Podcasts about rotc

Jim and Curtis sit down with aerospace engineer Ken Katz to explore the remarkable evolution of the B-1 bomber and what it teaches us about deterrence, innovation, and adaptability. From the Cold War origins of the B-1 program to its transformation into a highly effective conventional strike platform, Katz examines the technological, political, and strategic forces that shaped one of America's most iconic aircraft. The discussion also explores the broader role of bombers in the U.S. strategic triad, the impact of stealth and radar cross-section design, and why digital systems have become essential to maintaining relevance in an ever-changing threat environment. Along the way, we revisit lessons from historic aircraft programs such as the B-70 Valkyrie and B-52 Stratofortress, discussing how decisions made decades ago continue to influence military modernization efforts today.Kenneth P. Katz was commissioned as an Air Force officer through ROTC and served on active duty as a flight test engineer at Edwards AFB, testing bombers and cruise missiles. After completing military service, he worked for the Boeing Company, flight testing the V-22 Osprey. Since then, he has worked in a variety of information technology and aerospace engineering positions, retiring from Collins Aerospace in 2025.Ken is the author of three books about military aircraft, with his most recent book being "The Supersonic BONE: A Development & Operational History of the B-1 Bomber". He is a prolific podcast host, currently doing the "Supersonic BONE" series for Authentic Media.www.thinkdeterrence.com

My conversation with Jarvis starts at 26 minutes and Allison Jaslow and I begin at 1:06 Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. This show is Ad free and fully supported by listeners like you! Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 750 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Subscribe and Watch Interviews LIVE : On YOUTUBE.com/StandUpWithPete ON SubstackStandUpWithPete Get Jeff's new book The Web We Weave Why We Must Reclaim the Internet from Moguls, Misanthropes, and Moral Panic Jeff Jarvis is a national leader in the development of online news, blogging, the investigation of new business models for news, and the teaching of entrepreneurial journalism. He writes an influential media blog, Buzzmachine.com. He is author of "Geeks Bearing Gifts: Imagining New Futures for News" (CUNY Journalism Press, 2014); "Public Parts: How Sharing in the Digital Age Improves the Way We Work and Live" (Simon & Schuster, 2011); "What Would Google Do?" (HarperCollins 2009), and the Kindle Single "Gutenberg the Geek." He has consulted for media companies including The Guardian, Digital First Media, Postmedia, Sky.com, Burda, Advance Publications, and The New York Times company at About.com. Prior to joining the Newmark J-School, Jarvis was president of Advance.net, the online arm of Advance Publications, which includes Condé Nast magazines and newspapers across America. He was the creator and founding managing editor of Entertainment Weekly magazine and has worked as a columnist, associate publisher, editor, and writer for a number of publications, including TV Guide, People, the San Francisco Examiner, the Chicago Tribune, and the New York Daily News. His freelance articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines across the country, including the Guardian, The New York Times, the New York Post, The Nation, Rolling Stone, and BusinessWeek. Jarvis holds a B.S.J. from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. He was named one of the 100 most influential media leaders by the World Economic Forum at Davos. Allison Jaslow grew up in a working class, union household and much of her early days were defined by her father's alcoholism that ultimately claimed his life when she was a teenager. Around the time of his death she also felt a call to service, and while visiting a military base on a recruiting trip she was inspired to first serve her country in uniform in the United States Army. Alllison ended up earning an ROTC scholarship to college and joined active duty during the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars in 2004. She served two combat tours in Iraq, including a deployment during the surge, and achieved the rank of Captain. She served honorably and earned a Bronze Star Medal for service, and also earned an Army Commendation Medal with a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster before leaving active duty. She then continued her service on Capitol Hill, in the White House and in leadership roles in the nation's leading post-9/11 veterans advocacy organization. In her role as CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, she drove conversations about the issues that the nation's newest generation of war veterans care about, including the need to modernize the VA, put an end to the veteran suicide crisis, and for Congress to reclaim it's War Powers' authority. Now, Allison is running for Congress so that everyday North Carolinians have a voice they can count on in Congress to represent them in Washington. She knows what it's like to live on the edge and is ready to fight to help make life a little bit easier for families like hers that continue to be squeezed by the cost of basic needs like healthcare and housing. Listen rate and review on Apple Podcasts Listen rate and review on Spotify Pete On Instagram Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on Twitter Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Gift a Subscription https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/gift Send Pete $ Directly on Venmo

Episode Summary     What if a medical career could be built on profound purpose, paid for in full, and shaped by leadership opportunities no civilian path can match? In this episode of WarDocs, COL Danielle Holt, MD, an Army general surgeon and Associate Dean of Admissions and Recruitment at the Uniformed Services University (USU) School of Medicine, lays out exactly what it takes to become a military physician and why the journey is worth it. Drawing on a career that has carried her from broad-spectrum rural surgery at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, to a forward surgical team in Afghanistan, to serving as consultant surgeon for the White House Medical Team at Walter Reed, she offers a candid, insider's view of the two pathways into uniformed medicine.       The conversation centers on the choice every service-minded pre-med must weigh: the tuition-free USU School of Medicine, the nation's only fully federally funded medical school, versus the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) that places students at civilian schools. She explains the trade-offs in plain terms — the seven-year versus four-year service obligation, the roughly $90,000 annual salary USU students earn while in school, the one hundred hours of military-unique curriculum, and the rotations across military treatment facilities worldwide. She is equally direct about the military match, where competitive specialties such as general surgery can be more attainable than many applicants realize.    COL Holt demystifies admissions. Academics are a threshold, not the finish line — a 496 MCAT and 3.0 GPA for regular decision, rising to a 500 minimum, with a class mean near 510. Beyond the numbers, she explains what actually earns an interview and an offer: a clear reason to be a physician, a genuine commitment to military service, and the personal attributes of teamwork, adaptability, and being comfortable when things get uncomfortable. She names the self-inflicted mistakes that sink applicants — turning the application in late, stalling on medical clearance and waivers, retaking the MCAT too often, and failing to engage the admissions team. She closes with the human core of the school: the fire team model, longitudinal faculty coaching, the Military Medical Communities program, and a culture where students and faculty take care of one another in a way civilian medicine rarely sees. Her message to any pre-med on the fence is simple — do not underestimate yourself, reach out for mentorship, and remember that the mission is the point. Chapters (00:00-04:54) A Surgeon's Journey: ROTC, Alaska, Afghanistan, and the White House (04:55-10:11) What USUHS Is and Why It Is Different (10:12-19:38) USUHS versus HPSP: Obligations, the Military Match, and How to Choose (19:39-27:39) Timelines, Thresholds, and What Earns an Interview (27:40-43:39) Shadowing, Research, Non-Traditional Applicants, and Common Mistakes (43:40-55:30) The Interview, the Fire Team Culture, and Advice for the Fence-Sitter Chapter Summaries (00:00-04:54) A Surgeon's Journey: ROTC, Alaska, Afghanistan, and the White House Holt traces a twenty-plus-year dual-military-career path from ROTC and HPSP through general surgery training at Tripler Army Medical Center to duty stations spanning rural Alaska and a tertiary academic hospital. She describes deploying to a forward surgical team in eastern Afghanistan in 2012 and learning damage-control surgery, and credits the Army with handing her leadership roles far earlier than a civilian career would.   (04:55-10:11) What USU Is and Why It Is Different She defines the Uniformed Services University as the nation's only fully federally funded, tuition-free medical school, training physicians for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Public Health Service. Students draw full pay and benefits — roughly $90,000 a year — complete about one hundred hours of military-unique curriculum, and rotate at military treatment facilities across the country and overseas.   (10:12-19:38) USU versus HPSP: Obligations, the Military Match, and How to Choose Holt compares the seven-year USU service obligation with the four-year HPSP commitment and argues the difference is small over a full career. She explains the military match, where critically needed specialties like general surgery can be more attainable, and walks through how applicants apply by service, weigh geography and specialty, and decide which pathway fits their long-term goals.   (19:39-27:39) Timelines, Thresholds, and What Earns an Interview The USU medical-school timeline mirrors other allopathic schools through AMCAS, but military commissioning adds a lengthy medical clearance process, with about half of students needing a waiver. Academics are a threshold — a 496 MCAT and 3.0 GPA for regular decision. Above all, she stresses applying early and finishing requirements, because uncleared applicants get skipped as seats fill.   (27:40-43:39) Shadowing, Research, Non-Traditional Applicants, and Common Mistakes She pushes back on the pressure around clinical shadowing, noting USU requires none and that paid work as a phlebotomist or technician offers equal exposure. Research is likewise not required, given USU's own Capstone program. She details how the school values non-traditional and prior-service applicants, then names the most common self-inflicted mistakes: late applications, stalled clearances, over-testing the MCAT, and downplaying military experience.   (43:40-55:30) The Interview, the Fire Team Culture, and Advice for the Fence-Sitter Holt explains the virtual two-interview format and what makes candidates stand out — genuine commitment, professionalism, and self-knowledge. She describes the fire team model, longitudinal faculty coaching, and the Military Medical Communities program that links applicants, students, and physicians across services. Her closing advice to fence-sitting pre-meds: do not underestimate yourself, seek mentors, and lead with the mission.   Take Home Messages Mindset matters more than a perfect score.: Academic metrics are a threshold, not the finish line. The strongest military physicians are often the applicants who have struggled, adapted, and bounced back — people who value service over a flawless transcript.   The pathway you choose should match the career you want.: The tuition-free, federally funded medical school carries a longer obligation but builds deeper military identity and connections, while the civilian scholarship route offers more independence. Weigh service obligation, specialty goals, and where you see yourself for the long term.   Apply early and finish your requirements.: Rolling admissions reward speed. The single most avoidable mistakes are turning in a late application, stalling on medical clearance and waivers, and waiting too long on the MCAT or letters of recommendation. Uncleared applicants get skipped as seats fill.   Shadowing and research are not gatekeepers.: Required shadowing hours and formal research are not prerequisites. Paid clinical work and life experience count, and the value placed on non-traditional and prior-service applicants means an unconventional background can be a genuine strength.   Camaraderie is the difference, so engage the community.: The fire team model, longitudinal coaching, and military medical community sessions create a culture where students and faculty take care of one another. Do not underestimate yourself — reach out for mentorship and let the mission lead.   Episode Keywords military medicine, USU School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, Danielle Holt, military doctor, how to become a military physician, HPSP scholarship, military medical school, Army surgeon, premed advice, MCAT, medical school admissions, military match, GME, forward surgical team, Walter Reed, military residency, USUHS, tuition free medical school, military officer physician, WarDocs, military healthcare career, premed shadowing, medical school interview, service obligation Hashtags #MilitaryMedicine, #WarDocs, #USU, #MilitaryMedicalSchool, #HPSP, #FutureMilitaryDoc, #PreMed, #ArmyMedicine Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine The WarDocs Mission- WarDocs exists to honor the legacy of Military Medicine, preserve its history, and inspire every generation — across all Services, Corps, and Ranks — to serve with excellence and pride. Through mentorship, coaching, and education, we equip those considering, entering, and serving in military medicine with the knowledge, connections, and community they need to thrive. We celebrate Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoW, 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/our-guests Subscribe and Like our Videos on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wardocspodcast 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 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wardocspodcast

Owen Thomas was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he lived most of his 96 years. His grandfather was a dairy farmer, and eventually, 14-year-old Owen and his brother took over the farm, which became the Thomas Brothers Dairy Farm. He graduated from Oklahoma A&M (Oklahoma State University) in 1952.Owen left Stillwater for the Korean War, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant, becoming a company commander of a rifle division.He took over his father's Ford dealership in 1975 when he was 45 years old, and continued to operate until he was 85.Beyond the dealership, Owen had a vision for real estate. When Stillwater was only about 4 miles wide with mostly dusty or muddy roads, he realized the town would grow, and land would increase in value, so he purchased 35 acres and built several commercial buildings.Through cars and land, Owen Thomas made a positive impact on Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Four Star Leadership Alumna, Addison Heath, discusses her time at Four Star and how she has used lessons she learned in Oklahoma in her ROTC journey at Florida State.

The ships that bring the goods that you buy to store shelves don't sail themselves. Trained mariners man those vessels, and in times of war, mariners can also prove vital to supporting the U.S. miliary in moving men and materiel to the theater of war. Today, Allan interviews Captain Allan Post, who since 2019 had been deputy superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy at Texas A&M University-Galveston. He talks about how mariners are trained, the vibrant jobs industry his students find post-graduation and -licensure, and how the new training vessel TS Lone Star State will expand learning opportunities for mariner students in his program. | Learn More about the Texas A&M Maritime Academy

Today, Thursday, June 25 on Urban Forum Northwest:*Seattle Police Chief Dr. Shon Barnes assumed his position on February 1, 2024. He is nationally recognized leader in crime reduction and community police relations. He came to Seattle after serving as Chief of Police in Madison Wisconsin 2021-2024. Chief Barnes was honored by the National Institute of Justice, was inducted into the Evidence Based Policing Hall of Fame at George Mason University. He received the Excellence in Policing Award from Radford University.*Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown is the 19th Attorney General for the state and the first African American AG. He grew up in Steilacoom, WA and his parents were military veterans which led him to join the ROTC at Morehouse College. He graduated from Harvard Law School and began his legal career as a member of the Army JAG corps. He served as Governor Jay Inslee's Attorney. President Joe Biden nominated Nick to be the US Attorney for Western Washington.*Reverend Dr. Leslie D. Braxton, Pastor, New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, Kent WA comments on the July 5, 1852 Frederick Douglass Fourth of July Speech where Douglas elaborates on how the English Government imposed restraints, burdens and limitations on the colonial children. In his speech he presents a graphic illustration of the conditions of the slaves being chained and brutalized. He points out to his audience that slavery is not in the Constitution. *DeAunte Damper has served as the NAACP State Area Conference LGBTQ Chair. He is the Community Engagement Specialist for King County's Office of Gun Violence Prevention. He will be the Grand Marshall of Seattle's Pride Parade on Sunday, June 28 the event will begin at Westlake Mall at 10:00 am with a rally and the March will depart at 11:00 am and proceed to Seattle Center.Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant Information. Like us on Facebook. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, Thursday, June 25 on Urban Forum Northwest: *Seattle Police Chief Dr. Shon Barnes assumed his position on February 1, 2024. He is nationally recognized leader in crime reduction and community police relations. He came to Seattle after serving as Chief of Police in Madison Wisconsin 2021-2024. Chief Barnes was honored by the National Institute of Justice, was inducted into the Evidence Based Policing Hall of Fame at George Mason University. He received the Excellence in Policing Award from Radford University. *Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown is the 19th Attorney General for the state and the first African American AG. He grew up in Steilacoom, WA and his parents were military veterans which led him to join the ROTC at Morehouse College. He graduated from Harvard Law School and began his legal career as a member of the Army JAG corps. He served as Governor Jay Inslee's Attorney. President Joe Biden nominated Nick to be the US Attorney for Western Washington. *Reverend Dr. Leslie D. Braxton, Pastor, New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, Kent WA comments on the July 5, 1852 Frederick Douglass Fourth of July Speech where Douglas elaborates on how the English Government imposed restraints, burdens and limitations on the colonial children. In his speech he presents a graphic illustration of the conditions of the slaves being chained and brutalized. He points out to his audience that slavery is not in the Constitution. *DeAunte Damper has served as the NAACP State Area Conference LGBTQ Chair. He is the Community Engagement Specialist for King County's Office of Gun Violence Prevention. He will be the Grand Marshall of Seattle's Pride Parade on Sunday, June 28 the event will begin at Westlake Mall at 10:00 am with a rally and the March will depart at 11:00 am and proceed to Seattle Center. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant Information. Like us on Facebook.

