Tango Alpha Lima Podcast

IN THE NEWS Roll up your sleeves – The American Legion’s annual Holiday Blood Donor Drive is Nov. 23 through Dec. 31. THIS WEEK'S GUEST Air Force Veteran PT Bratton, founder and CEO of Clean Comedy Connection, combines his advocacy for comedy as a mental health wellness strategy with producing clean comedy experiences all over the country. RAPID FIRE Military spouses bring skills, flexibility to workforce, veterans say 'Influencers in uniform' are boosting recruiting, Pentagon says Meet Maverick, this year’s winner of the American Humane Hero Dog Award Special Guest: PT Bratton.

IN THE NEWS Return criminal penalties for those who take advantage of disabled veterans or their families THIS WEEK'S GUEST Actress Julia Ling is a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserves, has appeared on many popular television series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, House, ER, Grey's Anatomy, The OC – but is best known for her role as "nerd-herder" Anna Wu on Chuck. After losing multiple military friends to suicide and battling her own depression after a training injury, Julia wanted to do more than raise awareness about the veteran suicide - she wanted to provide a solution. Thus was born Veteran Powered Films, a production company focused on empowering and engaging veterans in all facets of the entertainment industry via on-the-job training and mentorship with fellow military veterans. Julia joins Marine Corps veteran and actor Hiram A. Murray, who will star in Veteran Powered Films next project - an apocalyptic horror film called "Homestead." RAPID FIRE Veterans banners to come down - maybe for good U.S. veterans use art to help female Afghan soldiers who fled their country process their pain ‘Go beyond thanks:’ New survey reveals we should do more than simply thank our veterans for their service Special Guests: Hiram A. Murray and Julia Ling.

IN THE NEWS American Legion National Commander: Task Force Movement: more than a job program THIS WEEK'S GUEST Newly crowned Ms. International World, Air Force veteran Terace Garnier has found the resilience to overcome obstacles including childhood rape, Military Sexual Trauma and homelessness. She found success as the first Pentagon correspondent for Newsy, an artist, a mentor and advocate for fellow veterans and now, an author with a new book “No Longer Silent” just released on Veterans Day. RAPID FIRE Soldiers Unpaid: National Guard Hasn't Paid Out Thousands of Enlistment Bonuses Seen UFOs as a government worker? The Pentagon wants to hear from you Watch Marines fire rocket from ‘creepy’ robot goat available on Amazon Special Guest: Terace Garnier.

IN THE NEWS 2023 Veterans Day Deals, Discounts and Freebies THIS WEEK'S GUEST Retired U.S. Army Maj. Lisa Bass began her 20-year military career as a 30-year-old private in the JAG Corps, attended Airborne School as a grandmother, and became the first female Commander in the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. After separating from the Army, Lisa made the transition from soldier to entrepreneur and founded Combat Boots Jewelry, selling patriotic accessories that help women show pride of service. She also founded Task Force Sisterhood Against Sexual Assaults (TF SASA) - a team of former military leaders from various branches with a deep commitment to providing effective solutions and support concerning sexual assault and harassment. RAPID FIRE Navy promotes first female mortician to senior chief petty officer A beer-drinking Marine Corps duck earned a citation for fighting at Tarawa Testing of Air Force all-electric plane set to start at Florida base Special Guest: Lisa Bass.

U.S. Navy veteran, Dr. Ruth Moore is an Integrative Health Practitioner in Functional Medicine in Ellsworth, Maine. She is trauma-response expert who treats stress-based health conditions and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine. She is also a published author, neuroscientist and clinical aromatherapist who has testified before Congress and played a role in creating health policy that helps her fellow veterans get access to appropriate healthcare from VA. Dr. Moore shares her own journey from experiencing MST, surviving suicide and homelessness to receiving her doctorate and the work she does now to help veterans in crisis. Special Guest: Dr. Ruth Moore.

IN THE NEWS Durning National Executive Committee meetings in October, The American Legion passed several resolutions focused on mental health THIS WEEK'S GUEST Blind and deaf after surviving an IED blast in Afghanistan, Aaron Hale eagerly takes on new challenges as an outdoor adventurer and entrepreneur. The former Navy chef and Army EOD team leader joins the podcast to discuss his recovery, his adventures as an elite athlete, and the entrepreneurial endeavor that showcases his culinary roots. RAPID FIRE Did Edgar Allan Poe attend West Point? Meet the Marine competing for the best mullet in America Guardian becomes service’s first to earn Ranger tab Special Guest: Aaron Hale.

