Podcasts about jrotc

Ask your smart speaker to "Play One Oh Three One Austin"

Alex is pantless. The weaboos are attacking. We are pretending to be a cis straight couple.

Celebrating everything from CX Debate to theater to JROTC drones to athletics. It was a busy week for our scholars and they succeeded at every level!

When veterans return to the civilian world, they often encounter challenges related to employment and mental health. That's where having a tribe can be a game changer. Retired Army Col. Adam Rocke and retired Army Gen. Paul Funk II share how finding a tribe can help with improving mental health, finding a job and more on this week's episode of Tango Alpha Lima. ALSO IN THIS EPISODE We Can Do It! Roll up your sleeves and show us your best Rosie Pose for Rosie the Riveter Day Special Guests: Adam Rocke and Gen. Paul Funk.

Although it was Spring Break, there was a lot to celebrate as our scholars competed at the state level in colorguard and national level in JROTC!

GDP Script/ Top Stories for March 8th Publish Date: March 8th PRE-ROLL: From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Saturday, March 8th and Happy Birthday to Mickey Dolenz ***03.08.25 - BIRTHDAY – MICKEY DOLENZ*** I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by Gwinnett KIA Mall of Georgia. Man who tried to enter Gwinnett, Hall schools arrested Gwinnett Author Pens Book About Building Stronger Corporate—Nonprofit Relationships Parkland Residential Celebrates Grand Opening of Sugarloaf Landing Townhomes In Lawrenceville All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! Break 1: 07.14.22 KIA MOG STORY 1: Man who tried to enter Gwinnett, Hall schools arrested Dongha Lee, 18, was arrested after attempting to access high schools in Gwinnett and Hall counties. He entered Seckinger High School on Feb. 28, wandering the halls for several minutes and allegedly trying to lure a student out of class via Instagram. Later, he posed as a new student to enroll at West Hall High but was denied due to improper documentation. Lee faces a charge in Gwinnett for failing to check in as required and is also under an immigration hold. Schools have alerted parents, urging vigilance about online interactions and reporting suspicious activity. STORY 2: Gwinnett Author Pens Book About Building Stronger Corporate—Nonprofit Relationships Cynthia Currence, a nonprofit veteran with 30 years of experience, has released her first book, *Beyond Checks & Halos: Insights to Elevate Partnerships and Achieve the Improbable*. The book offers strategies for building stronger corporate-nonprofit partnerships, moving beyond transactional relationships to create impactful collaborations. Drawing from her own experiences, including a $15 million partnership with Citibank during her time at the American Cancer Society, and insights from 35 experts, Currence emphasizes recognizing value, building trust, and fostering meaningful conversations. The book debuted as a No. 1 Amazon bestseller in philanthropy and nonprofit business development. STORY 3: Parkland Residential Celebrates Grand Opening of Sugarloaf Landing Townhomes In Lawrenceville Parkland Residential celebrated the grand opening of Sugarloaf Landing, a Build-to-Rent community in Lawrenceville, with 12 leases and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The development features 114 stacked townhouses with two- and three-bedroom layouts, offering maintenance-free living with amenities like a pool, playground, nature preserve, and pocket parks. Jim Jacobi, Parkland Residential’s president, highlighted the community’s focus on design, location, and customer service, while Brett Forney of Prim Properties praised its rapid leasing success, reflecting the demand for quality rental housing. Sugarloaf Landing combines convenience, charm, and modern living for its residents. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We’ll be right back Break 2: STORY 4: South Gwinnett JROTC Cadets Qualify for National Competitions South Gwinnett High School’s Army JROTC Leadership and Academic Teams have qualified for the 2024-25 JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl National Championship in Washington, D.C., this June. Out of 3,507 global JROTC programs, South Gwinnett is one of just 18 competing in both categories and one of only four schools in Georgia to achieve this distinction. Led by retired military instructors, the cadets’ hard work and dedication have earned them this prestigious opportunity, showcasing their excellence in leadership, academics, and teamwork. This marks a proud milestone for the school and its JROTC program. STORY 5: We're No. 1 — Suwanee Beer Fest Again Crowned Country's Best Beer Festival The Suwanee Beer Fest, set for March 15 at Suwanee Town Center Park, has been named the Best Beer Festival in the Country by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for the second time. As Georgia’s largest craft beer festival, it features over 400 craft beers from 100+ breweries, live music, games, and a lively atmosphere, drawing more than 6,000 attendees annually. Known for its philanthropy, the festival has donated over $216,330 to local charities, including Cooper’s Crew. Limited tickets remain for this award-winning celebration of craft beer and community. Break 3: STORY 6: Lucy McBath forms exploratory committee to run for governor U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Marietta, has formed an exploratory committee for a potential 2026 Georgia gubernatorial run. A breast cancer survivor and gun safety advocate, McBath entered politics after her son’s tragic death and has served in Congress since 2018, overcoming GOP-led redistricting efforts. She aims to bring a personal, inclusive approach to leadership, stating, “Georgians deserve a governor who understands what’s at stake.” McBath is the first Democrat to take steps toward the race, while Republican Attorney General Chris Carr has announced his candidacy, with others like Lt. Gov. Burt Jones expected to join. STORY 7: Gwinnett's Rainbow Village Honored with Amazing Workplace Certification Duluth-based nonprofit Rainbow Village, which supports families experiencing homelessness, has been certified as an Amazing Workplace, achieving an 82% employee happiness score. CEO Melanie Conner highlighted the importance of a positive workplace culture, especially as the organization embarks on its "Building Homes, Building Hope" campaign to double its capacity and serve more families. The certification reflects the cohesive and happy team of 14 employees, making Rainbow Village an attractive employer as it prepares to expand its staff. This recognition underscores the nonprofit’s commitment to both its mission and its team. We’ll have closing comments after this Break 4: Ingles Markets 8 Signoff – Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com www.kiamallofga.com #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversationsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a ton to celebrate this week with our WIG, JROTC, in FFA, and athletics!

A judge allowed a Marine veteran and Fort Bend ISD JROTC instructor accused of participating in murderous conspiracy with members of the Bandidos biker gang to be released on bond Thursday pending a trial in the RICO case. Join us as we discuss.Please consider sponsoring the channel by signing up for our channel memberships. You can also support us by signing up for our podcast channel membership for $9.99 per month, where 100% of the membership price goes directly to us at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dragon-s-lair-motorcycle-chaos--3267493/support.  Follow us on:Instagram: BlackDragonBikerTV TikTok: BlackDragonBikertv Twitter: jbunchiiFacebook: BlackDragonBikerBuy Black Dragon Merchandise, Mugs, Hats, T-Shirts Books: https://blackdragonsgear.comDonate to our cause:Cashapp: $BikerPrezPayPal: jbunchii Zelle: jbunchii@aol.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BlackDragonNPSubscribe to our new discord server https://discord.gg/dshaTSTSubscribe to our online news magazine www.bikerliberty.comGet 20% off Gothic biker rings by using my special discount code: blackdragon go to http://gthic.com?aff=147 Join my News Letter to get the latest in MC protocol, biker club content, and my best picks for every day carry. https://johns-newsletter-43af29.beehiiv.com/subscribe   Get my Audio Book Prospect's Bible an Audible: https://adbl.co/3OBsfl5 Help us get to 30,000 subscribers on www.instagram.com/BlackDragonBikerTV on Instagram. Thank you!

As an idea and practice, sanctuary has a long, vexed presence in American politics and social movements. In her recent book, "Sanctuary People," Gina Pérez, PhD, looks at how activists, service providers, and faith leaders and congregations in Ohio (where she lives and teaches) tapped into the long histories of faith-based and secular organizing to help the Latina/o immigrant and migrant communities that were increasingly vulnerable from 2016-2020. During the 2024 presidential election, the attacks on Ohio immigrants only reaffirm the critical need to challenge anti-immigrant rhetoric and nurture sanctuary practices and people. Gina discusses all of this and more in this podcast with CWCIT director, Bill Cavanaugh. A cultural anthropologist, Gina is also professor and chair of the Department of Comparative American Studies at Oberlin College (Oberlin, OH). She is the author of two award-winning books: "The Near Northwest Side Story: Gender, Migration, and Puerto Rican Families" and "Citizen, Student, Soldier: Latina/o Youth, JROTC and the American Dream." Her latest book, "Sanctuary People: Faith-Based Organizing in Latina/o Communities," explores sanctuary movements and practices with and among Latinas/os in Ohio from 2016-2020.

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18). Rep. Ryan represents a diverse district of 800,000 in upstate New York, which includes his alma mater, West Point. An Iraq war veteran, Rep. Ryan transitioned from active duty, to defense tech, to Congress, where he now champions defense innovation and national security issues. In March 2024, Rep. Ryan launched the Defense Modernization Caucus with Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-1) to push for bipartisan action. This episode was recorded at the Reagan National Defense Forum on December 7, 2024.Five key takeaways from this episode: Throughout his career, Rep. Ryan has embraced a wide range of challenging roles—from serving on the battlefield, to leading sales teams, to making legislative progress in Congress. With DIU innovation hubs already established in Austin and Silicon Valley, Rep. Ryan proposes New York City as the next ideal location for a hub, recognizing the city's unique blend of talent and business development opportunities.A self proclaimed “perpetual optimist,” Rep. Ryan credits his attitude and resilience to his interactions with young people, whether it's JROTC cadets, West Point students, or his own young children.The House Defense Modernization Caucus had some early wins in the last NDAA, with the next convening planned for February 2025 in concert with Silicon Valley Defense Group.Rep. Ryan advises defense tech companies to approach lawmakers with clear, actionable requests for quicker support and to focus on storytelling over lengthy presentations. “Help me help you,” he says — be specific about where you're stuck and how Congress can assist.

Meet Brandan Mays, a United States Marine Corps veteran from Idaho. Coming from a long line of military family members, Brandan's path to service began with JROTC in high school. Though he initially considered the Army, fate led him to the Marines where he served in logistics. Brandan shares his experiences from deployments, his heartfelt duty on the funeral detail for fallen Marines, and his transition out of the service. Discover the challenges and triumphs veterans face through Brandan's inspiring story. https://cachecoffeeandmore.com/affiliate/82/

[Video below] La Vernia Independent School District (ISD) trustees have unanimously agreed to establish a new Junior ROTC program for La Vernia High School students. Board trustees approved a one-year memorandum of understanding presented at their Dec.16 meeting by Dr.Helen Whisenhunt, district chief instructional officer, to partner La Vernia ISD with Floresville ISD to allow La Vernia students to participate in Floresville's existing program. The cost to La Vernia will be 0 per participating student, which includes transportation to and from the Floresville campus. The cost of uniforms, according to Whisenhunt, will be covered by the U.S.Air Force. “FISD JROTC...Article Link

CTL Script/ Top Stories of December 21st Publish Date: December 21st   PRE-ROLL: 01.20.25 ETOWAH MILL HOLIDAY SCREEN & RINK_FINAL From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Award-Winning Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast  Today is Saturday, December 21st and Happy Birthday to Samuel L Jackson ***12.22.24 - BIRTHDAY – SAMUEL L JACKSON*** I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Credit Union of Georgia.  Cherokee County Asks Lawmakers to Consider Sales Tax Referendum Etowah Teacher Earns National Career Education Award Cherokee Schools Announces REACH Georgia Scholars We’ll have all this and more coming up on the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast, and if you’re looking for Community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!  Commercial: 06.26.24 CU OF GA FREE CHECKING_REV_FINAL STORY 1: Cherokee County Asks Lawmakers to Consider Sales Tax Referendum Cherokee County commissioners are urging the legislative delegation to propose a Homestead Option Sales Tax (HOST) referendum, aiming for a 1% sales tax to eliminate property taxes for homeowners and fund road improvements. The Board of Commissioners approved a resolution for this, seeking a November 2025 ballot inclusion. The proposed HOST would allocate 75% of proceeds to reduce property taxes and 25% for capital projects, primarily roads. A 10-year sunset clause is suggested, allowing voters to decide on its continuation. The initiative aims to benefit both residents and visitors, with a quick implementation if approved. STORY 2: Etowah Teacher Earns National Career Education Award Lt. Col. (Ret.) Stephen Bergey, a career education teacher at Etowah High School, has been recognized as the Region II New Teacher of the Year by the National Association of Career and Technical Education. This award honors outstanding CTE teachers who demonstrate classroom innovation and dedication. Bergey, with a 20-year military and diplomatic background, has led Etowah's JROTC program to numerous accolades, including the 2024 Distinguished Unit Award. He holds multiple advanced degrees and has been elected president-elect of the Georgia Association of Career and Technical Education. STORY 3: Cherokee Schools Announces REACH Georgia Scholars The Cherokee County School District is celebrating its new class of REACH Georgia Scholars, a program offering mentorship and college scholarships to promising middle and high school students. This year, four eighth-graders—Sara Chance, Farrah Fascitelli, Fernanda Hernandez, and Leila Morris—were selected. The district held a signing day-style reception to honor them, followed by recognition from the school board and Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis. REACH Scholars who meet program requirements can receive up to $10,000 in scholarships for eligible Georgia universities or technical colleges. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info.    Back in a moment  Break: Drake Realty (Cherokee County) STORY 4: Cherokee County Theater Programs Earn Honors at Regional Contest Cherokee County School District theater programs excelled at regional One Act Play competitions. Etowah High School won the Region 5-6A championship with "Eurydice," while Sequoyah High School won the Region 6-5A championship with "Little Shop of Horrors," also placing third in the 5A state competition. Sequoyah's production will perform at the Georgia Thespian Conference. Both schools received individual honors for acting and technical roles. Cherokee High's Brandon Mears and River Ridge High's Tripp Scurlock earned Best Actor awards in their respective regions, with additional All-Star Cast recognitions for students from both schools. STORY 5: Brooke Ice Tapped as Lead Advisor for Cherokee Fire Explorers Brooke Ice has been appointed as the new lead advisor for Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services' Explorer program, succeeding Capt. Michael Sims, who led the program for 17 years. Sims, a former Explorer himself, guided the program to numerous successes, including many first-place trophies at competitions and helping over 50 former Explorers pursue careers in public safety. Ice, also a former Explorer, brings extensive experience and passion to her new role, aiming to maintain high standards while introducing new initiatives. Sims will continue to support the program as Committee Chair, ensuring its continued success. Commercial: 12.14.24 FALANY DEC_FINAL STORY 6: Cherokee Commissioners Approve 85 Townhomes on Bells Ferry The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved a rezoning request for an 85-unit townhome development on 10.66 acres at 6355 Bells Ferry Road. The development, by David Pearson Communities, will feature owner-occupied townhomes with two-car garages, a pool, and a clubhouse. The project includes 2.25 acres of open space for a pedestrian path. Initially proposed at 102 units, the plan was revised to 85 units after density concerns. The development will have a density of 7.97 units per acre, aligning with county standards. Despite some local opposition, the project was seen as a responsible use of the property. STORY 7: Cherokee County School Board Appoints New Chief Academic Officer The Cherokee County school board appointed Joshua Heath as the new chief academic officer on December 12. Heath, who joined the district in July as the executive director for accountability, succeeds the previous officer who retired earlier this year. With 12 years of educational experience, Heath is also a CCSD parent and spouse of a district teacher. During the board's work session, he presented reports on student performance in AP, SAT, and ACT exams, as well as the district's performance on the state's CCRPI.   We’ll have closing comments after this.    COMMERCIAL: Ingles Markets 5   SIGN OFF –   Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.tribuneledgernews.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com www.drakerealty.com cuofga.org #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversations See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have had a great couple of weeks of holiday concerts, and our fine arts scholars continue to amaze us as the junior high band had over 20 scholars earn all-region recognition. JROTC's archery team had its first competition, and there were plenty of other things to celebrate as we close the first semester!

So much to be excited about from celebrating a record-breaking football season to JROTC contest results and 29 scholars earning all-region band honors! What a week to be an Indian!