    Few careers in military medicine trace an arc as wide as that of CAPT (Ret) Kimberly Elenberg, DNP, RN. In this episode she sits down with WarDocs to map a journey that began as an ROTC cadet who joined because she saw students rappelling down a building in Philadelphia, and that has since carried her from the bedside at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to the role of principal investigator on a Carnegie Mellon University team competing in the DARPA Triage Challenge. Along the way she changed uniforms, disciplines, and altitudes of responsibility, but never lost the thread that ties it all together: people first, and the relationships that make hard things possible.     CAPT (Ret) Elenberg describes how early mentors shaped her. Colonel Graham showed her that putting people first is a practice, not a slogan. Major McGee backed her instinct for innovation, and as a young nurse on Ward 51 she built one of the first patient education centers in a military treatment facility, learned to set up networks and hardware, and pursued nursing informatics before the field was common. She recounts moving to research at NIH, where her work on TPA for clearing central line catheters was later adopted as best clinical practice, and her decision to volunteer as an EMT and medic so she would understand field medicine as well as hospital medicine.       From there the conversation follows her into the U.S. Public Health Service, where after 9/11 the Surgeon General asked her to help build the nation's deployable response teams from concept to operation, training them in real communities facing real crises. She explains how anthrax and zoonotic disease drew public health into agriculture and food security, how her long relationship with Carnegie Mellon's Auton Lab began with a bus trip and a phone call, and how that mathematical grounding in probabilistic modeling resurfaced when she was asked to model the effects of policy during COVID and, later, to track military security assistance flowing to Ukraine.     The episode closes on the present and the future: autonomous triage payloads that can read a casualty's physiological state without touching them, robotic snakes that might pack non-compressible hemorrhage, swarms of drones and ground robots that find the wounded and feed the right information to the right echelon. Throughout, CAPT (Ret) Elenberg returns to her core lessons — trust your chain of command, define what success really looks like, build on small wins, and never limit yourself to your military occupational specialty. From an orphanage and a food-service background to teaching at the National Defense University, hers is a story about doors held open and relationships that endure. Chapters (00:54-07:11) From Rappelling Cadet to Innovating Army Nurse (07:11-16:48) Building the Nation's Public Health Response Teams (16:48-22:24) Biosurveillance Modeling COVID and Ukraine Aid (22:24-32:32) The Power of Relationships Across a Career (32:32-37:37) Autonomy Confidence and Knowing When to Explore (37:37-51:33) The DARPA Triage Challenge and Lessons That Last Chapter Summaries (00:54-07:11) From Rappelling Cadet to Innovating Army Nurse The guest traces her start as an ROTC cadet drawn in by students rappelling down a Philadelphia building, her commissioning as an Army nurse, and her first duty station at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Early mentors, including Colonel Graham and Major McGee, taught her that people truly come first and backed her instinct for innovation. On Ward 51 she built one of the first patient education centers in a military treatment facility while teaching herself websites, networking, and nursing informatics.   (07:11-16:48) Building the Nation's Public Health Response Teams Her NIH research on TPA for central line catheters was later adopted as best clinical practice, and she volunteered as an EMT and medic to learn field medicine. After moving to the U.S. Public Health Service for family stability, she answered the Surgeon General's call following 9/11 to build the nation's deployable response teams from concept to operation. Anthrax and zoonotic disease pulled public health into agriculture and food security across the federal enterprise.   (16:48-22:24) Biosurveillance Modeling COVID and Ukraine Aid Tasked to advise on detecting events and discerning intent, she leaned into probabilistic modeling and a long relationship with Carnegie Mellon's Auton Lab that began with a bus trip and a phone call. As Director of Population Health at the Defense Health Agency she modeled total force fitness, then was asked to model the effects of policy during COVID rather than the disease itself. The work forced coordination across agencies, departments, and services on a scale not seen since World War II.   (22:24-32:32) The Power of Relationships Across a Career Describing herself as an introvert, she explains why relationships are the engine of accomplishment, recalling a Ranger literally pushing her up a mountain during advanced camp after a car accident. Those bonds endured and resurfaced decades later in Texas during the DARPA Triage work. She recounts retiring out of Poland after 28 years, where she stood up a secure network to coordinate 26 non-doctrinal partners supporting aid to Ukraine.   (32:32-37:37) Autonomy Confidence and Knowing When to Explore She makes the case for military service as a path to clinical autonomy and the chance to think, decide, and do research that civilian roles often do not allow. She reflects on how to know when to pursue a new opportunity: trust your chain of command, negotiate and listen when you are the one in charge, and act on principles of doing no harm. Confidence, she says, means not being afraid to fail.   (37:37-51:33) The DARPA Triage Challenge and Lessons That Last She gives a plain-language tour of her team's autonomous triage work — payloads that read physiological state without touching a casualty, visual reasoning models tempered by Bayesian rigor, and platforms that deliver the right information to each echelon. Using a DoD-wide tobacco policy as a case study, she explains the art of the doable and building success on small wins. She closes with advice on confidence, integrity, and holding doors open for the next generation.   Take Home Messages Cross disciplines to scale care: The greatest gains often come from teaming up outside your own specialty. Pairing clinical insight with engineering, informatics, and operations lets a single provider extend capability and capacity far beyond what one profession can deliver alone. People first is a practice, not a slogan: Leaders who genuinely put people first earn the trust that makes hard missions possible. The example of a leader who recognized her team while facing her own serious illness shows that the principle is proven in action, not in words. Relationships are the engine of accomplishment: No one knows everything, and progress depends on the people willing to push you up the mountain. Networks built early endure for decades and can be called on when the mission needs them most. Define what success really looks like: Insisting on the perfect outcome can stall progress entirely; agreeing on the art of the doable moves the mission forward. Real success is often a series of small wins that build on one another over time. Confidence means not being afraid to fail: Growth lives outside the comfort zone, and everyone fails sometimes. Acting with honesty, integrity, and your best effort each day — then trusting tomorrow brings another chance — is what builds lasting confidence. Episode Keywords military medicine, Army nurse, military nursing, WarDocs, military medicine podcast, public health service, USPHS, DARPA Triage Challenge, autonomous triage, battlefield medicine, combat casualty care, Carnegie Mellon University, Auton Lab, nursing informatics, biosurveillance, COVID modeling, population health, Defense Health Agency, Walter Reed, military innovation, medical robotics, drone medicine, military mentorship, veteran leadership, military medical research Hashtags #MilitaryMedicine, #WarDocs, #ArmyNurse, #PublicHealth, #BattlefieldMedicine, #DARPA, #MilitaryInnovation, #VeteranLeadership   Biography Dr. Kimberly Elenberg, a retired USPHS Captain, is the Director of Data and Mission Partner Sharing at ECS. A distinguished leader in biosurveillance and emergency response, she applies data science to enhance national security. Notably, she served as the incident response commander for modeling and analytics for the Secretary of Defense COVID Task Force. Previously, as a principal scientist at Carnegie Mellon University, she advanced autonomous systems for biosurveillance. Dr. Elenberg consistently bridges theoretical research with practical healthcare delivery, leveraging her clinical expertise and military discipline to safeguard public health. Her exceptional contributions have earned her several highly prestigious awards, including the 2022 Defense Superior Service Medal, the 2022 USPHS Distinguished Service Medal, and the 2020 National Emergency Preparedness Award for her outstanding operational acumen.         Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine The WarDocs Mission- WarDocs exists to honor the legacy of Military Medicine, preserve its history, and inspire every generation — across all Services, Corps, and Ranks — to serve with excellence and pride. Through mentorship, coaching, and education, we equip those considering, entering, and serving in military medicine with the knowledge, connections, and community they need to thrive. We celebrate Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoW, 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/our-guests Subscribe and Like our Videos on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wardocspodcast 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 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wardocspodcast    

On March 12, 2026, a gunman opened fire inside an Army ROTC classroom at Old Dominion University. Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah immediately moved to stop the attacker, while cadets fought back in a desperate struggle that prevented an even greater tragedy. Investigators soon identified the gunman as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former National Guard soldier and convicted ISIS supporter who had been released from federal prison in the summer of 2024.  In this episode, Margot examines the shooting, LT COL Shah's legacy, the heroism of the cadets who fought back, and the questions surrounding Jalloh's path to radicalization and release. Watch:The Cadets' StoryShah's Memorial ServiceShah's Celebration of Life Service  ⸻

   In this episode of WarDocs, Army Deputy Surgeon General Dr. Lance Raney discusses the past, present, and future of military medicine. The conversation begins with Dr. Raney's early journey from a collegiate scholarship athlete to a Family Medicine physician, exploring how his clinical roots in "small-town" Army medicine established the decision-making framework necessary for high-level strategic leadership. Drawing on his experience as a Brigade Surgeon with the 172nd Stryker Combat Team in Iraq, Dr. Raney emphasizes the life-saving importance of empowering medics at the point of injury and the necessity of critical thinking in the face of unexpected clinical challenges.    The dialogue then shifts to the complexities of the current military healthcare landscape, particularly the transition to the Defense Health Agency and the integration of medical readiness with healthcare delivery. Dr. Raney provides a candid look at the challenges of navigating systemic changes during the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of MHS GENESIS, noting that leadership through influence is now more vital than ever. He shares a personal and powerful account of his time at Womack Army Medical Center, discussing how patience and trust in the military justice system reinforced his commitment to servant leadership and organizational resilience.    A major focus of the episode is the Army's strategic pivot toward Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO). Dr. Raney details how the "Golden Hour" of evacuation is being replaced by the reality of prolonged field care, requiring a fundamental overhaul of medical training. He explains the expansion of the Army paramedic program and the development of high-tech solutions like Artificial Intelligence for triage and decision support. These innovations are designed to augment the front-line provider's ability to manage casualties in austere, communication-denied environments where resources are strictly limited.    Finally, Dr. Raney offers profound career advice for the next generation of healthcare professionals. He encourages students and young officers to become the experts their patients expect and to seek "Purpose Plus"—the unique fulfillment found in serving the extended family of the American soldier. By focusing on legacy and the impact left in others, Dr. Raney illustrates why military medicine remains one of the most rewarding paths a clinician can choose. Chapters (00:00-06:28) Foundations of a Career in Army Medicine (06:29-11:04) The Clinical Roots of Strategic Leadership (11:05-17:40) Lessons in Combat Casualty Care (17:41-31:35) Command Philosophy and Navigating Systemic Transitions (31:36-45:47) Preparing for Large-Scale Combat Operations and the Role of AI (45:48-50:52) Advice for the Next Generation and Finding Your Purpose Chapter Summaries (00:00-06:28) Foundations of a Career in Army Medicine: Dr. Raney details his path from a lifeguard and ROTC cadet to becoming a Family Medicine physician. He shares how he came to view the Army as his "small town" where everyone shares a common mission and community. (06:29-11:04) The Clinical Roots of Strategic Leadership: The discussion centers on how high-volume primary care at Fort Sill developed the critical decision-making skills needed for senior leadership. Dr. Raney explains how clinical encounters taught him to synthesize information and negotiate solutions under pressure. (11:05-17:40) Lessons in Combat Casualty Care: Reflecting on his deployment to Iraq, Dr. Raney emphasizes the life-saving impact of well-trained medics at the point of injury. He recounts a specific junctional injury save that demonstrated the importance of critical thinking over rote skill repetition. (17:41-31:35) Command Philosophy and Navigating Systemic Transitions: This segment covers Dr. Raney's experience commanding large medical centers and his time as a liaison during the Defense Health Agency transition. He discusses the challenges of separating healthcare from readiness and the personal lessons learned while trusting the system during a difficult investigation. (31:36-45:47) Preparing for Large Scale Combat Operations and the Role of AI: The conversation shifts to the strategic preparations for LSCO, where the traditional "Golden Hour" may no longer exist. Dr. Raney explores the expansion of paramedic training and the potential for AI to assist in triage and clinical decision support on the battlefield. (45:48-50:52) Advice for the Next Generation and Finding Your Purpose: To conclude, Dr. Raney offers career advice focused on achieving clinical expertise and finding "Purpose Plus" within the military. He shares his hope of leaving a legacy through the people he has trained and the lives he has touched. Take Home Messages Master Your Craft: Becoming an expert in your specific clinical field is the fundamental requirement for all military medical professionals. True education happens after residency when you apply your skills to real-world patient outcomes and learn from continuity of care. Lead to Purpose: Leadership should not be about the commander but about enabling others to own their piece of the mission. When a team understands their purpose, they move from just doing a job to providing meaningful interventions that change lives. Prepare for Prolonged Care: In future conflicts, the luxury of rapid evacuation will be limited, requiring medical teams to hold patients for much longer durations. Success will depend on the individual's ability to think critically and utilize limited resources in the face of unsolvable problems. Embrace Systemic Ownership: Tactical problems are often best solved by those at the tactical level rather than waiting for higher headquarters to provide a solution. Understanding that resources are finite at the strategic level empowers local leaders to take initiative and resolve issues independently. Seek Purpose Plus: Serving in the military provides a unique opportunity to practice medicine on an "extended family" that shares your core values. This sense of shared purpose turns the daily grind into a lifelong mission of service to the nation and its warriors.   Episode Keywords Army Medicine, Dr. Lance Raney, Military Medicine, WarDocs Podcast, LSCO, Large Scale Combat Operations, Combat Casualty Care, Prolonged Field Care, Army Surgeon General, Defense Health Agency, DHA Transition, Medical Readiness, Combat Medic Training, Paramedic Program, TCCC, Leadership Philosophy, Army Family Medicine, Battlefield Trauma, Medical AI, Triage Technology, Military Healthcare, Army ROTC, HPSP, Tactical Medicine, Operational Readiness, Clinical Excellence, MHS Governance. Hashtags #MilitaryMedicine, #ArmyStrong, #WarDocs, #Leadership, #CombatCasualtyCare, #MedicalReadiness, #LSCO, #MedEd   Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine The WarDocs Mission- WarDocs exists to honor the legacy of Military Medicine, preserve its history, and inspire every generation — across all Services, Corps, and Ranks — to serve with excellence and pride. Through mentorship, coaching, and education, we equip those considering, entering, and serving in military medicine with the knowledge, connections, and community they need to thrive. We celebrate Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoW, 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/our-guests Subscribe and Like our Videos on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wardocspodcast 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 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wardocspodcast        

Secretary of Defense (or ‘War’, as he prefers) Pete Hegseth is a poster child for the way military education likes to inculcate recruits and students into a macho culture of masculinity.  The Pentagon has a vast educational network through which to teach these lessons.  It includes basic training, service academies like West Point, JROTC, ROTC and dozens of military schools and war colleges.  This has given the military brass outsized power in shaping our young men and, by extension, society at large.  In “God Forgives, Brothers Don’t: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood,” investigative journalist Jasper Craven explores how the military formed and fuels increasingly volatile strains of American masculinity. While many people benefit greatly from the structure and discipline of military training, others have scars from it having been cut off from the development of the other traits that define men, like empathy and caring for others.  It’s provocative exploration of men in our society as the messaging about the training and service focuses more and more on a warrior culture.

Women Veterans ROCK On The Hill - The Podcast! (Encore!) We are an Award-Winning Podcast for Today's Women On The Move!Retired U.S. Army Major April Harris is "Transforming Lives Through Theater Education at "The Theatre Lab of Washington, DC. - April Harris teaches a unique version of The Theatre Lab's "Life Stories Program" specially designed for today's Military Women called "Finding Your Voice."The Theatre Lab offers this pioneering, tuition-free program that supports Women Veterans in creating original dramatic works using their own life experiences.  The "Life Stories Program" has been proven to increase self-esteem, reduce feelings of isolation, improve communication & critical-thinking skills.Classes @ The Theatre Lab Are Open To: Women Veterans; Active Duty; Reservists; National Guard; ROTC; Military Spouses; and Military Moms Too. Contact The Theatre Lab to learn more about Tuition-Free Classes.Subscribe Today and Stay Connected To The Women Veterans ROCK Podcast Posse!ABOUT THE HOSTDeborah Harmon-Pugh is a recognized authority on Women's Leadership in America. She has dedicated the past two decades to assisting women advance into positions of influence by leveraging their expertise and leadership strengths. She is the creator of proven and powerful leadership development programs that guide women to becoming leaders in Civic Leadership, Business Leadership, and Nonprofit Leadership. Professor Deborah Harmon-Pugh is the National Campaign Chair of Women Veterans ROCK; The Women Veterans Civic Leadership Institute; and The Women Veterans Public Policy Delegation To Capitol Hill. She teaches in the Graduate School of Studies at Chestnut Hill College. Professor Deborah Harmon-Pugh is a retired Military Spouse of 27 years.ABOUT OUR SPONSOR - (Rebroadcast)Comcast NBCUniversal - We thank Comcast NBCUniversal for their support of Women Veterans, Military Families, and America's entire Military Community. For more information on how Comcast NBCUniversal is supporting the military community, visit the link below. ⁠⁠⁠www.corporate.comcast.com/values/military⁠⁠⁠VISIT US & SUBSCRIBE TODAYOur Website Is: ⁠⁠⁠WomenVetsRock.org ⁠⁠⁠FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA⁠⁠⁠Facebook: @WomenVeteransRock⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: @WomenVetsRock⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: @WomenVeteransRock⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @WomenVetsRock⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: @WomenVetsRock

Season 6, Episode 22 | Pastor Chad interviews his son Truett days after high school graduation as he prepares for college and ROTC, discussing how to stand firm in faith amid new ideas and make faith one's own. Then, they finish out Titus by unpacking all of chapter 3.