IN THE NEWS 40th Anniversary of Operation Urgent Fury, when America Took a Stand Against Soviet and Cuban Influence in the Caribbean THIS WEEK'S GUEST Two members of the American Legion National Leadership team discuss the looming threat of a government shutdown, and the potential National Security concerns and impacts that could ripple through VA. Coast Guard veteran and National Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission Chairman Autrey James and Army veteran and Chairman of the National Security Commission Matthew Shuman discuss how veterans and servicemembers should prepare themselves, and discuss how The American Legion can help. RAPID FIRE ‘Home again’: Marine’s WWII diary returns to his daughter 81 years after final entry Property company ordered to repay troops charged illegal rental fees Farewell to JSTARS: End of an era in military intelligence Special Guests: Autrey James and Matthew Shuman.

IN THE NEWS Will all NFL teams retire Pat Tillman's number? THIS WEEK'S GUEST This week we visit with two female veterans who work with the PenFed foundation keep faith with the Afghans who served alongside U.S. forces by assisting with their rescue and successful resettlement into American communities. Mahnaz Akbari served 10 years the in Afghan special forces as the Commander of a Female Tactical Platoon – a small unit of Afghan women who worked with U.S. special operations forces (SOF) in Afghanistan to search, questioning, and medical assistance of women and children - in a way that was respectful of Islam and Afghan culture. Rebekah Edmondson served 10 years in U.S. Army and deployed to Afghanistan several times to support a program called the Cultural Support Team, where she trained FTPs. Both women talk about how they got started in their military careers, the missions they were part of an Afghanistan, and the work they are doing in support of Afghan allies today. RAPID FIRE Air Force to review discharges of troops with mental health conditions Drunken Special Operators Struggle to Finish a Mission in New Action Comedy 'Obliterated' American Legion Post 109 Donates $4,500 to Feed Vail’s Schoolchildren Special Guests: Mahnaz Akbari and Rebekah Edmondson.

IN THE NEWS 10 Military Habits and Hacks That Will Change Your Life THIS WEEK'S GUEST Dr. Jennifer Peña is a board-certified internal medicine physician, an Army combat veteran, a former physician in the White House Medical Unit, and an expert in digital and telehealth. She joins the podcast to share her experience serving as primary physician to the vice president under two administrations, and what it was like to return it to her home in Puerto Rico and become a leading voice in the advancement of telehealth care. RAPID FIRE Shaving the Sergeant Major of the Army? There’s an app for that. A veteran started a gun shop. When a struggling soldier asked him to store his firearms – he started saving lives. Army Colonel Enforces the Rules On and Off the Football Field Special Guest: Dr. Jennifer M. Peña,.

IN THE NEWS How the US Army made the world’s toughest sandwich THIS WEEK'S GUEST Executive Producer and Director Chase Millsap and Executive Producer Dale King, join us to talk about their documentary, “Small Town Strong.” Filmed over four years in Portsmouth, Ohio, the one-time pill mill capital of America, “Small Town Strong” follows Dale, a former Army Intelligence Officer, who returns to his hometown after two tours in Iraq, to find it in shambles amid the growing opioid epidemic. With no one coming to save them, King starts PSKC Crossfit gym and offers job opportunities to those in recovery. Their unorthodox strategy takes on fentanyl with fitness – resulting in one of the biggest comebacks in small-town America history. RAPID FIRE Women in Army SOF resorted to buying their own armor, study finds Share your Buddy Check Week plans with us How rucking can give your walking routine a boost Special Guests: Chase Millsap and Dale King.

Dr. Regan Stiegmann is Associate Professor of Preventive and Lifestyle Medicine and Director of the Digital Health Track at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Parker, Colorado. Dr. Stiegmann served 11 years in the U.S. Air Force, most recently as a Flight Surgeon and Lifestyle & Performance Medicine Specialist with the 10th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. She is passionate about human performance optimization, positive psychology, and health promotion, and she discusses how diet, exercise and other factors play a role in mental wellness Special Guest: Dr. Regan Stiegmann .

IN THE NEWS Knowing the signs of a stroke can save your life How a Hallmark Movie's Take on Air Force Romance Got Cooperation from the Thunderbirds THIS WEEK'S GUEST Ivan Abbott Houston, who was a design engineer and test driver of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, MLRS and Humvee Military Vehicle, shares the story of his father, Ivan James Houston, a Buffalo Soldier who served with the 92nd Division in Italy during WWII, and wrote two books and a documentary film about his experiences during and after the war. RAPID FIRE Free career guidance for Veterans from America's top companies U.S. Army Mariners Rescue A Man Clinging To Plastic Lid In The Middle Of The Ocean VA recreation therapist leads Yak and Yarn group Special Guest: Ivan A. Houston.