Dan Schorr is joined by Dr. Casey Geist, Deputy Director for Army JROTC, to discuss the application of Title IX in JROTC and ROTC programs (Episode 136)

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Rachel shares her inspiring journey of earning the Girl Scout Gold Award through her project of constructing a trophy case for her high school's JROTC program. She discusses the motivation behind her project, which stemmed from the need to properly showcase the numerous trophies earned by cadets through various activities, including Raiders, drill, and rifle team. Rachel highlights the importance of community support, detailing how local businesses contributed materials and resources, significantly reducing project costs. She emphasizes the collaborative effort involved, mentioning her team, including the JROTC Booster Club and her project advisor, who provided guidance throughout the process. The episode also touches on the challenges Rachel faced during installation, particularly in coordinating volunteers and ensuring safety while handling glass materials. She reflects on her favorite memories from the project, including teaching metalworking skills to her peers. Additionally, Rachel discusses her experiences in Girl Scouts, including a memorable canoe trip in the Boundary Waters and her aspirations to pursue a career in meteorology through ROTC in college. She encourages future Gold Award candidates to utilize available resources and emphasizes the rewarding nature of the Gold Award process. Listeners will gain insights into the significance of leadership, community involvement, and personal growth through the Gold Award journey. More from Rachel: My name is Rachel Devoid, and I am from Florida. I joined Girl Scouts in kindergarten and have remained actively involved ever since. I have gone on countless camping trips with my troop and love the outdoors. Belonging to Girl Scouts has opened opportunities for me, such as traveling to Minnesota in 2022 for a seven-day canoe trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area through Girl Scout Destinations. In my free time, when I'm not camping, I love to stay active through Cross Country and Track and Field, along with participating in JROTC Raiders. After high school, I plan to attend college and get a degree in meteorology.   https://www.instagram.com/rachel.smachel1   Key Takeaways from this episode:   Community Involvement and Support: Rachel's Girl Scout Gold Award project, which involved building a trophy case for her high school's JROTC program, was significantly supported by community donations and collaboration. Local businesses contributed materials, and various groups, including the JROTC Booster Club, helped with funding and logistics, highlighting the importance of community engagement in successful projects. Leadership and Teamwork: The project emphasized the development of leadership skills and teamwork. Rachel noted how her experiences in both JROTC and Girl Scouts fostered her leadership abilities, which were crucial during the installation of the trophy case. She learned to coordinate volunteers and manage challenges, reinforcing the value of collaboration in achieving goals. Personal Growth and Future Aspirations: Rachel's involvement in Girl Scouts and JROTC has shaped her future aspirations, including her desire to study meteorology and pursue a career as a military officer. Her experiences have broadened her horizons, particularly in STEM fields, and she encourages others to take advantage of available resources to pursue their Gold Award, emphasizing the rewarding nature of the process.   Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3rx06pr   Join our Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/sherylmrobinson/   Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sherylmrobinson/?hl=en Please subscribe to Hearts of Gold on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/sherylmrobinson or on your favorite podcast app. Support future Hearts of Gold episodes at https://www.patreon.com/heartsofgold Editing by https://www.offthewalter.com/ Walter's YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt0wFZRVaOpUd_nXc_8-4yQ

[Video below] La Vernia Independent School District (ISD) is in talks to establish a Junior ROTC program. pro- Discussions have been in progress since last school year to create a partnership with the Floresville ISD that will allow La Vernia students to participate in Floresville's Air Force Junior ROTC program. (See “FISD offers to accommodate La Vernia JROTC cadets,” May 28 Wilson County News.) Dr. Helen Whisenhunt, district chief instructional officer, updated La Vernia trustees on the program at their Nov. 18 meeting, telling them that recruitment will be happening in the eighth-, ninth-, and tenth-grade Social Studies classes. A...Article Link

MDJ Script/ Top Stories for November 12th Publish Date:  November 12th    Commercial: From the BG Ad Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.    Today is Tuesday, November 12th and Happy Birthday to Al Micheals ***11.12.24 – BIRTHDAY – AL MICHAELS*** I'm Dan Radcliffe and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Credit Union of Georgia.  1.     One in Custody After Man Stabbed in Marietta 2.     Police Chief Issues Statement After 89-Year-Old Found Dead 3.     'May We Never Forget': Marietta Honors Veterans With Parade All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!    BREAK: CU of GA (06.26.24 CU OF GA FREE CHECKING_REV_FINAL)   STORY 1:  One in Custody After Man Stabbed in Marietta A man was stabbed in Marietta around 3:45 p.m. on Monday, with the incident occurring between a Wells Fargo bank and a Texaco gas station on Roswell Street. The victim, who sustained several wounds, was taken to the hospital in a conscious and alert state. Marietta Police have a person of interest in custody, but it's not confirmed if this individual is the suspect. No identifying details about the suspect or victim have been released. STORY 2:     Police Chief Issues Statement After 89-Year-Old Found Dead The body of 89-year-old Patricia Miele was found in a pond at Kennesaw Memorial Park, three days after she went missing from her assisted care facility. Marietta Police Chief David Beam expressed condolences to her family, emphasizing the department's heartfelt efforts to find her. He thanked the Marietta Police and Fire Departments, other public safety agencies, and community members for their dedication in the search. Beam highlighted the community's support and partnership, urging continued prayers for Miele's family during this difficult time. STORY 3:  'May We Never Forget': Marietta Honors Veterans With Parade Hundreds gathered in Marietta Square for the annual Veterans Day parade, organized by the Horace Orr Post 29 of the American Legion and the city of Marietta. Featuring 30 units, including high school bands and JROTC groups, the parade honored Cobb County's nearly 60,000 veterans. Despite a foggy start, the event saw clear skies and enthusiastic participation. Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Kent "Tuna" Hepler served as grand marshal and keynote speaker, emphasizing unity and the importance of service. The ceremony concluded with a gun salute and taps, celebrating the sacrifices of veterans.     We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.    We'll be right back    Break: DRAKE (Drake Realty (Cobb County)   STORY 4:  Marietta School Board to Vote on Super's Contract Extension The Marietta Board of Education is set to consider extending Superintendent Grant Rivera's contract through 2027, with a proposed base pay increase to $269,700 and a total package of $450,000. Rivera's leadership since 2017 has seen improvements in graduation and literacy rates, and board members Angela Orange and Jason Waters support the extension. The board will also discuss school safety updates and consider legislative priorities, safety upgrades near Marietta Middle School, and purchases for school instruments and technology. STORY 5:  Cobb Eyes Factory Shoals Pedestrian Bridge Cobb County is considering a pedestrian bridge near Factory Shoals Road over I-20 in Mableton to enhance pedestrian safety. A study is underway to gather feedback from south Cobb residents on current safety conditions. The project team, led by Richard Fangmann and Amanda Hatton, has identified the narrow curbs on the existing bridge as unsafe for pedestrians. An online survey revealed significant safety concerns among residents. The team is developing three potential solutions, including widening curbs, expanding transit routes, or building a separate pedestrian bridge, with plans to present these options to the county in February.   We'll be back in a moment    Break: Ingles Markets 3 STORY 6:  La Carreta Latin Restaurant Reopens After 2023 Fire La Carreta, a Marietta-based Latin American restaurant, has reopened after a fire forced it to close for 16 months. The restaurant, known for its authentic Mexican dishes and agave bar, underwent a major renovation, including new furnishings and booth seating. Despite the new look, the menu remains unchanged, featuring popular items like bandeja paisa and enchiladas. Manager Julian Henao plans to add more Colombian dishes. The reopening saw an overwhelming customer response, quickly filling the restaurant. La Carreta is open Tuesday through Sunday, located at 1252 Roswell Rd. in Marietta. STORY 7:     US climate action won't end with Trump, envoy tells COP29 At the CO29 talks in Baku, U.S. climate envoy John Podesta reassured attendees that despite Donald Trump's re-election and his pledge to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, U.S. climate efforts would persist through local and state initiatives. The talks, focused on increasing climate funding for developing nations, faced challenges with disagreements over the agenda. UN climate chief Simon Stiell emphasized the need for global cooperation and substantial climate finance. The meeting highlighted the urgency of climate action, with warnings of record-breaking temperatures and the world being off track to meet the Paris Agreement goals.   Break: Marietta Theatre (06.10.24 MARIETTA THEATRE MARGARITAVILLE_FINAL)   Signoff-   Thanks again for hanging out with us on today's Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.mdjonline.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network   Show Sponsors: ●       www.ingles-markets.com  ●       www.cuofga.org  ●       www.drakerealty.com ●       www.mariettatheatresquare.com   #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversationsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we visit the JROTC Marines program at Hermitage High School. We talked with one of their instructors, First Sargent Otis James, and cadets Capt. Raven Symes, and First Sargent Excellent Fred-Dyck. We discussed why our two students chose JROTC what you learned as a cadet, why they feel it was important for them, and why they think more students should experience the JROTC program.

GDP Script/ Top Stories for November 12th Publish Date:  November 12th   From The BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Tuesday, November 12th and Happy Birthday to Al Michaels. ***11.12.24 - BIRTHDAY – AL MICHAELS*** I'm Keith Ippolito and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia 1.      Melvin Everson To Oversee Community And Government Affairs At Gwinnett Tech 2.      Lawrenceville resident spreads hope and healing with Bracelet Project 3.      Nicole Love Hendrickson To Deliver Commencement Address At Georgia Gwinnett College All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! Break 1: Kia MOG (07.14.22 KIA MOG)   STORY 1:     Melvin Everson To Oversee Community And Government Affairs At Gwinnett Tech Melvin Everson is transitioning to vice president of Community and Government Affairs at Gwinnett Technical College. Previously the vice president of economic development, Everson will now focus on community engagement, government relations, and public affairs to strengthen the college's ties with local communities and government entities. Dr. Glen Cannon, the college president, praised Everson's expertise and dedication. Everson's background includes roles as executive director of the Governor's Office of Workforce Development and a Georgia State Representative. A nationwide search will be conducted to fill his previous position. STORY 2: Lawrenceville resident spreads hope and healing with Bracelet Project Lawrenceville resident Paige Brady, 17, started making bracelets as a coping mechanism for mental health struggles, which evolved into the Bracelet Project, sending thousands of bracelets globally. After a school shooting at Apalachee High School, she organized the creation of 4,000 bracelets for the community, receiving emotional gratitude from staff and students. Brady's efforts earned her a commendation from Governor Brian Kemp. As she plans to attend BYU-Idaho and go on a church mission, she aims to continue the project, working towards making it a nonprofit and organizing a Christmas initiative to spread joy in local communities.   STORY 3: Nicole Love Hendrickson To Deliver Commencement Address At Georgia Gwinnett College Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson will deliver the keynote address at Georgia Gwinnett College's winter commencement on December 14, marking the opening of the new Convocation Center. Re-elected in November, Hendrickson is the first African American chairwoman of Gwinnett County, overseeing a $2.5 billion budget. She has prioritized transportation, housing affordability, and economic security, and has been instrumental in initiatives like the Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center and Police Mental Health Collaboration. Recognized for her leadership, Hendrickson serves on various boards and has received numerous accolades for her public service. Two ceremonies are scheduled for the event. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We'll be right back Break 2: Tom Wages (08.05.24 OBITS_FINAL)   STORY 4: Well-Rounded: Lanier Grad Sion James Earns Spot with Duke Branden Mayweather, Lanier High School's basketball coach, praised Sion James for his talent and leadership both on and off the court. James, a standout player and academic achiever, became Lanier's second 1,000-point scorer and led the team to a state championship game. After excelling at Tulane, where he was recognized for his sportsmanship and community service, James transferred to Duke for his final college season. At Duke, he's already making an impact on the court and continues his community work through the Sion James Foundation. James aspires to play in the NBA and possibly pursue law school, with dreams of becoming the NBA commissioner. STORY 5: Philadelphia Winn Chapter DAR sponsors two Wreaths Across America ceremonies Each year, over two million volunteers participate in National Wreaths Across America Day to honor veterans at cemeteries nationwide and abroad. Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit based in Maine, coordinates this effort across 4,600 locations. On December 14, the Philadelphia Winn Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, will host ceremonies in Lawrenceville at East Shadowlawn Memorial Gardens and Gwinnett Memorial Park. Participants include local SAR chapters, JROTC cadets, and community groups. Wreaths can be sponsored online for $17 each, with orders needed by December 3 for the 2024 ceremonies. For more information, contact the Philadelphia Winn DAR Chapter. Break: ***Guide Weekly Health Minute*** 08.13.24 GUIDE HEALTH MINUTE_FINAL*** Break 4: Ingles Markets 8 Signoff – Thanks again for hanging out with us on today's Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network   Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com  www.wagesfuneralhome.com www.kiamallofga.com     #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversationsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gooooood morning Roarin' Urchins! The Boca AV Club has packed episode for you today, featuring JROTC recruit Brock Thomas, heartbroken Rupert Fright, and plane crash survivor Dicky Periwinkle! Special thanks to our visiting teacher: Josh Kravitz (@kravitzj) And of course, as always, thanks to our trusty faculty leaders Mr. Contreras, Mr. Fierberg, and Mr. Greenberg

7:35 a.m. - Roger Wicker - U.S. Senator, Mississippi Topic: We are 13 days away from presidential election, Senator Wicker discusses his senate race, news of the day. Senator Wicker is visiting with JROTC students in Clarksdale and visiting Civil War Museum. 8:05 a.m. - Byron Carter - Candidate Supreme Court Justice District 3 Topic: His run for Supreme Court, platform, the work he has done during his time as an attorney for over 30 years in Byram, Mississippi, and why he believes he is the best candidate for the job. 8:35 a.m. - Wayne Carr - Southern District Public Service Commissioner of Mississippi Topic: The recent Nuclear Summit hosted by the PSC where they brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss the future of nuclear energy in Mississippi and its role in the state's energy landscape.

Alan is joined by Lou Elizondo, former military intelligence officer and author of Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs. Lou shares his journey from joining JROTC to his work in the Pentagon's classified UFO program. He describes Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) with extraordinary capabilities like hypersonic speeds and movement without visible propulsion, raising national security concerns. Lou explains that UAP sightings date back to the 1950s, and the government once stigmatized discussions to avoid panic. Now, bipartisan efforts push for transparency, supported by emerging legislation and international cooperation on UAP research.     Guest Bio Lou Elizondo is a former military intelligence officer who served in various classified roles, including a key position in the Pentagon's UFO program. After his resignation in 2017, Lou became an advocate for transparency about Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), revealing shocking insights into advanced aerospace technologies observed by military pilots. His New York Times bestselling book, Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs, uncovers the hidden world of UAP investigations and challenges our understanding of reality. Lou's work has sparked global conversations about science, security, and the future of human knowledge.     Show Highlights (1:29) What led to Luis' career in military and intelligence services (5:26) What remote sensing is (11:03) How Luis' became in involved with UAPs from a military perspective (25:09) How Luis' deals with the lack of acceptance of the data (29:42) What led Louis to resign from the Pentagon (34:04) Observable traits of UAPs based on famous filmed cases (40:48) Why the government's attitude toward public transparency is changing (46:03) Next steps for people as UAPs are more openly discussed (52:56) The importance of keeping an open mind moving forward     Links Referenced Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFO's https://www.amazon.com/Imminent-Pentagons-Investigating-UAPs_Featured-Experience/dp/0063235560