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026. In today's newscast, WFHB Correspondent Jorge Casillas speaks with Sam Holdemann and Seth Mutchler, two members of the group Care Not Cages, about the county council's recent rejection of North Park as a new jail site. You’ll also hear ROTC cadet Sam Enes on …

Connect with John Frankman: https://frankmanforflorida.com/Book a call: https://remnantfinance.com/calendar Out Print the Fed with a 1% target per week: https://remnantfinance.com/optionsEmail us at info@remnantfinance.com or visit https://remnantfinance.com for more informationFOLLOW REMNANT FINANCEYoutube: @RemnantFinance (https://www.youtube.com/@RemnantFinance)Facebook: @remnantfinance (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560694316588)Twitter: @remnantfinance (https://x.com/remnantfinance)TikTok: @RemnantFinanceDon't forget to hit LIKE and SUBSCRIBE_____________________________In this episode, Hans sits down with John Frankman, a former Green Beret turned congressional candidate running for Florida's First District. John walks through what it actually takes to become a Green Beret, the brutal pipeline from selection through Robin Sage, and how the COVID vaccine mandate ended a career he'd spent over a decade building.Hans and John dig into the moral, religious, and legal grounds for refusing the shot, the bureaucratic punishment that followed, and why John believes the COVID accountability fight is the linchpin for cleaning up the rest of the rot in the Pentagon. They close on his congressional run, the establishment machine he's up against, and why most veterans in the most veteran-dense district in America don't have a veteran representing them.Chapters: 00:00 – Opening segment 01:30 – From LA to ROTC to the seminary 03:50 – The Green Beret pipeline: enlisted vs. officer routes 05:30 – Selection: 34% attrition, four MREs a day, and 20 lbs lost 09:50 – Special Forces vs. SEALs vs. Rangers 13:40 – Working by, with, and through partner forces 15:10 – The Q Course, SERE, and language training 16:30 – Inside Robin Sage: the unconventional warfare exercise 20:45 – Military Free Fall and getting to 7th Group 23:15 – The transgender major and the first test of conviction 25:50 – The shot mandate hits the team room 27:15 – Vaccination rate as a metric for good leadership 30:45 – Aborted fetal cells and the Catholic moral case 33:00 – Counseling the command back36:25 – A year of being un-deployable, un-PCS-able, useless 37:40 – The two-star & the town hall39:20 – Why the reinstatement process is a joke 41:00 – Why COVID accountability is the linchpin 42:45 – From silent retreat to running for Congress 44:00 – Matt Gaetz, the State of the Union, and stepping aside for Trump's pick 47:10 – Why Patronis isn't fighting for the district 50:30 – The most veteran-dense district in America has no veteran on staff 54:00 – Thomas Massie, special interest money, and the uphill fight 57:10 – Where to find John and how to support the campaignKey Takeaways:The Green Beret pipeline is brutal and specific. Selection alone has an enormous attrition rate before the year-plus Q Course even begins. Special Forces work by, with, and through partner forces, which is what distinguishes Green Berets from other Special Operations Forces.The COVID mandate metric was a disqualifier for leadership. The percentage of your team that took the shot became the measure of a good leader. That single inversion of values exposed which commanders had spines and which didn't.The shot was never FDA approved when the mandate was issued. Comirnaty was the approved label, but it was never available. Pfizer EUA was what was actually in the vials, which made the order unlawful on its face.Insubordination, done right, is documented. John responded to his counseling statement by numbering each paragraph and refuting it on the record. His whole team followed suit. Most commanders had no answer because there were no legally defensible responses.The reinstatement process is theater. The administration wants a headline, not accountability. The biggest COVID tyrants are still in the Pentagon and still the loudest cheerleaders for every other ideological capture.

This week Jasper Craven joins Francis to discuss his latest book "God Forgives, Brothers Don't". Pick up Jasper's book here in either Hard Cover or Audiobook format - https://bookshop.org/a/25702/9781668087190  When investigative reporter Jasper Craven first dug into Valley Forge Military Academy five years ago, he uncovered an acrid strain of masculinity that was raw, violent, fiercely hierarchical, and quickly mutating out of control. Initially, he had assumed that military education was a dying, outmoded brand. But as he looked deeper, he found a sprawling, well-funded network featuring dozens of military schools, like Valley Forge and West Point, plus thousands of ROTC programs in public colleges and high schools that allowed the Pentagon to wield outsized power on education. Check out the store, and sign up for our twice a month email updates  https://whatahellofawaytodad.com/  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hellofawaytodad/  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hellofawaytodad/   

