUT GEN. MARKS BRIG. GEN. MARKS' BIO Brigadier General Gavin P. Marks is the Commandant of Cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He commands the 4,300-member Cadet Wing and more than 200 Air Force and civilian personnel. He guides military, leadership, character development, Basic Cadet Training and Expeditionary Skills Training for the Air Force Cadet Wing in addition to providing facilities and logistical support.  Brig. Gen. Marks earned his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1996 and his pilot wings from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, in 1998. Brig. Gen. Marks has served as a T-1A instructor pilot (at both the undergraduate and graduate training levels) and flight examiner, an E-3B/C instructor pilot and flight examiner, an Air Force Intern, a staff officer on multiple joint staffs, and has commanded at the squadron and wing levels.  Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Director, Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.   Brig. Gen. Marks is a command pilot with more than 3,400 flying hours in the T-3, T-37, T-1A, E-3B/C/G, RC-135S/U/V, TC-135W, OC-135B, and WC-135C aircraft.   - Copy credit:  AF.MIL   CONNECT WITH GEN. MARKS INSTAGRAM: @‌USAFACOMMANDANT     ABOUT LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP Long Blue Leadership drops every two weeks on Tuesdays and is available on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn + Alexa, Spotify and all your favorite podcast platforms. Search @AirForceGrads on your favorite social channels for Long Blue Leadership news and updates!          FULL TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS Guest:  Brig. Gen. Gavin P. Marks '96  |  Host:  Naviere Walkewicz '99   Naviere Walkewicz 00:01 My guest today is Brig. Gen. Gavin P. Marks, USAFA Class of '96, and currently serving as the commandant of the Air Force Academy. This is his third command position since becoming a member of the Air Force. Gen. Marks was drawn to service as a young man in Atlanta, Georgia, and joined the Junior ROTC program in high school before coming to the Academy in 1992. After he graduated, he became a pilot and flew for 26 years, in addition to continuing his personal and professional development. In 2000, Gen. Marks graduated with distinction from Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. In 2015, he again graduated with distinction from the National War College at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. He has held command positions at the squadron and wing levels. His attachment to the Academy has remained strong, so much so that 20 years ago, he committed to returning and had been working his way back to USAFA when he was called to service, assuming his role as commandant in 2023. Gen. Marks, it is a pleasure. Welcome to Long Blue Leadership. Thank you for being here.   Brig. Gen. Marks 01:03 Thank you very much. It is an honor for me to be here. It really is.   Naviere Walkewicz 01:07 This is an exciting time for us, because especially for me, being a Class of 1999 — “Gold will shine” — I had to get that in there. We go back to Arnold Hall in Basic Cadet Training, when you were the commandant of cadets during Basic Cadet Training for us. So I remember you vividly as your taps from your shoes hit the floor in Arnold Hall. So this is truly a pleasure, sir, thank you.   Brig. Gen. Marks 01:29 It is absolutely surreal to be back, and especially during this period that we're in right now during Basic Cadet Training, and as I interact with basic cadets and the cadre, it's hard not to reminisce about that time. It's hard not to share stories as well. I'm careful that I don't inundate the cadets with my stories of when I was the Basic Cadet Training commander. But it's just it's absolutely wonderful to be back here. Yeah, really is.   Naviere Walkewicz 01:53 Well, we'll get to hear some of those, I think, you know, from your perspective, back then, and also, more recently, as we weave through this podcast. But really excited. And where we like to start is when we go back to young Gavin Marks. So Gen. Marks, tell us about what you were like as a child.   Brig. Gen. Marks 02:08 My mother would tell you that I was precocious, that I was inquisitive. I was very, very talkative as well. So I have an older brother, and we are the sons of two parents that have been married for 55 years, and that's important, because 55 years is a long time, and it taught me the value of being committed. It also taught me the value of what love really looks like, up close and personal as well. I'm from Atlanta, Georgia, as you mentioned, so I'm a product of the South. I am a product of public schools, Baptist churches and Southern upbringing. So, I love sweet tea. I love this disgusting candy called Sugar Babies. And just about anything that you think of with regard to the South, you could probably say that that's pretty accurate as it relates to me and my personality as well. I call everyone ma'am and sir, regardless of rank, just based on my upbringing as well. I really would tell you that I got a calling to serve in the military by virtue of JROTC. I followed my brother into JROTC. We went to different high schools, and he enjoyed it, but it just wasn't his calling. I got involved in it and knew immediately that it was something that I wanted to do. I love shining my shoes. I love shining the brass belt buckle that I had on my trousers. I love marching. I love drill. I did Color Guard. I did Drill Team. It was wonderful for me. It was, I think, the thing that was missing in my life in terms of knowing what my niche was going to be. And so, my professor at that time in that particular JROTC program, I think he saw something in me, and he was the first one to actually bring up a military service academy. Prior to that point, I hadn't heard of anything about West Point or Annapolis or the Air Force Academy at all. And so, I took a trip with my father and we went out to all three and I can't swim, and so Annapolis was pretty difficult for me to wrap my mind around. West Point was too gray. You know, this is a 17-year-old at the time, or a 16-year-old at the time thinking these things. It's like, “Wow, this was really gray and dreary.” No offense to West Point. And then I got to the Air Force Academy, and I remember stepping off the plane and again, coming from Atlanta, Georgia, to see the snow-capped mountains, to immediately be able to feel the difference in the air, I knew that this was the place that I wanted to be. And so, I told my dad right then, as we stepped off the plane, I said, “This is it.” And he said, “What do you know about this place? You haven't even gone here yet.” But I knew, and the rest, as they say, is history.   Naviere Walkewicz 04:48 Wow. So, neither your parents served and your brother was the first kind of introduction to Junior ROTC. What was that like growing up without having that, in Atlanta, not having that military, I guess, presence around you, and you said that's what you learned was missing. But what kind of got you to that point?   Brig. Gen. Marks 05:08 So, I would say, just to be clear, so dad did not have a career in the military, but my father and my uncle both were drafted in Vietnam, and so to that extent, what I would say is, while there wasn't discussions or a lot of military impact in my household, I think, more than anything else, just through watching television, et cetera, there was something about the discipline. There was something about the professionalism. There was something about how revered those that are in service to their nation were in this country that really drew me to the profession of arms. It was just something about the fact that this is a career field. This is a profession that is extremely highly regarded across all facets of life, and I wanted to be a part of it.   Naviere Walkewicz 06:03 So, as a young man in public school, did you find yourself drawn to things, like, I started to think about programs that were like discipline-based, like taekwondo or sports in that manner. Did you have some of those experiences as young man?   Brig. Gen. Marks 06:16 I played — I ran track, following after my brother. My brother thrived in track and field. I followed him, and I absolutely loathed it. I was not athletically inclined, and try as I might, you know, I work out and I try to stay in good shape, but I would not call myself necessarily an athlete of the highest order by any stretch. And so that absolutely was an albatross around my neck coming to the Air Force Academy, especially during basic training, especially during Jacks Valley.   Naviere Walkewicz 06:52 Well, let's talk about that a little bit. Was there a specific instance in Jacks Valley where — because I feel like now you might be able to run circles around some of us.   Brig. Gen. Marks 07:01 Well, I will tell you — so, what I remember a lot about Jacks Valley, I remember the power-line runs. And back then we had the M1 Garand, 11, 12 pounds and we carried it everywhere. And it was heavy. You know, 12 pounds doesn't seem like it's heavy, but it's heavy when you're at port arms, and you're running for miles and miles on end, and the altitude, obviously, is vastly different. Jacks Valley is very dusty. You know, “Jacks Hack” is a thing. And so, all of those things, in aggregate, really caused me a lot of trouble. And so, what I remember is thinking often “I'm not going to make this. This is not going to happen for me,” in terms of graduating out of basic training, because I am falling behind in my runs, et cetera, et cetera. But I made it. I made it.   Naviere Walkewicz 07:56 I love that. And I think for some of our listeners, the key thing, even just in that one was, you know, you didn't give up. You recognized you just had to keep working at it, and you got through it. And you're now serving as a commandant of cadets. So, I feel like there's definitely a story here that talks about you and your grit and your perseverance and everything throughout these years.   Brig. Gen. Marks 08:15 The thing that I took from the Air Force Academy experience probably more than anything else — and there are several things that I took from it — is that this is a an incredibly difficult journey that is made better if you think about it from the perspective of just taking one step at a time every single day. Just show up, just show up, just be present, and that's 80% of it. If you just keep showing up, you are going to be OK. And so that was my mentality: They were going to have to kick me out. I was not going to self-eliminate at all. And so, no matter how slowly I ran back, then they were going to have to kick me out and I was going to keep showing up. The other thing is, I would say this: I had tremendous teammates. Our squad, well, in Jacks Valley, our flight, which became our squadron — we were so close, even back then. And if one of us was falling behind, “Come on, Gavin, let's go. Pick it up.” And that really helped a lot, because you didn't want to let your teammates down.   Naviere Walkewicz 09:22 So, we got a little glimpse of Jacks. So I'm just gonna' dial it back just real quick, back to the point where you said to your dad, “This is it. This is where I'm going.” So, what was that journey like from Junior ROTC to getting into the Academy? Because I think a lot of people want to know what that looked like for you.   Brig. Gen. Marks 09:38 So, I knew that from probably my junior year in high school that I wanted to go into the Air Force or to into the military. I didn't know which branch to be perfectly clear. So I applied to all three service academies. I applied to The Citadel and I applied to VMI and to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Those are all of the ones that I could think of at the time, and the visits helped a lot to crystallize in my mind what I wanted to do. But what really also helped was this fascination with flying. Originally, I wanted to be an astronaut, a dentist, a doctor, an actor, and so many different things when you're growing up, but the idea of flying was really at the forefront of my mind as well. I also knew I wanted to lead. And so, combining those two desires, it made sense to go to the Air Force Academy. And again, I couldn't swim. I tried as much as I possibly could to learn how to swim through the YMCA, et cetera. I'm a product of basic swimming at the Air Force Academy — twice. If I'm being completely candid with you and your listeners, if I could have swam at the time, it is likely that I would have gone to Annapolis, and it is likely that I would have been a Marine, because that is much more, at least in my thinking back then, in line with my personality. Because I am — I will just say the military pillar of the Air Force Academy was, as the young people would say, that's my jam, for sure.   Naviere Walkewicz 11:15 I can see that. While I appreciate that, I can see that. We're so glad that we were able to get you here at the Air Force Academy. So, let's talk about your time at the Academy. You wanted to be an astronaut. You turn the dials toward pilot. Let's talk about what that experience looked like.   Brig. Gen. Marks 11:30 So, the Academy was very, very challenging. What made it challenging primarily was the balance of so many requirements, and that's on purpose. It is rigorous on purpose because the profession of arms requires it, and the nation needs it, it deserves it. I wasn't prepared for it. High school — I wouldn't say high school came easy for me. I would say I did well in high school, and I did well in high school by virtue of cramming and by virtue of instincts. So, I came to the Air Force Academy not really knowing how to study. I didn't know how to prioritize tasks or manage tasks well at all. And the Academy humbled me tremendously.   Naviere Walkewicz Can you share a story about that?   Brig. Gen. Marks Oh, well, I would say this, and the dean, who I know has also been on the Long Blue Leadership podcast as well, she would cringe. So, I never got an F, I'm proud to say, but I certainly am on the team of Ds. I received a D in Aero, and, if I recall, Astro, civil engineering when we had that as a core as well. And that was an incredibly humbling experience for me, because prior to that point, I had never had anything in my career lower than a C in high school or anything like that. And so that kind of thing makes you think, “What am I doing wrong here?” And as you are engaged in that type of introspection, you're still having to get ready for the PFT, and you're still having to get ready for this chemistry test, and you're still having to shine your shoes and get ready for this knowledge test, et cetera, et cetera. And so it was just in my mind, based on my training to that point, not enough time in the day for the reflection that I needed in order to make some changes to my habit pattern. And you're just trying to survive, and you're just showing up every day, one step at a time. So that made it very difficult: the inability for me to study, to not know how to study, the prioritization of tasks. I loved the military piece, and I probably spent more time on that than I should have spent on other things.   My roommates would often comment on the fact that I would be shining my shoes for hours, and I would bypass the need to study until the last minute, until the test came. And that didn't work out very well for me. The other thing I would tell you is this: I wouldn't say that I got homesick, but it was a long way from home. It really was, and so going home really helped to fill my cup back up in terms of just being able to reacclimate with my family and those that were around me — extended family, church, friends, et cetera. It was a long way from home.   I developed a lot of great friends in my squadron. We were in the same squadron all four years, Way of Life committee, gospel choir at the time as well. And then this team of friends that I had on the Cadet Honor Guard as well. What an interesting year that was on the Cadet Honor Guard. But we became incredibly close, and they're still close to this day.   Naviere Walkewicz 14:47 So, I'd like to talk more about the Honor Guard, but before we get there, I think it's important for people to understand that when you find yourself in those tough situations in life and in experiences, how did you pull yourself out of that? You know, you obviously got through. So, something had to change. How did you maneuver that?   Brig. Gen. Marks 15:06 So, I will start by saying this: I talked to my parents a lot, and their support was incredibly helpful for me. They approached it from a different perspective. You know, I learned a lot of great things from both of my parents: hard work, my father's work ethic, my mother and unconditional love and what that truly means. And so, when I'm talking to my parents about the rigors of the Academy experience, my mom would say, “You know, baby you can just quit and come on home and go to Georgia Tech. It's right around the corner, and we'd love to have you, and you don't need this.” And my dad would say, “You better not quit. If you come home, it's for Christmas and you're going back.” And reflecting on both of those comments, my mother was basically saying, “No matter what, we're gonna' love you.” My dad was saying, “No matter what, you can do this, I know you can do it.” And the amalgamation of those emotions and those messages really helped me a lot. It let me know that no matter what, I have support, but I also have the confidence of my parents as well, that leaning on friends is — the friend groups that I talked about as well was really important. And then to a large extent, I would say this: The ability to dig deep inside and pull yourself up even when you are struggling, or even when you are faltering, to be able to show up the next day is really, really important, that grit, that resilience — the thing that we preach to our cadets about now we try to instill in them through the rigors of the Academy experience. It's really important. It's not only important at the Air Force Academy, it's important throughout life, because life obviously throws so many different curveballs your way, right?   Naviere Walkewicz 17:11 I appreciate that you shared that leaning into your support network, not only for their love and their confidence in you, but also it sounds like there was a bit of asking for help and what that was, and so I think that's important for people to hear too. While you are having to pull yourself up, there's no shame in asking for help along the way.   Brig. Gen. Marks 17:27 Not at all. And I would tell you, my mother has so many letters at home and letters that I don't even remember writing during my time at the Air Force Academy, where I was explaining to her different things that were going on that would bring a smile to my face now, because I would be shocked that I would have said these things to my mother or my father in terms of what was taking place and the help that I perhaps needed at the time.   Naviere Walkewicz 17:53 That's great perspective. So, you mentioned Honor Guard, and what an incredible year. I was not part of Honor Guard, but I did appreciate how they helped us stay militarily ready. What was that journey like for you?   Brig. Gen. Marks 18:08 Hard. It was very, very difficult. What I would say is this: So the Cadet Honor Guard attracted me because of the discipline that they had, that they have because of what they represented for the institution as well. These were the cadets that in every formation, carried our nation's flag. These were the cadets that were held up as the example of what a good uniform looked like and what military professionals should strive to look like and resemble and the precision with which they drilled was incredibly impressive to me. And so, when they had an opportunity to showcase what they were about to the fourth-class cadets at the time, so that we could show interest in different clubs, et cetera…   Naviere Walkewicz 19:02 Because you had to try out for honor guard. Is that correct, sir?   Brig. Gen. Marks 19:06 I'm trying to think if I would call it a try-out.   Naviere Walkewicz That's probably not the right word.   