Robert Robinson has been fascinated by the unexplained since he young, visiting numerous countries as an Army brat and reading books by Ivan T Sanderson and John Keel. Robert always wanted to visit exotic lands and was a fan of the famous animal collector Frank Buck.Robert became interested in the Bigfoot legend after watching the movie “Legend of Boggy Creek” when he was young. His mother, who is from Scotland, would tell about him about the Loch Ness Monster. Also, his uncle would relate scary stories of the Fouke Monster and monster legends. Because the whole subject of real monsters scared him, Rob started researching monsters by reading every book he could on the unexplained. The fear turned into intrigue and Rob has continued this passion Rob also became interested in UFO and extraterrestrials after watching the movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”After graduating high school at Lansing Kansas, Robert enlisted in the United States Army in June 1982. He received his Basic and Advanced Individual Training as a Military Policeman at Ft McClellan, Alabama.During his 21 years of service, Rob served in South Korea, Texas, Italy, North Carolina, Johnston Island, Germany, Cuba, Panama, and Operation Enduring Freedom: Afghanistan. SFC Robinson retired from the Army in 2003 and started teaching JROTC in at Summerlin Academy in Bartow, Florida.Rob has a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Everest University and an Associate's Degree in General Studies from Central Texas College and is certified PADI wreck diver.Along with Bigfoot and other cryptids, Robert also investigates haunted places, UFO, buried treasure, and mysterious places. Because his interests encompass more than just cryptozoology and the paranormal, Rob refers to himself as Legend Tripper.Robert is an active member of the following groups; MUFON, The International Cryptozoology Society, the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, The Ghost Club, the International UFO museum, and the World Explorers Club. He is also the Florida representative for the North American Dogman Project. Robert is an investigator and member of the UFO Hunters of America.Rob has filmed segments on the Florida Skunk Ape for PBS's “Weird Florida: On the Road Again,” “Monsters and Mysteries of America,” and “Bigfoot in America” on Destination America channel. In 2010 Rob and his family appeared in the TV show “Wife Swap” as the monster-hunting family.Robert has written for numerous magazines to include Paranormal Investigators Magazine, Cryptid Culture, and World Explorers magazine. The 2016 International Cryptozoology Society Journal published his research into the Florida Skunk Ape legend.Rob published his first book "Legend Tripping: The Ultimate Family Experience" in 2014. The book was picked up by Ripley's Believe It or Not and is now featured in their oddiutiorm gift shops. His second book “Legend Tripping: The Ultimate Adventure” published by Adventures Unlimited Press in 2017 and is a best seller. Rob's new book "International Legend Tripping: Adventure Outside the Box" came out in 2020.Books on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B06XT5JN6L/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=e11a3f59-a507-4aeb-b3a6-5f99a3c958f6&ref_=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1Click that play button, and let's unravel the mysteries of the UNTOLD! Remember to like, share, and subscribe to our channel to stay updated on all the latest discoveries and adventures. See you there!Join Barnaby Jones each Monday on the Untold Radio Network Live at 12pm Central – 10am Pacific and 1pm Eastern. Come and Join the live discussion next week. Please subscribe.We have ten different Professional Podcasts on all the things you like. New favorite shows drop each day only on the UNTOLD RADIO NETWORKTo find out more about Barnaby Jones and his team, (Cryptids, Anomalies, and the Paranormal Society) visit their website www.WisconsinCAPS.comMake sure you share and Subscribe to the CAPS YouTube Channel as wellhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs7ifB9Ur7x2C3VqTzVmjNQ

In this episode of NOON, we're sitting down with Ryan, a critical care paramedic and firefighter who's truly done it all. From serving as a medic at a JROTC summer camp to flying into Ukraine as a combat medic, Ryan's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Despite suffering serious injuries in a fire truck accident, his passion for helping others brought him back to the field he loves. Ryan's resilience and dedication shine through his incredible story.Don't forget to like, follow, and turn on notifications so that you don't miss this or any other episode of Nine One One Nonsense!Podcast: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1vAokfqG5aifoRBKk9MAUh?si=T8DipSBCQzWfOeiBW3h-Vw⁠FB Page: https://m.facebook.com/groups/nineoneonenonsense/?ref=shareInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/911nonsense/⁠X: ⁠https://twitter.com/911Nonsense⁠Bonfire Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/nine-one-one-nonsense/?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=store_page_share&utm_campaign=nine-one-one-nonsense&utm_content=defaultContent Warning: This episode contains discussions about death, including graphic and potentially triggering details. Listener discretion is advised. The episode also covers sensitive topics and may not be suitable for all audiences. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health issues, please seek help immediately. You can contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 from anywhere in the U.S. #PodcastInterview #flight #warning #UniquePerspective #podcast #podcastersofinstagram #samspursuit #nineoneonenonsense #ems #paramedic #medicine #medic #medical #nurse #emt #awesome #NOONPodcast #fun #sad #truth #ptsd #trigger #triggered #hospital #subscribe #spotifypodcast #spotify #applepodcasts #iheartradio --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/samspursuit/support

04:28 Attempted Trump assassin given surprising charges 07:57 'Trump Drivers' mostly cleared by jury following lawsuit by Biden bus passengers 15:38 Deranged bad guy stabs mother to death and tries rushing an armed cop 34:53 Secret Service officer found to have 'negligently' shot himself on duty 35:41 JROTC students assist SRO after his weapon discharged and injured him 37:04 Deputy arrested for manslaughter after accidentally shooting his girlfriend LEO Round Table (law enforcement talk show) Season 9, Episode 194 (2,290) filmed on 09/26/2024 1. https://www.coffeeandcovid.com/p/ban-experts-wednesday-september-25 https://www.axios.com/2024/09/24/trump-attempted-assassination-ryan-routh-charged 2. https://apnews.com/article/trump-train-biden-texas-2020-election-trials-018e1c725e17ab0593835468db202666 3. https://rumble.com/v5g9k6h-bodycam-shows-irvine-police-officer-fatally-shooting-suspect-who-stabbed-hi.html?e9s=src_v1_upp 4. https://www.lawofficer.com/uniformed-secret-service-officer-negligently-shoots-himself-while-on-duty/ 5. https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2024/09/22/brackenridge-jrotc-students-help-school-resource-officer-after-accidental-shooting/ 6. https://www.tampafp.com/deputy-in-florida-arrested-for-manslaughter-after-accidental-shooting-of-girlfriend/ Show Panelists and Personalities: Chip DeBlock (Host and retired police detective) Jeff Wenninger (retired lieutenant and Founder & CEO of Law Enforcement Consultants, LLC) Chuck Springer (retired lieutenant) Andrea Casale (retired police Officer) Related Events, Organizations and Books: Retired DEA Agent Robert Mazur's works: Interview of Bryan Cranston about him playing Agent Robert Mazur in THE INFILTRATOR film https://vimeo.com/channels/1021727 Trailer for the new book, THE BETRAYAL https://www.robertmazur.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/The-Betrayal-trailer-reMix2.mp4 Everything on Robert Mazur https://www.robertmazur.com/ The Wounded Blue - Lt. Randy Sutton's charity https://thewoundedblue.org/ Rescuing 911: The Fight For America's Safety - by Lt. Randy Sutton (Pre-Order) https://rescuing911.org/ Books by panelist and retired Lt. Randy Sutton: https://www.amazon.com/Randy-Sutton/e/B001IR1MQU%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share They're Lying: The Media, The Left, and The Death of George Floyd - by Liz Collin (Lt. Bob Kroll's wife) https://thelieexposed.com/ Lt. Col. Dave Grossman - Books, Newsletter, Presentations, Shop, Sheepdogs https://grossmanontruth.com/ Sheriff David Clarke - Videos, Commentary, Podcast, Shop, Newsletter https://americassheriff.com/ Content Partners: Red Voice Media - Real News, Real Reporting https://www.redvoicemedia.com/shows/leo/ ThisIsButter - One of the BEST law enforcement video channels https://rumble.com/user/ThisIsButter The Free Press - LEO Round Table is in their Cops and Crimes section 5 days a week https://www.tampafp.com/ https://www.tampafp.com/category/cops-and-crime/ Video Show Schedule On All Outlets: http://leoroundtable.com/home/syndication/ Syndicated Radio Schedule: http://leoroundtable.com/radio/syndicated-radio-stations/ Sponsors: Aero Precision - "When Precision Counts” https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/ Galls - Proud to serve America's public safety professionals https://www.galls.com/leo Blue To Gold - training that is relevant and relatable to every street officer https://bluetogold.com/ AUFIRE - The Gold Standard in tactical simulation https://www.aufire.com/ The International Firearm Specialist Academy - The New Standard for Firearm Knowledge https://www.gunlearn.com/ Genesis Gold Group - Protect Your IRA or 401(k) with Physical Gold & Silver​ https://roundtablegold.com/ Prepper Beef - Steak That Stays Ready https://roundtablebeef.com/ MyMedicare.live - save money in Medicare insurance options from the experts http://www.mymedicare.live/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leoroundtable/support

Growing up on the family farm out West, Kasey Bruce learned what work ethic was all about at an early age. That mentality would stick with him through high school and decades later as he served our country in the United States Navy. Meeting Aaron Scheer proved to be a divine encounter and would lead him to his new position with Centershot Ministries and Centershot Blue.Now a passionate archer, Bruce is using his servant heart to change lives through the sport of archery, literally around the world. Travelling from coast to coast here in the US and to Africa as well, he is seeing firsthand how transformational a bow and arrow can be. Whether it's in the younger generation as part of the JROTC program or seeing the smile on the face of a Veteran, First Responder, or Law Enforcement Officer through Centershot Blue, life change is happening with Scheer and Bruce leading the charge.I met Kasey a couple years ago at the Archery Trade Association Show in Indianapolis and connected again a month later at a private Centershot event in Florida. Our friendship quickly grew into a brotherhood built around faith and I am excited about what the future holds for our respective ministries. All I do know is that the sky is the limit and with leaders like Kasey investing in the lives of others, the HHAUSA Centershot connection is a pairing that is sure to have impact for years to come.To learn more about Centershot and Centershot Blue, visit their websites at:https://centershot.org/https://centershotblue.org/You can also reach Kasey directly at: kasey@centershotblue.orgFor more information about HHAUSA, learn how you can support our mission, or attend an event, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, tees and hoodies, visit www.hhasports.comHHAUSA Partner Discount CodesHot Shot 15% Off Code: HHAPartner24Rugid Gear 10% Off Code: HHAUSA10StealthRig 15% Off Code: Stealth15