SUMMARY In this episode of Long Blue Leadership, U.S. Air Force Academy boxing coach Lt. Col. (Ret.) Mark Clifford '97 shares how the sport shaped his approach to leadership, service and mentoring the next generation of cadets. A strong conversation on resilience and growth.   SHARE THIS EPISODE LINKEDIN  |  FACEBOOK   COACH CLIFFORD'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS Leadership is about others, not you. Elevate the people around you—when your team wins, you win. Iron sharpens iron. Seek (and create) hard reps, tougher opponents, and uncomfortable situations to build real capability. Look for “dogs,” not resumes. Prioritize competitiveness, resilience, and willingness to get hit and keep going over pedigree. Turn on the hot water. Know when it's time to flip the switch from relaxed and joking to locked-in, all-business execution. Take the punch, then execute. Composure after getting hit—physically or metaphorically—is the true test of a leader. Accountability and care must coexist. You can deeply care for people and still enforce standards, discipline, and consequences. Bloom where you're planted. Be the best where you are before chasing the next opportunity; stop leading with the exit plan. Don't lead only with rank. Some of the strongest leaders on his team lead through work ethic, example, and quiet influence. Use mentors; don't go it alone. Pick up the phone, ask for help, and learn from those who've led through similar moments. Family and support systems are force multipliers. A stable, supportive home front enables you to show up fully for the mission.   CHAPTERS 00:00:00 – Intro: “Sometimes leadership means the mission stopped being about you” + Mark's accolades 00:01:40 – From hoops to the ring: leaving basketball, discovering boxing, and Coach Weichers' influence 00:03:55 – Finding “dogs”: how Mark recruits scrappy, resilient cadets and builds national champions 00:07:57 – Growing up competitive: family, academics-first father and rivalry with his brother 00:11:09 – Leadership from the ring: iron sharpening iron and elevating everyone on the team 00:14:30 – Warrior mindset: teaching cadets to take a punch, stay composed and execute a plan 00:19:00 – Riding the emotional highs and lows: coaching, winning, losing and not burning out 00:21:08 – Accountability with heart: tough call in Korea, stripes, and good order and discipline 00:24:36 – Competing together: peer squadron commanders, shared struggle and mutual support 00:28:05 – When you want to quit: advice Col. Clifford got, what he tells cadets now and “bloom where you're planted” 00:32:16 – Quiet leaders and culture: cadets who lead through work ethic and example 00:37:23 – Daily leadership reps: mental prep, PE classes, influence in the athletic department 00:43:11 – Talk to young Col. Clifford: trust the process, shake off negativity and the power of family support   ABOUT BIO Lt. Col. (Ret.) Mark Clifford, a 1997 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and former National Collegiate Boxing Association champion, is in his second season as head coach of the Air Force boxing program after leading the women's team to its first NCBA national title in his debut season, highlighted by a program-record four individual champions and a sweep of the men's and women's NCBA Western Regional titles. A former team captain and three-time NCBA All-American as a cadet, Col. Clifford also served two stints as an assistant coach, contributing to four national team championships and 21 individual national champions. He retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel after 20 years of service, including assignments as director of fuel operations for Air Force One, commander roles in Hawaii and South Korea, combat tours supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and work on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. Following his military career, Col. Clifford held leadership positions at Grand Canyon University and the DREAM Foundation, focusing on sports management education and mentorship opportunities for students. He earned a master's degree from the University of Maryland Global Campus and a doctorate from the University of New Mexico.   CONNECT WITH MARK LINKEDIN  |  FALCON ATHLETICS   CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LINE PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org   Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org  Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org     ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE AT USAFA.ORG/LONGBLUELEADERSHIP AND ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS     FULL TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS: Guest, Coach Mark Clifford '97  |  Host, Lt. Col. Naviere Walkewicz '99   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 0:00 Sometimes leadership means realizing the mission stopped being about you a long time ago. I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99. Long Blue Leadership starts now. Mark Clifford, welcome to Long Blue Leadership.   Col. Mark Clifford 0:14 Thanks for having me. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 0:15 Absolutely, you know, we could jump right in, but before I do, I have to just talk about this. I had to write this down to make sure I didn't miss it. Boxing team captain, obviously; three-time Wing Open champ; three-time regional champ, three-time National Collegiate Boxing Association All-American, and the national champion of the NCBA your senior year.   Col. Mark Clifford 0:33 Yes, ma'am.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 0:34 I mean, that's just, and that's just as a cadet. Then you went on to serve 20 years in the Air Force as a logistics readiness officer, you know, you're commanding and you're leading squadrons. In addition to that, on the higher education side, assistant dean at Grand Canyon University in sports business.   Col. Mark Clifford 0:49 Yes, yeah, ran the sport management program when I first got there, probably a year after I got there, just to get my feet wet with higher ed, and then was elevated to the assistant dean of the College of Business. And so it was, it was fun, it was amazing, it was very different from what you're used to in the military, because I tried to come in with a little bit of military mindset, but it's a civilian institution, so you know, just a little bit different, just bringing myself there and seeing what happened.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 1:13 Well, you know, I guess what it shows is that you're not afraid to jump in and do, you know, something new. And I think that's — we'll probably discover that in the conversation today. So, maybe where we can start is the fact that you are back at USAFA as the boxing coach. You're here now running and leading the program that shaped you.   Col. Mark Clifford 1:31 Yes.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 1:32 Let's talk about that.   Col. Mark Clifford 1:33 Yes, let's talk about — I mean, I love the program. You know, I came into the Academy, went to the Prep School, on a five-year plan, like some of us that need a little extra help, little extra year, you know. I took my time and really understand that came in, I'm such a competitor. I was playing basketball at the Prep School, came in my freshman year, hoping to be on the basketball team, worked really hard, did all things the coaches asked me to do, still sat the bench, and so, like a lot of cadets, like every cadet, even our women now have to take boxing class, you know, as a mandatory class.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 2:04 When did that start? What year? Do you remember?   Col. Mark Clifford 2:07 I want to say 2017 is when the women started. It's always been instituted for our men. So my freshman year I did really well in the class, to the point where I had to box our assistant coach at the time, Ray Carter, for my GR, my test.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 2:22 Did you get an A? Col. Mark Clifford 2:23 I got an A. But it hurt. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 2:26 For him? Col. Mark Clifford 2:27 Heck no! He was the one punching me. He busted me up pretty good, but I still got the A in the class, and coaches — the same system I use today — is trying to find cadets in boxing class that are competitors that are looking to do more than just be either a cadet or on the team that they're on or ride a bench. I got tired of riding the bench behind a couple of folks until sophomore year, coach came and said, “Hey, you still interested in boxing?” I quit basketball, went to boxing and the rest is history.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 2:58 You didn't look back at all.   Col. Mark Clifford 2:59 No, you know it's hard to look back because it's shaped — I think we all kind of think back to our cadet years. I know I do sometimes, and kind of reminisce about, “What if?” I remember walking across the street one time, and my brother was ahead of me in '90s — Class of '96 — on the football team, and I was walking across the street as a freshman to basketball practice and ran across Coach Fisher DeBerry. “Hey, Clifford, will you come play football with me?” And so, you always think about opportunities that kind of cross your path, and I think about what would have happened if I would have done something different. I don't know if this story would be as successful as it is, based off of what I've learned in boxing and where I am today. And so, I'm very thankful for the program. I'm thankful for Coach Eddie Weichers, who shaped me, was a father figure for us when we were here. And you know, it's tough being a cadet, so you got to have allies and friends and people and mentors, and he was definitely one for me.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 3:55 Well, I'd love to know, you know — he saw you in class and discovered that talent. How are you finding potential nowadays in the cadets for the program? Because you just happened to have the women who defended a national champion, won it. So, two years now have been the NCBA national champs. Col. Mark Clifford 4:15 I think it's a couple of things I look for. One is, how scrappy are you? I think it was easy at Grand Canyon University to find, you know, the era of COVID, and the resiliency wasn't quite the same as what I remembered when I was here as assistant coach, and as a captain and as a major, as well. The cadets are different, the mentality is different, and so kind of make it simple, I'm looking for dogs, I'm looking for cadets that a) are excited to fight, are not afraid to box, aren't afraid to get hit, love the intensity of the sport, and I can shape that, and you know, the potential piece of that is, can they throw a pretty good punch, and can they take a punch, and they're not, you know, they're not jumping out of the ring with that. That kind of translates into what we're looking for with all of our officers and all officer candidates, is making sure that they can stay there and take a punch, collect themselves, and then go back and execute, right? And so that's what I'm looking for, and I've tried to find those in classes, and you know, a lot of times it's a lot of the athletes.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 5:21 Right.   Col. Mark Clifford 5:22 Because they're recruited here for other reasons, well, and other…   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 5:24 Other sports.   Col. Mark Clifford 5:25 Other sports, or whatever, and they want to be competitive, and as a freshman and a sophomore. It's tough, because you got juniors and seniors who have experience on the team. They're out there performing, and you're sitting on the bench, well, you know, I get you in the sport where you don't have to sit the bench.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 5:43 That's right.   Col. Mark Clifford 5:44 It's top person wins. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 5:45 So when I think about the team that you formulate and you grow, and they continue to hone in our craft, is it always the athletes that you kind of, that maybe have been benchwarmers, or have you found the diamonds in the rough that maybe have never fought in their lives, and never — that kind of surprise you, that have risen to the top?   Col. Mark Clifford 6:04 You know, there are a lot of diamonds in the rough, there are a lot of, but back to what, there's a lot of cadets that come here that aren't necessarily on a divisional, we're lucky because we have 25% of our population at the Academy are divisional athletes. But there are so many other young cadets that are just as competitive, just as athletic, and looking for something else, and how do you give them something, right? And when they get to come to the Wing Open and see their classmates in the center of Clune Arena, and that thing is filled with all the rest of the Cadet Wing.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 6:37 Yes, and grads and the community.   Col. Mark Clifford 6:39 And the community. They put the floor seats right there, you can sit ringside, it's an amazing thing. How do I be a part of it? And my philosophy is simple: If you enter the Wing Open and you win, then you're the person that represents this for regions and nationals. There's no favoritism, because I quote, unquote, recruited Naviere as a freshman. Now she's a senior, well, the senior gets her butt whooped, I'm taking a freshman. And so it's a very fair system, and so you find those diamonds in the rough. I'll give you one — two-time national champ. She's our team captain this year, Elise Bell. I don't think she's ever fought in her life.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 7:16 Wow.   Col. Mark Clifford 7:16 When I walked in the gym last year, my first year, I just noticed her work ethic. How do you just pour into something like that and refine that in the gym to become a national champ. And last year — I just love to tell her story, because last year I believe in regionals and nationals, every first round she lost 5-0 to the judges. She was losing, and she won every bout.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 7:42 Interesting.   Col. Mark Clifford 7:43 So it's just — you find those, and I'm hoping to find more of those cadets that just have that same energy, that resilience, that toughness and courage, really, and willingness to do what we ask you to do.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 7:58 So, were you like that growing up? Were you someone that had this mindset of, you know, a work ethic and, you know, scrappy, you know, before even getting into boxing? Were you like that as a kid?   Col. Mark Clifford 8:09 I was just a competitor, and that's my father, that's my mother, that's my grandmother, my father's side, who was very — everything had to be put into place. My father was born in 1929 in Washington, D.C., went to Howard University, ROTC post-Tuskegee, and entered the Air Force through ROTC in 1949.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 8:41 Wow.   Col. Mark Clifford 8:42 So his thing was academics, always. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 8:45 Yes.   Col. Mark Clifford 8:45 But I had a brother who was a year ahead of me, and it was academics for both of us. But how do you best the guy that's right next to you? Like, it was always just — my brother's name is Larry. That's what Larry and I always did, whether it was girls or sports, school, right? Yeah, it was always   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 9:02 You drove each other. Col. Mark Clifford 9:03 We drove each other, and it's just — it was amazing. You don't realize that until you're older, and so you go, “Yeah, that's what that did.” And so I think I was always just, 1) I was always a competitor, like I wasn't always the best, but I'd like to try to strive to be, and so that was just kind of how I was shaped.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 9:22 So was your dad very excited when you — you were recruited to the Academy, is that correct?   Col. Mark Clifford 9:28 My dad kind of wanted me to go — more so than maybe I wanted to go.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 9:34 When did you realize, like — because obviously you were on the five-year plan, right? So I think you had a couple of times to make a decision, like, “I'm good,” but you stayed. So when was it that it really connected with you that this is where I want to be, and I want to stay. Col. Mark Clifford 9:47 Probably after my sophomore year.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 9:50 OK.   Col. Mark Clifford 9:50 Yeah, because my first three years, like, I wanted to play basketball so bad. I was trying to recruit myself. This is when you had to go send out your videotape. You know what I'm saying. You're there with me.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 10:01 Yes, yes, paper. Email's not the thing back then. All paper.   Col. Mark Clifford 10:05 All paper. I'm trying to send videotapes out. Spring break at the Prep School, I think I went to Cal Riverside and tried to meet with the coach and drop off my tape. That's how bad I wanted to play basketball, right, and then I found success in boxing, and it was, I think, why go anywhere else? You start to realize, you get over, like, you're gonna have a job when you graduate. I don't have to look for a job, I don't have to go out there and struggle. I'm gonna get what I want to do out of the military, and it's gonna be a five-year thing for me, and then I'm out, right? And so I think that's what it was. I think it was my sophomore year, and I was going, my grades are terrible. I could say that now. It was — but no one's ever asked me for my GPA. I still was able to get a doctorate. Like, there's things that happen in your life that you'll still be able to achieve success, even though you weren't as great at it before. And so, yeah, I think it was just the realization of, “I could do this.”   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 11:09 So in that journey of, you know, wanting to play basketball so bad, finding a space and a place that really you started to hone in on yourself in boxing, and then, you know, went into the Air Force, you were leading. What have you found out about yourself in a leadership perspective through those different situations, whether you ended up not playing basketball or something that went really well for you, like national champ?   Col. Mark Clifford 11:35 I think just overall leadership was the ability for me to impact others to be successful, and I think that's what I took out of boxing, because it is an individual sport, but it's very team-oriented. We don't put banners on the wall that say “national champion” without a team mentality to make sure that our teammate, left and right of us, are also excelling. And so, in a small sport like boxing, at a time where I boxed, there was 12 weight classes, but you're boxing the guy above a weight and below a weight, because you're trying to make that person better, iron sharpens iron.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 12:10 Right.   Col. Mark Clifford 12:10 I also had, I was a 172-, 175-pounder boxing the heavyweight, because in my mind was no one's gonna hit me as hard as this guy is gonna hit me.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 12:19 That's right.   Col. Mark Clifford 12:20 And so if I can stand and get and last with this guy, I can last with anybody in college boxing. And that flowed for me into the military of — and part of my philosophy was how do I elevate everybody else, because I realized here at the Academy it's not about us, right? We're in the people business to make sure people around us are elevated, have the things that they need, resources they need to make sure that they're doing the job the best of their ability. Because then the unit does better as a team. The wing does better as a team. It's not about us individually. And so I think for me being able to translate that out of boxing into my Air Force career was part of what shaped me as a leader to make myself successful.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 13:02 Did you find yourself seeing if anyone could take a punch from you in your Air Force uniform, or how did you do that?   Col. Mark Clifford 13:10 Well, you know, I punch my words when I know you can't put your hands on people.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 13:16 Of course.   Col. Mark Clifford 13:19 You know, back in the early days, you know, I think the chief excused me from a meeting, and the meeting was back behind the fuel watershed. I can't remember…   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 13:32 Fair enough.   Col. Mark Clifford 13:33 Some wall-to-wall training that was going on with other individuals, but hey, chief said it was good. Roger that chief.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 13:40 That's hilarious.   Col. Mark Clifford 13:41 Yeah, no, you know, you don't put your hands on people. I used to have to tell people, “Don't let my smile fool you,” you know. I like to have a good time, I enjoy myself, I enjoy the people that I'm around. Also, I know our job is very serious, and I was very serious about our job. And so, part of my leadership philosophy was always — my dad's thing was the Golden Rule, you know, treat people the way that you want to be treated. And I always — there's some things here at the Academy that I didn't love, so I took away from, “I'm not going to be that type of person,” into accountability, holding people accountable, myself included. And so even at the Academy, as a knucklehead cadet, I did goofy stuff. I'd be the first one to say, yeah, I take my lumps, march my tours, take my Form 10, do what you need to do, but just survive the place and learn from it, and it shapes you out as a leader.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 14:31 Absolutely. You know, I'm curious, because I think about — you just said, “I like to have fun,” and you know, “but don't let my smile fool you.” You know, when you think about boxing and the mentality you have to have to literally stand across from somebody and hit someone, or take a punch, or you know, be hit back. How do you train that kind of mindset? Because I have to think it parallels a lot with the fact that we are developing warfighters. You know, how do you train that?   Col. Mark Clifford 14:57 Yeah, you know, that's kind of the bottom line of the boxing class. It's not about finding championship boxers. The boxing class is about exactly what you just outlined. It's how do you, as an individual, put a strategy and plan together knowing that you have an adversary across the ring that's going to hurt you. Like, the object of the game is to punch you. Pros is more so to hurt you. College boxing, amateurs, more to score more points than you. Bottom line, they'll hurt you, and that mentality of how do you compose yourself? Do the things that we asked you to do: a) defend yourself, b) have an offensive plan, even if you're losing, how do you compose yourself? Right, part of that warrior spirit is making sure that we always have that mindset of how we're going to achieve and beat our adversaries, and I think that's the bottom line of the boxing class. It's just, how do we do that? So, the mindset is exactly that, is you know you're gonna get punched, but can you punch that person when they punch you? Can you put some other things in place that I gave you tools — that I gave you, head movement, defensive movement — to take those punches away, right? From a strategic standpoint, and then be offensive, and then score your points.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 16:11 Right.   Col. Mark Clifford 16:11 And so that's the mentality we try to have boxers to make sure that this is a sport where you're gonna get hit. Once you get past that hurdle, it's good, right? It's how you work on all these other skill sets that make you better than your opponent. And if the other person's just as skilled as you are, what's the edge that we get? And I think that's part of our mental preparation that we do as well as our physical preparation.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 16:34 So I think about you shaping that for the team, both the men and women. How was that shaped for you? Was that your coach at the time, Eddie Weichers? Was that Wiechers? Was that someone in your family? Who were those mentors in your life?   Col. Mark Clifford 16:45 For me, it was Eddie Weichers and Ray Carter. Ray Carter was an enlisted assistant coach, and he was four-time, I think, All-Air Force heavyweight champ. Those two were instrumental for me, especially during my career times, before my time as a boxer, because I would work hard, work out a lot with Coach Carter, because the same mentality helped with a heavyweight. If this big joker can hit me, I can take the punch… He's also going to teach me some things. I mean, Coach Weichers was the same. It was the mental piece that his thing was knowing to turn on the hot water, and it was because I would have a good time, enjoy practice, have fun with the guys, but when you step in that ring, turn the hot water on, it's all about business. So, then, when you step out, turn it back on to cold, go back to goofing off and doing things that you do, but you get in there, it's all about business. And so, how do you train your mind to go, like, man, “I gotta go to war right now?” And it was, you know, I had a preparation before I got to the ring, and some things that I did that helped me mentally prepare before I jumped in there, but…   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 17:52 What did you do?   Col. Mark Clifford 17:53 You know, again, it was the Walkman CD Walkman, the CD Walkman. And I couldn't jump around too much because it was Skip. Yeah, the CB was skip had the little baby headphones had my little do rag on and I would just zone out on some music, I would zone out on music until it was time for me to get up and do my physical warm up with some jumping some rope shadow boxing and maybe little hand mitts with the coach before I jumped in the ring, but OK, yeah, it was a, you know, I couldn't jump around too much. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 18:25 It would skip, that's true. Now they just have — they don't have to have anything connected, just put in their ears.   Col. Mark Clifford 18:30 I'm jealous about it, to be honest.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 18:35 So I imagine when you're coaching, and I'm saying I imagine because I've not coached ever to this level. I coach my son's little league basketball team, but which is a whole different level of coaching, but what I find curious is, have you ever found yourself in the feeling of, because you know how it felt when you win, when you lose, and when you watch your cadets going through that, how does that affect you as a coach? Col. Mark Clifford 19:01 Yes, I'm learning to not, I'm learning to not ride the emotion like they do, but I definitely did my first year, I think, as an assistant coach. So, I was assistant coach with Coach Wishers five years total as active duty officer, and that was different because I was on the sideline, he was the main guy, I was a support guy, but when you're the head guy, you're the one that gives the kids advice, giving them the strategy, and then really I felt it at nationals, especially when we started to win in with our women, we our first female won in the first half of the day, a freshman, I don't know if she was expected to win. She didn't expect to win, but in our hearts, in our minds, we knew. And then this is the motion, because I know how hard they work and what it takes to get your hand raised, because I came up short my first two years when I'm the guy standing with my hands down, the other guy's hand is raised, and then getting my hand raised my senior year was the most amazing feeling. I rode that same emotion when we lost, when we won, and I was worn out and tired. So I'm trying to train myself not to try to ride that emotion, but it's hard, like you know. I want to be in there with them, and I feel the same things that they feel, because I went through that same process they went through. And so it's interesting dynamic because I'm trying to peel myself away from mine. I just haven't detached yet. I think I'm still emotionally and mentally driven by what happens with our cadets, and it's a weird feeling. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 20:36 I imagine as a leader that's probably a common challenge you have because you care so deeply about your team, like family, that you do get emotional, right, and that might even be one of the sharpest knives in your, in your kit. It's just, you know, how you employ it, I guess.   Col. Mark Clifford 20:52 Yeah, you know, that reminds me of a really tough situation when I was a commander in Korea. Back to, had to hold somebody accountable with that person. Part of the discipline action was taking a strike, right, blah blah blah, the things that happened for something negative, right, but he's such a good person, and it was a first, first mistake, but it was a big one, and what that led to was a person dropping rank, but then hitting higher tenure, and couldn't test for the next strike, and so I really struggled with that, and had really tough conversations with not only the group chief, but my commander, right, and my chief, my first sergeant. Is this really the right thing for this individual? I think ultimately for good organ discipline. Yes, I think emotionally because it was a small unit. We were in Korea, his, he had his wife there, I had my family there, right? So they became friends, close, right, close enough, because such a small group, and that's the type of organization that I like to have, because I think if it's you, almost play that disappointment role or daddy role, or whatever, however you want to characterize it, that leadership style, but it was, man, you really got to depend on your brother or sister, you let that person down, and you let us all down. Yes, and so that's part of my leadership style, especially in Korea. I took over for a commander that was let go and fired, and so there was a whole cultural change I had to do, so that was when the “don't let the smile full you” happened, right? And you just had to make sure that you held people accountable. That was one of the tough ones where emotionally you're going, "Man, am I making the right call?” Organizationally, absolutely. Personally, for that individual, it was tough. It was tough. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 22:36 How did those moments stretch you as a leader? I find that fascinating, because you do. You have such a warm and, you know, fun personality about you. I mean, I think when you think about command and the decisions you've had to make at different times, both in the ring, out of the ring, in uniform, et cetera. How did you grow as a leader?   Col. Mark Clifford 22:53 I think we all grow every day. I think, for me, I lean a lot on my mentors. I'm not afraid to ask for help, right? I learned that early in my career, that it took me a while, because I was in the way, but it took me a while to understand that I can pick up the phone and ask somebody for help, and they're going to help you, because, as an organization, our Air Force, our Space Force is all about making sure people are successful. We don't set people up for failure. Why? Because if one individual fails, yeah. So I think for me making those tough calls was was challenging, because because of my leadership style. I think it was, I want people to get along, I want our team to be meet the standard of excellence, if not exceeded. I want us to be always on that front edge, because I'm a competitor. Yes, I want to be the best, but also that comes with accountability and tough decisions. And I think when you have to be in the moment, make some of those tough decisions, that's you just have to go back and reflect. You have to lean on people that do the same thing. I had a great group of fellow squadron commanders at my first command in Hawaii, that's a really terrible basis to go to, that's why I stayed there for 20, that's why I stayed there for 20. The plan was five. Oh, yes, yeah, 20 happened because I had some great people around me, and I, and the bases weren't bad either, and so my family loved it, and we saw some rough assignments, but it ended up being great, but I can lean on my fellow squadron commanders if I had some enough time. But it was just a bitch session, or if it was a leadership lesson. Most of us were about the same year group, age group. I think one or two of the commanders was a year or two ahead of me, but it was just — we weren't competing with each other. We were making sure we were all competing together and being successful together. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 24:53 I think about that theme of being a competitor, and I remember you telling me about your brother and your dad. So, has there been a continued, you know, competition, and how you guys have done in your, in your careers and in life, or have you leaned back to your dad, like, “Hey, Dad, so how do you go about this?”   Col. Mark Clifford 25:09 No, you know, we unfortunately lost my dad a couple years ago.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 25:13 Oh, I'm sorry. Col. Mark Clifford 25:13 No, it's OK; 94 years of an amazing life. I found some old pictures of him and Chappie James, which is pretty — talk about history and legacy. But no, I think my brother — I found out — so, my brother left after his sophomore year. He hadn't finished the Academy. He stuck around here another year, so my sophomore year, and I really came to find out, although we competed against each other our entire lives, he was my No. 1 fan, and I didn't even know it. It was like — he would tell me stories of, I think, my first Wing Open, maybe my second Wing Open — my first Wing Open sophomore year, that he, for the first time, said some cuss words next to my dad because they were in the stands, because he was cheering for me, and it was just funny to hear, like, we're grown-ups, but you can't cuss in front of my dad. You don't say those things. He was like, “Oh no, Dad's gonna get me.” But no, I think since then it's been a really supportive relationship, and like anything that I do, he'll call me as soon as we're competing anywhere as a coach now, ask how we did, how the cadets did, he said he's proud of me, I'm proud of him too, and he's doing real estate in Southern California with his wife and his family. So it was weird to see that, or hear that from him, because it was always like…   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 26:31 Yeah, you were always like mmmm mmmm. Looking over your shoulders. Col. Mark Clifford 26:35 Yeah, like who's going to get who? But it was awesome. It was kind of cool.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 26:38 I love that, and I'm just thinking, you know, I'm sorry to hear of your dad passing, but I'm sure throughout those years you had many calls to him about, you know, some of those decisions you had to make in uniform, and I'm sure he was extremely proud of you making it a career.   Col. Mark Clifford 26:51 Yeah, yeah, I think he also was surprised I lasted as long as I did, just because I was so against it early on in my career. But no, I've been super proud, and it was always good to come home and just kind of share some stories with him, and he would reflect back on his stories, and he was a fighter pilot, and so just some of his fighter-pilot stories, and you know, the things that shaped me — talk about moments in your career and moments that shaped his career. It was just — it's just cool to have somebody like that in a different era that can share the different challenges, but also the same.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 27:31 That's a good point. Yeah.   Col. Mark Clifford 27:32 I think that's what's interesting with the military, like, and coming back to the Academy is a perfect example. Like, there's challenges that we have, they're kind of the same that we've had, probably 15 years ago when I was here.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 27:45 Like a cycle.   Col. Mark Clifford 27:46 It's a cycle. Yeah. So it's like now you have new leaders, how do they work through these different challenges differently than we did before? Not that we need to repeat history, but at the same time, you know what I'm saying, it just becomes a cyclical thing, that was how do we work. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 28:03 How do we navigate that? Yeah. Col. Mark Clifford 28:05 The same stuff, yeah. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 28:06 I want to go back to something you said, and I think it probably plays into some of the cadets that you work with, and or help to coach. You talked about how you weren't sure you wanted to go to the Academy, and staying, you know. The idea of quitting is where I'm really kind of going. What advice have you received to help you not quit, or to kind of push through when you wanted to quit? And have you seen that with cadets, and how are you navigating that?   Col. Mark Clifford 28:29 Yes, and yes. I think the best advice I received when I was thinking about quitting was, “Just really ask yourself why, what's the purpose, and then where you're going to go, like what's the plan?” And that's what was one of my dad's themes was, especially when I got out, was looking to navigate civilian jobs, right, but you don't leave something unless you got something else in your other hand. And so I was like, “How do you really focus in on being the best at where you're at, right, before you even think about stepping somewhere else?” And I had to reflect on that, especially as a cadet, was I really being the best at where I was as a freshman? Sophomore, I could tell you no, because I wanted so many other things, and it wasn't had anything to do with the Academy, had nothing to do with the Academy, but you know…   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 29:21 You were focused on basketball…   Col. Mark Clifford 29:23 Focused on other things until I could really be the best at all the things, and it's a balance here at the Academy — academically, militarily, athletically. I wanted to be the best athletically. How do I go win a national championship as the boxer? And so I found out that you've got to prioritize, which is… Right? We all had to do that. We all have to do that in our lives today. And so my priority was boxing, because I wanted to be great at athletics; academics, because I knew I can't get out of this place unless academics met the standard.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 30:01 And you couldn't box here…   Col. Mark Clifford 30:03 And I couldn't do that without the academics. My dad saying, like, “You don't do anything else unless your academics are where they need to be.” And lastly — it was OK for me militarily. I can make the military stuff work. It wasn't my party. Maybe I should have bowed a little bit more. So I share that with our cadets. Is how do you balance those things that want to make you successful? The one thing I tell the cadets now is, because I've been in the civilian world, it's tough. Like, if you leave here, you got to navigate A, go get a degree, and then B, trying to find a job which meets your standard and the standard of living that you want to have, it's going to be difficult. It's not — and so it's still a cadet's choice. Yes, and we've talked to them about, like, all right, make sure you put things in place to make yourself successful. But I try to give them same advice. I said, “There's no other place outside of the three military academies where you're going to go through a really tough time, you're going to have really awesome friends, you're gonna have a great experience, and, oh, by the way, you have a job, and you graduate — with free medical and dental, like that stuff's not cheap. Yeah, so I, you know, I think I share those things with the cadets, especially when they talk about leaving. And then I like to share — I try not to go back to, “Oh, back in my day” with that.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 31:19 Because our day was a long time ago.   Col. Mark Clifford 31:21 Now you didn't have to say it out loud. I think we know that, but it's true, you know, it's there are still some challenges out there, but they have to navigate the waters, and there's some things that they do differently now at the Academy that we did when we were at the Academy, but this is a really cool place. It's a great place to be from. It's a great place to put on a resume when you decide to get out of the military after your obligation. It's a great place because they're gonna give you a job and occupation. You get to fly jets if that's what you want to do. There's so many opportunities here that the cadets have.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 31:59 Yes.   Col. Mark Clifford 31:59 And I just overload them with that, because I think it is an amazing place. And the reason why I come back to it, because I think so highly of what it's done for me and shaped me. How can I do that for others and mentor others to make sure that they have a similar experience, but a successful one, no matter what their story is.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 31:17 Can you share an example of a cadet that surprised you from a leadership perspective, because of their work with you and their time in the ring.   Col. Mark Clifford 32:25 Well, it's hard. So I'm only in my second year. I've got a couple of seniors this year. Elise Bell is one of them. Her fiancé, Kamari Jackson, is a cadet I met when I was here. He was starting his junior year, he's coming off a neck injury, and I challenged him because he's hanging around the gym. I didn't know why. Now I know why. I thought it was boxing, it wasn't. It was Elise, but I'm good with that, you know. I would whisper in Elise's ear, try to get him back, because he was really good as a freshman. Then got hurt, but he's another young man that's just took leadership by the horn. Came in back this year, I challenged him to be at a certain weight. He said, “Coach, I'm coming back, I want to win it. I made weight.” I didn't think he was going to make the weight his first semester, fall semester. He was a squadron commander, plate is full but still made it down. Was one of those — he wasn't our team captain, but he was a team captain.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 33:26 Yes.   Col. Mark Clifford 33:27 It was just one of those…   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 33:28 …leading without rank or title.   Col. Mark Clifford 33:30 You didn't need it, yeah, but he just had that. He has an aura. I wouldn't say he surprised me. I just think it was just one of those success stories where you're going, man. I love to have a team like this that just — and we do. They lead in their own way. We've got some quiet ones; I've got some vocal ones. I've got ones — our senior this year, our heavyweight, the one that won the Wing Open, he did it with his work ethic. Elise Bell, she leads with her work ethic. There are different ways of leading in the gym, and I try to harness that, and then elevate those that are doing it, making sure the team sees what they're doing. There's a young lady, she's very quiet, prior enlisted two-time national champ now. She's won three Wing Opens, she's gonna probably get her fourth as a senior, she's gonna be our team captain this year, because she's quiet, but it brings out her show, forces her to use her voice a little bit more, because she does it quietly with her work ethic in the corner. But you all see her because she's always in the ring and she's always working. So, I wouldn't say they surprised me just yet. I haven't had so many surprises just yet, but I've had some that has solidified my resolve in why I came back because they understand where they're going, they're learning what leadership is, because you don't always have to vocally stand on the pedestal and be the person on top to be a leader, and I love that piece of this.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 34:56 So, I'm sure maybe this is a silly question, but obviously you have been assistant coach in the past. What made you come back as head coach?   Col. Mark Clifford 35:03 It's a silly question, Naviere. These cadets — no, this place is special. I love the Athletic Department. I mean, back to what it's done for me: I had the opportunity to come back as a young captain, working in the athletic department, was able to get a doctorate degree out of this place, was able to come back again and be around the cadets to learn more from Coach Eddie Weichers. And I think all of those parts and pieces helped develop me, because it put me in positions where I was able to grab jobs and be in positions to be successful. I had no business picking up a squadron command the second time I was here, but I was able to pick up the squadron command, because I had people pulling for me, pushing for me, and that's what you go back to, like you said before, what helped shape you, and that it's just the people around here that help shape me. And how do I come back and give back to an institution, to a department that really shaped me as an individual? And that's what I'm doing. I think I come back because it's — I want to see the cadets who struggled like me, and I find them in class too, that are debating whether they want to be or not, looking for something else to be a part of, and I always invite them to be part of the boxing family, because I know what boxing did for me and others who went through this program that were competitive, that couldn't make another team, or wasn't on a different team that wanted to show their skill that wanted to balance something from the academic side, because that is so stressful. Punching something is very stress relieving. There's something about it — especially if I can punch something in the face in front of other people and not get in trouble — I was doing it. And so I think being able to come back and give that opportunity to other cadets and then watch them flourish with it and grow with it, I think is why I'm back. And so I'm thankful for the athletic department. I'm thankful for the Academy. So, how do I pay it forward in my way, paying it forward? This is my way of paying it forward.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 37:02 I love that. Well, I want to ask you something that we ask our guests on this, because it's really about how you continue to hone your skills as a leader through all the journeys, right? In uniform, out of uniform, in the private sector, higher education, etc. What is something you do every day to be better as a leader?   Col. Mark Clifford 37:23 Well, you know, I think is internally, “How do I have an impact,” as a head coach in the athletic department, and I'm not an NCAA sport like some of our other coaches. How do I impact people around me in my sphere of influence? It's very different now when you're an officer, when you're a commander, you have entire unit that you have impact on. Mine are smaller. One, it's internally with my team, is how do I lead and impact my team, and so I want to make sure that I'm always prepared to support our cadets through practice, having a plan for them so they know when they walk in the door what we're supposed to do. Because I think that's important from a discipline standpoint of knowing and understanding what I have to do when I get to the gym, and what my end goal is. And I always come in for that mentally prepared, and then mentally preparing them for the rest of the season, because we have a long season. And then I always think about my series of influence. I'm in the athletic department on the physical education side. How do I make sure I am prepared for the other cadets in classes that aren't on the team? Make sure they have a positive experience in PE class, but also I make sure they know that I'm a grad. I make sure that they know I'm a high-level guy, because I think there's value in that when they can always ask questions that are driven towards operational air force, not necessarily about this particular class. So I make sure I'm prepared for those cadets, and then how do I then allow myself to be available for the rest of the department, not only the physical education department, but our athletic directors, and making sure that I'm a resource. I've been here before, right? I understand something. I may not have all the answers, but I'm willing to help the support. I'm always preparing myself daily for the cadets and the staff and the folks around me that my sphere of influence has, at least the best part of me every time I can work. And so I think daily for me it's a mental preparation, but also, you know, prepping for the day of the day of, from a leadership perspective, because my leadership role is very different now than what it was when you're active duty, when you're sitting at Grand Canyon University as a dean or assistant dean, right? Your influence is very different.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 39:40 So mentally you prepare yourself. What does that look like as far as like activity, right? So, are you taking care of yourself physically, so that you have the capacity to do more? Are you — I'm just curious, like, what does that look like when you say you're preparing yourself? Col. Mark Clifford 39:56 I do a couple of things. I think in the morning when I get up, I have a cup of coffee, and we typically — my wife and I typically watch the news together. It is thinking about the impacts of what happens in our world, how that impacts our Academy. I don't think — there's very little ripple effect that gets to the cadet, but also understanding why what's happening in our world is important to a cadet. I always try to prepare myself for those conversations, just in case they come up, and they have come up in classes sometimes. But I just give my perspective more so. Physically, I hit the gym, I work in a gym, so my wife says I have no excuse, at least you better be in a gym using equipment. I physically do that, and then I try to make sure I walk through our gym and put pieces together, equipment together, and make sure the equipment's in place and ready for our cadets, and sometimes I box and stuff. I gotta stay sharp.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 41:01 I was gonna ask, you know, how that you did with what was his name, the assistant coach at the time, Ray…   Col. Mark Clifford 41:06 Ray Carter.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 41:07 Yes, are you ever across in the ring with someone; with a cadet?   Col. Mark Clifford 41:12 My first year, I did. My last year, I let the young captains and majors do that. I realized that my mind will say do something — move out the way. I don't move out the way as quick as I used to, but I think I do.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 41:27 Then you feel that you didn't. Col. Mark Clifford 41:12 Exactly. I didn't. Never let the cadets know they got you.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 41:33 That's funny. All right, I want to ask you one more question. What's something, if you could have a conversation with young Mark as a cadet today, what would you tell yourself?   Col. Mark Clifford 41:44 I think the one thing I would tell myself is, trust the process, be the best that you can be, where you are, and where you're playing it, and do that to the best of your ability, and then shake off the negativity and the nonsense. I had some great friends here, but also some friends that didn't want to be here either, and so you feed off that negativity. I think that got into who I was, especially as a young cadet, because some of that negativity that probably kept me from being my best in certain areas, especially academically, especially militarily, because I think if I were able to do that, maybe my outcome probably would have been on the same trajectory, but also it would have been more positive experience,   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 42:27 Less painful for sure.   Col. Mark Clifford 42:29 Yeah, not chasing other things, trying to get your tape out, go recruit somewhere else. You're happy where you are, you're doing the best that you can, and it's going to be challenging, tough. And understand that you're going to take some losses, that's what this place is about. It's not always going to be a win, because in life, it's not always a win. And if you can bounce back from a loss, at some point it took me two years, in that third year, I bounced back in the loss to get that W, life becomes very, very easy. Yeah, you kind of figured out, so that's what I tell myself to prepare myself a little better. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 43:05 No, that's excellent. What's something that we didn't talk about today that you would really like to make sure that we share?   Col. Mark Clifford 43:11 I think we kind of talked about it, family, my family, my wife's been my rock for almost 30 years, we're on 29 this year, we're going on 30. We've got two boys that say they don't want to be in the military, I don't want to move. My oldest son is not in the military, he's moved three times since he graduated college two years ago. And then the youngest one, who didn't want to do it, would join officer training school in July.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 43:34 Congratulations!   Col. Mark Clifford 43:35 Yeah, super-proud. He's taking an eight-week route, not the five-year route. So, I don't know if he's smarter, I don't know how to play that one, but you know, I can't say enough about making sure that your family supports what you do. I could not have been as successful or do the things that I was able to do in the Air Force without my wife Elise and my two boys, Caleb and Jaden, without their support, because there were some tough times when you're deployed and you're gone and you just need that rock to make sure that the household is good, so you focus on your job while you're gone and be home in your home, and she made sure that we did that when we had opportunities, and she also, no matter where we went, made sure it was a home, and so I'm thankful for that, because the boys always had home versus places that we had to move to, right, and like you said, we have some good ones, thankfully. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 44:29 Well, it sounds like you also have translated that, bringing that that Elise has brought to your family, to your boxing family. I mean, I think when cadets are there, they're home away, this is home away from home, right? And maybe not all of them have father figures or leaders in their lives, and it sounds like you kind of taken that mantle, placed it right there.   Col. Mark Clifford 44:47 I tried, I tried. You know, we talked about this before we started, but I'm gonna push them hard. Make sure that they exceed that level of physicality and mentality that they think they can, because they will exceed it and be able to perform when it's time to perform. And I love it.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 45:07 Well, Mark, this has been amazing — Coach Clifford, I mean. What you're doing at the program, I mean, you started with you, right, embedded in you, and now you're taking it to the next level. What I learned today in your leadership lessons are those things that you've battled with in the ring, you're bringing out in life, whether in uniform, out of uniform, and you're not only sharing it with those that have been directly on your team, but those that may join your team. You know, we just talked about those basic cadets. So, what I really appreciate about you is you're willing to be there in that with them, celebrating their wins and helping them navigate those losses. So, thanks for being an incredible leader, and thanks for being on Long Blue Leadership. Thank you for investing your time, and for joining us here on Long Blue Leadership. I encourage you to share this episode with others who are on their own leadership journey. You can find this and all our conversations wherever you get your podcasts, or at longblueleadership.org. Until next time, I'm Naviere Walkewicz.   KEYWORDS Leadership development, servant leadership, transformational leadership, competitive mindset, resilience, mental toughness, accountability, team culture, coaching and mentoring, leading by example, emotional intelligence, authenticity, character development, warrior ethos, growth mindset, discipline, perseverance, decision-making, ethical leadership, influencing without authority, role modeling, performance under pressure, purpose-driven leadership, mentorship, building trust, developing potential, talent identification, culture change, officer development, military leadership, sports leadership, motivation, intrinsic motivation, ownership, responsibility, humility, continuous improvement, self-reflection, family support, work-life integration, peer influence, values-based leadership, strategic thinking, adaptability, handling failure, bouncing back from setbacks, high standards, excellence, preparation, focus, commitment, dedication.     The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation      