Brig. Gen. Marks I think it's probably one of the greatest examples that I can talk to about just showing up, which is to say, “Come one, come all, and there's going to be a lot of physical activity, a lot of running, a lot of drill work, et cetera, all meant to condition you and build your endurance for challenging times when you're in formation, and bad weather and things of that nature, because you know, when you're carrying the nation's flag, it's a no-fail mission, and you can't drop it. And it doesn't matter that it's 20 degrees and 50 knots of wind, you can't drop it.” And so how do I build that into you: the importance of what you're doing means to not only this institution, not only to the Cadet Wing, but to the nation as well? It was a grueling year. It was a hard year. And so I think we started probably with 70-ish fourth-class cadets, and our team ended up at the conclusion at about 16. And that was our team, and that was the team that we carried forth throughout the remainder of our time at the Air Force Academy. And again, I still stay in touch with them to this day. It was a fantastic group of people.   Naviere Walkewicz 20:35 That's incredible. So aside from Honor Guard and some of the time that you spent as a cadet, let's talk about your leadership as a cadet, because you've had multiple positions of leadership.   Brig. Gen. Marks 20:47 So, the two that resonate most with me right now, and that I gained a tremendous amount from — the summer leading into my two-degree year I was the Basic Cadet Training group training non-commissioned officer. That's a mouthful, and so the privilege of being able to, and I'm gonna' use air quotes, “greet” every new appointee as they arrived on the bus to the base of the ramp was given to me, and it was quite an honor. And so, I got to get on the bus and welcome every single basic cadet in the Class of 1998. I will never forget that. And then the next summer, I was the Basic Cadet Training commander, like you were talking about in your earlier comments,   Naviere Walkewicz I definitely recall that.   Brig. Gen. Marks I had a lot of fun, and beyond the fun that you have as cadre during Basic Cadet Training, I had a lot of fun in this regard. As the training NCO, seeing the progress, the development of the basic cadets from I-day, or from that first day of basic training, until the Acceptance Day Parade, if you will, or until we handed them off to the Jacks Valley cadre was something that I really appreciated, because it was very, very noticeable: the changes in drill, the changes in customs and courtesies, the changes in uniform wear, the changes in Mitchell Hall decorum, the changes in how they kept their rooms, et cetera. It was noticeable. And I really appreciated being able to see the fruit of the labor of the cadre. As the BCT commander in so much that you can learn executive-level leadership as a cadet, it taught me a lot about that. So this is the first time that I had an opportunity to conduct my own staff meetings, to build my own staff, to chart a vision, to set objectives, to hold accountable. It taught me a tremendous amount beyond the fun and the great memories of walking across the stage with my taps on during the Fourth of July at A-Hall, which I absolutely still remember to this day, I absolutely remember to this day. But both of those experiences are indelible for me at this point. And I talked to the BCT cadre about them now, because I want them to know that this time that they have is so precious, precious not only because of the memories that they're going to make, but precious because of the impact that they're going to have on these basic cadets. They will remember them forever. They will remember them forever.   Naviere Walkewicz 23:30 Truth. So, I think one of the things that is so unique about that: You said, it was the first time you had the experience of conducting kind of your own operations, or what that looked like, the battle rhythm, the vision. I think a lot of our listeners, you know, they look at you, you're a general, you've been a leader. You know all this. What are some of the things you learned about yourself in that experience that maybe you would share just some lessons in leadership in the early parts of your leadership journey?   Brig. Gen. Marks 23:55 So, I learned very early on, probably as a three degree, that standards really, really matter. It crystallized for me as a probably a three degree, and it just continued to resonate throughout the rest of my career that standards matter greatly in our profession, and perhaps across all walks of life. They matter because of the fact that if we allow someone to not be questioned about meeting standards, we will likely allow further deterioration down the road and erosion down the road, which could lead to catastrophic occurrences. And I've seen it in numerous instances, whether we're talking about accidents, aircraft accidents, whether we're talking about units that have toxic cultures. Because oftentimes it starts with the breadcrumbs that you can walk back to the erosion of standards. There's a line that I love in John Wick. I'm a big John Wick fan. The fourth movie, the bad guy, I don't remember his name, said that his father used to tell him, “How you do anything is how you do everything.” And that is so powerful to me. It is so incredibly powerful. “How you do anything is how you do everything.” I believe that. I truly, truly do. And I learned that for the really, for the first time, as a three degree. I would also tell you perception matters. And I learned that as a firstie as well. How you conduct yourself — as Patton would say, “You're always on parade.” It's important. And if your staff thinks that you are cutting corners here or showing favoritism there, whether that's true or not, it's their reality, and they are going to respond based on how they view their reality, how they view the world in that context. And so, I as a firstie through the experience of the BCT group commander, began to truly pay attention to what perceptions I was perhaps enabling. How about I put it that way? Those are two that come to mind in terms of lessons in leadership that I learned here at the Air Force Academy. When I talk about the idea of building a staff and running a staff meeting, they seem minor. Building the staff was important because it was at that time that I realized that while I may have some things that I'm pretty good at, there are a lot of things that I'm not, and I want to surround myself with people that are good in those areas that I'm not. And so I was very, very deliberate in who I surrounded myself with from a BCT group staff perspective. And then I would also say it's important to, especially when you walk into a group for the first time, to know what you're going to say, to have an agenda for how you want to run things. Because that first impression when you walk in as the leader, as the boss, as the commander, et cetera, it's gonna matter. It is absolutely gonna matter, and you will never have another opportunity to make a good first impression. And so, I could go on and on. I learned a lot from my experiences here in leadership at the Air Force Academy.     Naviere Walkewicz Those are excellent examples.     Brig. Gen. Marks That's why I wanted to come back. While I understood what standards meant and the importance of them as a three degree, I didn't fully put together the impact that the Academy had on me until I was a captain. Leaving here, probably like you and others, I drove away as fast as I could.   Naviere Walkewicz The rear-view mirror…   Brig. Gen. Marks Absolutely, and I told myself that I would never be back here.   Naviere Walkewicz Really?   Brig. Gen. Marks I really did at that time, because enough time hadn't passed to allow me to reconcile all of the wonderful things that had taken place in my development during that four-year period. And it wasn't until I was a captain that I realized that who I was as a function of the Air Force was in large part due to the development that I had received at the Air Force Academy. I credit my parents as well, for sure, but the Air Force Academy, for sure, had a lot to do with that, and I wanted to give that back to other cadets.   Naviere Walkewicz 29:03 Was that in a moment of reflection that you realized that, or was that — did something happen where you were like, “Wow, that's something that I kind of took from the Academy.”? How did you come to that realization?   Brig. Gen. Marks 29:15 I was having — a lot of positive things occurred to me in my career. At that point, I was having a lot of successes, and at some point, I thought about the fact that while certainly I am truly blessed, and certainly there is some luck that plays into that as well, I at some point, through introspection, just kind of look back on the journey that I had gone through from being the knucklehead kid from Atlanta, Georgia, to being this captain in the Air Force, and the metamorphosis that occurred and how that happened. And, so I can only attribute it — some of that, again, is the development over time, when your parents are teaching you things and instilling values and virtue into you, and at the time, when you're a know-it-all teenager, you don't think that it's sinking in, but it does, and it shapes you over time. So, some of it's that, but some of it was the Academy itself. I will tell you this: So, there was a program that I participated in as a junior, I guess, in high school, where I got to come to the Academy for an overnight visit. And I stayed with a cadet, and what I remember about that is this: So I think I stayed two nights. But the first night I went to a pay phone to call a friend, and there was a $20 bill at the top of the pay phone. And so, I went back to the room to tell the cadet, “Hey, somebody left some money there,” and he said, “Don't worry about it. Whoever left it, they'll remember that they left it there, and they'll come back and get it.” And I was bewildered. I was like, I don't understand how that's possible. OK, so the next night, I went to the same pay phone, and it was still there. And I was blown away, and I never forgot that, that this is a place where honor really, really matters. And certainly my parents have integrity, and certainly they, you know, preached and instilled those types of values, but here at the United States Air Force Academy, it was practiced every single day, and it was visibly discernible to me throughout all facets of the Academy experience that undergirding these, you know, push-ups that I was doing and this chemistry test that I was taking, et cetera, was this honor code and these core values that all of us together share. And I just absolutely love that. Reflecting on that over the course of seven years changed my life, truly, for the better.   Naviere Walkewicz 32:15 Thank you for sharing that story. And I actually got chill bumps just thinking about, well, I mean, but you're, right now, you can't think about a lot of places where you can leave something and it's probably still going to be there, or if it was identifiable, it would probably been returned. So, I think that is something we can be so proud of. So, you mentioned, sir, some of your successes. They were kind of, you know, happening outside of the Academy once you'd graduated. Let's talk about what your career looked like and what those successes were.   Brig. Gen. Marks 32:50 So, I was a casual lieutenant. And I guess the claim to fame that I have is that I was Gen. Lorenz's casual lieutenant. So Gen. Lorenz was the commandant immediately after I graduated, went on to become a four-star general, and he is still incredibly active here in the Academy community, and being his casual lieutenant, specifically, his special projects officer, was enlightening in a lot of different ways. Gen. Lorenz is a great leader. He's a unique leader as well. And I learned a lot from being in his space, being in his presence, and seeing how he conducted business. Interestingly enough, when you walk up to the office spaces of the Cadet Wing where my office is, in the hallway is a display of all the previous commandants and their biographies. That was one of my projects as a lieutenant, believe it or not, a long, long, long, long time ago. And so, it gave me an opportunity to be able to research all of the previous commandants to that point and see the commonalities between them as well. So I did that for a little less than a year, and then I went to pilot training. Pilot training was hard. Pilot training was very, very hard. In fact, I came back, if I recall correctly, either in the middle of pilot training or just as I was graduating to talk to the Cadet Wing, the Class of 1998 — one of the classes, '98 or '99 — invited me back to talk at M5.   Naviere Walkewicz I'd like to say it was us.   Brig. Gen. Marks I would like to say it was you all too.   Naviere Walkewicz Can I claim it?   Brig. Gen. Marks And you all gave me the bird, and it was wonderful, and I still have that bird in my office to this day. And I talked about how hard pilot training was, but maybe you'll remember this. I listed the top five hardest things that I've ever done in my life to that point, and I can't remember — I remember No. 1, but I can't remember the exact order, but it was something along the lines of the four-degree year, the entire cadet experience, pilot training, SERE at the time, and my four-degree Honor Guard experience was No. 1 for sure. But all of that to say, just being able to come back to the Academy was a tremendous honor, especially for this silly second, actually, I was a first lieutenant at the time. So went to pilot training and then was selected to be able to stay at pilot training and be an instructor. I went from Columbus to Vance Air Force Base and did that for three years in the T-1, which I absolutely loved. The T-1, that aircraft was probably, if I had the resources, if I was well healed, I would buy myself a T-1 and if I could afford the maintenance. I absolutely love flying that plane and enjoyed my time in AETC. And really, there's nothing special about me. When you enjoy what you're doing and feel like you have a passion for it, oftentimes you're going to do well. I think that's that holds true for just about anybody. I did pretty well in the T-1. After that, I went to an internship at the Pentagon, and so I was there on 9/11 and I got my master's in D.C., left there. After that, I went to Tinker Air Force Base. I did not want to go fly AWACS, and I love AWACS now, but I did not at the time. And I remember when I drove up to the gate for the first time after my year in D.C., and the Security Forces airmen that saw me at the gate asked me, “Are you OK?” just based on the, luckily, based on the look on my face after driving cross country. But what was special about Tinker is that that is where I truly learned, as I would call it, meat-and-potatoes flying, stick-and-rudder flying, no kidding, no thrills and frills. In the AWACS aircraft, you've got to know how to move that jet where you need it to move. You've got to know how to compensate for the aerodynamics of the roto-dome when you're refueling, you've got to know how to fly. And I so it was very enjoyable in that regard, and just being operational was enjoyable. Tinker, though, what I will always credit Tinker for is this: Tinker is where I met my wife.   Naviere Walkewicz 37:15 So I was gonna' ask when the magic happened.   Brig. Gen. Marks 37:19 Yeah, it happened at Tinker. We met through a mutual friend and so, interestingly enough, I always say that the two best decisions I ever made in my entire life, I show on my left and my right hand: my wedding ring on my left, my class ring on my right. Best decisions I've ever made for myself. My wife is retired Air Force 23 years, and she was a first lieutenant, I was a captain. We met through a mutual friend and became friends, and over time, over a period of about a year and a half, we started dating. I asked her to marry me after another year and a half or so, probably a little longer than I should have waited. So, I arrived in 2002, we were married in 2005.   Naviere Walkewicz 37:59 Was her uniform better than yours, sir.   Brig. Gen. Marks 38:05 Oh, goodness, no. So my wife, she will listen to this. My wife would tell you that she has had a wonderful 23-year Air Force journey. Started off with 13 years enlisted time and went to OTS, et cetera. My wife would tell you that I am, I think the term is, I am very “ate up” in terms of the military. Hopefully your listeners know what that means.   Naviere Walkewicz 38:32 Yes.   Brig. Gen. Marks She was not, at all. Not at all. That was not her personality.   Naviere Walkewicz They say opposites attract.   Brig. Gen. Marks 38:35 But I think really, more than anything, what I loved about her, beyond her candor and her honesty, was her compassion as well, her intellect, her ability to be able to see the world in a different way than I saw it — for us to respect each other's opinions about different things, for her difference of a net of opinion, but how she viewed the Air Force and her journey through the Air Force differently than I viewed mine. But we respected each other's nonetheless. And my wife is the reason why I'm still serving and I say that because of this, if my wife was not still in love with this Air Force journey, I would have stopped. I absolutely would have, because being married — and our family is, I hate to say it, is more important to me, truly it is. And so, I would have absolutely stopped. But she loves it. I loathe PCSing. Can't stand it. I'm in a great career field, but my wife loves it, loves the excitement, loves thinking about what's next. And so as long as she's enjoying it, I'm enjoying it too. Yeah, she's my best friend, my best friend for sure. So, we met after that, got married. Fast forward, I left Tinker and went to a Staff assignment in Suffolk, Virginia, stayed there for about three years, went back to the T-1 as a director of operations, a commander in the 99th of Tuskegee Airmen heritage. Then I went to National War College, went to Staff, went back to Tinker, 10 years as the vice wing commander, Offut as the wing commander, back to Staff again, and then here as the commandant.   Naviere Walkewicz 40:32 So, when did the idea trickle back to the mind of, “I want to get back to the Academy?” How did that come into play? Was that just a natural progression of your career? Or how? How does one navigate that?   Brig. Gen. Marks 40:43 So, it was at the time this realization that it had changed me so much and so positively. How can I be a part of another person's just incredible admiration for the experience and appreciation for the experience that they had while they were here? And so, I started investigating becoming an AOC, because at the time, that was where my status in life was in terms of rank, and was the most appropriate, if you will. It just didn't work out for me in terms of the timing.   Naviere Walkewicz 41:24 So, you'd already been looking throughout your career to come back.   Brig. Gen. Marks 41:27 At different points in my career, so about the seven-year point is when I said, “No, I would really like to go back and give back.” And now it's a function of trying to maneuver the timing and all of the other facets that make up an assignment and career progression to try to see how that could work. As an Air Force intern, that counted as my in-residence intermediate developmental education. And so, because of that, I was fast-tracked to staff immediately. And so, timing just didn't work in terms of that intermediate level, getting back to the Academy and making a difference. And so, the next opportunity for me was as a lieutenant colonel, because at that time, our group commanders were group AOCs and they were lieutenant colonels, the opportunity didn't present itself and command of a flying squadron did, and so I absolutely jumped on that with both feet. The idea kind of was off in the back portions of my brain after graduating from command and it didn't come back into the forefront until I got back to the Pentagon because I view the Pentagon as most people do. You know, it's a necessary evil. There is tremendous virtuous work that takes place at the Pentagon. It really is. And I certainly don't mean to poo-poo it. Staff work is important. It's necessary. I wanted to get back into, no kidding, base, desperately. And it had been 27 years-ish to that point. I'd come back for coronavirus. I was working for Gen. Brown and for Secretary Kim. I came back for corona and that was one of the first times that I had been back. And I knew I had to get back here. And interestingly enough, I brought my check to Doolittle Hall. I wanted to be a life member, and I had my $800 check in my pocket. My wife gave me permission, and I was like, “I'm ready.” And I'll never forget this. I don't remember who I talked to, but she said, “Hey, if you wait just a few more months, it'll be free for everybody.”   