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

A conversation with Sam Eckholm '18 about his unique path and work to inspire the next generation of military leaders through social media and content creation.----more---- SUMMARY In this edition of Long Blue Leadership, host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99, is talking with Sam about his journey from the three times he landed on the “footprints” on in-processing day through the challenges he faced as he learned to lead his peers, side-stepping career advice that might have left him in obscurity, his relentless perseverance pursuing his dreams, graduation in 2018, the history he's making now and Sam's continuing support of the Air Force Academy.     SOME OF OUR FAVORITE QUOTES "Putting yourself in other people's shoes is big." "If you have an end goal in mind, it's not going to be easy to get there. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it." "What you see as a finished polished video, the behind the scenes is crazy." "Don't lose sight of that end goal." "Dig deep down and realize what you want. And just relentlessly go after that."   SHARE THIS EPISODE FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER  |   LINKEDIN    CHAPTERS 00:00 - Putting Yourself in Other People's Shoes 21:13 - The Terrazzo Gap: Challenges and Perceptions 23:49 - Finding Passion in Clubs and Sports 27:40 - From Photography to Public Affairs 30:05 - Inspired by the F-22 Demo Team 31:00 - Pursuing a Career in Public Affairs 32:24 - Learning and Growing as a Young Lieutenant 33:22 - Challenges and Rewards of Public Affairs 34:22 - Maintaining Motivation and Finding Balance 35:44 - Leading Others and Finding Personal Outlets 38:41 - Transitioning to Entrepreneurship 41:49 - Impactful Moments and Inspiring Others 46:49 - Overcoming Challenges and Pursuing Dreams 53:31 - Supporting the Academy and Creating Impactful Content 56:19 - Final Thoughts and Message to Listeners   TAKEAWAYS  - Putting yourself in other people's shoes is important for effective leadership  - The Terrazzo Gap between intercollegiate athletes and non-athletes at the Academy is a unique challenge  - Being involved in clubs and sports at the Academy provides valuable experiences and friendships  - Passion for photography and social media can lead to a career in public affairs.  - Don't lose sight of your end goal and relentlessly pursue it.  - Advocate for yourself and trust in your own decisions.  - Creating meaningful impact requires hard work and dedication.  - Inspire others by sharing your journey and experiences.  - The Academy Blueprint program helps level the playing field for aspiring cadets.  - Expand your knowledge and learn from various sources of inspiration.  - Don't be discouraged by challenges and setbacks; they can lead to growth and success.   ABOUT SAM Deep down, Sam Eckholm always knew the Air Force Academy was where he belonged. As the son of an Air Force pilot and Academy graduate, he was brought up on the blue and silver. After graduating high school in Dallas, Texas, he followed in his dad's footsteps, attending the U.S. Air Force Academy as a member of the class of 2018. Following graduation, Sam was selected as a member of the F-22 Raptor Demonstration team, where he traveled the world as a Public Affairs Officer, documenting the 5th generation stealth fighter jet at air shows across the globe. After separating from active duty in 2022, Sam's passion for military service has not changed, but his ability to share that passion with an even larger audience has. His videos have accumulated over 100 million views online, with over 1 million followers across his social media platforms. Attending the Air Force Academy is what started it all, and Sam's goal is to help others achieve their dreams of throwing their hat in the air and graduating from the Academy. The Air Force Academy Blueprint is the culmination of almost two years of pouring his heart and soul into a singular project, and he can't wait to bring it to you. - Image and copy courtesy of Sam Eckholm CONNECT WITH SAM LINKEDIN  |  INSTAGRAM  |  FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER   LINKS WE MENTIONED ACADEMY BLUEPRINT SAM'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL     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!          SAM'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL     TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS:   Guest:  Sam Eckholm '18  |  Host:  t. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99   Sam Eckholm Putting yourself in other people's shoes is big. It's kind of hard to remember that because you're getting information from your leader, right, your boss, they're telling you one thing, it's hard for them to see kind of two layers down how that's going to impact everyone else. So, I mean, I would always just try to put myself in other people's shoes. Okay, if I do this, what's that gonna… how's that going to make this person feel?   Naviere Walkewicz My guest today is Sam Eckholm, USAFA class of 2018 and Air Force captain turned full-time entrepreneur and storyteller, the third in his family's Long Blue Line. Sam is the son of a 1989 graduate and the nephew of a 1993 graduate. All three hail from Cadet Squadron 28, the Blackbirds. We'll talk with Sam about his Dallas roots to the day he stood on the footprints at the Academy. We'll ask him about how he made his way from the wing to the F-22 Raptor demonstration team, then public affairs, out of the Air Force in '23, and now an entrepreneur, content creator and social media influencer. Sam's father and uncle were his main sources of inspiration for becoming a member of the profession of arms. And he has stayed close to the Air Force and the Academy ever since. He leads hopefuls to reach for their dreams and shares his passion for all things Air Force with the world. As we move through the conversation, we'll talk about lessons he's learned in being a leader, and what advice he would give to those aspiring to become leaders and leaders who want to be better. Sam, I'm really looking forward to this conversation. Welcome to Long Blue Leadership and thank you for being here today.   Sam Eckholm Naviere, it's always great to see you. It's always great to be back at the best school in the world.   Naviere Walkewicz Yes, it is. And I mean, I think what's so great about your story, Sam, and what's so unique for our listeners is they feel like they know you because you have such an incredible presence. But today, they're really going to get a chance to understand how you got here. And I think that's what's so fascinating for people.   Sam Eckholm Yeah, that means a lot. It's always fun to sit down and kind of talk a little bit more in depth. You know, with the videos I do, I'm trying to focus on highlights and showing some action and keeping the viewer's attention. But this is just kind of laid back.    Naviere Walkewicz  Let's talk and relive some fun, exciting , you know, stories from the Academy and beyond. Yes, this is about you now. So, you get to be the spotlight and I'm really excited to take everyone on this journey. So, let's roll it back a little bit. We'll start with a journey of Sam as a little boy, you know.  I know you shared you kind of grew up in Dallas after third grade. We had a little bit of a chat, but you did some bouncing around before that. Let's hear about your childhood.   Sam Eckholm Yeah, so my dad, an '89 grad, like you said went off to pilot training ended up flying KC-135s. So I was actually born at McConnell Air Force Base, right, and so Wichita, Kansas. Fun fact: little full-circle moment for me, I'm gonna' be headed out there in two weeks to do a KC-46 video with the unit there and first time I'll have been back since I was born. So that'll be really fun to see. But yeah, growing up I mean, I don't consider myself an Air Force brat because my dad did separate when I was young, but we bounced around every two years but Dyess McConnell, it was fun. Definitely have some early memories of him and his flight suit walking out on the flight line. And that probably sparked the initial interest in wanting to serve. I think I shoved that to a side for a little bit until I was a bit more mature and could realize what that actually meant. Kind of around the second or third grade, he got out, transitioned to the airline world settled on American Airlines, and moved to Dallas, Texas. And that's really where I call my home. That's where I grew up. And as you know, Dallas is a super not just for Academy athletes and future cadets. It's just seems like a hot hub, right, for a lot of people move there. So, I had a great experience. When it came time to applying to the Academy I knew I was going to have to have my ducks in a line because it's competitive. There's a lot of people trying to get in. But looking back I mean, I've been all over the world now at this point, but Texas always feels like home.   Naviere Walkewicz I love that you have your roots. So talk about what you were like as a kid. Were you really active in sports? Where are you — you kind of have the social media side, so, are you really interested in some of the dramatic arts? Like, tell me about what that looked like?   Sam Eckholm Yes, sports were always a big part of my family. My dad was actually a basketball player here at the Air Force Academy. My uncle played on the football team as well. So, they were huge athletes. I was always, growing up, I was playing tennis, basketball, golf with my dad, my brothers. I have two other brothers as well. We're all super competitive. Probably, I think what also helped me just realize the Academy was a great school because you know, what other college do you go into where everyone's so competitive and athletic, and sports are built into the curriculum? So yeah, I mean, I would say that was an important part of growing up. My dad especially instilled a lot of values he learned at the Academy in serving. And it's just so cool looking back now, because I didn't realize at the time what those were, and then you go through four years here, you go through five years active duty, and you're like, “OK,” that's why he was the way that he was. When I was actually here at the Academy, I had this mental checklist of stories, he told me, and I will try to like check them off as I also accomplished them. So, you know, his basic training experience, right? Him jumping off the 10-meter board and water survival; him going through survival training and getting some of that experience and jumping out of an airplane. It's really fun for me to experience those as well because those were the stories I had grown up with back home in Texas.   Naviere Walkewicz Wow. So, a house of three boys. Where were you in the lineup?   Sam Eckholm I was a middle child.   Naviere Walkewicz And so did your other brothers want to go to the Academy as well or that wasn't...   Sam Eckholm So my older brother Ben, he originally was interested. In fact, you know, he's only a year and a half older. So, we were only one grade apart. And I remember he went to one of those service academy, congressional just learn more about it, right. And he went with a couple of his buddies, and I think they turned him off from it, because they came back and said, “Oh, I ain't doing that. We're going to Texas A&M. We're gonna' have fun.” But I remember he came back and had this pamphlet he got from it. And I stole it from his bedroom. And then I started looking at it. And I was like, “OK, if he's not going to do that, I think this is something I want to do.” And we can talk more about that, obviously, but my brother did end up going a different route. He went to Texas A&M, not in the core there, just kind of a normal student. Little brother, he's like seven years younger than me. He was always interested in the academies, but you know, as he grew up, I think he navigated a little bit more towards another route as well. So, to answer your question, I was the only one who ended up going into an academy and serving, but they're still incredibly close to me. And I actually have this hilarious photo of my older brother. He came to visit during Parents Weekend. I was like a junior. And during Parents Weekend here at the Academy, my family would actually like stay at the Academy because all the other kids and their parents would go to Boulder, go to Garden of the Gods or the Broadmoor, whatever. And so, the Academy was completely empty. And so, it was kind of like this country club for my family. So, like, we would go down... And then you got like the golf course to yourself. You got these beautiful greens…   Naviere Walkewicz I could see you've got your stretch view…   Sam Eckholm Right, exactly. So, we would go down to like the athletic facilities and play tennis and just hang out and have fun. Anyway, there's this funny photo of my older brother. I gave him my PT uniform, the ringer tee and the shorts. And he like blended in as a cadet for the weekend. And it was really funny one day because retreat played and he was saluting. I'm like, “Well, they're gonna' think you're a cadet.” So, everyone's super close to me and the Academy, and they loved coming to visit. And I think in an alternate world, they would have all tried to come here too. But yeah, very close with the family.   Naviere Walkewicz That is outstanding. We love, hearing about the dynamics of kind of what your support network was like, what those influences were like in your life. You mentioned something about your dad sharing stories. What were those initial nuggets? I know you talked about the experiences they had, but what was he instilling with you and your brothers at that time when you were in those impressionable years?   Sam Eckholm Well, my dad is just one of the most like regimented individuals I know. He's very, very focused, you know. And now looking back, I think I just attribute so much from the Academy, and especially back in the '80s, you know, the way things were run and like how he did it, but you don't know that when you're a kid, right? Like, I heard the stories of the Academy. And I don't know, I think when I was young, I didn't think they were cool. And then as you get a little older, they are kind of cool, but you don't want to tell him they're cool, kind of like shove that in the back of your head. And then now I'm like, “Wow, that was really, really cool.” So yeah, I remember there was this photo we had in our house. I don't know if it was above our piano are just on some dresser and it was him in pilot training and his flight suit standing next to T-38. And I thought that was the coolest thing growing up. I mean, he looked like Tom Cruise from Top Gun. And so I literally to go to my room, I would walk past that every single day. And that photo is just like, I don't know, it's cemented in my mind of, “Wow, that was so cool.” And, you know, at the time, I did think “Hey, I'm going to be a pilot. I'm going to do this,” and learned obviously down the road there's so many opportunities to serve in the Air Force. But yeah, I mean, it was just such a cool thing to be able to say, “My dad went to the Academy. My dad's a pilot,” you know? Other people's parents, whatever they did, you know, still interesting. But to be able to say that was always so cool. I just wanted to be able to experience that, wanted to be able to do something different from my friends in high school, being able to have my dad actually, which I know a lot of applicants don't have someone who served in the Army. I'm trying to change that with the work I do to make everyone feel like they understand what they're getting into. But that was huge for me. And it was fun. I still remember I would text him through every milestone we had at the Academy, whether it was Recognition or Ring Dance or commitment. And he would kind of share where he was back then or a photo he had. And yeah, it was cool.   Naviere Walkewicz That's really beautiful. And, and it makes me think about how we capture now, and I think this might have been, this was happening during your class as well, but we had WebGuy, the WebGuy team actually capturing moments. And so, it's probably neat that he actually sees some of those while you're texting him. And those you know, those listening, the texting ability is not something we had back in the day when I was there. We just had the red phone booth to try to get your like five minutes to call.   Sam Eckholm I can't imagine that.   Naviere Walkewicz Yeah, it's wonderful. I think we preserve so much of the experience for our cadets.   Sam Eckholm Yeah, there's still a bit now where the family almost gets to feel a little bit of that assurance with us. Why are they still writing like letters home?  Pen to paper. Yeah, and you know, stamp. And yeah, WebGuy, I think was my mom's like, saving grace during basic as many moms out there. Yeah, shout out, Mom. I know you liked WebGuy. I always tried to smile when I saw a camera. So, she knew I was I could see how I was doing even though I sometimes was not that I was like, yeah.   Naviere Walkewicz So let's talk about life at the Academy. So, you were direct entry. Were you an intercollegiate recruit or just kind of in and started?   Sam Eckholm No, yeah, I was direct entry. I was very, very fortunate to get the principal nomination from my congressman who did that method out of Dallas. It was an incredibly competitive area. I mean, there were like 60 kids just from my area trying to get in and oh man, I was so stressed going in because I knew how bad I wanted it. I knew I looked great on paper. But the problem was 60 other kids also look really good on paper. So, the interviewer really helped me out there. I was able to talk about family experiences got the principal nomination, so I knew I was going to have my shot. So yeah, direct entry got here. And it's kind of funny because having a dad and uncle who went here, I thought I knew everything right? I had probably watched every single video and read every article, looked at everything on the Academy, I was obsessed. The second I got here, day one or Day Zero as they call it, like the bus ride here.   Naviere Walkewicz Tell me about your experience on the bus.   Sam Eckholm Oh, man, this is a lot different. Well, the bus is, I mean, I knew what was coming. I'd seen every single video, but it hits you different when you're there and they're screaming in your face. The footprints was really rough for me. I've told this story before, because then — I don't know what they do now — but they broke it up by your basic flights and your squadron. So, Cobras is what I was in. And so, all my future flight members were with me and we're on the footprints. And an upperclassman is — [there's a] crazy photo; I can send it to you guys — but just someone screaming at me, right? And I don't know what happened. But I think they lost track of me. So [I'm on the] footprints when the rest of my squadron was sent up the ramp to begin their in-processing, I got sent to the back of the footprints line to kind of do it again.   Naviere Walkewicz Really?   Sam Eckholm Yeah. And so, they did that for a few cadets. So, I got sent to do it again. And the crazy part is I went through that, I got sent a third time. But, and this is like the whole footprint spiel again. The whole “Get on attention.” So, I had like triple the footprints experience and then for the rest of the day because my squadron had already in process, I was so far behind. It was now like, “Are you lost, basic!” Like, I was that guy the whole time in the morning. So, it's just when I finally got there, at the end of the day, like to my squadron, I was already known and had the reputation, like the lost basic. You know it was for next six weeks, which turned into the next year, I was trying to get rid of that reputation that I was the lost basic, but hopefully now I've gotten rid of that.   Naviere Walkewicz All right. We'll leave that one alone. That's a fantastic story. Yeah. Wow. All right. So, let's talk about your life at the Academy. I know where you graduate from Squadron 28, legacy squadron, right? Let's talk about some of your experiences, both from the cadet perspective — athletics, academics, wherever you'd like to take us — but also let's weave in a little bit of some lessons you've learned about yourself during that time in leadership.   Sam Eckholm Yeah, I started out in CES-14 Baby Cobra. I don't know, I think what they're now doing like one and then three years. One and three. Yeah. I always knew that's what I wanted to do. Because like, literally, even when I was growing up, my dad had his A-jacket, and I saw the Blackbirds patch. And that was really cool. But yeah, I mean, my first two years were definitely different from my last two years, I always tell people, the first two years, I was discovering who I was both as a person but as a cadet, right? Like, you come in thinking you're going to do something and have a path and major in this and do this when you graduate. But it was so much information coming at me of here's what you can do, here are all the opportunities. And that's one thing, I'm really proud of myself for that — I didn't feel like I had to follow a certain path. You know, when I came in, I thought I was gonna' fly, I was gonna' be an engineer, I'm gonna' do this. And that's amazing for all the cadets who want to do that and are excited about it. But I knew I was excited about other stuff, too. You know, you mentioned kind of social media photography, that sort of stuff. I had that kind of in the back of my head, I just had to figure out a way how to make that work in the Air Force, right? Because I had no idea when I came in that was something you could kind of do. So the first two years were a lot of discovery, right? I did not, and this was kind of strategically, do any clubs or anything the first two years. I kind of regret that looking back, but I thought I just needed to be in the squadron with my flight. Versus now, I always encourage people at the Academy take advantage of the clubs, take advantage of the extracurricular stuff, because, I mean, you've formed so many friendships there.   Naviere Walkewicz I don't know if you agree, because you did a lot, right? And I definitely agree, I was not a recruited athlete. And so, I think I explored a lot of different lanes. But you know, one of the things that when you were talking, I was thinking about this, because when people see you and hear you now, you just have so much confidence. Did you always have that? Or is there a time when maybe that was not the case as a cadet?   Sam Eckholm Yeah, in high school, you know how it goes, right, you're at the top of the top in high school, especially someone going into the Academy. To go to the Academy., most students are presidents of their classes, or whatever. And so, you go from the top, and then you're dropped very quickly and humbled when you get to the Academy. So, I think I definitely lost a little bit of that. But then I built it back up. And I think that's kind of the goal of the Academy, right? They're trying to build back up leaders; you start as a follower. So, by the time I left, we can get to that, I was a squadron commander of CES-28. And that is, to this day, one of the most rewarding experiences. I learned the most about myself and talk about confidence. Getting up there every morning, talking to over 100 of your peers as their quote-unquote, cadet leader. I mean, that right there to this day, I'm like, if I can do that, and be able to tell other students my age, what they have to be doing, I can do anything.   Naviere Walkewicz Peer leadership is definitely a challenging type of leadership. What did you learn about yourself in that? Can you share a story where you're like, well, am I really cut out for this?   Sam Eckholm Well, it's hard because you have all different types of cadets, all different types of classes. Everyone has their thing that interests them. And let's be real, I mean, you're up here, right? You're not in the real Air Force, yet. You've been appointed this position. And so, some cadets are like, OK, come on. I mean, literally, two weeks ago, he was just, you know, Sam, and now he's like, oh, cadet first class at home squadron commander, cadet lieutenant colonel. So, with the younger classes, it's easier, because the rank structure, they kind of understand, but to your senior class, it's your peers. So, my mentality for that is that I was just going to try to be someone that everyone could relate to, that had everyone's best interest in mind. So, I would take so long for any decision or working with my AOC, just trying to advocate for what everyone wanted. I didn't see myself as higher, better, above anyone. It was just, I'm going to be the spokesperson for everyone. And I'm gonna' work as hard as I can to make sure everyone's happy. And I think there's a lot of lessons you can take from that approach. Of course, not every leadership position, you have the ability to do that. But at the Academy, I don't know, I think that was just a really cool opportunity to kind of explore and find out how that works. And I learned a lot from that. And because I've had opportunities to lead in my Air Force career and beyond, I still pull from those experiences. I'm like, “Well, this would maybe work here.” But yeah, I don't know. Did you have any opportunities to do the leadership stuff, the higher level here? It's so unique, there's nothing else like that.   Naviere Walkewicz No, it really is unique. And I think one of the things that, when our listeners are always looking for are those little nuggets. So you learn so much, you know. What is one takeaway from a pure leadership perspective that you could say, “I've leaned back into multiple times?” What would that be? Putting yourself in other people's shoes is big.   Sam Eckholm It's kind of hard to remember that because you're getting information in from your leader, usually from your leader, right, your boss, they're telling you one thing, it's hard for them to see two layers down how that's going to impact everyone else. So I would always just try to put myself in other people's shoes. “OK, if I do this,  how's that going to make this person feel?” But the other thing is you can never make everyone happy. And I had to come to grips with that. And that's hard for me because I'm the type of person — it like messes me up if I know someone's mad at me or upset or doesn't think I'm doing the right thing. But you learn real quickly, you grow up really quickly and realize that if 90% is good, I mean, that might even be because that might be the best 99 whatever number you want. 15 a year and I'm like, well, this is working. You can't make everyone happy. And I still struggle with that, because you want everyone to be happy, especially with what I'm doing now on social media, when there's millions of people watching what I'm doing, and you look at comments, and you're kinda' like, “Man, I tried so hard on this, and I could have done it differently.” But then if you change it for one person, and someone else isn't gonna' be happy… so thick skin, that's the biggest thing I had to realize I wouldn't be where I am today if I let that bother me. And I remind myself that that's better to be where I am today and have thick skin then be hiding in the corner because I was scared. I couldn't make everyone happy.   Naviere Walkewicz So that is a great lesson. Thank you for sharing that. So, the Academy was great. You had some wonderful leadership experiences. Can you share maybe one of your favorite things about the Academy while you were a cadet?   Sam Eckholm Yeah, well, you asked about clubs. Oh, and I mentioned I didn't do anything really the first two years, which is true. That completely changed. When I switched squadrons, I got super involved, still within the squadron, but also within the Academy. I was on the mock trial team. That was so fun. Gave me an opportunity to travel on the weekends. I ended up being a legal studies major because of that and really enjoyed just everything that came from that. You know, I love talking. I don't know if you knew that I love speaking and talking with other people, communicating. And in mock trial and legal studies, our exams were literally us standing at a podium delivering a fake appellate speech or like you're talking to a judge and that was really cool. And then being able to compete and travel by talking and being a lawyer was fun. And then I also had the opportunity to be on the women's basketball practice team, the scout team. So I was a basketball player in high school, not at the level they play at the Academy. But I was like, “Well, how can I continue doing this?” And so someone, one of my classmates, is like, well, the women's team they look for former high school players to come into rugby, the scout team, run their upcoming opponents' defensive and offensive plays against them. And I tried out for that and made it and that was such a blast. I never knew we do that. And I had a schedule. I was able to go down there — we got the merch, the swag bag. It was fun. So, I tell everyone I was on the women's basketball team. Some kind of laugh, but it was the most amazing opportunity I had. And there's so many things like that at the Academy. By the time I was a firstie — people ask if I had any experience with photography, video, social media while here. One answer I say is “I started the CS 28 Blackbirds Instagram account,” which is still running strong, right? But then I actually worked with my then-physics instructor to start a photography class for the Academy. So as part of the Fine Arts Department, is the first time it was ran. And it was an elective I was able to sign up for when I was a first-year. And yeah, I mean, we literally had like 30 cadets take this course and raised enough money that we were able to get everyone a camera. Our professor, Col. Maddox at the time, she's still in, but she was amazing. She taught us and instructed us because she had her own business doing wedding photography and stuff like that. And that was so cool. I remember going to class, it felt like I was at a normal school. I was taking a photography class. And so that was when I was graduating going into public affairs, as my career, realized that I'm going to keep this up. And it was just cool to be able to do something like that, that you don't think the Academy has. We've got some cool classes that you might not expect.   Naviere Walkewicz No, that's wonderful. And I think our listeners are really excited to hear that too. And before we go on to your career in the Air Force and that transition, I wanted to go back to a little bit about the intercollegiate experience because I think you have a really unique perspective, right? You are not a recruited athlete, but you experienced really diving into the Academy from that aspect. And then you got to have the schedule and understand the rigors of what our intercollegiate athletes experience and you will hear this term: “Teezo Gap.” What's your perspective on that? You know, for people that are just listening, I think that's a fascinating topic that we haven't really explored.   Sam Eckholm Yeah, was a cadet for the first two years not being an intercollegiate athlete, the Teezo Gap, as you mentioned, it's a completely different perspective. And I'll be honest, sometimes you buy into it, you're like, I mean, these athletes are having an easier — they get to go do this and travel and wear civilian clothes as freshmen with their team, you know, miss all the mandatory squadron events and the training sessions and so I'll be honest, you do have some of that perception. Now flashing forward, that completely changed when I got a taste of it. And this was a small taste of it. I mean, I was a scout team player. And it wasn't every day, I had to go down half the week because we had two different teams that did it. But even then, I can't imagine what they have to go through. Because you go down there, your schedule is modified to where you don't have afternoon classes. So, after lunch, you're kind of going down there. And then it is practice meetings, dinner, sometimes meetings again, and then homework, and then rinse and repeat. And at the same time, sure, maybe they're missing some squadron stuff, but you know what, they're not missing anything academically, that's the same. So I have so much appreciation for all of the intercollegiate athletes at the Academy and experiencing that gave me more of an appreciation. And I just, again, it's something you can't fully appreciate until you have done it yourself. But for those students that can be so successful on the field and then still graduate from this. I mean, I know I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it. So, to answer your question, it is something that I think people who aren't aware, or who are listening and you know, might have that perception that it exists. I think we need to work to change that a little bit. Because these people are incredible.   