In episode 249 of the Transition Drill Podcast, explore military transition, long-term service, and purpose after retirement for veterans and first responders navigating life beyond the uniform. You'll hear retired Army Colonel Michael “Sully” Sullivan on leadership, identity, Special Forces service, and what it takes to build a meaningful second mission after a 30-year military career.Michael “Sully” Sullivan grew up in Yakima, Washington, surrounded by a family legacy of military service that stretched from World War I through Vietnam. His father served as an infantry officer in Vietnam before becoming a longtime prosecuting attorney, and those experiences quietly shaped Sully's view of service long before he ever put on a uniform himself. Originally headed toward law school, Sully attended Claremont McKenna College to play football and pursue a more traditional civilian path. But an unexpected ROTC opportunity changed everything and sent him into the Army with what he thought would only be a four-year commitment.Instead, Sully found purpose in leadership, team culture, and the challenge of military life. He shares stories from his early years as a field artillery officer, meeting his wife just weeks after they were introduced, building a family while serving overseas, and eventually taking the difficult leap into the Special Forces community. The episode walks through his path to becoming a Green Beret, the pressure and uncertainty of Special Forces selection, and what it was like entering that world just as 9/11 changed the trajectory of the military forever.But this conversation isn't only about military service. Sully speaks candidly about marriage during a 30-year Army career, raising children while constantly moving, financial mistakes, mentorship, and the reality that senior leaders often transition feeling isolated despite decades of experience. He also talks openly about chasing promotion to general officer, accepting when that path didn't happen, and learning how to move forward without bitterness or regret.Today, Sully serves as the Executive Director of Team Red, White & Blue, helping veterans reconnect to purpose, health, and community after service. His transition story is rooted in preparation, relationships, humility, and trusting the people who truly know you. This episode is a deep conversation about identity, leadership, family, service, and finding a new mission after the military.CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulpantani/WEBSITE: https://www.transitiondrillpodcast.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulpantani/SIGN-UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER:https://transitiondrillpodcast.com/home#aboutQUESTIONS OR COMMENTS:paul@transitiondrillpodcast.comSPONSORS:GRND Collective: Premium, veteran-owned sportswear built for those who show up, outwork the excuses, and give 100%. Score 15% off your order at thegrndcollective.com using promo code TRANSITION15 at checkoutBlue Line Roasting: Premium, law-enforcement-owned coffee roasted to fuel the shift. A portion of every order directly supports law enforcement families facing line-of-duty injury or loss. Save 10% at bluelineroasting.com with promo code Transition10Frontline Optics: Premium eyewear founded by a firefighter and built to withstand the job. Every single purchase helps support the First Responders Children's Foundation, serving families who've paid the ultimate price. Save 10% off your pair at frontlineoptics.com using promo code Transition10

“There is a pretty powerful strain in America today in which men feel some need to be violent and domineering to sort of prove their masculinity. And there's sort of less intense but still prevalent strains that infect many other types of men.” — Jasper Craven Today is Memorial Day — America's annual celebration of its warriors and military ethic. But for Jasper Craven, author of God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood, it should be a day of muted self-reflection rather than bellicose celebration. Especially in May 2026 with America involved in another ludicrous overseas war. Craven's argument is that from George Washington onwards, America has fused military manliness with a self-destructive masculine identity. Thus young men are trained at top military academies like West Point to be unthinkingly domineering and violent. But for Craven, America — a continent surrounded by oceans to the east and west and by friendly neighbours to the north and south — has no need for the unreflective militarism fetishised by its military academies and culture. So what has West Point wrought? A nation of Pete Hegseths, Jasper Craven implies. Happy (ie: peaceful) Memorial Day everyone. Five Takeaways •       Military Manliness and American Identity: From Washington to Hegseth: From the Founding Fathers — most of whom were Revolutionary War veterans — America has explicitly fused military manliness with core masculine identity. Boys who want to define themselves as Americans have felt a need to be strong, to serve, to defend. The archetype has only been beefed up over time: through the steroid era and into the world of Navy SEALs and special operators. The result is a culture where men feel the need to be violent and domineering to prove their masculinity, from carrying AK-47s to protests to becoming ICE agents. The problem: the archetype has no relationship to actual national security needs. •       West Point and the Civil War: A Fuse, Not a Remedy: West Point was created to produce a well-schooled officer class. What Craven argues: when you allocate massive resources to building a military, you will feel the consequences. Before the Civil War, West Point was segregated into northern and southern companies — which exacerbated tensions rather than building union. When war broke out, many West Point officers defected to the Confederacy, including Robert E. Lee, who had been superintendent. West Point officers on opposite sides then killed each other in their thousands. Many lawmakers called for West Point to be abolished. They were not heeded. •       Race, Integration, and the Military's Complex Legacy: Craven acknowledges the military's partial role in racial integration: Truman's executive order in 1948 desegregated the armed forces, which was a genuine milestone ahead of civilian institutions. But he is careful about what this means. Integration at the institutional level did not eliminate racism within the culture. And the same military that desegregated also produced the culture of violence, dehumanisation of the other, and misogyny and homophobia that Craven chronicles throughout the book. Partial credit is still only partial credit. •       January 6th and the Politicisation of the Officer Class: In Trump's first term, General Mattis and General Kelly and others demonstrated real courage in reining in Trump's worst impulses. By the end of that term, they had all been replaced by loyalists. During the transition to Biden, Trump's military cronies at the Pentagon went dark. January 6th was largely carried out by military veterans. More than 100 senior retired military officers penned an op-ed supporting what Trump had done. In Trump's second term, the politicisation of the officer class has only accelerated. The non-political professional officer class is now divided. •       ROTC, Not West Point: Craven's Prescription: Craven's preferred model: ROTC — military training supplemental to traditional liberal arts education. Survey data shows ROTC officers, because of exposure to Plato, Shakespeare, and the rest, are more well-rounded and better thinkers than West Point graduates. At West Point, it is essentially all STEM. Craven's prescription: introduce the humanities, expose cadets to civilians, break the silos. Ideally, West Point could become a national university that includes military programmes alongside the training of doctors and aid workers. The military-civilian divide is as much the military's creation as the civilian's. About the Guest Jasper Craven is a freelance reporter covering the military and veterans' issues. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Harper's Magazine, Politico, The Baffler, and the New Republic. He is the author of God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood (Atria/One Signal Publishers, May 19, 2026) and the co-author, with Suzanne Gordon and Steve Early, of Our Veterans. He lives in Brooklyn, New York. References: •       God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood by Jasper Craven (Atria/One Signal Publishers, May 19, 2026). •       Sebastian Junger, Tribe — referenced in the publishers' framing as a companion text. •       Chris Hedges, War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning — referenced as a companion text. •       Episode 2907: Brandon Webb on Puddle Jumpers — the companion episode referenced at the opening; the pro-military counterpart to Craven's critique. •       Episode 2909: Adrian Goldsworthy on Athens vs Sparta — also referenced at the opening. About Keen On America Nobody asks more awkward questions than the Anglo-American writer and filmmaker Andrew Keen. In Keen On America, Andrew brings his pointed Transatlantic wit to making sense of the United States — hosting daily interviews about the history and future of this now venerable Republic. With nearly 2,900 episodes since the show launched on TechCrunch in 2010, Keen On America is the most prolific intellectual interview show in the history of podcasting. WebsiteSubstackYouTubeApple Podcasts