IN THE NEWS Food Insecurity In U.S. Military And Veterans Doubles National Average THIS WEEK'S GUEST Navy veterans Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson have penned multiple covert ops and action-adventure thriller series including TIER ONE, SONS of VALOR, and THE SHEPHERDS. The duo joins the podcast to talk about how they got started, how they make the co-author process work, and how they are using their success to help fellow veteran authors and entrepreneurs. RAPID FIRE A corporal gave a speech in front of the top Marine — and got promoted United States Is Growing A Robot Army 988 +1 challenge coins Special Guests: Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson.

To wrap up our special series, we talk with Lincoln County, S.D. Service Officer Susan Irons, and Bay Pines VA HealthCare system Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator Lisa Shoemaker to learn more about how those who have experienced Military Sexual Trauma can get help at VA. In this series, be aware we will be discussing topics that are sensitive and potentially triggering, so pause and take a break as needed, and remember you can always reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1. Special Guests: Lisa Shoemaker and Susan Irons.

In the penultimate episode in our special series on Military Sexual Trauma, our guests from the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) – Acting Director Dr. Nathan W. Galbreath and Senior Prevention Adviser Dr. Andra Tharp – discuss how DoD is addressing the issue of MST and highlight specific actions being taken to prevent and respond to sexual assaults. In this series, be aware we will be discussing topics that are sensitive and potentially triggering, so pause and take a break as needed, and remember you can always reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1. Special Guests: Dr. Andra Tharp and Dr. Nate Galbreath.

Navy veteran Lindsay Church, is founder and executive director of Minority Veterans of America and Army veteran Rebekka Eshler is president of Transgender American Veterans Association. The pair continues our special series with a discussion of the prevalence of Military Sexual Trauma in the LGBTQ+ community and how their organizations are addressing the issue. In this series, be aware we will be discussing topics that are sensitive and potentially triggering, so pause and take a break as needed, and remember you can always reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1. Special Guests: Lindsay Church and Rebekka Eshler.

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ross Whitmore served under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and faced many challenges as the first openly gay Air Force officer but still managed to build a successful career as a Medical Commander and a member of the Surgeon General's staff. Rashan Legard joined the Army in 2011 after graduating from college and was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Special Troops Battalion (STB) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Both men share their experiences, the retribution that followed and how they found healing, hope and the drive to help others. In this series, be aware we will be discussing topics that are sensitive and potentially triggering, so pause and take a break as needed, and remember you can always reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1. Special Guests: Rashan Legard and Ross Whitmore.

In this episode, two survivors discuss how they are transforming their personal experiences into a mission to create culture change and prevent and support individuals affected by Military Sexual Trauma. U.S. Navy Reserve Lt. Cmdr. Andrea Goldstein, a member of American Legion Post 84 in Hudson, N.Y., formerly served as the principal adviser to the Secretary of the Navy on integrated prevention efforts. In that capacity she led the Navy’s sexual assault, sexual harassment, and suicide prevention and response efforts. Dr. Athena Ives, a Marine Corps sexual assault prevention specialist and forensic criminologist, did her doctoral dissertation on how military culture affects MST. These women share their inspiring journeys as well as the strategies, resources, and support systems they have developed to help survivors and prevent future incidents. In this series, be aware we will be discussing topics that are sensitive and potentially triggering, so pause and take a break as needed, and remember you can always reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1. Special Guests: Andrea N. Goldstein and Athena Ives, PhD.

In the first episode of our special series on Military Sexual Trauma, we welcome Tara Galovski, PhD, the Director of Women’s Health Sciences at the National Center for PTSD and Amy Street, PhD, National Director of Military Sexual Trauma in the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. Both women have done extensive research on mental health, women's health, and Military Sexual Trauma. Our discussion gives an overview of the MST issue, examines how ongoing efforts to address the problem and highlights resources for those who need assistance. In this series, be aware we will be discussing topics that are sensitive and potentially triggering, so pause and take a break as needed, and remember you can always reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1. Special Guests: Amy Street, PhD and Tara Galovski, PhD.

Marine combat veteran and Navy reservist Amy Forsythe, an award-winning multimedia journalist, is the host of our new podcast series focused on The American Legion Be The One initiative. In this month’s episode, Forsythe kicks off the series with fellow Marine veteran Waco Hoover, who recently led the Be the One Symposium at The American Legion’s national convention. Hoover, newly named as The American Legion Be The One Chair, talks about the next phase for the Be the One initiative. Special Guest: Waco Hoover.