Naviere Walkewicz And again, it's just I mean, you can probably share more. So, you went through that. Like, it's fascinating. I really appreciate you sharing that. Yeah. I think that's a wonderful thing for people to hear. You know, some of the perceptions versus realities. So, let's talk about when you were in the military. So, you graduated the Academy, what AFSC did you get? Yeah, so public affairs?   Sam Eckholm Yes. 35P1. When I was a firstie, I kind of knew I was going to not do the pilot thing. Multiple reasons. People asked me why. Couple: I wasn't even fully medically qualified at the time. I had some color vision stuff. Probably could have gotten a waiver for that eventually. But you know, there was a long process. So that's where I first started to think, “Hey, maybe there's something else I can do, too. I just loved being on the ground talking to people, there was more I wanted to do than just fly. And so, I was trying to find a career field that allowed me to still be around aircraft, still be bebop and buzzing around and doing my thing but also having an impact. So, after my sophomore year, when we went on ops Air Force, I went to Travis Air Force Base and part of that trip, I got to shadow the public affairs career field. And while I was there, I still remember the feeling of like walking through the doors at the PA building, which was right by the wing staff,. They had like a full suite of Apple MacBook computers, airmen on Lightroom and Photoshop and editing videos. The San Francisco 49ers were in town to do a base visit and PA was out there escorting them. I got to interview the commander who was about to PCS and write a story on him. This was all in the span of like three days. And I was like, “What other career field is there where you can do all of this?” It's like kind of a jack-of-all-trades job. And so that visit, I was like, “Wow, this is really, really cool. I want to do this!” Now the next part was like, “Well, how do I do this?” So, I came to find out there was only five slots. Since I've graduated, I've heard some years they have had no slots, some years a couple slots. So, I don't really know how it works anymore. But I would go up to Harmon Hall, literally every day the first semester of my first year, second of my two-degree year, and I would just talk with, then at the time Lt. Col. Allen Herritage, who is the PA director. Now it'd be like, “Sir, how can I learn more about this job?” I was like, “How can you help me? How can you help me get this?” It's all about connections. And regardless of whether or not that actually did help, I know two things are true. I went up there every day and I talked. And then I also got public affairs. So, I just, I worked really hard, though. I mean, I worked so hard in school, and I had a good class ranking. And that definitely helped me and just networking as much as I could to let a FPC know that this is something that I want. So yeah, I dropped public affairs. I was so excited. I remember our squadron put on this awesome AFSC drop release with Nerf guns and blindfold maze stuff. And when I saw that, I was like, “This is gonna' be fun five years, or longer.” Yeah, I didn't know looking back. I mean, you know, we can get into that too. But it's a career field that is fun for life and I'm so glad I got it.   Naviere Walkewicz Wonderful. So let's talk about that. And let's talk about that career field and some of your experiences both from the experience perspective, but maybe where there was some leadership lessons you took as a public affairs officer.   Sam Eckholm Yeah, well, I was kind of thrust right into it. So, I got stationed at Langley Air Force Base. I was, I think the only one from my class, maybe one other who even got sent there. So, it's not like pilot training or a lot. You know, if you got your buddies, it's kind of like a little reunion and you run it back for the next couple years. I was off on my own, so to learn quickly what life was like, to be just Sam as an officer, as a lieutenant, it's like the first week when I was out there we were doing unit PT with my PA shop, running around the base track, which those who have been to Langley, it's a beautiful ride on the coast on the running ground. It's amazing running the flightline. And out of nowhere an F-22 took off just full-burner. But it wasn't a normal takeoff. It started doing maneuvers and rolls and just putting on this spectacle of a show. I mean, my ears were like, “Oh my gosh,” and I turned to my boss at the time. I was like, “What is going on right now?” She's like, “Oh, Sam, that's the F-22 demo team. They travel the air shows around the world just like the Thunderbirds, and they put on shows and help recruit and they actually take one PA person from our office to travel with them each year.” It was at that second I knew that's what I want to do. That right there, is what I want to do. And flash forward a few months, the opening came up. I was completely inexperienced at the time, but I pitched myself and sold myself and the commander at the time, Lt. Col. “Loco” Lopez, who's now out in Hawaii, is the squadron commander for the F-22 unit. And he's been a big inspiration to me. I interviewed with him and I was showing him a YouTube channel. “Look, I can edit, see, like, I can take photos, look at my Instagram.” And he hired me in for the next two years. And every year I was like, “What is real life?” I mean, we were at shows all over the world. I went to Dubai, Singapore, Chile, Hawaii, I mean, Alaska, pretty much every base here in the U.S. got to meet my classmates who were stationed there, got to run all the social media, do all the videos for the team, the coolest jet in the world. It's the F-22 — blew up their social media, just made it my goal to do what I called “no life.” Literally, for two years it's all I did was live, breathe F-22 demo team, and just really wanted to give it my all. And that was so fun. Now to go back to the leadership side of things: Imagine being a butter bar, a second lieutenant now thrust on a team, which has national-media-level attention. I remember I was at a show in Chicago andI just got called in to do an interview because our pilot wasn't available. And I'm literally in front of thousands and thousands of people having to just talk about the Air Force mission and these high-level questions that I was like,”Oh my gosh,” so back to your question of being confident. Like, that's probably where it came from. I just had to learn and had to fake it ‘till I made it. But what a fun experience for a young lieutenant and just something I'll never forget.   Naviere Walkewicz Wow. Well, I think something I took from what you said as well as you identify very quickly, when there's something that you really want to do and you make a path to get there. And I think in your relentless pursuit, in a way that is really convincing. And I think that's a lesson right? You have to put in the work, you obviously can't just only be talk, you have to be able to show like, you can put some cred behind it. And I think that's a lesson where you're able to share with folks, “Hey, if you're really interested in something, go all in for it.” And to your point, “and then live it.” Yeah, do that. soak it all in. So I think that's really inspirational. Were there any tough times you had as a public affairs officer?   Sam Eckholm Tons. PA, it's not always the good side of things, too, right? We really exist for the most part for the crisis communication, right? When something bad happens, to communicate that as well. And so, it doesn't matter if it's the highs or the lows, you still gotta' get out there and talk to people and make things happen. So, luckily, when I was on the team, you know, we didn't have anything catastrophic, any mishaps like that, but I know people who have right I mean, [I've] had mentors, PA world or former Thunderbird PAs when they've had crashes and there's a lot that goes on there. So, we always have to be prepared for that. And even though I didn't have to necessarily be thrust in that environment, that's still on your mind, you just have to be prepared. Now, the other thing was just tough with being in this lifestyle for two years is that when you're constantly gone, so we are TDY I mean, like, literally 300 days a year. And so, it's hard to continue to have the same motivation every single day when it's just the same show, monotonous, like doing everything day in and day out. And I think that's a lesson anyone can learn in the Air Force or beyond, you know, because a lot of the times it, it is repetitive. So, I would always look for ways to make it not repetitive. And for me if we're going to a different show, as a photographer, videographer making content, I would always try to do something different. I would always try to focus in on a different element of the story. So instead of just focusing on the pilot in the jet every time, I would tell behind-the-scenes stories of our maintainers, of our aircrew flight equipment specialists, of the fans who came and traveled across the country to watch and, doing tours with them and I would arrange a ton of school visits and talk to Civil Air Patrol units in JROTC and really just focus on the community relations and the recruiting side of things. And there's a lot I had to work with and that was really fun for me to mix and match and that was the way I just stayed motivated and still had fun with it. And even to this day, I'm always trying to one-up the last thing I did and branch out and evolve and just make everything interesting. And I think the viewers kind of understand that and appreciate it. And that's always my goal is for no one to ever click on a video of mine or see what I'm doing and be like, “Oh, that's kind of the same thing.” I want it to always be exciting.   Naviere Walkewicz I can absolutely appreciate that. And it seems like that kind of pace is, I mean, how do you maintain that? So maybe my question would be for you, Sam, what is your outlet? Because if you live, breathe as a leader, right, if you you expect a lot from your people, and you always want the best and you want something new, how do you maintain that level of give? And so, what's your outlet?   Sam Eckholm Yeah, well, kind of the first part of what you asked, I also had to realize that just because I'm this way doesn't mean everyone's this way, right? So, if you're a leader, and you are 100% committed and want it to be your entire life, that doesn't mean everyone's going to be that way. And I had to realize that because at times that can be frustrating, if you're leading a team and you're gung-ho about it, but like, OK, maybe they aren't, well, that's OK, you know, you need to, again, put yourself in their shoes and see what motivates them. And I learned that lesson as well, even back to when I was a squadron commander, I'd pitch an idea and I was so excited. And I can tell him that everyone's [not] gonna' be as excited as you, Sam. But yeah, my outlet, I mean, a lot of different stuff at the time, you know, I was just so excited about doing what I was doing. So as weird as it sounds, my outlet was my work. And that's something not everyone understands. But I actually felt depressed if I wasn't continuing to work, because I knew there was a time limit on how long I would have this opportunity. So, I was like, “Well, I'm going to keep working hard now.” And as I've moved on, I have found a healthy balance between work and other things. So, you know, friendships are incredibly important, especially other people in the space with what I'm doing, being able to talk with them and how they are handling stress levels. Because not everyone can relate especially to what I was doing and am doing. So other people in the space, in the industry, we're all dealing with the same things. So that's something I tell people all the time is, “Other people who are in your world — those are some awesome friendships you can have, because they understand what you're going through. Not everyone does.” That's a classic example of when people talk about the Academy, you go home on a winter break, none of your friends understand what you're going through. It's really, really hard, you know? Who does? Your classmates at the Academy. You go through that with them. And so that has been a huge thing for me: other people who have gone through what I have, like, we're in it together. And those are some times when I really feel like I can sit back, relax, and the stress is taken off.   Naviere Walkewicz Now that's really helpful. And I think I did chuckle in my head a little bit when you said, you know, “Actually, my outlet is my work.” But I think when you're doing your thing that you're wired to do and your passion, that makes sense.   Sam Eckholm Yeah, it's both fulfilling and exhausting. I mean, I love to travel to like, I do normal things as well. But in some way, even then I battled the whole, like, well, what can I be doing, especially when you're a full-time, have your own company entrepreneur. That was a huge adjustment for me. Because it's not like you have a salary job where there is some end at some point to kind of go home. It's like, well, you could always be doing more, right? You could always be working. And I've had to struggle with that sometimes, because it's like, I could keep working, keep working. So that's something I've learned and doing better at still to this day. But yeah, it's interesting.   Naviere Walkewicz So, let's talk about that transition. You know, you knew there was a time period on that F-22 demo team, and the PA role. But when did, you know, “I think I'm going to be moving out of this into my own kind of work.”   Sam Eckholm Yeah, so once I finished the F-22 team, I had to move on with my career. They don't let you do something in the Air Force forever, totally understood that. But I wasn't done personally inspiring, making content. I had developed kind of a following along the way of people who were just interested in what I was doing. So, I would kind of take my free time. I always made it my goal — I was like, I'm going to stay focused on the PA job. I never want anyone to be able to look at lieutenant at home and be like, “He's not locked in on this PA job. He's not focused. He's interested in these other things.” So, I would make that my goal. But my free time, my leave, my time on the weekends, instead of normal hobbies people do, I would make videos. That was my thing. And so, my next assignment, I went to Scott Air Force Base, I was 375 Air Mobility Wing, and that was a demanding and fun job. And I kind of still had this thing going on the side. It got up to the point where it's at the end of my Academy commitment, and I had a tough decision to make, right? I loved being in the Air Force. I was a captain at the time. I was excited. But as you rank up, you get more responsibilities, understandably, and I knew that I did not want to let that lack if I was going to stay in the Air Force. I did not want my airmen — I did not want people to think I was distracted doing something else. But I loved this other thing as well. So really, what I had to decide is, “Where am I having the biggest impact in the Air Force?” And as weird as it sounds, right, because you think of serving — most of the time people think like, in uniform active duty. Well, I think of service in many different ways, right. And I actually felt, and I know this is true, that I could serve the Air Force, the military, our country, better on the outside, continuing to inspire people by doing these videos, making this content, showing people what life was like, inspiring all these kids on the outside, being able to go at that with 100% of my time. And luckily, that wasn't just a personal decision I made. I was having conversation with like, the highest levels of leaders in Air Force recruiting and public affairs explaining this as well. And that's just what I decided I wanted to do. And it was scary. It's very scary going from a job, one that I had worked since I was a freshman in high school to get to in the Air Force, to now kind of giving that up to do this other thing. But we're really helping the viewers, it wasn't giving it up to me, it was just doing it in a different way. I would say I'm still connected now more than I was even when I'm in with what I'm doing. I'm not in uniform, you know, I don't have my CAT card anymore. But I am serving more than I ever thought I would be around the units traveling to bases every single week filming what I'm doing. So that's kind of what helped me make that decision. And it was the right decision. And to this day, the comments I see from kids, the people I've been able to help and resonate with, it's crazy. And it's something that probably wouldn't have been able to happen if I stayed in just with the amount of you know, stuff I would have had to do on the normal job side. Right?   Naviere Walkewicz Wow. So, you talked about impact. And that was really important to you. What's one of years or maybe a couple of your most favorite, impactful moments that you've had since moving into the entrepreneurial side of things?   Sam Eckholm Yeah, I mean, it's hard sometimes when you're like a video creator, because what you see is numbers on a screen, right? You see views, you see comments, which can be really inspiring too. But sometimes, you know, you miss the in-person interactions because you're traveling and it's the videos people see. But I always, even to this day, a couple times a year, I do like in-person events, I just went out to an airshow and was in San Antonio and I did a couple of these previous years. And it's a different feeling when you're out there. And there's tens, dozens of people, who are like literally waiting in line just to say hi, to take a photo to tell me that like, hey, these videos are the reason they want to join or have joined or have inspired them. It's crazy. And that to me keeps me going. And that was so, so impactful. And you know, I have a folder on my computer. On my phone I have like screenshots of all the messages I've gotten, because when I'm having a hard day or when I'm like, “Man, this is tough,” I can look back at those and be like, “Well, this is why it's all worth it. And this is why I do the things that I do.” And yeah, it's cool being a creator who's not just in it for themselves. And I try to tell people that really what I'm doing is to inspire other people. It's tough. It probably looks really cool when you see all the things I'm doing. And that is fun. But it is a lot. But I know the impact that's possible. I remember when I was a freshman in high school looking for content online, and there wasn't too much of it. And I wanted to change that. And I know Naviere, we've worked so much together and you've seen the stuff I've done and you know how much it means to me. So just being able to see and hear from people, it means everything.   Naviere Walkewicz Yeah, so what's your, is there a story, a video that you've done that just, it just kind of sits right into your heart like this one is just so special? I mean, we probably have so many, but is there one that you just feel has really resonated with, you know, youth or just that level of impact? Is there one you can speak to?   Sam Eckholm Yeah, well, I'll give, I'll give kind of two. So, one that is incredibly special to me in a personal way. I actually got to go back and do a video on the KC-135 and I brought my dad out there for that. Yeah, that was something I always wanted to do. And he's great. I was a little nervous. I was like, “How is he going to be on camera?” But he knocked it out of the park to the point where some comments were like, “He needs to come to every video like that. You need to take over the channel at this point. Everyone loves you so much.” But it was so fun. I mean, he studied for weeks on the facts of the aircraft. He was an instructor for the instructors at the schoolhouse. It took him a few minutes, but literally after half an hour, he knew his way around that aircraft so well and was teaching the current pilots out there some things that they didn't know. Anyway, so I look back — that video is like a full-circle moment for me. And that resonated with a lot of people too, who just enjoyed seeing my inspiration and have some people who look at me as their inspiration. Like it's just really, really cool to see outside of that. I mean, I would say a really personal project of mine was when I actually got to come out here to the Academy and do a complete tour of the grounds and the campus and facilities. With the audience I've been able to build, a lot of people know me as an Academy grad. And so they reached out asking me questions about the Air Force Academy. “What it's like to apply?” How they can get in. And it's hard to answer all of those questions because that's all I'd be doing if I did it. So, I was like, “Well, what's a way I can put this message out to everyone?” And so, you know, I worked with your team, worked with the Academy team, and we came out here for a week and filmed what I think is the most beautiful school ever. And I just wanted to show that and that video to this day is, I don't know, 1.2-something million views. And you go scroll through those comments, the amount of people who didn't know it exists — which probably sounds crazy to us, right? — that now know and can see all of these cool things you would have access to and can do if you're cadet, I mean, I think that video is going to have returns and just inspire people for years to come. That was such a big project I wanted to do to get back to my school and to show other people, “This school did this for me. You guys need to understand what it can do for you, too.” So, I'm really proud of that one. I have a lot of people reaching out to me about that still to this day. Every single week, you know, “Hey, Sam, I want to go here. I watched this video. How can I do it?” And I'm like, “Alright, well, let's talk. Here's what you need to start doing. You need to do this.”   Naviere Walkewicz I love that. So, it's really unique, your journey, right? Because you have been a leader of peers, of people, of airmen, etc. You've also been, I think, a leader of yourself, and you know, in part of how you navigate that. One of the ways I think our listeners really feel connected with our guests is, you know, life is pretty imperfect. What are some challenges you've experienced along the way in your life, just in your professional and personal life, that you have has felt as evolved you as an influencer as a leader, as someone who inspires you to share any with a group that makes them feel like, okay, Sam, I'm in? You know, I'm kind of like, Sam, you know, in some way, what would that be?   Sam Eckholm Yeah, I mean, like I said, it's one of the things I sometimes struggle with when you have an online presence is you kind of gravitate towards only showing the highlights. And that's just how the business works, right? I mean, I don't want to be putting out negative content all day. But then, you know, you're right. I mean, some people kind of see like, “Oh, everything seems to be going well.” I mean, that's not the case. Absolutely not, especially with what I was doing. There's a reason it's very hard to get into this space, especially being in the Air Force. I made some decisions that some might have said would hurt my career, right? Even going back to the demo team, that was a job that typically you don't do as a lieutenant, right. And I was told, “Hey, this might hurt your career going forward.” But I also knew that this was something I wanted to do. And I had goals in mind. And I was young and I just hated the idea that a decision I made when I was 23 years old would ruin my career. I was like, “There's no way that can be true. I'm so young, I've got so much opportunity.” And so, I'm glad I kind of listened to myself. And that was a big decision. But even along the way, making videos while being in the Air Force, I was writing the rules, because there weren't regulations for what you can and can't do. And I was having a lot of tough conversations with people. I'm like, “I'm trying to do the right thing here. You guys gotta help me, I see a lot of potential in this.” So that kind of lesson can be applied to, I think, anyone. A lot of people, I feel, want to do certain things or have dreams and goals. And neither one get talked out of it. To talk themselves out of it. Three, you just look at the negatives, and it gets in your head. And it makes it hard for people to kind of pull the trigger and do it. And I completely understand that. “Comfortable rut” — I kind of use that phrase — you get comfortable in thing and it's hard to break away from that. And so, I don't know, for me, that's the biggest advice I give people: If you have an end goal in mind, it's not going to be easy to get there. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, right? I mean, especially being an entrepreneur. It's hard, it's a gamble, it's a risk. And you've got to prepare yourself. I never say, “Hey, just go take this without any plan or backup plan.” And I always had that in place. But you know, I guess I kind of am a risk taker in some world. And I know I have good intentions at heart. And I know what I'm trying to do. And I think that was really important is just having the backup plans, having a good background, having things set in place to where I'm able to do this and — I don't know, coming across as a good person has been huge. So, people hopefully watch my stuff and, like, “Sam's good. He's doing the right thing.”   Naviere Walkewicz So, I don't know, it's hard. If you have any specific advice on that, because you've done so much. But when people look at your stuff, hopefully you can kind of resonate and don't think it's all good all the time. But I think you'll come across as very approachable. I think it's lovely for them to hear in your own words some of the struggles that you have when you're thinking about your content when you're thinking about the delivery of it. They maybe don't get that glimpse, right? They just see the final product. I think it's good for listeners to hear that you've kind of had to advocate for yourself, trust in yourself. And I think you've shown a path of what belief and grit and, going back to your core of, “My intention is to create meaningful impact and do great things for our Air Force and for the future leaders,” right? I think you can always hang your hat on that with pride.   Sam Eckholm Yeah, and I always tell people like what you see as a finished polished video — like, the behind the scenes is crazy. It's like, cameras everywhere, months and months of coordination for the shots and for these approvals. We plan videos — like I'm planning now that you will see six months from now. That's how long it takes. And things change. When I first started out, and it was fun, it was a hobby, it was just what I was doing. And then now when it becomes like, a full-time job, and you have a team now I've got employees who rely on me, like things kind of changed with that. And, you know, definitely the advocating for yourself is something that sometimes hard to do. But it's, it's necessary. And so yeah, it's a lot of lessons I've learned, and I'm still learning. But I'm not going anywhere. I'm gonna' keep going hard.     Naviere Walkewicz So, love that. So, your dad and uncle were inspirations to kind of get you into the profession of arms, the Air Force Academy, who inspires you now? Do you listen to any particular leaders? Are there books you read when you have time? You know, what, what kind of fills your inspiration bucket, Sam?   Sam Eckholm Yeah. You know, it's crazy. It sounds, there's not necessarily like a, like a one specific person who inspires me. And that's just because I try to consume so much different stuff and take the best from all of those. So yeah, I'm constantly learning, right? If I'm not creating content, I'm watching other content for inspiration, listening to a ton of podcasts, like this one here. So yeah, there's so much we can take from different people and different leaders. It is hard a little bit in my case to find someone who's exactly done what I've done. But there's a lot of people who have done other things and kind of made it, like Col. Kim Campbell, I've been listening to her actually, like what she's been doing with her Air Force career and then afterward and like, I've actually never met her.     Naviere Walkewicz You feel like you've met her, right?   Sam Eckholm I actually tried to. Same thing with Michelle Karen-Mace. You know, she's not Academy grad, but she's all over the world. And we did similar things in our careers. And so, she's been awesome to talk to as well, in pretty much any Academy grad. And that's something that I really enjoy. Being a member of the Long Blue Line, we come from the same roots. And everyone's very intelligent and understands things. And I've just been able to have so much support with what I've been doing through the grad network, especially when I go out to different bases and units like grads, like, “Hey, Sam, what's up? I'd love to work with you.” And that's been really cool. So, yeah, I mean, a ton of different inspiration from a lot of different people. And, you know, hopefully, I can eventually be that inspiration for someone else who wants to do something similar to what I'm doing. That's exciting to draw inspiration not just from people, but experiences. And what you see, just you're constantly looking for, yes, kind of pieces.   Naviere Walkewicz That's pretty special. So, you know, let's talk about right now what is, you know, how are you in support of the Academy through what you're doing? Maybe kind of share with our listeners what that looks like.     Sam Eckholm I'm always trying to further the Academy mission with literally every video I produce. I'm always doing something else. So I had the awesome opportunity to partner with Air Force recruiting and we did a six-video series exploring different aircraft, different career fields, — one of my favorite videos we did is actually went down and experienced Air Force Special Tactics officer training for a week in Hurlburt. And I was literally hands and feet behind my back bobbing through the pool like going through selection that normal people train for years for, I had like a week of advance to go out there and do that. So I tried to put myself in uncomfortable situations to show other people what that's like. It was extremely brutal. And I think there's more of that coming down the road as well. As you know, one of the huge goals was to give back to people trying to go to the Academy and honestly level the playing field in my mind with people who maybe don't have graduates or parents who went to the Academy and worked extremely hard work with you guys on the Air Force Academy blueprint program to just have a resource out there where anyone can navigate the Academy application can know what they need to be doing in high school, and to know what to expect once they actually get to the Academy too, and that's been incredibly successful. I mean, we have over 300 atudents enrolled — over two dozen who've been accepted this past class.   Naviere Walkewicz I was going to ask: Have you seen any of those come through?   Sam Eckholm Yeah, we have. Well, this will be the first year. so they haven't entered yet because we launched last August, right? So yeah, I'm excited. There will be a little mafia of Blueprint students here at the Academy as well. And like I said, that was something — you get so man