Military academies and ROTC clubs teach children and young adults — most of them boys — how to fight in war. But this education comes with its own risk of scars.Vermont-based freelance journalist Jasper Craven explores American military education in his new book, God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood.Craven has reported on the military and veterans' issues for local and national publications including VTDigger, Mother Jones, The New Republic and the The New York Times Magazine.Broadcast live on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Vermont journalist Jasper Craven has spent a decade investigating and exposing the culture of toxic masculinity that pervades the American military.In 2018, he wrote a multipart exposé for VTDigger about sexual misconduct and abuse in the Vermont Air National Guard that resulted in hearings at the Vermont Statehouse, reforms in the Guard, and the departure of the adjutant general. His writing on the military and veterans has appeared in The New York Times, Harper's, Politico and Mother Jones, among other publications.Craven's investigation into the Vermont Guard showed him how “the military holds unique elements that can make these problems worse than in civilian life, and also that many of the systems developed to combat that behavior are themselves flawed and easily exploited and can leave women in particular really feeling betrayed by an institution that they've given their lives to.”Craven, who is 33, has a new book, “God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood.” He argues that the U.S. military shapes American masculinity, especially through military schools, academies, and programs such as Junior ROTC in middle and high schools and ROTC in colleges. But the form of masculinity that these institutions advance has taken a heavy toll, as evidenced by a suicide crisis throughout the military.“The idea that the military is the single and most effective reform program for boys is just completely untrue,” said Craven. “Since the 1800s there are many stories of mostly young boys who have been deeply damaged while under the care of military school officials — some have died, some have committed suicide, some have been hospitalized for psychiatric crises.”Craven points to the chest-thumping hypermasculinity of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as emblematic of how some men are responding to the growing diversity of the military, including the rising status of women. “Women are being elevated for the first time into senior roles where they are often outshining men in both physical and academic pursuits, and that is majorly threatening to people like Hegseth,” Craven said. “The military response to that is violent subjugation, and that is what we see with Hegseth. … He is just psychically hung up on all of these old school ideas around manliness and military service.”Craven's reporting on the military earned him an unexpected visit from the U.S. Secret Service. After he covered protests at West Point during a speech by President Donald Trump for a story for Politico, a Secret Service agent paid a visit to his parents' home in Vermont.The agent was “alleging without merit, completely falsely that I was acting suspiciously on campus and that I had been asking around to meet the president — again, not true — though if I had been doing that, (I was) certainly well within my rights as a journalist.” Craven quickly concluded that “it was a pretty clear-cut act of intimidation from West Point.”Craven has not been deterred. He is moving back to Vermont to continue his work in journalism. He hopes that his work leads to “alternative ideas around shaping American masculinity and aiding American men.”

Join Tess Michaels, Founder and CEO of Clasp, for a strategic discussion on solving one of the most critical crises in modern infrastructure: the healthcare staffing shortage. With a high-octane background in healthcare investment banking at Goldman Sachs and private equity at Vista Equity Partners, Tess is applying institutional-grade financial logic to a human problem. In this episode, we explore how Clasp is moving the needle from "Turnover to Tenure" by connecting employers with clinicians before graduation and utilizing student loan repayment as a structural retention tool.

To meet the demands of modern, high-intensity warfare, the U.S. Army Reserve must remake itself --"Army Reserve 4.0"-- is the finding of an Army War College integrated research project. Steve Trynosky discussed this study with authors Kiona Pritchard, Brandon Collins, and Colleen Vermeulen. They found the Army Reserve is in a "readiness trap" caused by spreading insufficient infrastructure and budget across too many formations. To address this, the team proposes a tiered readiness model: "Ready Now" for immediate response, "Expand Tomorrow" for operational depth, and "Endure Always" for a long-term strategic reserve. Beyond structural changes, the authors advocate for a "unified culture" through increased cross-pollination, such as embedding Reserve officers in active-duty units and vice versa. By offering flexible service options tailored to diverse civilian lifestyles, the Army Reserve can better retain top talent and remain an indispensable partner to the joint force in future peer conflicts. One of the things that we see here at the Army War College and out across the broader force—it's considered okay as an active duty officer to not be familiar with the reserve component. And that's a problem because the reserve components, plural, make up roughly 50% of the force. Brandon Collins is an Army lieutenant colonel and was commissioned as a Military Intelligence Officer in 2006 from Officer Candidate School and has held an array of assignments in both the Regular Army and Army Reserve, to include, most recently, CJ2X Director for Combined Joint Task Force-OIR in Baghdad, Iraq. LTC Collins holds a Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law – Houston; a Master's Degree in Global and International Studies from the University of Kansas, and a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Stephen F. Austin State University. He is a member of the AY26 Resident Course at the U.S. Army War College. Kiona Pritchard is a colonel and an Army Nurse Corps Officer commissioned in 2005 through the Army ROTC Green to Gold Program following several years of active duty enlisted service. She began her career in the Regular Army and later transferred to the Army Reserve becoming a Nurse Practitioner. COL Pritchard has held a variety of command, clinical, and staff assignments, most recently as Commander of the 10th Battalion, 108th Regiment, an Army Reserve instructor unit for medical non-commissioned officer professional military education and enlisted medical MOS qualification courses. Kiona holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Portland. She is a member of the AY26 Resident Course at the U.S. Army War College. Colleen Vermeulen is a colonel who earned her commission as an Army Engineer Officer from ROTC in 2004. She has held a diverse range of command and staff assignments in both the Regular Army and Army Reserve, to include, Reserve Command Engineer for Special Operations Command South and Commander, 3rd Battalion, 330th Infantry Regiment, a unique Army Reserve unit missioned to deliver Infantry One Station Unit Training. COL Vermeulen holds both a Master of Divinity and Master of Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Cornell University. She is a member of the AY26 Resident Course at the U.S. Army War College. Stephen Trynosky is the John Parker Chair of Reserve Component Studies at the U.S. Army War College and earned his commission as a Medical Service Corps Officer from ROTC in 1998.  He has held a diverse range of command and staff assignments in both the Regular Army and Army Reserve, to include, most recently, Senior Advisor, Professional Military Education, Office of the Secretary of War; and Commander, 993rd Medical Detachment (Veterinary Service Support). COL Trynosky holds both Juris Doctor and Master of Public Health degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo, as well as a Master of Military Art and Science from the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies and a BA in history from Saint Peter's College. He is a graduate of the AY23 Resident Course at the U.S. Army War College. Photo Credit: Created by Gemini

Salih Hudayar is the Foreign Minister and former Prime Minister of the East Turkistan Government in Exile. He was born in East Turkistan, fled to the United States as a political refugee at age 7, and has spent his life working to bring international attention to what the US government and over a dozen Western parliaments have formally recognized as a genocide. We covered: how China invaded and occupied East Turkistan in 1949 with Stalin's help; the 1996 secret document that became the blueprint for genocidal policy; how China created a fake jihadist organization to justify its crackdown; how China and Turkey funneled 20,000 Uyghurs into Syria to manufacture a "terrorism" narrative; Xi Jinping's "show no mercy" speech and the bombing that followed two hours after his plane left; the 2.2 million Chinese officials sent to live inside Uyghur homes; the forced removal of over a million children into military boarding schools; 16,000 mosques destroyed; Muslim names, Ramadan fasting, and the Arabic greeting "Assalamu Alaikum" all banned; and the ongoing organ harvesting program in which an estimated 25,000 to 50,000 young Uyghurs are killed annually for their organs. The genocide is now in its 13th year. Millions remain in concentration camps. This is happening now. Learn more and get involved:  Follow on social media → https://x.com/ETExileGov  Recommended reading: "The Xinjiang Procedure" by Ethan Gutmann (organ harvesting research) TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 — Intro — who is Salih Hudayar? 0:25 — What is East Turkistan — and why China calls it "Xinjiang" 1:59 — Mao, Stalin, and the 1949 invasion 2:25 — Born in East Turkistan, fled to the US at age 7 4:37 — His father's mission: never forget where you came from 6:18 — Chinese raids on his family home 7:22 — ROTC, Oklahoma Army National Guard, and a kidney disease that ended his military career 8:13 — The Turkic world: Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Uzbeks 9:46 — China's 1996 Document No. 7 — the secret blueprint for genocide 11:51 — The Shanghai Cooperation Organization and crushing the independence movement 14:03 — How China created a fake jihadist group to justify the crackdown 17:31 — Were there actual terrorist attacks in East Turkistan? 18:31 — The Tiananmen Square car attack — false flag? 22:04 — How China and Turkey funneled 20,000 Uyghurs into Syria 24:23 — Grooming, brainwashing, and Chinese intelligence operations 32:23 — Xi Jinping's "show no mercy" speech 35:07 — The anti-extremism law: beards, Ramadan, and thought control 37:10 — Phase two: arresting everyone 38:12 — 2.2 million Chinese officials sent into Uyghur homes 41:02 — Children forcibly removed to state "orphanages" 43:19 — Why Muslim countries stay silent — Belt and Road leverage 44:45 — 16,000 mosques destroyed. Muslim names banned. 48:38 — Returning to East Turkistan in 2012 and 2014 53:11 — The Kant massacre: 3,000–4,000 killed 55:26 — His grandfather refused to leave 55:55 — The asylum process 59:05 — Organ harvesting: 25,000–50,000 killed annually 59:28 — How to support East Turkistan Watch full episodes on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Vb53s4I0A&list=PLb5trMQQvT077-L1roE0iZyAgT4dD4EtJ Listen on Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lou-perez-podcast/id1535032081 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2KAtC7eFS3NHWMZp2UgMVU  Lou's book — That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore: https://amzn.to/3VhFa1r  TheLouPerez.com |  info@thelouperez.com  Newsletter: https://substack.com/@louperez #UyghurGenocide #EastTurkistan #China #Xinjiang #SalihHudayar #CCP #HumanRights #LouPerezPodcast #Uyghur #GenocideAwareness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support Green and Red Podcast and get analysis on U.S. politics, leftist strategy, and anti-establishment resistance at https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast.It's the 56th anniversary of the killings at Kent State University. In a special encore episode, we're reposting our episode from 2020.In this episode, we commemorate the anniversary of the tragic events of May 4th, 1970 at Kent State University, where agents of the state murdered 4 students and shot 9 others. Students, who'd been told the war was winding down in Vietnam, erupted in protest at campuses all over America when Richard Nixon announced the U.S. invasion of Cambodia on April 30th. At Kent State, a working-class public school in Northeast Ohio, protesting students and other burned down an ROTC building, a common target in the Vietnam protest era, and Ohio Governor James Rhodes, vowing a violent response, mobilized the National Guard and sent them to Kent. For two days the students and Guard skirmished, with the paramilitaries hurling tear gas and intimidating students. On May 4th, the Guard, unprovoked, started shooting into the crowd of students and shot 13, killing 4, from distances beyond 300 feet. These were extrajudicial killings and a sure sign the state would murder anyone who challenged its interests. The war had come home! Scott and Bob, who's also a historian of the Vietnam War and the 1960s and has published extensively on those subjects, talk about the background to the protests, the official, violent response, the aftermath at places like Jackson State, where 2 more students were killed, and the larger context of anti-state protests and their meaning, and lessons.----------Outro// "Green and Red Blues" by Moody

In episode 246 of the Transition Drill Podcast explore military transition, identity loss, and career reinvention for veterans and first responders navigating life after service. You'll hear Ryan Cunningham on losing the profession he loved, rebuilding after an unexpected medical setback, and what it takes to create a new mission when the original plan ends.Ryan Cunningham's story starts in Missouri before his family relocated to San Diego, where seeing fighter jets over Miramar changed the direction of his life. As a kid, he was a constant reader, competitive soccer player, and someone drawn to discipline, challenge, and service. That drive eventually took him to Florida State, where an early lack of direction turned into renewed purpose when he entered ROTC and later made the bold decision to leave the Army track for a shot at Marine Corps aviation. It was a gamble that required persistence, pressure, and family support, but it paid off. Ryan went on to earn a Marine pilot slot, excelled in flight training, finished first in primary, and selected jets. He flew the F-18, deployed overseas, supported combat operations over Iraq, and later became an instructor. He talks openly about the reality behind the dream career, the long training pipeline, leadership responsibilities, squadron life, and the difference between wanting to be a fighter pilot versus living the full demands of being a Marine officer. Then everything changed. A medical event in 2016 led to an 18-month battle to regain flight status. Ryan believed he'd return to the cockpit, but eventually learned his flying career was over. He shares the emotional toll of not knowing your last flight was your last flight, the anger that followed, and how time gave him a different perspective through family and fatherhood. After leaving active duty in 2018, Ryan transitioned with a newborn daughter and no clear roadmap. He leaned on relationships, accepted an opportunity in military simulation training, then moved into F-15 simulator instruction. Today, he works back at Miramar training F-35 students, proving that even when one chapter closes, experience, credibility, and purpose can still open the next one. CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulpantani/WEBSITE: https://www.transitiondrillpodcast.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulpantani/SIGN-UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER:https://transitiondrillpodcast.com/home#aboutQUESTIONS OR COMMENTS:paul@transitiondrillpodcast.comSPONSORS:GRND CollectiveGet 15% off your purchaseLink: https://thegrndcollective.com/Promo Code: TRANSITION15Blue Line RoastingGet 10% off your purchaseLink: https://bluelineroasting.comPromocode: Transition10Frontline OpticsGet 10% off your purchaseLink: https://frontlineoptics.comPromocode: Transition10

Watch the Devotion Based on John 14:6 The Only Way In Last week I had a meeting at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Someone asked me, “How were you able to get into the Pentagon for a meeting?” I had to have someone vouch for me. Someone set up the visitor background security form for me to fill out. Someone else had to agree to serve as my escort once I passed through security in the building. There was only one way into the Pentagon and that was through someone else.   As I reflected on this, I was reminded of the words of Jesus, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). It's one thing to gain access to a highly secure military building for a meeting, but it's quite another thing to gain access to a holy God and to live in his presence and peace for all eternity. Jesus says that he is the only way in.    I still struggle with conversations I have with friends, neighbors and complete strangers who firmly believe that there cannot be just one way to eternal life after death. I hear things like, “All religions basically are leading to the same place, aren't they? They all want to get you to the same place. It's just different ways of getting there.”  Look at the major religions of the world – let's look at Islam and Christianity. Both claim to be exclusive. Both claim to be the only way. One is very clear – you must follow the five pillars, the teachings and practices, to the best of your ability, and perhaps Allah will have mercy on you when you die. There isn't much certainty or hope, but it is the only way.   Christianity also claims exclusivity. But when we listen to Jesus' words, he says that the only way to the Father is through him, to believe in him as the truth and the life. He is exclusive, but he is also inclusive, for he says that this is for all who believe and trust in him. Both Islam and Christianity can't be right. Both can't be exclusive. It must be one or the other.   Even as Christians we struggle with exclusivity, that salvation is only through faith in Christ. The reason for this is that we are all naturally predisposed to this belief that we must contribute something, to add our faithfulness, our goodness, the way we treat others with love and respect – these must count for something and help sway God's judgment in our favor.   Jesus' words toss all of our efforts and striving into the trash. He says to us, “These don't count, and they cannot count for anything toward your eternity. It must be through me and me alone. I am the only one who has lived a perfectly faithful life, the perfectly good life, perfectly loving in the way I treated others, and that counts for all. That is the free gift for all, my gift to you.”  And to prove that Jesus' way is the only way? He rose from the dead. He gets the final say. And thank God! Jesus lives to be the only way to heaven for you. Believe it. Trust it.  Prayer: O God, you form the minds of your faithful people into a single will. Make us love what you command and desire what you promise, that among the many changes of this world, our hearts may ever yearn for the lasting joys of heaven. Be with all ROTC students who will be taking final second semester exams this week. Grant them wisdom, knowledge, and recall of content, so that through their studies you might form faithful leaders in the officer corps of our armed forces. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.   Written and recorded by Rev. Paul Horn, WELS National Civilian Chaplain to the Military, San Diego, California. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Note: Scripture reading footnotes are clickable only in the web version.