Naviere Walkewicz Membership for all graduates!   Brig. Gen. Marks I was like, “Sweet!” And then she happened to look at my ring, and she's like, “You got a chip on your ring. Why don't you hand that over to us? Your buying this ring came with a lifetime warranty.” And I was like, “This is unbelievable. This is like, divine intervention. I gotta get back to this place. I love it.” Yeah, I'm so happy to be back here.   Naviere Walkewicz 44:18 That is wonderful. So maybe before we go into arriving back here, kind of some of the surge of what that experience was like — what were some of the leadership nuggets, or the leaders that you worked either under with as peers, those you learned from that worked under you, that you kind of continued to evolve yourself as a leader. What were some of those that shaped you?   Brig. Gen. Marks 44:39 So, I think I will start with my time at Tinker as a flight commander. I think one of the things that I learned then was the importance of being credible in an operational flying squadron. Yeah. Your worth is, especially in a flying squadron, especially as a CGO, your worth is in how well you fly, speaking for pilots in that career field. And so, when you fast forward that to now, what I tell junior officers is this, “As a CGO, your No. 1 objective, your sole objective, is to be a master of your craft. Nothing else really matters. Being a master at your craft is the recipe for success, and if you are not able to do that, it is going to be difficult for you.” So, I learned that at Tinker Air Force Base, I would say, fast forwarding a little bit further to some of my Staff assignments, I would imagine, one of the reasons why I have never been incredibly fond of Staff is because I have — there has never been a good fit for me in terms of the staff assignments that I've been in. I could argue maybe the last one was perhaps, but where I'm going is this: It taught me the need to be able to be adaptable to learn as you go, to be open to learning, and to be humble enough to ask a lot of questions. And I think that that's a tremendous leadership trait to have, to humble yourself to your team, to come in and say, “I don't know everything. I don't know all that you all are doing.” Your stories even, “Please help me to understand. Please teach me.” So Staff, for all of the pains at times, really has developed me to have a better appreciation for that. I would tell you in command, “Oh, my goodness, command is all I ever want to do,” which is both naive and probably a very elementary way of thinking about things I just love command, and command has taught me so much.   Naviere Walkewicz 47:16 What do you love about command?   Brig. Gen. Marks 47:20 So, command is special because there isn't really, not really. There isn't period another position in the military where you are statutorily and regulatorily responsible for mission and people, nothing else. There is no other position in the Department of Defense military like command and to — especially at the unit level, the squadron level — to have such an immediate impact on mission like you are able to, as a squadron commander, and have such a positive impact, direct impact on airmen's lives. It is so incredibly fulfilling. And as you progress and command at higher levels, the direct impact on individuals lives lessens, but the direct impact on mission grows exponentially. I absolutely, not only that, but as you command at higher levels. While the impact, and I probably should have said it this way, the impact that you would have on so many individual airmen's lives' lessons, the impact that you can have on an individual airman's life magnifies based on rank. It is significant also. And I always — one of the things that I tell people all the time is the… it's an oversimplification, but the only reason to have rank is to do good, is to do good things, to make things happen in a positive way that affect positively mission and benefit airmen's lives. That's it. That's all. And if it if rank becomes something different than that for you, you are in the wrong business, or we've given it to the wrong person, if I'm being honest with you.   Naviere Walkewicz 49:11 Thank you for sharing that. So how did you find out that you — how did it work to become the commandant of cadets? Is that something that you're selected for? How did you find out?   Brig. Gen. Marks 49:23 So, I — well for your listeners, there's a dream sheet, if you will. We have a module that we go into and identify things, jobs, positions, perhaps even locations that we think that our skill-set matches up nicely for or that match our family circumstances, and in that module, I talked about the fact that I wanted to be able to give back to the Air Force Academy in this way. And talked about the fact that for 20 years or so, give or take, I have been trying to get back here to be able to have an impact. And I listed some of the things that I felt enabled me to have that type of impact. And then I got a call from the colonel's group or the general officer's group. I can't remember which one, probably general officer's group, that said, “Hey, the superintendent would like to interview you.” And I said, “OK, very good. I look forward to talking to a superintendent.” And what I will tell you is this: It is very difficult to prepare for an interview like that. Number one, you know, in the short amount of time that you're given to prepare for it. And then two, you just really don't know what you're going to be asked. And my knowledge of the Academy was very, very dated, you know, for 27 years ago when I graduated. But I said, “OK, let's go. Let's do it.” And so, I talked to him on the way home from the Pentagon in my car driving home, and we had a really nice conversation. And I remember parking in our driveway, and I remember staying in the driveway for about 15 more minutes as the conversation concluded, and I remember going into the house, and I remember talking to my wife, and I said, “You know, there are probably a number of people that interviewed, and they are, I'm positive, incredibly well suited for the position. There's always somebody better.” That's another great lesson that the Academy taught me, is there's always somebody better. But I said, “I think I feel like that went well. I don't know that I could have given any more to that interview.” Eventually, the superintendent made a decision. The superintendent had to vet that decision through higher levels as well. And eventually you come out on a list and it is announced that this is your next job.     Naviere Walkewicz That's how you found out? You saw the list?   Brig. Gen. Marks So admittedly, you know, birdies are talking to me ahead of time. But at the same time, you are just as a professional, more than anything else that is, that's meant to be private information for just and your family to kind of get your mind wrapped around those types of things. Because, as we've seen over the course of numerous years now, sometimes these lists come out later, and if you were to find out solely by that, that's not a lot of time to house hunt. That's not a lot of time to arrange schools. That's not a lot of time to arrange PCSing, you know, those types of things. So, and in this particular case, I needed to PCS from the Pentagon. I needed to perform a promotion ceremony. I needed to work a change of command ceremony here as well. And so, my wife and I joke, now this last move was the most difficult move we've ever, ever had, because I did all that in 30 days.   Naviere Walkewicz 53:27 Wow, it was a lot, but this was probably one that you were both excited for, not just her.   Brig. Gen. Marks 53:31 Oh, we were. The amount of YouTube videos that we watched in our household about basic training and about the Wings of Blue, just to get our kids excited about this, which is why, I mean — there is no excuse for not knowing what you're walking into at the Air Force Academy, because there are thousands of videos out there. Yeah, and so we were very excited, and the kids were incredibly well educated on what they could expect, everything from the wildlife that's on the installation, to the climate and the altitude, to what cadet life was going to be like. And so, we were really excited. And I remember — and because the kids had never been here at all, my wife and I had taken a trip here early in our marriage, our kids had never seen it and the excitement over the five days of driving was just really, really building up. And so, when we finally were able to see the big white box on the horizon,     Naviere Walkewicz Yes, the chapel-in-the-box.   Brig. Gen. Marks Yeah, when we were able to see that, and I was pointing to it as we were driving, they were just, they were just absolutely bubbling over with excitement. It was amazing.   Naviere Walkewicz 54:34 How did you feel when you saw it?   Brig. Gen. Marks 54:38 Very, very excited. A little overwhelmed. Also, I would tell you, I was really — I was both naive and I was also incredibly humbled and respectful of what I was walking into. Naive in this regard: I felt like, my goodness, I don't know that I've ever been more prepared for a position that I'm walking into than being the commandant of cadets at the Air Force Academy. Because I graduated from here. I surely have to be well prepared and well suited. You know nothing about the inner workings of the Air Force Academy as a cadet. Nothing, nothing. And so, there was so much to learn about governance, not only that — I will tell you this: I had some troubles academically. I never had any run-ins from an honor perspective. I never had any discipline issues, either. And I don't say that to sound self-congratulatory. I say that to show my ignorance, because there were significant gaps in my knowledge and my understanding of how to manage the Cadet Wing, because I had never had any experience with honor, I'd never had any experience with discipline, and so I had to dive into those when I got here and learn that where somebody else might not have had to do that. Very respectful of what I was — the Academy is an incredibly special place. It is also, I don't say this, I don't mean this pejoratively, it is also a lightning rod for attention. There is always attention being drawn to the Air Force Academy and coming into the institution knowing that, it certainly had my attention up front, and I realized also that the opportunity to shape 4,000 cadets and to be able to be the one with a great, amazing team responsible for their military development, their character and leadership development, to ensure that on graduation they had achieved everything that they needed to do in terms of commissioning education to be responsible for their honor education, to be the one that is ultimately overseeing cadet life, it's an awesome, awesome responsibility, and I had a tremendous amount of respect for it when I came into the institution. So overwhelmed in that regard.   Naviere Walkewicz 57:22 I almost could feel through your eyes what you just expressed in coming back and seeing the Academy again and I think this is a wonderful time, because some of us have had the opportunity, whether it's been recent reunions, to hear you speak at reunion briefings, to catch a glimpse of you know, some of the changes or some of the things that you've brought back. Maybe this is an opportunity to share what's Academy life like now, but through the eyes of the commandant. What would you like to share with our listeners?   Brig. Gen. Marks 57:49 So, I would tell you and your listeners that the life of a cadet has changed and is going to change even more. So, I would start much more strategic and talk about this geo-strategically. Being in an era of great power competition, we recognize that because of who our competitor is, because of the advances that they have made, et cetera, it is incredibly important. It's critical for us to rethink how we do just about anything. Rethink how we train, how we develop, how we organize, how we employ force, how we sustain that employment of force, everything. At the Air Force Academy we're in a developmental business and so it's important for us to step back and ask ourselves, with no indictment on the past and the cadets and the lieutenants, rather that we have created and that we have graduated, but right now today, are we doing everything that we can to ensure that the lieutenants that we graduate are ready to lead on Day 1 and win ultimately, should deterrence fail in great power competition? In that deep dive, we have to explore some of the training techniques that we employ here and whether they are applicable on the outside and the force the greater force, or whether they are potentially creating a hazard of negative transfer, we have to ask ourselves whether some of the traditions that we enjoy, or that we have enjoyed here at the United States Air Force Academy, are appropriate for this day and age, send the wrong message, or are potentially harmful in terms of our culture and our climate. Deep diving into all those things, one of the things that I've come to the realization about is this: What I want to be able to do is ensure that a cadet that has graduated — and I know that I won't be here for four years, but assuming that I was — meeting a cadet on I-Day and walking with them through four years, I want to make sure that they feel like they got their money's worth from a military development perspective or military training perspective. And here's what I mean by that: Anecdotally, as I talked to cadets, hundreds of cadets, and talked about their journey at the Air Force Academy, one of the things that I found is that the institution and the curriculum challenged them as a four degree. I think that is universal. But I would also say, and I would imagine, that many of your listeners who are grads would agree that once you were out of your four-degree year, the institution allowed for it to be, if this was your desire, very easy for you to coast militarily, or, dare I say, potentially hide militarily. And I didn't want that. I wanted essentially the same level of rigor that is placed on you academically and the same level of rigor that is placed on you physically and athletically to be placed on you militarily. Said another way, the same sweaty palms that you get in anticipation of your GR are the same sweaty palms that you get in anticipation of your PFT. I want you to have an anticipation of your inspection, or an anticipation of your formation, or an anticipation of your knowledge test, et cetera, throughout your four years. And so, we have evolved our thinking and more importantly, our focus to developing across all four years with the same level of diligence and the same level of rigor that we placed in our fourth-class development. And so the moniker, or the catch phrase, the bumper sticker that we use is that we have transition from a focus on the fourth-class system, to a four-class system, where you can expect, as a rising three degree, or as a rising two degree, to be taught what we need you to do in terms of your military development, expectations and responsibilities, let loose to go practice those things, those supervisory skills, et cetera; assessed on those things, taught warfighting skills as well, that will prepare you for great power competition, et cetera, et cetera. And I can go into a lot more detail, but suffice it to say, this is a significant shift in how we've been operating, and it's a shift for the better, because this is what our nation needs. This is putting us in a better position to be ready on Day 1 to lead and to win on Day 1. So, I'm really excited about it.   Naviere Walkewicz That is exciting. Brig. Gen. Marks We're also bringing some rigor back into expectations about what it means to be a member of the Cadet Wing. So, in other words, we are increasing the number of formations. We are increasing the number of inspections. We are putting our money where our mouth is with respect to the fact that we say and rightly so, that we value character. We are now adding that too as a function of how we assess from a military performance average perspective, how we assess character, because it's so important, it's so critical. There are a lot of changes that are happening for the better, and these changes are going to affect not only the readiness of our cadets, but it's going to affect the culture of our Wing as well in a positive way. It's just going to take some time.   Naviere Walkewicz 1:04:00 That's outstanding. Do you see that trickling up as well into some of the officers that are involved in this, with you, and shaping the cadets — so the AOCs, also your AMTs, and how they're doing that? Is that part of this as well?     Brig. Gen. Marks 1:04:13 It is, and I'll be honest with you, I don't want to be short-sighted or to minimize the impact that the entire institution is going to have. Believe it or not, the touch points that our faculty have, our coaches and staff have, they are abundant, and we would be doing ourselves and our cadets a disservice if all of us in lockstep were — not attacking the problem, but weren't in this together in terms of this development and this approach that we're taking. And so we are. We absolutely are. The dean and I are classmates. We have a tremendous and positive relationship, same with the athletic director and the executive director of Athletics as well. And together we have coffee on a regular basis, and we share ideas and talk about our approaches so that we can together positively impact our cadets. So yes, it is an all-of-USAFA approach and an all-in approach.   Naviere Walkewicz 1:05:22 Absolutely love that. Well, I have two questions. I want to give them to you so you have a chance to think about. The first one being, you know, as a commandant, what keeps you up at night? I think that's something on the minds of our listeners. But then also, would you share maybe, what's something that you're so proud of that's happened since you've been here kind of under your leadership, and maybe something that you're not so proud of? And you can answer those however you'd like.   Brig. Gen. Marks 1:05:48 What keeps me up at night is the resilience of cadets. And let me explain that just a little bit. In no way is that an indictment of a generational thing; this generation of cadets is less. Not at all. It's me talking about human behavior and saying that our program is difficult, it's challenging, and individuals respond in different ways to that, and what keeps me up is an individual feeling like there is no way out. That bothers me a lot. It really, realy, really concerns me a tremendous amount. And so I spend a lot of time talking to our command teams about this and about the need for us to administratively ensure that we are being as efficient as possible when we adjudicate certain matters, because what we don't want to do is leave someone dangling in terms of decision making for months and months on end, because that exacerbates that problem and my concern. In terms of what I am most proud of — so, the jury is still out, but here's what I'll say: I'm very proud of a lot of things. I'm proud of the team we've assembled. I'm proud of the work that is being done at the Staff level. I'm proud of the work that our commanders and our AMTs are doing. Our commanders, our AOCs. I am also very proud of the partnership that we have across the installation. That partnership has enabled us to make a significant change to what is called the schedule of calls, the construct that defines how cadets, day to day, spend their time, essentially. We have made a significant change to it that enables us to provide a more professionalized delivery of commissioning education. It has allowed for us to provide some white space in cadets lives, significant white space. It has allowed for us to build in time for unit fitness. Unit fitness being the operative phrase there, because the unit is so important and developing that cohesion is so important. It ha