In this episode, Chris Abraham dives deep into his appreciation for the 41mm Navigator by Marathon Watch Company. He discusses the watch's unique features, including its tritium lume, lightweight and slim design, quartz accuracy, solid bars for straps, and sapphire crystal glass. Chris also shares his thoughts on the "gray man" theory and how his choice of gear helps him stay approachable in his community. Additionally, he touches on his experiences with other watches and gear from REI, his background in JROTC, and how these have shaped his aesthetic and practical choices. Q: What makes the Marathon Navigator 41mm your favorite tool watch? A: The Marathon Navigator 41mm is my favorite because of its functional design, tritium lume, lightweight and slim profile, quartz accuracy, solid bars for straps, and durable sapphire crystal glass. It's practical and reliable for everyday use. Q: How do you use the GMT feature on your Marathon Navigator? A: I use the GMT feature to track time for my freelance work with Upwork, as they close their books at midnight GMT. This helps me manage deadlines and billing efficiently. Q: What is the Gray Man Theory, and why is it important to you? A: The Gray Man Theory is about blending in and avoiding attention by dressing and acting in a nondescript way. This approach helps me stay approachable and avoid creating barriers between myself and the people in my community. Q: How do you balance wearing multiple watches? A: I wear the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar Tactical on my left wrist for tracking health metrics and the Marathon Navigator on my right wrist for its practicality and constant timekeeping. It works well for my needs and activities. Q: Are there any other watches you are considering for the future? A: I might consider the stainless steel version of the Marathon Navigator if my current watch ever fails. It's a bit more refined and civilian-looking while still offering the durability and functionality I appreciate. Tritium Lume: A self-illuminating light source used in watch dials and hands, utilizing tritium gas to create a constant glow without needing external light to charge. Quartz Movement: A type of watch movement powered by a battery and regulated by the vibrations of a quartz crystal, known for its high accuracy. Gray Man Theory: A concept that emphasizes blending in and avoiding attention by dressing and acting in a nondescript way, often used for personal security. GMT (Greenwich Mean Time): The mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, used as a reference for coordinating time across the world. Sapphire Crystal Glass: A type of watch glass made from synthetic sapphire, known for its scratch resistance and durability. REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.): A retailer specializing in outdoor gear and clothing, known for its high-quality and durable products. GORUCK: A brand known for its rugged, military-inspired gear and backpacks, often used for rucking and other outdoor activities. JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps): A program offered in high schools to teach students leadership skills and military discipline. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chrisabraham/support

In this episode you will hear:   o        Mark shares six different groups of parents where he has seen conflict. Mark explains eight or nine areas where conflict arises on the college process. o        After 5 years, Colonel Robert Kirkland is back, Lynda interviews Rob on the Service Academies of West Point, the Naval Academy and the Air Force-Part 3 of 4 o            Preview Part 3-Preview §  Rob explains how each congress person can ask for different letters of recommendation §  Rob explains how the Admission process is separate from the Congressional approval process §  Rob talks about the physical fitness evaluation process, how it is administered, who does the evaluation and how are the results communicated to the Service Academies §  Rob explains what 5 exercises are involved in the fitness assessment and he explains which of the 5 is the most dreaded exercise §  Rob talks about how the Service Academies view team sports §  Rob talks about what is involved in passing the medical exam and Rob shares some land mines that students have difficulties overcoming and how certain things are automatically disqualifying §  Rob talks about how the military looks at programs like C-Cadets, Young Marines, JROTC and Civil Air Patrol §  Rob talks about the service academies see a student that attends Summer Seminar     Sign up for our Q & A webinar with Holly Ramsey, Dr. Michele Evard and Liam Dailey, three homeschooling experts. They will discuss how colleges admissions experts evaluate homeschooled students   Sign up for our Q & A webinar with Matt Carpenter, he will discuss “Paying for College” and he will answer your questions about paying for college, as well as how using College Aid Pro can help you with the cost of college   You can also send in questions for our interviews by using speakpipe.com/YCBK. Our interviews are confirmed for 2024 with the following leaders at the following schools:     To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our free quarterly admissions deep-dive, delivered directly to your email four times a year, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign up on the right side of the page under “the Listen to our podcast icons”   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   Don't forget to send your recommended resources and articles by recording your message at speakpipe.com/YCBK   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 to express your interest. All they ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session. Their counseling website is:   Note, the purpose of the free session to review their services and not to pick their brains and get free information. You can schedule a paid session if you want answers to some questions you have. The free session to only for the purpose of discussing the one-on-one services they offer.

It's called the Mustang Battalion at Herriman High School and it is the first Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps or JROTC program in Jordan School District. On this episode of the Supercast, meet students involved in the program and find out how it is teaching them valuable leadership skills which will last a lifetime. Also, ...continue reading "Episode 252: What is the Mustang Battalion at Herriman High School?"