On Tuesday, April 21, Congressional candidates, Shannon Bird (CO-8), Mayor Paige Cognetti (PA-8), and Nancy Lacore (SC-1), shared relatable stories in a powerful discussion moderated by Alli Peters of Majority Democrats‬. From voters struggling with rising costs and deepening distrust in government to a growing sense that leaders have lost touch, no issue was off the table. The candidates pointed to stark examples—a senior forced to choose between groceries and medical care, and communities demanding greater transparency—to underscore a consistent message: the country is facing a dual crisis of affordability and accountability.Each candidate emphasized practical leadership rooted in service—whether balancing budgets, defending democratic institutions, or putting people over special interests. They pushed back on extremism and highlighted the need to rebuild trust through responsiveness and results.The throughline: change won't come from Washington alone. Citizens are urged to take action—engage locally, support candidates who reflect their values, stay informed, and speak up consistently.The stakes are real, and so is the opportunity—this moment demands participation, not spectatorship.Check out BigTentUSA's ACT NOW page:https://bigtentusa.org/act-now/Learn more about Shannon Bird's campaign:https://shannonbird.com/Learn more about Paige Cognetti's campaign:https://paigeforpa.com/Learn more about Nancy Lacore's campaign:https://www.nancylacore.com/Check out the Majority Dems organization:https://majoritydemocrats.com/ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:Shannon Bird, raised by a hardworking single mother and grandmother, understands the struggles families face and is committed to fighting for hardworking Coloradans. After a career in law and public service, she became a strong advocate for equitable education and community empowerment. In the Colorado State House, she has fought for job creation, small businesses, reproductive rights, and climate action. Now, she is running for Congress in Colorado's Eighth District to defend democracy and ensure Colorado remains a place where everyone can achieve their dreams.Mayor Paige Cognetti has built her career on making government more accountable, transparent, and responsive. After uncovering corruption as a state auditor and serving on the Scranton School Board, she ran for mayor in 2019 as an Independent and won, becoming the city's first woman mayor. In office, she has taken on special interests, eliminated waste, restored finances to investment grade, secured over $155 million in funding, and driven economic growth. She is now running for Congress to bring that commitment to Washington.Nancy Lacore served for 35 years in the Navy, beginning as a helicopter pilot and rising to three-star admiral and Chief of Navy Reserve, leading more than 60,000 sailors. Her career took her around the world, grounded in family and a deep love of country. Following her father's footsteps, she earned an ROTC scholarship to the College of the Holy Cross and was commissioned after graduation. She and her husband Pat, also a Navy pilot, have been married 30 years and raised six children with a strong sense of service.Alli Peters is Chief Digital Officer at Majority Democrats and a director and editor based between Los Angeles and Madison, Wisconsin. She most recently managed Adam Schiff's successful U.S. Senate campaign. Her work focuses on reshaping how people perceive the Democratic Party: restoring trust through human, optimistic storytelling that shows how politics can meaningfully improve people's lives. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

Andre Mancl recalls sitting only a few months into his first CFO role when a senior technology executive arrived with an urgent warning: engineers were leaving for Google and Facebook, and the company needed an immediate across-the-board compensation increase of 30% to 40%. It would have been a major financial commitment. But Mancl hesitated. Drawing on years spent reading markets and assessing business conditions, he tells us the moment felt “toppy.” The SPAC market was imploding, IPO activity had stalled, and he believed private-market conditions would soon tighten. Instead of approving the full request, he supported a smaller targeted pool of compensation adjustments. A week later, hiring freezes began spreading across large technology companies.That decision captures the uncommon path that shaped his judgment. Before finance leadership, Mancl spent nearly nine years in the U.S. Navy, including seven as a helicopter aviator. There, he learned that decisions carry real consequences. He describes flying night landings onto ships with junior pilots, keeping his hand near the controls—not to take over, but to prevent a dangerous mistake. The lesson still informs how he leads teams today.An MBA earned while teaching ROTC at UCLA opened the door to investment banking, where he spent roughly 15 years advising high-growth internet companies on IPOs, financings, and M&A. Over time, he says, business assessment became instinctive: when margins or growth rates looked wrong, something usually was.Today, as CFO of Nium, he applies that same blend of discipline and pattern recognition to a global payments market he values at $100 trillion, he tells us. His focus now includes automation, stronger margins, and using data to drive sharper decisions across the company.

BTO Program Manager Lt. Col. Adam Willis, M.D., U.S. Air Force, joins Voices from DARPA to share his remarkable journey from a ROTC physics major to a leading innovator in military medicine.Dr. Willis discusses how a desire to apply science to help people led him down the dual paths of a Ph.D. in theoretical and appliled mechanics and a medical degree with a focus on neurology. He recounts the moment a demonstration of the DARPA-funded Revolutionizing Prosthetics program sparked his interest, leading him to cold-email a military doctor and future mentor, Col. Geoffrey Ling, who gave him a simple, life-changing piece of advice.In this episode, Dr. Willis explains his work on groundbreaking programs like Golden Hour Evacuation (GOLDEVAC) and Making Anatomical Sense of Hemorrhage (MASH), which aim to revolutionize battlefield medicine by bringing critical care capabilities directly to the point of injury. He details his vision for an "ICU in a box" and autonomous surgical tools that could save countless lives when evacuation to a surgeon isn't possible. He also shares his unique perspective as a "Rosetta Stone," translating complex medical challenges into the language of physics and engineering to find novel solutions.

Welcome to Paranormal Spectrum, where we illuminate the enigmatic corners of the supernatural world. I'm your host, Barnaby Jones, and today we have a very special guest joining us:Trey is the current Director of the Anomalous Studies and Observation Group (ASOG). ASOG focuses on investigating incidents and places of extreme strangeness from a multidisciplinary perspective. ASOG strives to balance the experiential nature of an occurrence with the data-driven collection of empirical information. They feel the experiencer is just as important as the experience and approach research from this perspective.He grew up in Atlanta, and while in high school, he was awarded the Eagle Scout award, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. While a Scout, Trey earned the 50-Miler award three times for backpacking and paddling trips exceeding 50 consecutive miles. In 1982, he was awarded a scholarship to attend the prestigious American Wilderness Leadership School in Jackson, Wyoming.In 1983, he graduated from Norcross High School just outside of Atlanta. He entered college at the University of West Georgia (UWG) and decided to major in psychology. UWG is home to a world-renowned psychology department and one of the few universities offering degrees with a humanistic and transpersonal focus. At the UWG psychology program, Trey had the opportunity to study with luminaries such as William Roll, Mike Arons, Don Rice, Chris Anstoos, and others.While studying at UWG, Trey was awarded a US Army scholarship while an ROTC cadet and was also inducted into two honor societies: Pi Gamma Mu and Omicron Delta Kappa. In 1987, Trey completed his bachelor's degree in psychology and also earned a minor in anthropology. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army Reserves and branched into Military Intelligence.After college, Trey worked as a private investigator investigating insurance fraud and also attended the Army Intelligence Officers Basic Course at Ft Huachuca, AZ. In the spring of 1988, he was certified as an All-Source Intelligence Officer (35D). He was assigned to the 372nd Military Intelligence Detachment and later the 337th Tactical Exploitation Battalion. An injury ended Trey's military career; he is now a disabled veteran. He has been a member of the US Army Military Intelligence Corps since 1988.In 1989, Trey entered Federal Government service as a Security Specialist. During his federal career, he has received training and experience in various specialties, including intelligence analysis, WMD security, anti-terrorism, counterintelligence, emergency management, physical security, personal security, response to CBRNE incidents, incident command, operations security, information security, and many other areas. He retired from the Department of Defense in May of 2023 as a Supervisory Security Specialist in an Intelligence Community-designated position. He has also completed many courses in combat pistol and rifle gunfighting.In 2008-2009, Trey served a tour in Afghanistan as an Operations and Anti-terrorism officer. Trey is also an EMS First Responder, Combat Lifesaver, Rescue SCUBA Diver, certified Military Emergency Management Specialist, certified DoD security professional, and Extra Class Amateur Radio Operator. He has been awarded the Department of the Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service, the Commander's Award for Civilian Service three times, the Army Superior Unit Award, Global War on Terrorism Civilian Service Medal, and the NATO International Security & Assistance (ISAF) Medal.He is married, lives in the southern USA, and has two adult daughters.Trey's Books On Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08T8F8S32?ccs_id=a5b098be-5ef6-4a00-9af3-18e85dac7890The Meadow Project Filmhttps://merkelfilms.com/programs/the-meadow-projectClick 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 on the Paranormal Spectrum every Thursday 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 twelve different Professional Podcasts on all the things you like. New favorite shows drop each day only on the UNTOLD RADIO NETWORK.To 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

Gina (perinatal fitness trainer and doula) and Roxanne (certified nurse midwife) break down what labor & delivery nurses do versus midwives, OBs, and some family medicine providers, including who typically handles low- vs high-risk care and which interventions midwives can't do. They explain why some people choose midwives versus OBs, and note midwives can provide full-spectrum women's health care. Roxanne outlines three midwife paths—CPM (apprenticeship plus education/exam; licensing varies by state), CM (non-nurse bachelor's plus grad midwifery; limited states), and CNM (nursing degree to grad midwifery, boards, state licensure, collaboration requirements). They discuss clinical hour/birth requirements, costs, licensing logistics, and how Roxanne used ROTC and the GI Bill to pay for school, then end with a top tip: attend births (even on YouTube) to see if the calling is real.00:00 Welcome and Episode Setup01:17 Feeling Called to Midwifery02:40 Nurse vs Midwife vs OB07:15 Choosing Midwife or OB13:06 Midwives Beyond Birth Care14:54 Three Midwife Types Overview15:47 CPM Path and Licensure17:57 Unlicensed CPM Tradeoffs22:13 Certified Midwife Route24:19 CNM Training and Nursing Paths29:06 Midwifery School Format and Clinicals33:16 Clinical Skills and Birth Requirements39:02 Clinical Volume Matters40:04 Choosing the Right Provider41:40 Certification Exam Reality45:20 State Licensure and Reciprocity48:46 Midwife Training Pathway50:48 Costs and Barriers52:52 Military Funding Options58:49 Paying for Grad School01:03:53 Labor and Delivery Nursing Route01:06:08 Best Tip Attend Births01:09:23 Wrap Up and Resources————Get Your Copy of Training for Two on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VOTdwH

These are 7 of the top headlines in military news. NOTE: All persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.  Today I cover these 7 headlines:  -Targeted ODU Attack Claimed Life of LTC Brandon Shah -$1B Countersuit Filed in Alleged Hot Cocoa Abortion Case -An Acquittal at Fort Hood in Death of Sgt Alfredo Martinez -Fort Bragg Soldier Arrested in Christmas Eve Murder -Former Marine & TikTok Influencer arrested by FBI in Child SA Case -Retired Army Colonel Shared Screenshot of Secret Info To Impress Woman Online -Veteran Sentenced to 30 Years for Belt Lashing That Killed 8-Year Old Boy ⸻ Check out today's sponsors! Quince: Visit quince.com/militarymama for free shipping and 365 day returns! Gusto: Visit gusto.com/MMP for 3 free months of payroll! ⸻

Dean Karayanis, Rush Limbaugh staffer and columnist at the New York Sun, delivers a fast-paced analysis of the ongoing conflict in Iran, contrasting current military actions with historical precedents. Despite media negativity and "Trump Derangement Syndrome," the Trump Administration's aggressive stance is a necessary victory against a regime that has threatened — and taken — American lives since the 1979 hostage crisis. Key discussion points include: The War in Iran: Touting military's success, emphasizing that the U.S. has significantly degraded Iranian leadership and neutralized threats without suffering the high casualty rates seen in previous conflicts. Historical Comparisons: A dive into the 1983 invasion of Grenada and how President Reagan "reset the clock" for American prestige. A vintage “Saturday Night Live” parody of Time-Life illustrates how media attitudes toward military victory have shifted — and not for the better. The "Jolene Doctrine": A scathing critique of General Stanley McChrystal's recent comments, mocking McChrystal's use of Dolly Parton lyrics to criticize the war effort, questioning the general's own record regarding the Pat Tillman investigation and the Afghan withdrawal. Domestic Politics & Crime: Rather than focus on the terrorist and the ideology, the commonwealth attorney prosecuting the ROTC attack at Old Dominion, Ramin Fatehi, blames a "national sickness" — our Second Amendment rights — as if we haven't had that for 250 years, but open borders and importing people who hate us plays no role. President Trump gets blamed for three murders in a Utah national part because some park rangers — who are not law enforcement — may have been laid off. The broadside ignores that crime in America is down to levels not seen since 1900 under this presidency. A clip of James Carville claiming to be “an instrument of God's will” and proudly touting his “hate” and “Trump Derangement Syndrome” as expression of Christ's will. It's the ravings of an angry, bitter guy who's hilarious in his frustration about his party's failures — a frustration similar to a man in a house of prostitution who forgot his Viagra. St. Patrick's Day Special: Closing on a lighter note, Dean plugs his History Author Show interview with Irene Levy Baker on her book, “Cheers to McGillin's: Philly's Oldest Tavern,” that being McGillin's Old Ale House in Philadelphia, founded in 1860.

Welcome to Last Call, a look at the biggest stories Jim and Greg covered over the past week on the 3 Martini Lunch. This week, they discuss Thursday's terrorist attacks in Michigan and Virginia, reports that Iran may be activating sleeper cells in the U.S., and CNN's bizarre fumbling of the facts on last weekend's attempted terrorist attack in New York City.First, they share their Friday discussion of the terrorist attacks at a synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan, and an ROTC class at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. They highlight the impressive responses of synagogue security and the ROTC cadets, who prevented the respective attacks from being much deadlier. They also fume that the Virginia terrorist was let out of prison early after being convicted of providing material support to ISIS and permitted to stay in the U.S.Next, they react to U.S. intelligence reports, which claim we intercepted encrypted messages designed to activate Iranian sleeper cells in the U.S. How significant is this threat? And wouldn't now be a good time to fund the Department of Homeland Security?Then, they pull their hair out over CNN fmiserably failing to get the facts straight about last weekend's attempted terrorist attack in New York City. Even though the suspects  pledged allegiance to ISIS, CNN portrayed then as two teenagers who just happened to end up throwing bombs at demonstrators they didn't like.Finally, in the chaser of the week, they highlight Washington state Democrats passing a 9.9 percent income tax on households grossing more than a million dollars per year. While the left may relish soaking the rich, there may be some unintended consequences for people of all political stripes.New episodes every weekday. 

On today's episode, Andy & DJ discuss the ISIS-linked Mohamed Bailor Jalloh being ID'd as old Dominion gunman who sought out ROTC before opening fire, Ilhan Omar's ties to her sisters Minneapolis Health Clinic and 50 Cent facing backlash after saying children should not be exposed to cartoons with LGBTQ cartoons.