Melanie Reynolds is a nurse practitioner, and she organizes the Central Illinois Nurse Honor Guard. She spoke to Community Voices about the service the Nurse Honor Guard provides to nurses who have passed and what life is like for nurses as they care for their patients.

Send us a Text Message.Monologue:Cap Tex TriathlonQuiet VacationingSteve's Real Estate MinuteA Big Mac is $8.00???KOKE FM Big ChangesGuest:Bob Luddy has lived in the Dripping Springs area with his wife and children since 2015. Born in Southern California, Bob has made a career out of pre-hospital EMS and rescue. He has experience as a Field Training Officer, a Rescue Training Officer and member of the Honor Guard, and has held instructor certifications in CPR, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support, Basic Trauma Life Support, and Advanced Trauma Life Support. Bob was a member of Texas Task Force 1 USAR team from 2001 to 2021 where he served as a Swift-water Rescue Specialist, Swift-water Boat Operator, Helicopter Search and Rescue Technician and Water Rescue Squad Leader.Meet your Neighbors! Steve Mallett and Michelle Lewis meet the most interesting people, and discover the places and events that make Dripping Springs, Texas, a Hill Country oasis. Learn why every year, hundreds of people move to this small town just outside of Austin. Every episode features a local resident who's talent and past will make you want to know more about what draws so many unique people to this historical town. From ranchers to engineers, cowboys to entrepreneurs, bankers to bull riders. New episodes weekly.Support the Show. Sponsor: The Real Estate Pro's at The Mallett Integrity Team. Real Estate Done Right! Call them at 512-627-7018. Sponsor: The Lending Pros at Capital Farm Credit. Lending in Texas for over 100 years. Call them at 512-892-4425. Sponsor: M. Elliott Design. Tailored experience. Design as an investment. They can help you design for renovations, new construction or with the right furniture. Call Montana at 512-781-0224. Sponsor: Nomic Power Solutions your trusted partner in Austin for turnkey generator installation, service, and maintenance. Backup generators for your home. Call Cody and Dillon at 512-387-4232 Thanks for listening! Please follow us & leave a review. Apple PodcastsOur Website - Sign up for latest updates.mallettandmichelle@gmail.com

Join us as we pay tribute to fallen veterans, learn about flag folding traditions, and understand the importance of Memorial Day versus Veterans Day.  Joining Ben and Jeff is Kristy Orzechowsky, a Vet 21 Salue Honor Guard and hero. Discover the significance of Taps, the rifle volley, and the role of Vet 21 Honor Guard in honoring our heroes. Find out how you can support and get involved with Vet 21. Let's remember, honor, and support our veterans together. Connect with us on Lancaster Connects.

Join host Japhet De Oliveira for a lively discussion with Terry Johnsson, the Vice President for Community and Mission Integration at Adventist Health Portland, as they discuss his time in the military as part of the President's Honor Guard at the White House, the importance of believing in oneself, and the value of getting out of one's comfort zone.

Join Jim as he sits down with Gregg LaSpisa, President of the Honor Guard, in this engaging episode of Crushing It. From celebrating recent achievements to reflecting on the impact of leadership and family in the financial industry, Greg shares insights into his journey and vision for the future. Tune in for an inspiring conversation filled with wisdom, camaraderie, and a passion for making a difference.

Donna Sherrill and Barb Davis from the Tennessee Nurses Honor Guard are here to talk about the things they do!

Host Luke Barrett is joined by the Incredible Burk Minor, WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER FOUNDATION Co-founder & Executive Director. Burk has been caring for and supporting the wildland community, since the Storm King fire, in Colorado in 1994. Burk is the frontline responder for the Foundation whenever an incident arises. Burk is an expert at crisis management and is counted on by the wildland community for his knowledge, awareness and resources. A master relationship builder, fundraiser and strategist, his influence has created a thriving foundation, excellence among top tier charities and countless awards and recognition. His true colors shine when working with Incident Management teams and the Honor Guard to provide recognition to the fallen and injured. Burk has dedicated thirty plus years in wildland fire and is a voice for the boots on the ground and in the air.

The Coffee Club from Tuesday April 9th, 2024.  Guests include Tom Krabbenhoft and Sarah and Arlin Fischer. https://gardenofhealingfargo.com/

Bryan Landreth has been a pivotal piece of the Simplify movement since before its inception. An ever-present force in our authentic community of faith, Bryan made our work together in Middle Georgia the centerpiece of his adolescent years. After high school graduation, Bryan joined the United States Coast Guard and quickly found himself in the Honor Guard. We tell people Bryan is our very own real-life Forrest Gump! He was assigned to serve at the White House, as well as Washington must-visits such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Oftentimes, you could see Bryan on major news outlets, standing on the White House lawn as the President moved from Air Force One into the Oval Office. Bryan is a faithful husband, a devoted father of two, and an incredible son, brother, and friend, to so many. This episode is straight soul food. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends! #livesimplylovemuch

In Memory of Dallas Police Sgt. Anthony Allen #8098 Today we will tell the listener the story behind the creation of the Dallas Police Honor Guard Unit. Like all great ideas there is a unique story, and this one is no different. I knew this story would be important, so I sought out the person who had a vision that he turned, after years of planning and frustrations, into a reality for the Dallas Police Department. Sgt. Joe Denomy #4081hired on with the Dept. in 1978 and proudly served for 36 years, most of this in Dallas SWAT. After transferring to Tactical in 1985 part of the duties included an Honor guard function. The duty was assigned to Tactical because “We looked good in uniform” Over the next several years attending way to many funerals, I noticed a couple of things.  One Almost every other police department in North Texas had a designated Honor Guard Team. Most importantly we were sending officers to this vital function that had no desire to be there. In January of 2000 he was part of DPD representatives at Ft. Worth Chief Windham's funeral.  At the graveside service all the attending Honor Guard were lined up together.  As Joe looked down the multiple rows of officers, each department there had an Honor Guard patch or designation.  That's when I asked WHY not DPD.  That day started the 6+ years before the team became a reality. Joe will tell the story of how it all started and how he handed off the torch to Chief Foy. Chief Foy will detail how he, a Sgt. at the time, had to rally his troops in the Honor Guard to complete 13 events in 5 days as the City suffered its darkest day in law enforcement history after July 7th, 2016. Sr. Cpl. Reed Higgins, a family services liaison at the time, also joins this documenting of Honor Guard history.   Incidents Discussed: 2000 Funeral of Ft Worth PD Chief Windham July 7th, 2016, shooting in Dallas as 5 officers were murdered by a gunman.

Tom Krabbenoft with the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard is not only a local veteran himself,  but someone who champions for all veterans.  Ensuring their well being and the support they need is provided.  We caught up with Tom recently to chat about a new building project, and how the community can show their support this Giving Hearts Day! 

This episode features Ed Monroe, a Fire Captain with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, who has a rich background and diverse experiences. Born in Texas and raised on Air Force bases around the world, Ed calls Huntington Beach, California his hometown. A graduate in Applied Mathematics from Cal State University Northridge, he balances his demanding career with his role as a husband and father to three children. With 15 years of service in the fire department, Ed's tenure includes significant involvement in a notable critical incident, which he now discusses publicly to bring awareness to mental health issues like PTSD and cumulative traumatic stress within the firefighting community. In addition to his firefighting duties, Ed is actively engaged in advocating for mental health, speaking at various conferences and appearing on podcasts to share his experiences and insights. His expertise extends to incident command, wildland and structure firefighting, HAZMAT, and EMS. Ed's unique contribution also includes the mathematical analysis of firefighting resource effectiveness. His commitment to his peers is further exemplified through his involvement in peer support and the Honor Guard, highlighting his dedication to both his profession and the well-being of his colleagues.

Recorded on 13 February 2023 in cooperation with Ponto In this episode we speak about the military developments in Ukraine over the past twelve moths, the upcoming Russian military offensive, the West's help to Ukraine, and why search for a diplomatic solution needs to start now. Guests: Colonel Markus Reisner of the Austrian Armed Forces is a military expert and a historian. He was repeatedly deployed in conflict zones and spent significant time in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, Chad, Central Africa, and Mali. Markus is one of the most well-known military analysts in Austria commenting on the Russian war in Ukraine. He holds two PhDs from the University of Vienna - in history and in “Interdisciplinary Legal Studies” . He is a commander of the Honor Guard in Vienna, member of the Advisory Committee for Military History of the Scientific Commission at the Austrian Armed Forces, and member of the IIP Advisory board. He is currently serving at the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt. Hannes Swoboda is the President of the International Institute for Peace. He started his career in urban politics in Vienna and was elected to the European Parliament in 1996. There, he served as an MEP for eighteen years, including as the Leader of the Social Democratic Group in the Parliament from 2012 until 2014. He was particularly engaged in foreign, enlargement, and neighborhood policies. Moderation: Marylia Hushcha, researcher at the IIP

The Coffee Club from Tuesday January 9th, 2024.  Guests include Tom Krabbenhoft and your calls and emails. 

Buzz Lechowski, episode 94, began his fire service journey near his childhood home in Chicago and the northwest suburbs in 1994, becoming an EMT and starting on his fire science degree. Having split time in Arizona during his teens, it didn't take long for him to gravitate back west to Sedona. Attending Yavapai College, he started volunteering with the Sedona Fire District and became a career Firefighter/EMT in 1999. Continuing his education, he became a Paramedic in 2000, completed his bachelor's degree in organizational leadership, and a Master's degree in Communication from Arizona State University. While with Sedona Fire, Buzz has progressed through each rank from Firefighter, to Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief, and for nearly four years was the Division Chief of Operations. He is currently the Division Chief of EMS. He has served on the Honor Guard, pipe band, peer-support team, charity board, L3690 E-Board, and dozens of RBO committees while with SFD. He has a love for education and teaching, devotes time to several non-profit organizations including the Arizona Burn Foundation, and is passionate about mental health and wellness for himself, his fellow fire service members, and community. Married for 28 years with five children and now one beautiful granddaughter, he has kept busy away from work growing, chasing, and driving his family for 25 years.  Buzz has a desire to learn, love, and lead others, helping those he encounters thrive in whatever they endeavor. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email!   Our guest can be reached at IG: buzzsawfive11 FB: Buzz Lechowski in:  Buzz (Eric) Lechowski   Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com  

Our guest today, Dan Horgan, embodies a life shaped by a rich tapestry of experiences that span over two decades in the United States Air Force, transitioning seamlessly into diverse roles, from guarding missile fields to tactical missions in the Tactical Air Control Party (TACP). His journey continued into law enforcement, serving as a Baltimore City Police Officer, exploring a spectrum from patrols to engaging in SWAT operations, even involving the unique experience of legally procuring heroin. From there, Dan delved into the intricate domain of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, culminating in his pivotal role as a Site Lead in Afghanistan. Settling in Texas, he found his calling at Black Rifle Coffee Company, contributing significantly to brand awareness, marketing, and social media. Beyond his professional prowess, Dan's diverse interests encompass archery, the great outdoors, and the intricate world of coffee and beer. His advocacy for veterans and authentic brand alignment showcases his resilience, adaptability, and an unyielding pursuit of excellence. Our conversation with Dan unveiled the transformative impact of his experiences, from his Presidential Honor Guard tenure to navigating the challenges of transitioning to civilian life and his evolution into the dynamic realm of marketing starting with joining the black rifle coffee company team and eventually developing his own brand Free Range Texas where he acts as a social media strategist for companies to enhance brand awareness, build trust, and grow revenue for partners. His social media services: https://www.alignable.com/san-antonio-tx/free-range-texas I. Introduction Dan Horgan's story epitomizes resilience and transformation. From his time in the Presidential Honor Guard to a successful marketing career, his journey reflects the power of experience. Dan's diverse journey highlights his military service, transitions, and thriving post-military professional life. II. The Presidential Honor Guard Experience Dan's rigorous training and encounters shaped his discipline. Social media exposure broadened his horizons and led to pivotal moments in his life. Intensive training, social media impact, memorable encounters, and handling challenges defined Dan's time in the Honor Guard. III. Transition to Civilian Life Dan's shift from military to civilian life brought unique challenges. He shares insights into the adaptation process. Dan reflects on his final military day and the challenges he faced transitioning to civilian life. IV. Career Shifts and Black Rifle His tenure at Black Rifle provided insights into hiring practices and the vibrant company culture, showcasing his growth from an assistant to a Marketing Director. Dan's journey within Black Rifle illustrates his growth and commitment, focusing on authentic marketing strategies. V. Leveraging Social Media and AI Transitioning into influencing and utilizing AI marked a transformative phase in Dan's career, emphasizing technology and human connection in marketing. Dan's shift into influencing, insights into AI in marketing, and the use of LinkedIn for networking are highlighted. VI. The Importance of Networking and Professionalism on LinkedIn Dan stresses the balance between professionalism and positivity on LinkedIn, incorporating faith and experience as key factors in online engagement. Emphasizing professionalism, faith, and experience, Dan advocates for a respectable online presence. VII. Embracing Change and Challenges Handling triggers, making meaningful connections, and advocating for veterans to embrace change and nature for healing are key aspects of Dan's experiences. Please join us in welcoming the inspiring Dan Horgan!

You may know her if you've attended an Equitable event in the past few years, but get to know her in a new role as Head of Advisory Partnerships. Kristina Coyle is serving as a key partner to the Honor Guard & National Advisor Forum, by coordinating and facilitating all collaborative projects that these councils create.  

DON FROGMANN – FORMER NAVY SEAL Mann's impressive military biography includes being a decorated combat veteran; Corpsman; SEAL Special Operations Technician; jungle survival, desert survival, and arctic survival instructor; small arms weapons instructor, foreign weapons instructor, armed and unarmed defense tactics, advanced hand-to-hand combat instructor; and Survival, Evade, Resistance and Escape Instructor; in addition to other credentials. Mann is the author of 22 books including the New York Times Best Selling autobiography Inside SEAL Team SIX: My Life and Missions with America's Elite Warriors. When Osama bin Laden was assassinated, the entire world was fascinated by the men who had completed the seemingly impossible mission that had dogged the U.S. government for over a decade. SEAL Team SIX became synonymous with heroism, duty, and justice. Only a handful of the elite men who make up the SEALs, the U.S. Navy's best and bravest, survive the legendary and grueling selection process that leads to SEAL Team SIX, a group so classified it technically does not even exist. There are no better warriors on earth. NAVY VETERAN PERRAULT – HONOR GUARD FOR JFK Gary Lillie's interview with Navy veteran George Perrault. George was part of the honor guard after President Kennedy's assassination who stood over his casket in the Capital Rotunda. More information on www.usfrogmann.com

聽台灣人聊中國和台灣的歷史，台灣國慶日的由來 Listening to Taiwanese talking about the history of China and Taiwan, and the origin of Taiwan's National Day 國慶日 guóqìng rì - National Day 屬於 shǔyú - belong to 日子 rìzi - day, date 朝代 cháodài - dynasty 清朝 Qīngcháo - Qing Dynasty 西化 xīhuà - Westernization 皇帝 huángdì - emperor 末期 mòqī - late period 制度 zhìdù - system 革命 gémìng - revolution 推翻 tuīfān - overthrow 統治 tǒngzhì - rule, govern 打仗 dǎzhàng - to fight, to engage in battle 發動 fādòng - initiate, launch 武昌起義 Wǔchāng qǐyì - Wuchang Uprising 戰爭 zhànzhēng - war 中華民國 Zhōnghuá Mínguó - Republic of China (Taiwan) 共產黨 gòngchǎndǎng - Communist Party 紀念 jìniàn - commemorate 中華人民共和國 Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó - People's Republic of China (China) 成立 chénglì - establish 台灣人怎麼慶祝國慶日? How do Taiwanese people celebrate National Day? 連假 liánjià - consecutive holidays 總統府 zǒngtǒng fǔ - Presidential Office 廣場 guǎngchǎng - square, plaza 升旗典禮 shēngqí diǎnlǐ - flag-raising ceremony 國歌 guógē - national anthem 國旗歌 guóqí gē - national flag song 把...升上去 bǎ...shēng shàng qù - raise... 閱兵典禮 yuèbīng diǎnlǐ - military parade 儀隊表演 yíduì biǎoyǎn - Honor Guard peformance 國慶晚會 guóqìng wǎnhuì - National Day celebration 交響樂 jiāoxiǎng yuè - symphony 煙火秀 yānhuǒ xiù - fireworks show 耍廢 shuǎ fèi - laze around, do nothing Follow me on Instagram: fangfang.chineselearning !

In this episode we talk with Lieutenant Freddie Hayes who according to a reliable source is, pound for pound, the best at just about everything. Of course Freddie himself is the reliable source, but we haven't found any evidence to contradict him yet. Whether it's being locked in a pod alone with 80 inmates or wrangling a poop-covered intake, Freddie can do it all. He leads the Corrections Response Team (CRT) which handles the most dangerous situations in the jail. He also oversees the Honor Guard which stands watch over deputies who perish in the line of duty. And he can sing! But despite all this greatness Freddie is – pound for pound – the most humble and hardworking man you'll meet. Oh, and he's thrown down a challenge: CRT vs SWAT. Will next month's SWAT guest pick up that challenge? Tune in and find out!Email us your questions and suggestions at lets56@pcsonet.comFollow us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubePCSO Website

HEY VETERANS, THE HONOR GUARD NEEDS YOU At some veterans funerals the only people that show up are the Honor Guard to give them a final respectful thank you for their service. The Honor Guard is running out of volunteers and today I've got Dick Hogue and Marty Smith on the show to talk about what it is and how you can join. Find out more here!

                                      Joe Templin is an Author, Founder and Managing Director. He tells us why “Harder is better”; why we should “Be a kid”, that “a strong enough Why, overcomes any How” and much more. Hosted by Robert Hossary.   About Joe Templin Reformed physicist, financial planner, startup founder and autodidactic polymath best described as a Swiss Army Knife, Joe Templin has invested the past two and a half plus decades to helping others reach their financial potential as a planner, trainer, mentor and creator. He has served as a member of NAIFA (the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) on the local, state, and national level, and including three terms on the NAIFA National Young Advisors Team (YAT) Subcommittee and was honored as one of the 2011 Four Under 40. He is a graduate of the Leadership in Life Institute of NAIFA as well as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and is an alum of Johns Hopkins University. Joe earned his CFP as well as his CHARTERED ADVISOR OF PHILANTHROPY, CLU, and ChFC designations and has qualified numerous times for the Million Dollar Round Table. He has been a business columnist for the Albany Times Union, Adviser Today Magazine, The Ballston Journal, and Insurance News Net. Joe earned his Certified Executive Counsellor designation as well as his Master Executive Counsellor in 2021. Joe served as the President of the Castle Alpha Tau Foundation for Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and as the Chapter Advisor, and is currently a Board Member of The Autism Society of the Greater Capital Region. He has been a member of The Ancient Order of Hibernians for over 20 years, and is the Lieutenant of the Honor Guard. Templin is the Managing Director of the Unique Minds Consulting Group, LLC, and is the author of “Every Day Excellence” and co-authored “Do You Want To Make MDRT, Or Not?” with Dr. John Stolk as well as “Choices: Creating a Financial Services Career”. Joe is a Co-Founder and President of The Intro Machine, Inc. an organization dedicated to teaching professionals in a variety of fields how to build an Introduction Based Business. He has spoken all across the US and Canada on ethical business development. In his free time, Joe enjoys running Ragnars (200 ish mile team relay races) ultramarathons and is a champion-level martial artist. He lives in Ballston Spa, New York, with his hooligan boys Danny, Liam, and Colin. They are huge Yankees fans. Lesson 1: The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men Mean Nothing. 03:50 Lesson 2: A Strong Enough Why, Overcomes Any How. 09:16 Lesson 3: Sacrifice Of Myself, To Myself. 12:03 Lesson 4: Harder is Better. 17:24 Lesson 5: See It, then Be It. 22:52 Lesson 6: Bad Day?  Help Someone. 26:49 Lesson 7: Truth is Told Through Jokes 32:38 Lesson 8: Be a Kid. 38:41 Lesson 9: Speak Love, and in Their Language. 42:59 Lesson 10: Have Fun, Don't Die! 48:24

One of the most respected professions deserves a sendoff with fanfare by a nurse honor guard.  We also celebrate nurses and their selfless service to society.Follow us on Facebook | Instagram | Email us at mail@every1dies.orgClick on this link to Rate and Review our podcast!

Don't miss out on the chance to attend this year's Air Force Sergeants Association Summit from August 3-10 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. Join influential leaders like Rian for powerful conversations and life-changing experiences. Coordinate with your leadership to secure your spot and be part of this career and life changing event! https://www.hqafsa.org/summit23.html

From the Henssler Financial Studios this is your news minute on the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast, presented by Engineered Solutions of Georgia. Today is Monday July 17th, and I'm Brian GiffinSeaman Maynuna Hunafa, a resident of Lawrenceville, recently completed a 10-week training program to become a member of the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard. The U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard is the official honor guard of the Navy, based in Washington, D.C., and is responsible for representing the service in various ceremonies. The Guard's members participate in prestigious events such as Presidential inaugurations and arrival ceremonies for foreign officials. Sailors are hand-selected for the Ceremonial Guard during boot camp and undergo rigorous training in military order, discipline, close order drill, and coordination. Hunafa joined the Navy to become stronger and more independent and is proud to serve her country in a role that she finds honorable. Read more on this story at gwinnettdailypost.com. For the Daily Post Podcast I'm Brian Giffinwww.henssler.com   www.esogrepair.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gavin McIlvenna joins Tim on the Centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Gavin is president of the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He had a long and distinguished career in the U.S. Army, but one of the more unique experiences he's had is the time he spent guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery. In this episode, Gavin tells the story behind the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the symbolic and real significance of one of the most hallowed places on American soil. This episode was originally released on June 14th, 2021. https://traffic.libsyn.com/forcedn/shapingopinion/Encore_-_Story_Behind_the_Tomb_of_the_Unknown_Soldier.mp3 There are places throughout the United States where those who've died for their country are remembered with honor and where they remain. Churchyard cemeteries in places like Boston and Philadelphia to honor the Revolutionary War dead. Or battlefield cemeteries like the one in Gettysburg to honor the fallen during the American Civil War. But in America's history, there hadn't been a single place. A dedicated place to pay tribute to those who gave their lives for our freedoms and for the nation. That changed after World War One. After the Great War, France and Great Britain decided to select one of their fallen soldiers to represent all of the dead from World War One. They laid an unknown soldier to rest in an honored place on November 11, 1920, just over 100 years ago. Other nations followed in similar fashion. Portugal, Italy, Belgium. All selected an unknown soldier to receive full military honors and burial at an honored place in those countries. The commanding general of American forces in France at the time was Brigadier General William Connor. He first heard about the French plans to honor their Unknown Solider during the planning phases. He liked the idea and ran it up the chain, only to be rejected by the U.S. Army Chief of Staff, General Payton March. That was in 1919. General March felt the Americans would be able to identify all of their own dead, so there wouldn't be any “unknown soldiers,” and he felt the U.S. had no comparable burial place for a fallen hero that was similar to Westminster Abbey in Great Britain. But on December 20, 1921, U.S. Congressman Hamilton Fish of New York introduced a resolution that called for the return to the country of an unknown American who was killed during World War One. He wanted to bury a soldier who was killed in France, and then make plans for his burial with full military honors in a tomb that would be constructed at Arlington National Cemetery. The tomb was built and is now located at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington Cemetery. On November 11, 1921, the body of an unidentified soldier who was killed in France, was laid to rest. He represents all of the unidentified and missing from World War One. Since that time, an unidentified American service member has been laid to rest at that tomb, with the highest honors, representing World War Two, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. One crypt sits empty to represent all those who remain missing. This year marks the Centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Please Thank Our Sponsors Please remember to thank our sponsors, without whom the Shaping Opinion podcast would not exist.  If you have the need, please support these organizations that have the same taste in podcasts that you do: BlueHost Premium Web Hosting Dell Outlet Overstock Computer Center Philips Hue Smart Home Lighting Links Arlington National Cemetery Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier National Commemoration of the Centennial, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard About this Episode's Guest Gavin McIlvenna Sergeant Major (Retired) Gavin L. McIlvenna is the 11th President of the Society of the Honor Guard,

Have a passion for history? Want to honor those who served? Need a new reenacting "impression?" If you answered yes, then the Gettysburg Guard is for you! More from the Gettysburg Guard here-https://www.instagram.com/thegettysburgguard/Music is graciously provided by Craig Duncan.Our website: https://untoldcivilwar.squarespace.com/Our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMMWxSupport the show:One time donation of any amount here: https://www.paypal.me/supportuntoldCWMonthly payment through Patreon and unlock unique perks!https://www.patreon.com/user?u=51151470&fan_landing=truThis show is made possible by the support of our sponsors:The Badge MakerProudly carrying affordable, USA made products for reenactors, living history interpreters, and lovers of history.Civil War TrailsThe world's largest 'Open Air Museum' offering over 1,350 sites across six states. Paddle to Frederick Douglass's birthplace, follow the Gettysburg Campaign turn-by-turn in your car, or hike to mountain tops where long forgotten earthworks and artillery positions await you.Military Images MagazineAmerica's only magazine dedicated solely to the study of portrait photographs of Civil War soldiers.The Excelsior BrigadeDealers in FINE CIVIL WAR MEMORABILIA.The goal of the "Brigade" is to offer high quality, original items while ensuring the best in service and customer satisfaction.HistoryFixCome enjoy history! Explore stories from the Middle Ages to the early 21st century. Enjoy historical video content always ad free and get a 7-day free trial as you explore our site.1863 DesignsAre you looking for Civil War themed graphic design, logo design, historical art and or hand drawn art? Look no further than 1863 Designs. Use the code, “UNTOLD” for 15% off your purchase!POLR-Path of Least Resistance POLR is dedicated to bring service members together to help facilitate programing that will bring the community together.Support the show

This Memorial Day weekend, Chuck and Sam are honored to speak with Sergeant First Class Shane Vincent. Shane joined the Army in 2008 and was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Regiment, more commonly known as The Old Guard, where he became a Sentinel of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He joins Breaking Battlegrounds this weekend to share his experiences in honoring the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation. -On March 4, 1921, Congress approved a resolution providing for the burial of an unidentified American soldier, following the custom adopted by other allied countries after World War I. The site was to be the plaza of Arlington National Cemetery's Memorial Amphitheater, which had been dedicated the previous year.On Memorial Day, 1921, an unknown was exhumed from each of four cemeteries in France. The remains were placed in identical caskets and assembled at Chalon sur Marne.On October 24, Army Sergeant Edward F. Younger, wounded in combat and highly decorated for valor, selected the unknown soldier for World War 1 by placing a spray of white roses on one of the caskets. Those remaining were interred in the Meuse Argonne Cemetery, France. The Unknown Soldier then returned home to the U.S. to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda until Armistice Day. On November 11, 1921, President Warren G. Harding officiated at the interment ceremonies at the Amphitheater.The monument which rests on top of the Unknown grave is a sarcophagus simple but impressive in its dimensions. Its austere, flat-faced form is relieved at the corners and along the sides by neo-classic pilasters, or columns, set unto the surface.Sculpted into the panel which faces Washington are the three figures of Valor, Victory, and Peace. On the plaza face the words "Here Rests in Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God".On August 3, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill to select and pay tribute to the Unknown Soldiers of World War II and Korea on Memorial Day 1958. The World War II Unknown was selected from 19 remains exhumed from military cemeteries in Hawaii, Europe, and the Philippines.Two Unknowns from World War II, one from the European Theatre and one from the Pacific Theatre, were placed in identical caskets and taken aboard the U.S.S. Canberra, a guided missile cruiser resting off the Virginia capes. Hospital Man First Class William R. Charette, then the Navy's only active duty Medal of Honor recipient, selected the Unknown Soldier of World War II. The remaining casket received a burial at sea.Four unknown Americans who had lost their lives in Korea were disinterred from the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. Master sergeant Ned Lyle, U.S. Army made the final selection. Both the caskets arrived in Washington on May 28, 1958 where they lay in the Capital Rotunda until May 30.That morning they were carried on caissons to Arlington National Cemetery. President Eisenhower awarded each the Medal of Honor and the Unknowns were interred in the Plaza beside their comrade of World War 1.Twenty six years later, on Memorial Day, May 28, 1984, after a search made difficult because of advances in technologies used to identify the remains of unknown soldiers, President Ronald Reagan presided over the interment ceremony for the Vietnam Unknown service member. Like his predecessors, he was laid to rest in the plaza of the Tomb during a ceremony that received national coverage.Originally a civilian watchman was responsible for the security of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Then, March 24, 1926, a military guard from the Washington Provisional Brigade (forerunner of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington) was established during the day-light hours. In 1948 the 3d U.S. Infantry "The Old Guard" assumed the post following the units reactivation in the nation's capital. Members of the 3d Infantry's Honor Guard continue to serve in this distinguished duty today.A soldier seeking the honor of serving as a sentinel at the Tomb must possess exemplary qualities, to include American citizenship, a spotless record, and impeccable military bearing.While on duty the sentinel crosses a 63-foot rubber surfaced walkway in exactly 21 steps. He then faces the Tomb for 21 seconds, turns again, and pauses an additional 21 seconds before retracing his steps. The 21 is symbolic of the highest salute accorded to dignitaries in military and state ceremonies.As a gesture against intrusion on their post, the sentinel always bears his weapon away from the Tomb.Only under exceptional circumstances may the guard speak or alter his silent, measured tour of duty. He will issue a warning if anyone attempts to enter the restricted area around the Tomb, but first will halt and bring his rifle to port arms.The Guard wears the Army Dress Blue Uniform, reminiscent of the color and style worn by soldiers during the late 1800's. Tomb Guards are privileged to wear the Tomb Identification Badge on the right breast pocket. The design is an inverted open laurel wreath surrounding a representation of the front elevation of the Tomb. The words "Honor Guard" are engraved at the base of the badge. A guard leaving after at least nine months of service is entitled to wear the badge as a permanent part of the uniform.-Connect with us:www.breakingbattlegrounds.voteTwitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_BattleFacebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegroundsInstagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegroundsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com

Finding Light in the Shadows: A Gripping Journey of Loss, Unyielding Resilience, and Profound Grit w/Kate Hewlett - Part 2/3" Episode found on HeroFrontPodcast.com or any music streaming app (search HeroFront) Content Warning: Suicide/Mental Health Challenges: Please be aware that this episode discusses the sensitive topic of suicide. It explores the profound impact of suicide on individuals, focusing on a woman who lost a fellow student to suicide and the subsequent emotional challenges, grief, and healing process. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health issues, please reach out to a mental health professional or helpline. Your well-being is important to us. If this topic is difficult for you, feel free to skip this episode. Thank you for understanding. Episode Description: Join us for a deeply introspective part two of our trilogy as we delve into the life of an extraordinary woman who found herself in a position of authority, leading a vibrant class of students. But when tragedy strikes and one of her beloved students falls victim to suicide, her world is turned upside down. In this raw and poignant conversation, we explore the profound effects of this loss on her and the entire team, unmasking the complexities and challenges that arise in the wake of such a heartbreaking event. From grappling with grief to finding strength amidst doubt, our guest shares her personal journey through the shadows, shedding light on the often-overlooked struggles and reminding us of the resilience of the human spirit. This episode serves as a powerful reminder that even in the darkest times, there is hope and healing waiting to be discovered. 0:00 - Intro 3:00 - Life and lessons on leadership as a prior enlisted-spouse 10:50 - Applying to OTS - husband's selection and Kate's rejection 19:20 - Faith restored 22:22 - Fighting for selection 25:20 - Appreciation for God's plan 26:19 - Being an MC-130P Combat Shadow Navigator 30:36 - Applying to pilot training 31:43 - Returning to the AFSOC mission as an MC-130J Commando II Pilot 33:18 - Epic Winging Story 41:55 - Being the Senior Ranking Officer at Pilot Training 49:36 - Weather Test and Dollar Rides 52:51 - Remembering Ben 1:10:24 - The strength of showing emotion 1:22:50 - Honor Guard and Military Honors 1:30:24 - The darkness of mental illness and turmoil 1:33:00 - Next week's episode This is an inspiring podcast series that chronicles the extraordinary life story of Major Kate Hewlett, a pilot in the United States Air Force who defied the odds and overcame numerous challenges to achieve her dreams. This is a three-part series with this being 2/3. Part one was released on 17 May and part three will release on 31 May. In each episode, Major Hewlett shares captivating anecdotes and heartfelt reflections, taking listeners on a rollercoaster ride through the pivotal moments of her life. THIS IS A PRIVATE ACCOUNT. IT IS NOT A PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR ANY OF ITS COMPONENTS AND IT HAS NO GOVERNMENTAL STATUS #veteran #marines #army #airforce #navy #eq #coastguard #spaceforce #herofront #podcast #mentalhealth #resiliency #veteranowned #military #inspirational #deployment #basictraining #militarylife #firstresponders #airmen #airman #22aday #purpose #humility #emotionalintelligence #influencer

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this episode of Inside EMS, cohost Chris Cebollero reflects on his time in the military and the privilege of serving in the military's Honor Guard. Chris explains the significance of the 13 folds of the American flag and the honor felt in folding the flag that would be given to a family member of a fallen servicemember. Chris is joined by Folds of Honor's Senior Vice President of Outreach, Luke Sherman. Sherman is a past chairman and now senior member with the Board of Directors for the National Tactical Officers Association; a 29 year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department; and owner and principal with Aegis CPG, a Tulsa-based security consulting company. Sherman shares how the Folds of Honor scholarship program will now benefit first responders, including paramedics and EMTS. Lt. Col. Dan Rooney started Folds of Honor after his second tour of duty in Iraq. As a fighter pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, he became painfully aware of the realities families face when a loved one in uniform is fallen or disabled. On his return flight home, the pilot announced the plane carried the remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin on board. Lt. Col. Rooney watched as Corporal Bucklin's twin brother walked somberly alongside the flag-covered casket to meet his family on the tarmac. Lt. Col. Rooney committed to meeting sacrifice with hope through Folds of Honor, providing life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America's fallen or disabled servicemembers. Folds of honor has awarded more than 44,000 educational scholarships totalling about $200M since 2007 And now, the mission expands to the families of America's first responders. Additional resources Learn more about supporting Folds of Honor's mission to help fund educational opportunities for military and first responder families, or to apply for a scholarship at FoldsOfHonor.org.

This edition features a story on the Honor Guard training, an Air Force band performing a free concert with a Japanese music group and Operation Air Force cadets playing baseball on their free time. Hosted by Tech Sgt. Jason Litalien

Gavin McIlvenna joins Tim on the Centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Gavin is president of the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He had a long and distinguished career in the U.S. Army, but one of the more unique experiences he's had is the time he spent guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery. In this episode, Gavin tells the story behind the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the symbolic and real significance of one of the most hallowed places on American soil. This episode was first releases on June 14, 2021. https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/shapingopinion/Encore_-_Tomb_of_the_Unknowns.mp3 There are places throughout the United States where those who've died for their country are remembered with honor and where they remain. Churchyard cemeteries in places like Boston and Philadelphia to honor the Revolutionary War dead. Or battlefield cemeteries like the one in Gettysburg to honor the fallen during the American Civil War. But in America's history, there hadn't been a single place. A dedicated place to pay tribute to those who gave their lives for our freedoms and for the nation. That changed after World War One. After the Great War, France and Great Britain decided to select one of their fallen soldiers to represent all of the dead from World War One. They laid an unknown soldier to rest in an honored place on November 11, 1920, just over 100 years ago. Other nations followed in similar fashion. Portugal, Italy, Belgium. All selected an unknown soldier to receive full military honors and burial at an honored place in those countries. The commanding general of American forces in France at the time was Brigadier General William Connor. He first heard about the French plans to honor their Unknown Solider during the planning phases. He liked the idea and ran it up the chain, only to be rejected by the U.S. Army Chief of Staff, General Payton March. That was in 1919. General March felt the Americans would be able to identify all of their own dead, so there wouldn't be any “unknown soldiers,” and he felt the U.S. had no comparable burial place for a fallen hero that was similar to Westminster Abbey in Great Britain. But on December 20, 1921, U.S. Congressman Hamilton Fish of New York introduced a resolution that called for the return to the country of an unknown American who was killed during World War One. He wanted to bury a soldier who was killed in France, and then make plans for his burial with full military honors in a tomb that would be constructed at Arlington National Cemetery. The tomb was built and is now located at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington Cemetery. On November 11, 1921, the body of an unidentified soldier who was killed in France, was laid to rest. He represents all of the unidentified and missing from World War One. Since that time, an unidentified American service member has been laid to rest at that tomb, with the highest honors, representing World War Two, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. One crypt sits empty to represent all those who remain missing. This year marks the Centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Please Thank Our Sponsors Please remember to thank our sponsors, without whom the Shaping Opinion podcast would not exist.  If you have the need, please support these organizations that have the same taste in podcasts that you do: BlueHost Premium Web Hosting Dell Outlet Overstock Computer Center Philips Hue Smart Home Lighting Links Arlington National Cemetery Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier National Commemoration of the Centennial, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard About this Episode's Guest Gavin McIlvenna Sergeant Major (Retired) Gavin L. McIlvenna is the 11th President of the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (SHGTUS) SGM (Ret) McIlvenna retired from the US ...

This week's episode, Be Informed, Be Aware and Be A Safe Space for Your Kids is with Major Lynette Falzone of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.  Lynette joined the FLPD in August of 2000 and was assigned to the Special Investigations Division as a Street Narcotics Detective (raiders), prior to being a Narcotics Detection K-9 Handler. She also served on the department's Honor Guard, Tactical Bicycle Platoon and as a part-time instructor of General Law Enforcement Topics/Tactics, Firearms and Defensive Tactics.  In 2006, she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and served in patrol until 2012, when she was re-assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division as the Detective Sergeant over Property Crimes. In 2013, she was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division. She later was assigned to the Patrol Division, where she served as a shift commander until being promoted to the rank of Captain in 2015.  Major Lynette Falzone is currently in charge of the Special Investigations Division of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, teaches in the Public Safety Leadership Academy at Broward College, and is a proud mom of twins~  We have a very informative conversation about: How the Ft Lauderdale PD has been combating drugs in Broward County. Educational programs & resources available to the community about drug safety. The importance of communicating to our children the finality of drug usage and to speak if they see or hear something. How strong the current drugs are today compared to those of the 70s and 80s. Monitoring the medications are tweens and teens take & finding alternative ways to heal as opposed to taking highly addictive pain medication.  How she comparmentalizes work and home life. Resources mentioned in this episode: DEA - Operation Engage United Way Broward Poison Control Florida Connect with me:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.motherhood.village1/  YouTube: The Motherhood Village - YouTube LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolegcumberbatch/  Website: https://www.themotherhoodvillage.com/ Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-motherhood-village-podcast/id1487274178

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuesday, October 18th, 2022. I’m back at it ladies and gentleman… I got a tad sick last week which threw off our Daily News Brief schedule last week, but we’re good to go this week. Before I dive into the news: Classical Conversations Classical Conversations supports homeschooling parents by cultivating the love of learning through a Christian worldview in fellowship with other families. They provide a classical Christ-centered curriculum, local like-minded communities across the United States and in several countries, and they train parents who are striving to be great classical educators in the home. For more information and to get connected, please visit their website at ClassicalConversations.com. Again that’s ClassicalConversations.com. https://www.theepochtimes.com/kanye-west-to-buy-parler-to-cement-its-uncancelable-status-protect-conservative-views_4800734.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=BonginoReport Kanye West to Buy Parler to Cement Its ‘Uncancelable’ Status, Protect Conservative Views Billionaire musician Kanye West is buying Parler, the free speech-championing social media app that rose to prominence amid allegations that rival Twitter was suppressing conservative voices. Parler, which bills itself as “the world’s pioneering uncancelable free speech platform,” announced the purchase agreement in principle in a press release on Oct. 17, the same day that West joined the service. “In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves,” West, who has legally changed his name to Ye, said in a statement. Parler has not disclosed how much West will pay for the platform nor whether the purchase will yield any policy changes, with the deal expected to close by year’s end. “The proposed acquisition will assure Parler a future role in creating an uncancelable ecosystem where all voices are welcome,” Parler said in a statement. George Farmer, the CEO of Parlement Technologies, the parent company of Parler, welcomed West’s involvement in the platform. “This deal will change the world, and change the way the world thinks about free speech,” Farmer said in a statement. The development comes after West was recently locked out of his Instagram and Twitter accounts after making posts alleged to be anti-Semitic. https://thepostmillennial.com/defund-the-police-councilwoman-begs-seattle-police-for-protection-after-poop-thrown-at-her-house?utm_campaign=64487 'Defund the police' councilwoman begs Seattle Police for protection after 'poop' thrown at her house Kshama Sawant, the Seattle City Council member who led the charge to defund the police department is now requesting police to protect her home in response to repeated scatological vandalism. Sources told The Post Millennial that over the past month someone has been throwing human feces at the Marxist councilmember’s home. According to the source, the Seattle Police Department responded and took a report, and the councilmember is now requesting a “permanent patrol presence monitoring her place from 5 pm -10 pm every day.” This is not the first time the radical councilmember has asked for police protection. In December 2020 following the riots that rocked the city in the wake of the death of George Floyd, Sawant demanded police protection in response to threats. However, it was later revealed that Sawant had used the threats for publicity before contacting the Seattle police. Sawant was one of the most vocal members of the defund the police movement in Seattle which led to hundreds of officers leaving the force. Following the defunding movement, crime skyrocketed, and the city is on track to beat last year’s record-high number of homicides. Rapes and assaults have also spiked. 911 response times have steadily climbed and many residents reported being placed on hold. During the 2020 riots, Sawant used her key to let protestors into Seattle City Hall after hours so that the mob could occupy the building which was also closed to the public due to the pandemic. Sawant also led a group of rioters during the deadly Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in the councilmember's district to the home of then-Mayor Jenny Durkan, the location of which was protected under confidentiality laws from her time as a US attorney. The rioters vandalized the house during the stunt. In addition to Sawant supporting the deadly occupation of six blocks of Seattle, her staff set up tents inside the zone to collect signatures for a ballot initiative. Sawant's office was not available for comment. https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-navy-veteran-showed-up-for-jury-duty-the-judge-sent-him-to-jail-for-not-wearing-a-mask A Navy Veteran Showed Up For Jury Duty. The Judge Sent Him To Jail For Not Wearing A Mask. A North Carolina Superior Court judge ordered a prospective juror to spend 24 hours in jail after he refused to wear a mask in the courtroom. Judge Charles Gilchrist is the only judge in the courthouse who enforces a mask mandate after North Carolina Democratic Governor Roy Cooper lifted a statewide mask mandate for most indoor settings over a year ago. Gilchrist found 47-year-old Gregory Hahn of Harnett County in contempt of court for his refusal to follow the judge’s mask order, WRAL News reported. “The irony of all this is the judge was talking to me without a mask,” said Hahn, a Navy veteran who reportedly served on the President’s Honor Guard at Arlington National Cemetery. “If safety was such a concern, I go to jail [with] no mask requirements with inmates.” Clerk of Superior Court Renee Whittenton said in a statement that each of the prospective jurors were told of Gilchrist’s mask rule when they checked in, and the court provided them with masks if they did not have one, but Hahn said he was not made aware of the mandate, and it was not listed on Hahn’s court summons. The courthouse does not have any signs that state masks are required. A joint order by Harnett and Lee counties from March stated that masks are optional in hallways, foyers, restrooms, meeting rooms, and similar areas, but the order allowed presiding judges to decide whether they wanted a mask mandate in the courtroom. The Navy veteran and single father said Gilchrist asked him twice if he was refusing to wear a mask, and Hahn said he was. The judge then reportedly ordered Hahn to spend 24 hours in jail, and he was handcuffed and taken away minutes later. Hahn said he asked Gilchrist if he could call his son who was at home, but the judge refused his request. https://www.theepochtimes.com/9-million-californians-to-partake-in-earthquake-drill_4799812.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=BonginoReport 9 Million Californians to Partake in Earthquake Drill LOS ANGELES—Millions of people in government offices, businesses, and schools throughout Los Angeles County this week will stop everything for a minute to “drop, cover, and hold on” during a statewide earthquake preparedness drill, now in its 14th year. The Great California ShakeOut of 2022 is scheduled for 10:20 a.m. Oct. 20. “What we do to prepare now, before this big earthquake, will determine how well we can survive and recover,” according to a statement posted on ShakeOut.org. “Great ShakeOut Earthquake drills are annual opportunities to learn and practice earthquake safety with millions of people.” The ShakeOut website indicated that 9.2 million Californians are slated to participate in the drill. During last year’s event, about 7.6 million statewide registered to take part. The first drill was held in 2008. In Los Angeles County, more than 3.2 million people have registered for this week’s drill. Municipalities whose local government employees will be involved include Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena, Burbank, and Santa Clarita. Multiple Los Angeles city and county agencies are also signed up, including Metrolink and Metro, the Los Angeles police and fire departments, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Public Libraries, and the city departments of Recreation and Parks, Housing, Aging, and General Services. Most Los Angeles area community colleges and universities will be participating including the Los Angeles Community College District, Santa Monica College, Pasadena City College, UCLA, and USC. A majority of the county’s kindergarten through 12th-grade school districts, along with private and charter schools, will have students and staff participating. According to ShakeOut.org, the objective is to emphasize precautions during a 7.8-magnitude or larger quake along the southernmost portion of the San Andreas fault. The drill in 2019 came just over three months after the early July quakes that struck Ridgecrest. The 6.4- and 7.1-magnitude shakers caused significant damage to roads and structures in the hamlet, which lies just south of the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station. Californians should be prepared to be self-sufficient for 72 hours following a major disaster. That includes having a first-aid kit, medications, food, and enough water for each member of a household to drink one gallon per day, according to local and state officials. Homeowners and renters should also know how to turn off the gas in their residences in case of leaks. Redballoon Not so long ago, the American dream was alive and well. Employees who worked hard were rewarded, and employers looked for people who could do the job, not for people who had the right political views. RedBalloon.work is a job site designed to get us back to what made American businesses successful: free speech, hard work, and having fun. If you are a free speech employer who wants to hire employees who focus on their work and not identity politics, then post a job on RedBalloon. If you are an employee who is being censored at work or is being forced to comply with the current zeitgeist, post your resume on RedBalloon and look for a new job. redballoon.work, the job site where free speech is still alive! www.redballoon.work Now it’s time for my favorite topic… sports! So this happened over the weekend: #3 Alabama vs #6 Tennessee Highlights (GAME OF THE YEAR) | Week 7 | 2022 College Football Highlights Play 16:44-17:31 That was one of the best college football games in recent memory for me, as #6 Tennessee took down #3 Alabama 52-49 as the clock hit zero. Also, from the west coast, how about this game? #7 USC vs #20 Utah Football Game Highlights 10 15 2022 Play 30:45-31:00 Play 33:22-33:36 How can you not be romantic about college football? Utah took down the #7 and undefeated USC Trojans 43-42. Apologies to friend of the show David Bahnsen… Those were the two best games of the season thus far in my book, and both on the same weekend no less! But how about some other scores? #5 Clemson def. FSU 34-28 #4 Michigan def. #10 Penn State 41-17 #8 TCU def. OK ST 43-40 Tons of undefeated teams came tumbling down this weekend! Lastly in Baseball, The Padres sent the Dodgers home packing after their Saturday win… they won the series 3-1. The Astros advanced after sweeping the Mariners. The Phillies defeated the Braves 8-3 to win the series 3-1. The Yankees and the Indians… not guardians… Indians, are tied at two games a piece after the Yankees won 4-2 on Sunday.

Reformed physicist, financial planner, startup founder and autodidactic polymath best described as a Swiss Army Knife, Joe Templin has invested the past two and a half plus decades to helping others reach their financial potential as a planner, trainer, mentor and creator.  Joe has served as a member of NAIFA (the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) on the local, state, and national level, and including three terms on the NAIFA National Young Advisors Team (YAT) Subcommittee and was honored as one of the 2011 Four Under 40.  He is a graduate of the Leadership in Life Institute of NAIFA as well as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and is an alum of Johns Hopkins University.Joe earned his CFP® and has written hundreds of review questions for the exam, as well as his CHARTERED ADVISOR OF PHILANTHROPY, CLU, and ChFC designations and qualified numerous times for the Million Dollar Round Table.   He has been a business columnist for the Albany Times Union, Adviser Today Magazine, The Ballston Journal, and Insurance News Net.  Joe earned his Certified Executive Counsellor designation as well as his Certified Master Executive Counsellor in 2021.Joe served as the President of the Castle Alpha Tau Foundation for Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and as the Chapter Advisor, and is currently a Vice President of The Autism Society of the Greater Capital Region.  He has been a member of The Ancient Order of Hibernians for over 20 years, and is the Lieutenant of the Honor Guard.Templin is the Managing Director of the Unique Minds Consulting Group, LLC, and is the author of “Every Day Excellence”, the Kindle #1 New Release in Professional Development.  Joe also co-authored “Do You Want To Make MDRT, Or Not?” with Dr. John Stolk as well as “Choices: Creating a Financial Services Career”.  Joe is a Co-Founder and President of The Intro Machine, Inc. an organization dedicated to teaching professionals in a variety of fields how to build an Introduction Based Business.  He has spoken all across the US and Canada on ethical business development.In his free time, Joe enjoys running Ragnars (200 ish mile team relay races), ultramarathons, and is a 4th Dan from the Kukkiwon in Seoul, Korea and former International Champion.  He lives in Gansevoort, New York, with his hooligan boys Danny, Liam, and Colin.  They are huge Yankees fans.Fit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show