Today's Story: Summer Flight Academy

Welcome to Season 7, Episode 6 of The Chris Abraham Show! In this episode, Chris Abraham and ChatGPT explore the fascinating world of tool watches. From the history and evolution of iconic brands like Rolex and Omega to modern military preferences and the timeless appeal of Citizen watches, we cover it all. Chris shares his personal journey with tool watches, starting from his childhood in Hawaii, his experiences with JROTC and scuba diving, and his obsession with dive watches. We dive into his collection, including the Seiko Divers 63097040, Marathon 41mm Navigator, various Casio G-Shocks, and his recent favorite, the Citizen Certified Diver. Join us as we discuss the significance of tool watches, their transition from essential equipment to luxury items, and the modern innovations that keep them relevant today. Whether you're a watch enthusiast or just curious, this episode is packed with insights and stories that you won't want to miss. Q: What is a tool watch? A: A tool watch is designed for practical use in specific activities or professions, such as diving, aviation, or military operations. They are known for their durability, functionality, and reliability. Q: Why are quartz watches preferred over automatic watches for some people? A: Quartz watches are generally more accurate, require less maintenance, and are more durable compared to automatic watches, making them ideal for active and demanding environments. Q: What are some popular tool watch brands? A: Popular tool watch brands include Rolex, Omega, Seiko, Citizen, Casio (G-Shock), Marathon, and Suunto. Q: What is Tritium lume? A: Tritium lume is a type of luminescence used in watches that provides a constant glow without needing an external light source. It uses tritium gas tubes that emit light continuously for many years. Q: How have tool watches evolved in modern times? A: Modern tool watches have integrated advanced technologies such as GPS, heart rate monitoring, and other smart features. Brands like Garmin and Suunto offer multifunctional watches that cater to outdoor and military needs. ABC (Altimeter, Barometer, Compass): Features commonly found in outdoor and tactical watches to provide environmental data and navigation assistance. Tritium Lume: A self-illuminating technology used in watches that glows continuously without needing an external light source. Quartz Movement: A type of watch movement powered by a battery and regulated by a quartz crystal, known for its accuracy and low maintenance. Automatic Movement: A watch movement powered by the motion of the wearer's wrist, typically requiring more maintenance than quartz watches. NATO Strap: A durable, fabric watch strap that passes under the watch case, providing added security and comfort. Dive Watch: A watch designed for underwater use, typically featuring water resistance, a unidirectional bezel, and strong lume for visibility in low light conditions. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chrisabraham/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chrisabraham/support

On this edition of TMWS, American Legion Post 229 Commander Larry Vannoy is sharing about their volunteer effort which includes Veteran and Memorial Day Events; H.S. Legion Baseball; Madison City Street Festival; Christmas Events; Floyd E. Tut Fann Home Visits; Veteran Cemetery Flag and Wreath Laying; JROTC support; Trail of Tears support; Legion Riders; and much more. I hope you will listen and share.

MDJ Script/ Top Stories for May 28th                 Publish Date:  May 28th                Commercial: From the Ingles Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.    Today is Tuesday, May 28th, and Happy 80th Birthday to singer Gladys Knight. ***05.28.24 – BIRTHDAY – GLADYS KNIGHT*** I'm Dan Radcliffe and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Credit Union of Georgia.  2 Indicted for Having Rifle on McEachern High Campus Marietta Business Asks City to Loosen Alcohol Pouring Limits Marietta Remembers Fallen Service Members on Memorial Day   All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!    BREAK: CUofGA STORY 1: 2 Indicted for Having Rifle on McEachern High Campus A Cobb grand jury has indicted Brendan Andino, 18, and Ruben Cumberlander, 18, for bringing a rifle onto McEachern High School's campus in December 2023. Both face charges for carrying weapons on school property, disrupting school, and loitering. Cumberlander is also linked to a recent fight in Powder Springs that resulted in a death, though no indictments have been made in that case yet. The school district responded swiftly to the incident, ensuring campus safety. Both were found with marijuana during their arrests. Cumberlander has been released on bond, while Andino remains in jail. STORY 2: Marietta Business Asks City to Loosen Alcohol Pouring Limits The Marietta Wine Market owners, Karen and Randall Heard, are struggling with city regulations that restrict their ability to charge for and offer wine tastings. At a May 8 city council meeting, Karen Heard emotionally appealed for a retail pouring license to allow customers to enjoy wine without strict limitations. This plea has led the council to consider changing local alcohol laws. A change.org petition supporting this change has garnered significant support. The council will discuss revising these laws, aiming to balance business needs with regulatory concerns, at upcoming meetings. STORY 3: Marietta Remembers Fallen Service Members on Memorial Day The Marietta Memorial Day ceremony honored fallen U.S. Armed Forces members at Marietta National Cemetery, with clear weather after storms. Attendees, including local officials and veterans' families, participated in traditions and speeches. The Marietta High School Air Force JROTC presented the colors and assisted with the wreath-laying. Commissioner JoAnn Birrell reflected on the significance of Memorial Day, mentioning her WWII veteran father and local hero Lance Cpl. Squire "Skip" Wells. Retired Col. Carl "Skip" Bell paid tribute to his friend 2nd Lt. Earle John Bemis, who died heroically in Vietnam. The ceremony emphasized remembrance and honor for those who sacrificed their lives for the nation.     We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.    We'll be right back   Break: DRAKE STORY 4: 'An Honor': Harrison Senior Appointed to Naval Academy Noah Praser, a senior at Harrison High School, received a call from Rep. Barry Loudermilk in January informing him of his appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Praser, inspired by a middle school visit to the academy, rose through the ranks of the JROTC, ultimately serving as its executive officer. He maintained a 4.3 GPA and earned the Joseph C. Gilliam Academic Achievement Award. Praser's JROTC instructor praised his leadership and problem-solving skills. Praser aims to become a Navy pilot despite challenges with his eyesight, and he is ready to face the rigorous demands of the academy to better himself. STORY 5: Cobb Solicitor Focused on Youth Support and Accountability Courts Cobb Solicitor General Makia Metzger has implemented significant changes since taking office in January 2023. Her efforts include filling staffing gaps, resolving old bench warrants, and introducing a program for youthful offenders. Metzger's office, which handles misdemeanors and traffic citations, faces funding challenges that impact hiring quality attorneys. She emphasizes continuous training and progressive prosecution. Metzger is also expanding accountability courts to address mental health issues among nonviolent offenders. As Cobb's first Black and female Solicitor General, Metzger aims for transparency and community support, particularly for domestic violence victims. We'll be back in a moment   Break: INGLES 6 STORY 6: Self-Driving Shuttle Resumes in Cumberland The Cumberland Hopper, a self-driving shuttle in Cumberland, will continue operating through December after resuming service last Friday. The shuttle, which had 4,450 riders during its first phase from July 2023 to March 2024, runs on two routes: one across the pedestrian bridge connecting Cobb Galleria Centre to the Battery Atlanta, and another looping around the Galleria office park. The program aims to expand with eight to ten shuttles along the Cumberland Sweep corridor. Additionally, the CID is planning a $195,000 communications campaign for the Paces Mill Palisades rehabilitation, a $11.8 million project funded partly by Congress. STORY 7: Smyrna Honors Fallen Soldiers On Memorial Day The annual Memorial Day ceremony in Smyrna was moved indoors to the Smyrna Community Center due to rain. Hosted by American Legion Post 160, veterans, families, and residents gathered to honor fallen heroes. Keynote speaker Joel DeSaulniers, an Air Force veteran, emphasized the solemn nature of Memorial Day and urged attendees to remember and honor the sacrifices of fallen service members. The ceremony included the POW/MIA Missing Man Table, a tribute to the Normandy landings, and a wreath ceremony recognizing Cobb County residents who died in various wars. Former Smyrna Councilman Wade Lnenicka highlighted the strong local support for veterans. Break: MARIETTA THEATRE – HANDS HARD BODY   Signoff-   Thanks again for hanging out with us on today's Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at mdjonline.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network   Show Sponsors: ingles-markets.com cuofga.org drakerealty.com mariettatheatre.com   #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversationsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines, Judge postpones Trumps documents trial; Bragg miscalculated Daniels testimonies; Chicago voters ‘fed up' with Biden; UO standoff continues; PPS board votes to allow JROTC.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to this engaging episode of Behind the Blaze podcast where we unearth the infinite potential and opportunities offered by the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program. Learn how JROTC, far from being a military recruitment program, plays a crucial role in the character development of its participants. Hear from participants on how it offers avenues for a variety of career paths and builds lifelong skills. Also, discover the team spirit and camaraderie cultivated through various extracurricular activities and competitive events organized by the program. Dig deeper into the often misunderstood aspect of the physical training (PT) with a high-ranking cadet. Get a first-hand account of fun activities designed not only to foster physical agility but also to inspire team building and enjoyment within the squad. Enjoy a grand account of the prestigious annual Military Ball, a spectacular event where cadets interact with the corporate world, manage logistics and financials while inculcating the values of inclusivity and recognition. Not to forget, the crowning moment of becoming the Military Ball King! Counter your apprehensions by learning about the core objectives of JROTC and debunk the misconceptions. Explore how being part of JROTC is not about donning a uniform or direct military recruitment but is about seeking a life-enriching experience. Learn how the program caters to high school students seeking diverse life skills and experiences that are bound to impact their post-high school career and personal life. Lastly, get a peek into leadership transitions within JROTC and warm moments being shared between seniors and new staff. Get encouraged as the guests invite incoming recruits to join the JROTC family and discover the remarkable program that lies before them. Join us in this captivating exploration of JROTC's transformative journey "Behind The Blaze" and discover a world beyond the tactics.

Top headlines for April 24, 2024:Unofficial results in for special elections on Folly Beach and Kiawah IslandCharleston Co. School District working to improve reading performance levelsCity of Charleston to expand efforts to preserve African American heritageNew South Carolina law aims to protect shrinking farmlandAdvocates angered over vandalism ahead of Dorchester Dist. Two referendum voteBerkeley Co. School board members at odds over JROTC instructor pay

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Army SFC (Ret) Krendra Harralson.  Krendra grew up in Tacoma, WA and attended Lincoln High School.  As a Sophomore, she joined the school's JROTC program.  During her Junior year, she signed a contract with the WA National Guard at 17, and attended Army Basic Training at Ft. Jackson, SC during the summer before her Senior year in High School.  After graduating in 1998, she completed her AIT at Ft. Sam Houston, TX as a 92B Medic. Her first assignment was with the WA NG Aviation unit as a Traditional Guardsman until Aug 2000.  Then she enlisted in the Active Duty Army and was assigned to Wiesbaden, Germany with the 557th Ground Ambulance Company in 2003.  Her next assignment was to the 4th Engineer Battalion at Ft. Carson, CO.  In 2009 her unit was deployed to Taji, Iraq.  During that deployment, her unit was relocated to Kandahar, Afghanistan where she was battlefield promoted to SSG in 2010.  A year later, SSG Harralson was assigned to the 555th Engineer Brigade at Ft. lewis, WA.  Her last assignment was to Ft. Sam Houston, TX in 2016 and she retired in 2018. After retiring, Krendra competed in the Ms. Veteran America through the non-profit Final Salute Inc.  Later, she received the appointed title of Mrs. Texas 2024 and will be competing for Mrs. USA at Omaha, NE in Aug 2024.  To find out more about Krendra's journey and how you can help, please visit the links below: Final Salute Inc.  https://www.finalsaluteinc.org/Home.html Love Without Boundaries. https://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093336497504 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/krendra_harralson/

When the ink flows, so do the stories; this is exactly what you'll experience as Johnny Olsen from Adam Street Tattoo etches a scripture close to my heart, live on our podcast. In the midst of the gentle hum of his tattoo machine, we traverse his 15-year legacy, from the birth of Lincoln Tattoo alongside Colby and Jake Jordan, to the intricate waltz of managing a studio that pulses with creativity and client dreams to his creation of Adam's Street Tattoo.Strap in for a ride through high school days filled with JROTC drills and football games, which somehow harmonize with today's tattoos and tunes. It's not all about the ink; my recent foray into reviving Bushnell's parks and rallying the community is a testament to the idea that we're all more than our day jobs. Johnny and I exchange views on translating client visions into permanent masterpieces, as well as our own escapes—arrow by arrow in archery, and cast by cast in fishing—revealing the people behind the tattoos.To wrap it all up, Johnny takes us behind the scenes of tattoo cover-ups, where regretful ink becomes a renewed art form under his skillful hands. Delving into his favorite projects, including a whimsical award-winning piece, he breaks down the technique and gratification found in transforming someone's inked remorse into pride. We also tease an upcoming podcast episode with a compelling tale, proving that every person—and every tattoo—has a unique story waiting to be told.Check out Dial The Wild on Facebook and Instagram#dialthewild

ASK US ANYTHING How to “choose your own adventure” as a member of The American Legion. INTERVIEW Marine Corps veteran Rye Barcott, co-founder and CEO of With Honor, talks about how the cross-partisan organization works with the For Country Caucus, how they seek to advance veteran leadership in elected public service and the need to support our Afghanistan allies. . SCUTTLEBUTT Hamm gets the Slammer: Texas man sentenced in stolen valor case Psychedelic Fast Track: MDMA approved for a fast-track review by the FDA Celebrity Veteran: Serving in the Coast Guard a family tradition for a trio of Hollywood actors Special Guest: Rye Barcott.

CTL Script/ Top Stories of March 9th            Publish Date: March 8th            From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Award-Winning Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast    Today is Saturday, March 9th and Happy 59th Birthday to linebacker Brian Bosworth. ***03.09.24 – BIRTHDAY – BRIAN BOSWORTH*** I'm Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Credit Union of Georgia.  Pay Raises for Teachers and State Workers Sail Through Georgia House Cherokee Schools Announces Media Specialist of the Year Woodstock Looks to Address Affordable Housing   We'll have all this and more coming up on the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast, and if you're looking for Community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!    Commercial: CU of GA   STORY 1: Pay Raises for Teachers and State Workers Sail Through Georgia House The Georgia House of Representatives has approved the fiscal 2025 state budget, coming in at $36.1 billion. This budget includes substantial pay raises for teachers and other state employees, made possible by a significant surplus. The new budget, set to come into effect on July 1, represents an increase of 11% compared to the previous year. A 4% pay raise is slated for the majority of state employees, with additional targeted raises planned for agencies experiencing high turnover rates. Public school teachers can expect a $2,500 raise. Furthermore, the budget has provisions for funding in education and healthcare sectors, addressing areas such as enrollment growth, school bus requirements, campus safety, and increases in Medicaid reimbursement. Following this approval, the budget will now proceed to the Georgia Senate STORY 2: Cherokee Schools Announces Media Specialist of the Year Cherokee County School District honored Jennifer Cogdill, a media specialist at Woodstock High School, as the Library Media Specialist of the Year. Cogdill was chosen from a pool of nominees for her exceptional contributions to education. She was presented with the award and received a $500 Visa gift card, plaque, and banner sponsored by Credit Union of Georgia. Cogdill's leadership, collaboration with teachers, and innovative programs have elevated teaching and learning at Woodstock High School. She advances to the regional competition and has previously been recognized for her achievements, including being named the Woodstock Zone Media Specialist of the Year. Cogdill's dedication to education extends beyond her role as a media specialist, as she also serves on the school's instructional leadership team and sponsors student organizations. STORY 3: Woodstock Looks to Address Affordable Housing Woodstock's Mayor, Michael Caldwell, is actively addressing the pressing issue of housing affordability as a member of the Atlanta Regional Commission's Local Leadership Housing Action Committee. The city has formulated a plan to conduct a thorough residential density audit alongside a review of its accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance. The residential density audit is aimed at gaining an in-depth understanding of the potential for current and future developments. On the other hand, the ADU review is designed to strike a balance between the growing demand for ADUs and the preservation of neighborhood character. In order to fund these initiatives, Woodstock is pursuing grant funding. This comes in light of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) reporting that housing prices are increasing at a rate that outpaces wages in metro Atlanta, leading to a shortage of affordable housing units. The next committee is set to begin on March 14. Interested individuals can visit atlantaregional.org. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info.    Back in a moment  Break: CURIOSITY LAB BIKE RACE – DRAKE STORY 4: Firm Hired for Safe Street and Roads Action Plan Cherokee County authorities have engaged the services of Pond and Company to formulate the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Action Plan. This initiative is aimed at bolstering road safety measures and decreasing the number of severe injuries and fatalities on the road. The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a design services agreement, which costs around $562,000. The plan's funding includes a substantial federal grant of $450,000, which will be used to analyze traffic data and crash reports. The findings from these analyses will help shape improvements and policy recommendations for the countywide transportation system. The remaining amount is expected to be equally shared between the county and participating cities. The county will cover 67.11% of this cost through funds obtained from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. The study is projected to be completed within approximately 12 months. STORY 5: Cherokee High School Student Earns Appointment to U.S. Air Force Academy Cherokee High School senior Sydney Watson has earned an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy and received the prestigious J-100 AFJROTC Character-in-Leadership Scholarship. The scholarship provides full tuition, housing allowance, and other benefits to 100 cadets. Sydney expressed gratitude for the support from her community and JROTC program. She also excels academically, ranking second in her class and achieving notable scores on standardized tests. Sydney is also involved in various extracurricular activities and holds leadership positions. Her achievements are even more remarkable given her mother's battle with cancer when Sydney was young, underscoring their shared journey and appreciation for life's moments. Commercial: INGLES 5 STORY 6: Next Step Ministries Withdraws Application Next Step Ministries, a Cherokee County nonprofit serving individuals with disabilities, withdrew its request to construct a second building after months of deliberation by commissioners. The organization sought to build a 10,920 square-foot facility next to its existing one, but faced opposition from some residents concerned about the size and impact on the rural area. Next Step cited concerns over renovation costs and ethical considerations regarding their existing building's appearance. This withdrawal marks the second time the nonprofit has withdrawn its expansion plans. Despite setbacks, Next Step remains committed to serving the community and exploring other avenues for expansion. STORY 7: Defense lawyer in Trump case defends bid to disqualify Fulton D.A. Willis Ashleigh Merchant, the defense attorney for co-defendant Michael Roman in the Fulton County election interference case against ex-President Donald Trump, recently testified before a state Senate committee. Merchant's allegations revolve around Willis's failure to disclose her romantic relationship with lead prosecutor Nathan Wade, who was appointed for this case. She accused Willis of financial gain from both the contract with Wade and their personal relationship. Furthermore, Merchant questioned the oversight of Willis' utilization of public funds provided by the county commission. She also criticized Wade's billing procedures and restated prior allegations about his qualifications and the timeline of his relationship with Willis. Willis, in response, defended herself by stating that she and Wade shared trip expenses, thereby denying any conflict of interest. Senate Minority Whip Harold Jones challenged Merchant's claims, emphasizing Wade's efficacy in securing indictments and guilty pleas. The committee is now awaiting a ruling from Fulton Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee regarding the disqualification motion. We'll have closing comments after this. COMMERCIAL: HENRY CO SHERIFFS   SIGN OFF –   Thanks again for listening to today's Cherokee Tribune Ledger podcast. . If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, the Gwinnett Daily Post, the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties, or the Paulding County News Podcast. Get more on these stories and other great content at tribune ledger news.com. Giving you important information about our community and telling great stories are what we do.     Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.   Produced by the BG Podcast Network   Show Sponsors: ingles-markets.com drakerealty.com cuofga.org henrycountysheriffga.gov peachtreecornersga.gov/385/Curiosity-Lab-Criterium-2024   #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversationsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the latest episode of the Ignite Podcast, the official channel for updates and celebrations from Blackman High School. Mr. Justin Smith, the principal at Blackman, brings you the latest announcements for the week of February 19th through February 23rd. In this episode, we celebrate Blackman High School's recognition as a reward school by the state of Tennessee. This elite academic award is a testament to the hard work of our teachers, staff, and students, as well as the support and investment of our parents. Highlighting other noteworthy accomplishments, we honor the success of our wrestlers, basketball teams, JROTC, and culinary arts team in their various competitions. Mr. Smith also applauds the individual efforts of our students who have made us proud. Diving into the announcements, Mr. Smith provides important updates about the ACT boot camps for juniors and sophomores, the rescheduling of a parent information session on suicide awareness and prevention, the guidelines for student drop-off and pickup, details about the career fair at Stewart's Creek High School, and more. For our students, information about Black History Month events, a free prom dress event in collaboration with Rachel's Closet, and the visit of Evita Arts and Sciences Institutes is shared. The episode wraps up with a hearty expression of gratitude towards all parents and students that are making Blackman High School a great place every day and wishing everyone a fantastic week ahead.

CTL Script/ Top Stories of February 10th          Publish Date: February 9th           From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Award-Winning Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast    Today is Saturday, February 10th, and Happy 81st Birthday to singer Roberta Flack. *** 02.10.24 – BIRTHDAY – ROBERTA FLACK*** I'm Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Credit Union of Georgia.  Church Seeks a New Home on Cumming Highway Near Canton Cherokee County Firefighters Honored for Outstanding Service Three Cherokee County Seniors Earn Top JROTC Scholarship   We'll have all this and more coming up on the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast, and if you're looking for Community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!    Commercial: CU of GA STORY 1: Church Seeks a New Home on Cumming Highway Near Canton Our Lady of La Salette Catholic Church, located near Waleska, seeks to relocate to a new site along Cumming Highway near Canton, Cherokee County. They aim to rezone over 42 acres for an office institutional designation to build a church, rectory, and other facilities. The proposed location is chosen for its central accessibility and potential traffic reduction. The Cherokee County Planning Commission recommended approval with conditions including no access to Water Tank Road and limited building use. The church plans to offer various services, Bible studies, and programs for members. A decision on the rezoning request was postponed to February 20 for further discussion. STORY 2: Cherokee County Firefighters Honored for Outstanding Service Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services honored eight of its members during the "Breakfast with Our Best" event, hosted by the Cherokee County Fire Chief's Foundation. Fire Chief Eddie Robinson presented awards for various categories including Volunteer Member, Support Services Member, Special Operations Member, EMT, Paramedic, Firefighter, Fire Officer, and Chief Fire Officer of the Year. Additionally, the foundation presented a check to Sgt. Chris King, who is battling cancer, following a successful fundraiser that raised over $32,000. Firefighters face an increased risk of cancer, making support for those battling the disease a priority for the department and its foundation. STORY 3: Three Cherokee County Seniors Earn Top JROTC Scholarship Three seniors from the Cherokee County School District have been awarded the highly esteemed Air Force JROTC J-100 Character-in-Leadership Scholarship. The honored students are Davis Clanton from Etowah High School, Savannah Mouritsen from Sequoyah High School, and Sydney Watson from Cherokee High School. This illustrious scholarship is awarded to only 100 students across the globe annually. It provides full coverage for college tuition and fees at any public or private institution that hosts an Air Force ROTC program. In addition to this, recipients receive a generous $10,000 annual allowance for university housing. The scholarship selection criteria focus on academic excellence, leadership abilities, and a strong commitment to serve in the U.S. Air Force or Space Force. The three awardees from Cherokee County have showcased remarkable leadership within their respective JROTC units, along with stellar academic performance. Their accomplishments have earned them recognition both from their school district and the Air Force JROTC program. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info.  Back in a moment  Break: DRAKE STORY 4: Canton Lions Club Announces Cherokee County STAR Students The Canton Lions Club honored eight local STAR students and their teachers, with Kinley Michelle Sikes of Creekview High School recognized as the overall winner for Cherokee County. STAR students are high school seniors with the highest SAT score and top 10% GPA, selecting a STAR Teacher. Sikes chose Jason Hardin as her STAR Teacher. Each high school winner received $500, while the county winner received an additional $1,000. The program, sponsored by the Canton Lions Club since 1958, aims to recognize academic excellence. Camryn Dean from Mountain Education's Cherokee campus was also named a STAR student, with Denise Shaw as the STAR teacher. STORY 5: Marietta Man and Brother Arrested for Participation in Jan. 6 Capitol Breach Two Georgia men, Cepane Sarty of Marietta and Seth Sarty of Rockmart, face a series of felony and misdemeanor charges for their involvement in breaching the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. They are accused of assaulting law enforcement during the riot. The charges include assaulting officers, disorderly conduct, and unlawfully entering restricted areas. The brothers were arrested by the FBI and allegedly entered the Capitol building shortly after the initial breach, eventually reaching the office suite of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The investigation into the Capitol breach continues, with over 1,300 individuals charged so far. Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI. Commercial: GCPS LIVE READ – CHEROKEE CHAMBER ***GCPS READ*** Hey, Cherokee County! The GCPS Teacher Job Fair is today! Join us at 8am at the Gas South Convention Center. This is a golden opportunity to be a part of Gwinnett County Public Schools - Georgia's largest school district and a top employer recognized by Forbes. Whether you're kick-starting your career or seeking a change, your passion for education could find its perfect home with us. Say 'yes' to GCPS, where passion meets opportunity!   STORY 6: "Serving Up History" Exhibit Open in Canton History Cherokee's latest temporary exhibit, "Serving Up History," is now open at the Cherokee County History Center, showcasing the culinary heritage of Cherokee County through local cookbooks, kitchen tools, and more. The exhibit features cookbooks from churches, garden clubs, and civic organizations, offering glimpses of history through ingredients, stories, tips, and advertisements. Open until May 26, the exhibit is free for History Cherokee members and included in general admission for non-members. Visitors can also contribute to a food drive benefiting local food banks, with discounts on admission for donations. The Cherokee County History Center is located in Canton and is open Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, visit historycherokee.org or call 770-345-3288. STORY 7: Tax Relief Package Clears Georgia House The Georgia House of Representatives unanimously approved an election-year tax relief package, including measures introduced on behalf of Gov. Brian Kemp. House Bill 1015 would accelerate a state income tax cut, saving taxpayers about $1.1 billion by reducing the income tax rate from 5.49% to 5.39%. Another bill, House Bill 1019, proposes doubling the state's homestead tax exemption from $2,000 to $4,000, a change not seen since 1978. Additionally, House Bill 1021 aims to increase Georgia's child-tax deduction from $3,000 to $4,000. These bills now move to the state Senate for consideration. We'll have closing comments after this.    BREAK: INGLES 8   SIGN OFF –   Thanks again for listening to today's Cherokee Tribune Ledger podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, the Gwinnett Daily Post, the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties, or the Paulding County News Podcast. Get more on these stories and other great content at tribune ledger news.com. Giving you important information about our community and telling great stories are what we do.     Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.   Produced by the BG Podcast Network   Show Sponsors: ingles-markets.com drakerealty.com gcpsk12.org/jobs com   #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversations See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear an inspiring journey from elite special operations flight paramedic to medical school. Our guest, Ricky Ditzel, a 160th flight paramedic, shares his unique pathway from an unstable home life to becoming a medical student. Ricky speaks about his time as a young Ranger, his path to becoming a flight paramedic, and his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also discusses the responsibility that comes with his role and the importance of precision and care for pilots, crew chiefs, and special operators. Turning challenges into opportunities, Ricky recounts his experience of building a field hospital in response to the pandemic. He emphasizes the importance of understanding anatomy for pre-hospital traumatic brain injury management and shares the difficulties of transitioning from military to medical school. Listen as Ricky discusses his nonprofit that provides support and resources for people making a similar transition and his belief in the power of networking and mentorship in reaching one's goals. Get ready to be inspired by an incredible testament to resilience and dedication. Ricky shares his journey, struggles, and contribution to military healthcare. His message echoes the significant impact of military personnel in the healthcare industry. This episode is not just about Ricky's journey but is an inspiring story of determination, resilience, and the will to make a difference. Tune in and get ready to be inspired!     Chapters: (0:00:00) - Pathway to Special Operations Medicine (0:07:42) - Military Medicine and Redemption in Early Career (0:14:57) - Aviation and Paramedic Roles and Responsibilities (0:26:24) - Flight Medic Procedures and Challenges (0:33:44) - Military to Medical School (0:45:05) - Medical School and Brain Injury Management (0:55:53) - Supporting Special Operators in Medical School (1:00:13) - Medical School Challenges and Military Legacy     Chapter Summaries: (0:00:00) - Pathway to Special Operations Medicine Ricky shares his journey from JROTC to military medicine, offering advice for similar transitions. (0:07:42) - Military Medicine and Redemption in Early Career Ricky recounts his journey from Ranger to flight paramedic, taking control of his career and finding success. (0:14:57) - Aviation and Paramedic Roles and Responsibilities Ricky shares his journey from military to flight paramedic, SOCCM, Green Platoon selection, special operations aviation medical indoctrination, survival training, and the 160th's mission of serving special operators. (0:26:24) - Flight Medic Procedures and Challenges Ricky shares stories of responding to urgent calls, preparing for flight, providing medical treatments, and the importance of quick decisions. (0:33:44) - Military to Medical School and COVID Ricky transitioned from military to medical school during the COVID-19 pandemic, building a 216-bed field hospital named after Navy Seal Ryan Larkin. (0:45:05) - Medical School and Brain Injury Management Ricky reflects on transitioning from military to medical school, the importance of anatomy for TBI management, networking, and the Pat Tillman Foundation's aid. (0:55:53) - Supporting Special Operators in Medical School Ricky is helping military personnel transition to medical school with resources, cognitive assessments, MCAT support, and publication assistance. (1:00:13) - Medical School Challenges and Military Legacy Ricky emphasizes teamwork, leadership, integrity, and values, encouraging listeners to find a balance and new passion.   Take Home Messages: Resilience and perseverance are key to overcoming challenges. Military personnel play an impactful role in the healthcare industry. Understanding anatomy is crucial for pre-hospital traumatic brain injury management. Transitions from the military to medical school can be complicated but are achievable. Precision and care are vital in positions such as a flight paramedic. Building a field hospital during a pandemic presents unique challenges and lessons. Networking and mentorship can significantly aid in transitions from military service to medical school. Military medicine provides a unique perspective and skill set in medical school. Nonprofits can provide crucial support for those transitioning from military to medical school. Balance and clear thinking are important when dealing with high-stress environments.     Episode Keywords: Military Medicine, Flight Paramedic, JROTC, Cerebral Palsy, Special Operations, Aviation, Pre-Hospital Traumatic Brain Injury, Medical School, COVID-19 Field Hospital, Networking, Mentorship, Anatomy, MCAT, Leadership Gap, Nonprofit, Military Transition   Hashtags: #MilitaryToMedicine #Resilience #HealthcareHeroes #InspiringJourneys #FromWarzoneToMedSchool #SpecialOperations #FlightParamedic #MedicalSchool #TransitionStories #HealthcareLeadership   Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine The WarDocs Mission is to honor the legacy, preserve the oral history, and showcase career opportunities, unique expeditionary experiences, and achievements of Military Medicine. We foster patriotism and pride in Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoD, and Our Nation.   Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/ Check our list of previous guest episodes at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/episodes Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible and go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in Military Medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Docs" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield, demonstrating dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.     Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast

Dick Ebert wonders why Damon Wayans wasn't in more movies after filming "Major Payne." Gene Lyons wonders why Damon Wayans was in any more movies after filming "Major Payne." This 1995 comedy featuring the musical stylings of 2 Live Crew and star power of Michael Ironside and Bam Bam Bigelow had us asking what was wrong with Major Payne's romantic interest (Karyn Parsons) and why any director would allow sped-up motion in his movie.  While Gene bemoaned Major Payne's misrepresentation of JROTC, Big D found some nuggets of truth in the movie's tough-love message. And both agreed Louis Gossett Jr. was the man to take the lead role to another level.   SUBSCRIBE Android: https://shatpod.com/android Apple: https://shatpod.com/apple All: https://shatpod.com/subscribe CONTACT Email: hosts@shatpod.com Website: https://shatpod.com/movies Leave a Voicemail: Web: https://shatpod.com/voicemail Leave a Voicemail: Call: (914) 719-7428 SUPPORT THE PODCAST Donate or Commission: https://shatpod.com/support Shop Merchandise: https://shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

Kristen Galvan was a typical 15-year-old girl, a good student, in JROTC and on the drill team.  Then Galvan began a relationship  with a 17-year-old boy.  That boy, Galvan's mom says, was a recruiter for a sex trafficking ring. Galvan ran away with her boyfriend. She was found by police turning tricks on a notorious Houston street. After Galvan was rescued, she told her mom about the threats made against the family. As her recovery continued, Galvan earned cellphone privileges again. During a holiday trip with family. Galvan disappeared. Robin Cory says her daughter, missing three year now, has been trafficked again.  Joining Nancy Grace Today: Robyn Cory- Victims mother Facebook: Justice for Kristen Marie, Youtube: Justice For Kristen Neama Rahmani -fmr federal prosecutor turned trial attorney,  Author: “Harvard to Hashtag”, WestCoastTrialLawyers.com, INSTAGRAM: @Neamarahmani, TWITTER: @NeamaRahmani  Dr. John Delatorre , licensed psychologist and mediator, specializing in forensic psychology, psychological consultant to Project Absentis: a nonprofit organization that searches for missing persons, resolutionfcs.com, Twitter, IG, and TikTok - @drjohndelatorre  Betty Simons - Families pro-bono Private investigator and Founder & CEO of Valor Investigations,  Co-Founder of NMA (nonprofit focused on the recovery of missing and exploited children). www.valorpi.net, IG: valor_investigations Kaitlin Monte - journalist, Houston, TX, kaitlinmonte.com,  @kaitlinmonte   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.