New details on the deadly shooting at Old Dominion University, where a former National Guardsman with a prior ISIS-related conviction opened fire in an ROTC classroom before being stopped by students. Authorities investigating a car bombing attempt at a Michigan synagogue and preschool, where security guards killed the suspect as he breached the building carrying explosives. Iran's new supreme leader threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz as attacks on commercial shipping escalate and oil prices surge. Viral outrage over Pentagon spending on steak and lobster spreads online, but critics are leaving out key context about long-standing military meal traditions. The FBI joins the search for a missing retired Air Force general tied to advanced military research programs and UFO speculation.   Relief Factor: Find out if Relief Factor can help you live pain-free—try the 3-Week QuickStart for just $19.95 at https://ReliefFactor.com or call 800-4-RELIEF.   Herald Group: Learn more at https://GuardYourCard.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tim, Phil, and Ian are joined by Alex Jones and Luke Rudkowski to discuss Joe Rogan warning Iran could attack the White House UFC event, Netanyahu says a Messiah will come, a gunman targets a ROTC program, the UK has fallen, Virginia moves to ban guns, and Claude Ai may have a soul.  SUPPORT THE SHOW BUY CAST BREW COFFEE NOW - https://castbrew.com/ Join -    / @timcastirl   Hosts:  Tim @Timcast (everywhere) Phil @PhilThatRemains (X) | https://allthatremains.komi.io/ Ian  @IanCrossland  (everywhere) | https://graphene.movie/ Luke  @wearechange  (YouTube) Producer: Carter @carterbanks (X) |  @trashhouserecords  (YT) Guest:  Alex Jones @realAlexJones (X)  Podcast available on all podcast platforms! Joe Rogan WARNS Iran May ATTACK White House UFC Event | Timcast IRL w/ Alex Jones For advertising inquiries please email sponsorships@rumble.com

At Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, 41-year-old Ayman Mohamed Ghazali, a Lebanese-born naturalized U.S. citizen, allegedly rammed a truck into the building near the early childhood center, breached doors, drove down a hallway, and engaged in gunfire with security officers, who shot him. No children or synagogue members were killed or seriously injured. Separately, at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Virginia Army National Guard member previously convicted and imprisoned for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, entered a classroom during an ROTC session, shouted "Allahu Akbar," and opened fire, killing one and injuring two others. He was subdued and killed by ROTC cadets. The FBI is investigating both incidents as potential acts of terrorism or targeted violence. Is Iran activating sleeper cells? We Also Cover: Democrats propose highest tax hike.  Four U.S. service members killed in Iraq. Pete Hegseth is eating steak & lobster? War propaganda from the White House. NASA Artemis is READY? 00:00 Pat Gray UNLEASHED! 01:32 Dems Push for Tax Increases 06:21 Four U.S. Service Members Killed 06:59 Old Dominion University Shooting 09:15 Attack on Michigan Synagogue 11:46 Trump on Synagogue Attack 12:20 Trump on Destroying Iran 13:51 Severely Injured Ayatollah 17:12 Trump Signs National Women's Month Proclamation 19:19 The Rising Price of Oil 20:21 Scott Bessent on Oil 22:58 Elissa Slotkin on Russia Assisting Iran 25:54 Pete Hegseth Eating ALL the Steaks & Lobsters? 31:53 Fat Five 43:14 Advanced U.S. War Tech 49:19 John Cornyn is Not Happy with Reporter 53:19 Roy Cooper's PR Guy Thrown Under the Bus 55:02 Update on Snapchat Teacher 1:04:06 Live Chat's Warning for Kris 1:06:39 AI Encouraging Suicide?! 1:14:06 More White House Iran Videos 1:16:28 The Trivialization of War 1:18:12 Jeffy DESTROYS Kriz Cruz! 1:18:41 More Discussion of White House Iran Videos 1:20:01 Karoline Leavitt's Pregnancy 1:24:03 AI in the Medical Field 1:26:41 NBC Fires Tony Dungy 1:29:34 Stanton Healthcare Billboard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu, where we tackle the most pressing headlines and cultural shifts shaping our world. In this episode, Tom Bilyeu and Drew dive deep into breaking news across global conflict zones, with a particular focus on the escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing war involving Iran. The discussion breaks down Iran's strategic moves, the potential economic fallout—including spiking oil prices—and the challenges facing U.S. policy and leadership as the situation evolves. But the conversation doesn't stop overseas. The episode takes a hard look at recent domestic terror attacks, economic reports showing troubling signs for the U.S. economy, debates over digital currencies, and the rising challenges in major U.S. cities like New York as leaders propose controversial new tax strategies. Tom Bilyeu and Drew don't shy away from controversial topics—they address questions of immigration, national security, and the emotional toll of chasing (and reimagining) personal dreams in uncertain times. Whether you're interested in geopolitics, personal growth, economics, or just want to make sense of a world that seems to be changing faster than ever, this episode delivers engaging analysis and actionable insight. Stay tuned—there's a lot to unpack, and Impact Theory is here to help you navigate it. What's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here: If you want my help... STARTING a business: join me here at ZERO TO FOUNDER:  https://tombilyeu.com/zero-to-founder?utm_campaign=Podcast%20Offer&utm_source=podca[%E2%80%A6]d%20end%20of%20show&utm_content=podcast%20ad%20end%20of%20show SCALING a business: see if you qualify here.:  https://tombilyeu.com/call Get my battle-tested strategies and insights delivered weekly to your inbox: sign up here.: https://tombilyeu.com/ ********************************************************************** If you're serious about leveling up your life, I urge you to check out my new podcast, Tom Bilyeu's Mindset Playbook —a goldmine of my most impactful episodes on mindset, business, and health. Trust me, your future self will thank you. ********************************************************************** FOLLOW TOM: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/tombilyeu YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu Ketone IQ: Visit https://ketone.com/IMPACT for 30% OFF your subscription orderQuince: Free shipping and 365-day returns at https://quince.com/impactpodDuck.Ai: Protect your privacy at https://duck.ai/impactShopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/impactMonetary Metals: Future-proof your wealth at https://monetary-metals.com/impactBlinkist: Start your free trial at https://blinkist.com/impactPlaud: Get 10% off with code TOM10 at https://plaud.ai/tomBlocktrust IRA: get up to $2,500 funding bonus to kickstart your account at https://tomcryptoira.comCape: 33% off your first 6 months with code IMPACT at https://cape.co/impactNetsuite: Right now, get our free business guide, Demystifying AI, at https://NetSuite.com/Theory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu, where we tackle the most pressing headlines and cultural shifts shaping our world. In this episode, Tom Bilyeu and Drew dive deep into breaking news across global conflict zones, with a particular focus on the escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing war involving Iran. The discussion breaks down Iran's strategic moves, the potential economic fallout—including spiking oil prices—and the challenges facing U.S. policy and leadership as the situation evolves. But the conversation doesn't stop overseas. The episode takes a hard look at recent domestic terror attacks, economic reports showing troubling signs for the U.S. economy, debates over digital currencies, and the rising challenges in major U.S. cities like New York as leaders propose controversial new tax strategies. Tom Bilyeu and Drew don't shy away from controversial topics—they address questions of immigration, national security, and the emotional toll of chasing (and reimagining) personal dreams in uncertain times. Whether you're interested in geopolitics, personal growth, economics, or just want to make sense of a world that seems to be changing faster than ever, this episode delivers engaging analysis and actionable insight. Stay tuned—there's a lot to unpack, and Impact Theory is here to help you navigate it. What's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here: If you want my help... STARTING a business: join me here at ZERO TO FOUNDER:  https://tombilyeu.com/zero-to-founder?utm_campaign=Podcast%20Offer&utm_source=podca[%E2%80%A6]d%20end%20of%20show&utm_content=podcast%20ad%20end%20of%20show SCALING a business: see if you qualify here.:  https://tombilyeu.com/call Get my battle-tested strategies and insights delivered weekly to your inbox: sign up here.: https://tombilyeu.com/ ********************************************************************** If you're serious about leveling up your life, I urge you to check out my new podcast, Tom Bilyeu's Mindset Playbook —a goldmine of my most impactful episodes on mindset, business, and health. Trust me, your future self will thank you. ********************************************************************** FOLLOW TOM: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/tombilyeu YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu Ketone IQ: Visit https://ketone.com/IMPACT for 30% OFF your subscription orderQuince: Free shipping and 365-day returns at https://quince.com/impactpodDuck.Ai: Protect your privacy at https://duck.ai/impactShopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/impactMonetary Metals: Future-proof your wealth at https://monetary-metals.com/impactBlinkist: Start your free trial at https://blinkist.com/impactPlaud: Get 10% off with code TOM10 at https://plaud.ai/tomBlocktrust IRA: get up to $2,500 funding bonus to kickstart your account at https://tomcryptoira.comCape: 33% off your first 6 months with code IMPACT at https://cape.co/impactNetsuite: Right now, get our free business guide, Demystifying AI, at https://NetSuite.com/Theory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  First—two violent incidents on American soil are now drawing the attention of federal investigators: an attack on a synagogue outside Detroit and a deadly shooting inside an ROTC classroom at Old Dominion University in Virginia. Authorities say the Virginia case is being investigated as an act of terrorism, while the synagogue attack is being treated as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community. I'll have the details. Later in the show—Cuba's communist leadership is acknowledging talks with the United States for the first time in years. We'll look at what's behind the diplomatic opening and why the island's deepening energy crisis may be forcing Havana to the table. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief ZBiotics: Visit https://zbiotics.com/PDB for 15% off Cardiff: Get fast business funding without bank delays—apply in minutes with Cardiff and access up to $500,000 in same‑day funding at https://Cardiff.co/PDB   HomeServe: Protect your home systems from costly repairs with HomeServe—plans start at $4.99/month at https://HomeServe.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A gunman with alleged ties to ISIS opened fire at Old Dominion University, but the situation took a dramatic turn when ROTC students stepped in and helped stop the attack before more lives could be lost. We also examine the disturbing plot by teens allegedly planning a terror attack in New York City and the ongoing fallout from a synagogue attack in Michigan. Why are some activists and political figures defending these attackers—and why are major media outlets avoiding certain details?Dave Portnoy weighs in on the controversy surrounding Mamdani's defense of synagogue attackers, sparking a viral backlash online.Meanwhile, global tensions escalate as Iran faces mounting pressure and former President Donald Trump warns that the U.S. could be targeting the regime. We also discuss reports of U.S. military losses in Iraq and a bizarre false drone attack alert that was mistakenly reported on the West Coast.On the political front, we cover new tax proposals in New York City, debates over the SAVE Act, and major polling updates across several states. Plus, the ongoing conservative media feud heats up as Ben Shapiro, Megyn Kelly, and Piers Morgan trade blows online.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS TO SUPPORT OUR SHOW!Lose meaningful weight healthily with LEAN—get 20% off at https://TakeLean.com using code CHICKSSchedule your FREE risk review from Bulwark Capital at https://KnowYourRiskPodcast.comStop overpaying for your prescriptions.  Go to https://Super.com/rx right now to see how much you can save. CowGuys—head to https://CowGuys.shop/chicks to get your bottle, and get a travel-sized mini balm for free.  No special code needed. That's 3-4 months of moisturizer for $34.Subscribe and stay tuned for new episodes every weekday!Follow us here for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:YoutubeFacebookInstagramTikTokXLocalsMore InfoWebsite

After a deadly shooting at Old Dominion, ROTC cadets rush the gunman and stop the attack before police arrive. The panel breaks down the suspect's ISIS background, early release from prison, and the larger debate over radicalization, security failures, and institutional accountability.

Today's Headlines: Two shootings in one day. An attacker rammed an explosives-filled truck into a Michigan synagogue and opened fire — nearly empty due to a half-day, so no casualties besides the shooter. The FBI called it targeted antisemitic violence. Hours later, a man who served 11 years for supporting ISIS killed one person and injured two in a classroom at Old Dominion University before being subdued by ROTC students. Both are being investigated as terrorism. On the war: Iran's new Supreme Leader Khamenei made his first public statement — no surrender, Strait of Hormuz stays shut, and he will avenge his entire family's deaths. Both US and Israeli intelligence now agree the regime won't fall anytime soon, so Israel has quietly downgraded its goal from regime change to degrading Iran's military. The USS Gerald Ford, which Trump sent from Venezuela to Iran with zero maintenance time, had a laundry room fire and has broken plumbing. The U.S. Treasury is borrowing $50 billion a week, adding a trillion to the deficit over five months. Total national debt: $38.9 trillion. Congress passed a bipartisan housing bill 89-10. Trump said "no one gives a fuck about housing." Florida passed a law requiring a passport or birth certificate to register to vote. Epstein's accountant testified for six hours, claimed he saw nothing, and named five men who paid Epstein: Les Wexner, Glen Dubin, Steven Sinofsky, Leon Black, and the Rothschild family — which accounted for maybe 30 seconds of testimony. The Pentagon banned photographers because Hegseth didn't like his pictures. The White House made a war hype video using NFL footage without consent. Trump has been gifting cabinet members Florsheim shoes in the wrong size. And finally, he gave Jake Paul his "complete and total endorsement" for no office, no race, and no discernible reason. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: AP News: Man who rammed his vehicle into Michigan synagogue was naturalized citizen from Lebanon, DHS says WaPo: Islamic State sympathizer opens fire at Old Dominion University, killing one Bloomberg: Bibi says no guarantee of Iran regime change WSJ: Israeli Officials Think Iran's Regime Isn't Likely to Fall Soon WSJ: U.S. Air Force Refueling Plane Crashes in Iraq WaPo: U.S. sailors injured in fire aboard aircraft carrier supporting Iran war NYT: Iran War Live Updates: U.S. Refueling Plane Crashes in Iraq, Military Says Fortune: The U.S. borrowed $50 billion a week for the past five months, finds the CBO ProPublica: Credit Bureaus Are Leaving More Mistakes on Frustrated Consumers' Reports Under Trump's CFPB The Guardian: Senate again fails to pass homeland security funding as department shutdown nears one month – live | US Congress AP News: Senate passes bipartisan housing bill to improve access and affordability Punchbowl: Trump dismisses housing fight in push for SAVE Act NBC News: Richard Kahn, Jeffrey Epstein's longtime accountant, gives closed-door testimony to House Oversight Committee NYT: Florida Republicans Pass Bill Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Vote WaPo: Pentagon bars photographers over ‘unflattering' Hegseth photos WaPo: Former NFL players decry White House video mixing big hits, airstrikes WSJ: Trump Is Obsessed With These $145 Shoes—and Won't Let Anyone Leave Without a Pair NYT: Trump Endorses Jake Paul, Who Isn't Running for Office Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: ⁠⁠⁠betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send a textToday's Daily Drop covers a mix of hard news, weird internet drama, and the usual military chaos.Peaches breaks down a KC-135 crash in Iraq that killed six Airmen, a major B-21 production expansion, and the continued ripple effects of David Goggins entering the Pararescue pipeline. On the Army side, leaders are pushing modernization through munitions production, autonomous systems, and new drone concepts designed to operate without traditional infrastructure. Meanwhile the Navy keeps rotating forces across the Pacific while the Marine Corps highlights real-world readiness moments—from marksmanship competitions to Marines pulling civilians out of a rollover accident.There's also a look at Space Force missile-warning satellites, Coast Guard rescues during a shutdown paycheck drought, and what the White House says the goals are for Operation Epic Fury.In other words: modernization, tragedy, recruiting exposure, and the usual government circus—all in one briefing. ⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Ones Ready intro and sponsor 01:10 Goggins pipeline update and episode recap 02:40 Army modernization and munitions expansion 03:35 New vertical takeoff reconnaissance drone concept 05:20 Mission autonomy office for connected unmanned systems 06:00 Old Dominion shooting and ROTC response 07:30 Navy Gerald R. Ford onboard fire update 08:20 LCAC 115 amphibious connector delivery 09:00 USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. destroyer commissioning 10:00 Pacific force rotation and cruiser phase-out 11:00 Marines rescue family in Camp Pendleton rollover 12:00 Marine Corps marksmanship competition East 13:00 Operator Training Summit Nashville announcement 14:30 KC-135 crash in Iraq and crew loss 15:50 B-21 bomber production expansion 16:40 B-21 testing with KC-135 tanker 17:30 Space Force missile warning constellation update 18:40 Vandenberg launch mission growth 19:30 Space Force medical summit 20:20 Coast Guard Antarctic mission completion 21:00 Maine fishermen rescue operation 22:00 Pentagon legal structure review 23:10 White House messaging on Operation Epic Fury 24:00 Wrap up and cSupport the showJoin this channel to get access to perks: HEREBuzzsprout Subscription page: HERE Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.comCollabs:Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLeteDanger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADYDFND Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADYHoist - Promo Code: ONESREADY...

Join Jim and Greg for the Friday 3 Martini Lunch as they examine the Islamist terrorist attacks in Michigan and Virginia, the local Virginia prosecutor who wants to blame the attack on guns, and former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke predicting the end of real elections and the start of unchecked fascism unless Democrats win the midterms.First, they walk through the terrorist attacks targeting Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan, and an ROTC class at Old Dominion University in Virginia. Both incidents appear to be clear cases of Islamist terrorism, bringing the total to at least four similar attacks in less than two weeks. The Virginia suspect previously served prison time for providing material support to ISIS but was released early and allowed to remain in the United States.Next, they rip Norfolk, Virginia, prosecutor Ramin Fatehi, who has jurisdiction over the Old Dominion case, for blaming the “cult of gun absolutism” rather than the extremist ideology the shooter openly expressed before the attack. Jim hammers Fatehi for attempting to shift the narrative and explains how the terrorist violated multiple existing laws at every step leading up to the shooting.Finally, they examine extreme rhetoric in American politics as Beto O'Rourke claims the upcoming midterm elections are the last barrier between freedom and endless authoritarian rule. Jim and Greg excoriate O'Rourke for using the kind of reckless political language that has motivated violence in the past.Please visit our great sponsors:Unlock your healthiest skin by targeting visible aging signs at https://Oneskin.co/3ML with code 3ML for 15% off.Make this the season where no opportunity or customer slips away with Quo. Try Quo free and get 20% off your first 6 months at https://Quo.com/3MLUpgrade your wardrobe with Mizzen & Main — get 20% off your first purchase at https://MizzenandMain.com with promo code 3ML20.New episodes every weekday. 

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-Rob kicks off Friday by announcing Iran's missing Supreme Leader might be replaced with a cardboard cutout, noting America basically did the same thing for four years. -On the Newsmax hotline, Daily Signal columnist Tony Kinnett joins Rob for a fiery conversation about terrorism, media spin, and the strange phenomenon of politicians pretending they can't figure out why terrorists attack Jews. Today's podcast is sponsored by : GHOSTBED : I used to think a mattress was just furniture, until I got my GhostBed! GhostBed is offering my audience their lowest prices of the season, plus an extra 10% off. Go to http://GhostBed.com/CARSON and use promo code CARSON QUINCE CLOTHING - Refresh your wardrobe with Quince.  Go to http://Quince.com/NEWSMAX for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. BIRCH GOLD - Protect and grow your retirement savings with gold. Text ROB to 98 98 98 for your FREE information kit! To call in and speak with Rob Carson live on the show, dial 1-800-922-6680 between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday…E-mail Rob Carson at : RobCarsonShow@gmail.com Musical parodies provided by Jim Gossett (http://patreon.com/JimGossettComedy) Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB  -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX  -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax  -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices