MCA Scuttlebutt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and your continued support. This week, we welcome Ben Connable back to the show. Ben recently co-authored (with Colin P. Clarke) an issue brief for The Soufan Center titled, “War Against the Cartels,” and we are fortunate that he was willing to go low-brow and come on the show to discuss it. As a former Marine intelligence officer who served during the Long War, he is a true subject-matter expert and has personal experience in the perils of engaging in conflicts thought to be easy wins. Ben talks us through his threat analysis, intelligence preparation of the battlefield, second- and third-order effects of a potential conflict, the significance of labelling transnational criminal organizations as terrorist organizations, and recommendations for dealing with the threat of drugs, trafficking, and the fact that most of these organizations have deep roots in every major US city.  Enjoy!  thesoufancenter.org/research/war-against-the-cartels-prospects-and-perils-for-the-trump-administrations-military-led-campaign  battleresearchgroup.org  <p>The post #219: War Against the Cartels with Ben Connable first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and your continued support. This week, we want to start of by saying, Happy 250th Birthday, Marines! As our final, concluding episode of our Road to 250 series, we have Col Chris Woodbridge, Nancy, William, and me in studio to talk about the Marine Corps’ 250th Birthday video. In standard Semper Cinema format, we give our reviews, detail some of the messaging and imagery, and give our opinions on what message we think this video is trying to communicate, and what audience is the video targeting.    We also look back at the history of the Marine Corps birthdays by exploring the very first Marine Corps birthday a hundred years ago. You can check out this event in more detail in the pages of the November edition of Leatherneck Magazine. It turns out, the first birthday celebration entailed more than just getting your uniform ready, going to the Birthday Ball, and praying your regrets aren’t unforgivable in the morning.   We are so proud that we were able to bring you various aspects of Marine Corps history throughout this series and hope you all have a wonderful, safe, and fun 250th birthday celebration. You deserve it. And keep your wits as sharp as your steel. The nation will be calling you to write the stories of the Marine Corps for the next 250 years.   Happy Birthday and Semper Fidelis.  See the 250th Marine Corps Birthday Message here:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vw0jTk4rqQ  <p>The post #218: Happy 250th Birthday, Marines! first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you joining us and your continued support. This week, we’re Catching Up with Old Friends and hanging out with Brian O’Hare again. Depending on your definition of “old friends,” it hasn’t been a long time since Brian was last on the show, nor is Brian long in the tooth, but that’s the name of the segment, so we’re sticking with it.  Much like the last time Brian was on (go listen to Episode 198 if you haven’t. We’ll wait), trying to summarize what went on is an effort in futility, wrapped in a quagmire, and sprinkled with good times.  Brian happened to be in the AO, attending the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, where he’s working on a novel. Brian fills us in on his creative process and talks about his upcoming documentary, Cannon Shot, which covers the most attended croquet match in the world, the Annapolis Cup, between the Naval Academy and St. John’s College. There’s a ton of other non-sequiturs, off-colored jokes, and trains of thought that never quite find their station. It is such a genuinely great time hanging with Brian and we are so glad he took the time to spend it with us.    Enjoy!   <p>The post #217: CUWOF with Brian O’Hare first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continue support. This week, as we recognize the 42nd anniversary of the Beirut bombings, we welcome Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff to the show. I’m not really sure where to begin in introducing Rabbi Resnicoff. He didn’t begin his career behind the pulpit but on the front lines. Rabbi Resnicoff served in Vietnam as naval officer on a small craft patrolling the rivers to deny enemy movement. He went to rabbinical school after his time in Vietnam and served 25 years as a Navy chaplain. Rabbi Resnicoff was instrumental in the creation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in DC and he was one of the three chaplains on site at the Marine Barracks in Beirut on that fateful day. Rabbi Resnicoff recounts his service in Vietnam, the challenges of attending rabbinical after having served in the war, and his experiences on the ground in Beirut on October 23rd, 1983. This is a very special episode and we are so excited to share it with you.   Enjoy! https://resnicoff.net <p>The post #216: Remembering Beirut bombings with Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and your continued support. This week, we are joined by Col John Atkinson and SgtMaj Justin LeHew to give us updates on the Amphibious Tractor Memorial. Since we last spoke with John and JD, these two, and the entirety of the Amphibious Tractor Association, have been working tirelessly on building the memorial, and finally, after seven and a half years, have a date for the groundbreaking. We talk about the legacy of the amphibious tractor and why it matters, the significance of the groundbreaking, and what is in store for the festivities.  The groundbreaking will be at 3pm on Thursday, Oct 23rd, on the Memorial Walk of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. For those in the National Capital Region, please join us in celebrating this achievement, and those Marines who proudly wear the moniker, “Amtrac’er”  YAT YAS!  amphibioustractormemorial.com/golf-tournament  <p>The post #215: Amphibious Tractor Memorial Updates first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for listening and your continued support. This week, we bring you the penultimate episode of our Road to 250 segment, celebrating the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday in 2025. Throughout the rest of the year, we’ll continue featuring stories and history from throughout the 250 years of the Marine Corps. These episodes are nested within the MCA’s overall Road to 250 Campaign, where we have featured articles in both the Gazette and Leatherneck highlighting events and battles within specific periods in Marine Corps history. The MCA also has a commemorative Road to 250 coin collection. These commemorative challenge coins can only be found through the MCA. Go to marineshop.net to order individual coins or email [email protected] to order the entire set or learn more.  This month, we walk the Road to 250 during the Global War on Terror era of Marine Corps history. Walking with us is LtCol Michal Wyrsch, an artillery officer turned Harrier pilot who eventually flew F-35s before retiring. Michael shares his experiences as an artillery forward observer during Operation Phantom Fury and a Harrier pilot during Operation Odyssey Dawn, the air campaign in Libya during the Arab Spring. As a member of multiple MEUs, his participation during the Long War spans the land, sea, and air, and we are excited to engage with his unique perspective on the decades-long war across multiple theaters.   Enjoy!  <p>The post #214: Road to 250 – Operation Odyssey Dawn first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome Adam Walker to the show. Adam is the creator of Leatherneck Magazine’s newest segment, Lessons from the Smoke Pit. Adam is a retired Master Gunnery Sergeant who has found a lot of value in telling the sometimes tragic, but oftentimes funny, stories of his experiences in the Marine Corps. He talks to us about the value of having a creative outlet, especially for veterans. There’s only so much room in our packs, and finding a way to process our experiences is a valuable way to lighten the load and work through the things we’ve been through. He also shares his road to the yellow footprints, his experiences recruiting during September 11th, and his time serving during the Long War. Adam’s perspectives are so profound, and his genuine humility is so infectious and disarming. This is a great conversation, and we can’t wait to get more lessons from the smoke pit.   Enjoy!  <p>The post #213: Lessons from the Smoke Pit with Adam Walker first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome a saxophonist from the Marine Corps’ President’s Own Band, Gunnery Sergeant Connor Mikula. This is a conversation we’ve been wanting to have for a while, so it was a real treat to have Gunny Mikula take time out of his busy schedule to come down and hang out with us. Gunny takes us through his journey to being a member of the President’s Own, how the President’s Own fits into the overall mission of the Marine Corps, and his experiences touring and performing at the White House and 8th and I. It was a lot of fun learning about this extremely niche organization within the Marine Corps and getting to see behind the curtain on the President’s Own and what it’s like to be a member of this elite musical organization.    Enjoy!  marineband.marines.mil  instagram.com/connor_james_mikula  <p>The post #212: Jam Sesh with the President’s Own’ saxophonist, GySgt Connor Mikula first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and for your continued support. This week, we welcome Chaplain CDR David Duprey and Dr. Lelia Brady to the show. Chaplain Duprey is a Navy chaplain currently attending Naval War College and Dr. Brady is the Assistant Branch Head- Prevention & Response, Behavioral Programs. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and we are so lucky that CDR Duprey and Dr. Brady were able to make time in their busy schedules to come on and talk to us about their work in this important endeavor. Both of our guests have dedicated their lives to holistic health and well-being and are devoted to helping Marines and service members thrive both mentally and physically. This episode is full of great nuggets, wisdom, and resources. As always, if you need help, get help. And if you haven’t heard from a friend in a while – reach out. Too many of the people we’ve served with have the words, “I had no idea” or “I hadn’t talked to them in years,” when we find out about a fallen brother or sister. Don’t underestimate the power of something as simple as a text or phone call.  Enjoy!  linkedin.com/in/lelia-b-b4933914a/  https://www.marines.mil/News/Marines-TV/videoid/507397/dvpTag/Chaplains <p>The post #211: Recognizing Suicide Prevention Awareness Month with Chaplain CDR David Duprey and Dr. Lelia Brady first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for listening and your continued support. This week, we continue our Road to 250 segment, celebrating the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday in 2025. Throughout the rest of the year, we’ll feature stories and history from throughout the 250 years of the Marine Corps. These episodes will be nested within the MCA’s overall Road to 250 Campaign, where you will find featured articles in both the Gazette and Leatherneck highlighting events and battles within specific periods in Marine Corps history. The MCA also has a commemorative Road to 250 coin collection. These commemorative challenge coins can only be found through the MCA. Go to marineshop.net to order individual coins or email [email protected] to order the entire set or learn more.  This month, we walk the Road to 250 with another Semper Cinema crossover. The team decided to watch Heartbreak Ridge. Luckily, the film is set around the 1983 invasion of Grenada, which fits into September’s era of Marine Corps history, or else we might be accused of just using the podcast as an excuse to watch cheesy Marine Corps movies on the association’s dime. And, to add further legitimacy to this segment, we brought our editor-in-chief, Col Chris Woodbridge, into the studio to talk about the movie, the invasion of Granada, and what influences both have had on a generation of Marines coming up in the 80s and 90s.     Enjoy!.  <p>The post #210: Road to 250/Semper Cinema – Heartbreak Ridge first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in. This week is the conclusion of our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, we were recording from the showroom floor, but as some of you know, this year we recorded some on video for our YouTube channel and others we recorded as audio-only podcasts. In this series, we’ve covered conversations ranging from veteran support organizations to future ops and wargaming to Toys for Tots, so if you missed any, please go back and check them out. We’ve really enjoyed sharing these conversations with you. Hope to see you at Modern Day Marine 2026.  Our final episode features Gunnar Spafford and John Haehn from Toys for Tots. Gunnar is the Deputy Vice President of Business Development and John is not only the Media Manager but also the voice of and mascot of Gunny Bear, the Toys for Tots mascot. Gunnar and John talk to us about what it is that Toys for Tots does, some of the history of the foundation and it’s links to Walk Disney, some of the successes and challenges, and how people can support providing for children at need. One of the mottos of Toys for Tots is that it’s more than just a toy and we’re really happy that we were able to put a spotlight on the good things this foundation is doing for kids and the community.   Enjoy!  linkedin.com/in/gunnar-spafford  linkedin.com/in/john-haehn-184a63102  toysfortots.org  <p>The post #209: MDM 2025 – Toys for Tots first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and for your continued support. This week, we continue with our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, we were recording from the showroom floor, but as some of you know, this year we recorded some on video for our YouTube channel and others we recorded as audio-only podcasts. For the next few weeks, we will be releasing these audio-only conversations that range from veteran support organizations to future ops and wargaming to Toys for Tots. We’re really looking forward to sharing these conversations with you.   This week’s episode features George Leone from Homecoming 250 Navy and Marine Corps. George is the founder and president of Homecoming 250 Navy and Marine Corps. George discusses with us his foundation’s plan for the Navy and Marine Corps’ 250th celebration and shares with us the impetus behind this charity volunteer foundation, as well as his personal background on how he came to create it.    Enjoy!  homecoming250.org  linkedin.com/in/george-s-leone  <p>The post #208: MDM 2025 – Homecoming 250 with George Leone first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for listening and your continued support. This week, we continue with our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, we were recording from the showroom floor, but as some of you know, this year we recorded some on video for our YouTube channel and others we recorded as audio-only podcasts. For the next few weeks, we will be releasing these audio-only conversations that range from veteran support organizations to future ops and wargaming to Toys for Tots. We’re really looking forward to sharing these conversations with you.   This week’s episode features Matt Watkins from Operation Headshot. Matt talks to us about his journey to the yellow footprints, transitioning from active duty to the reserves, and Operation Headshot. Operation Headshot provides tools for transitioning military members, veterans, and spouses to help build a brand, expand their network, and become self-sufficient in pursuit of success as they navigate life beyond military service. He explains how his battles with mental health led to his desire to give back and create Operation Headshot to lower unemployment rates among veterans and military spouses, ease financial distress, and improve mental health and well-being of military families.  Enjoy!  operationheadshot.com  linkedin.com/in/matthewwatkins13  <p>The post #207: MDM 2025 – Matt Watkins and Operation Headshot first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for listening and your continued support. This week, we continue our Road to 250 segment, celebrating the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday in 2025. Throughout the rest of the year, we’ll feature stories and history from throughout the 250 years of the Marine Corps. These episodes will be nested within the MCA’s overall Road to 250 Campaign, where you will find featured articles in both the Gazette and Leatherneck highlighting events and battles within specific periods in Marine Corps history. The MCA also has a commemorative Road to 250 coin collection. These commemorative challenge coins can only be found through the MCA. Go to marineshop.net to order individual coins or email [email protected] to order the entire set or learn more.  For August, we walk the Road to 250 during the Vietnam War era with our guest and Leatherneck legend, Paul Thompson.  As a young Marine Combat Correspondent, Sgt Paul Thompson was assigned to the staff of Leatherneck in the 1960s. He traveled throughout Vietnam, telling Marines’ stories as he covered the war for the magazine. Paul joins us in studio to tell us what it was like being recording history as it unfolded.  Enjoy!  Related Leatherneck Articles:The People of Leatherneck, November 2017 Hue, July 1968 – Republished February 2022 <p>The post #206: Road to 250 – Vietnam War with Leatherneck Legend Paul Thompson first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we continue with our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, we were recording from the showroom floor, but as some of you know, this year we recorded some on video for our YouTube channel and others we recorded as audio-only podcasts. For the next few weeks, we will be releasing these audio-only conversations that range from veteran support organizations to future ops and wargaming to Toys for Tots. We’re really looking forward to sharing these conversations with you.   This week’s episode features the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab’s Sergeant Major, SgtMaj Christopher Singley. SgtMaj Singley joins us after having presented at the Warfighting Pavilion on Day 2 of Modern Day Marine, speaking on the 30 years of innovation at the Warfighting Lab. SgtMaj talks to us more about that, and he gives us some history on the Warfighting Lab and the genesis of its mission, his thoughts on the value of experimentation, and MCWL’s role in the projection and implementation of Force Design.   Enjoy!  <p>The post #205: MDM 2025 – MCWL Sergeant Major, SgtMaj Christopher Singley first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This week, we continue with our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, we were recording from the showroom floor, but as some of you know, this year we recorded some on video for our YouTube channel and others we recorded as audio-only podcasts. For the next few weeks, we will be releasing these audio-only conversations that range from veteran support organizations to future ops and wargaming to Toys for Tots. We’re really looking forward to sharing these conversations with you.   This week’s episode features Gunnery Sergeant Kevin Harris. Gunny Harris was the Delta Company Course Chief at the School of Infantry East but took over the role of Battalion Chief Instructor in June. Gunny talks to us about his impression of Modern Day Marine and how innovation plays into his training plan, namely drones and UAS, and how he applies this knowledge into developing future Marine infantrymen.    Enjoy!  <p>The post #204: MDM 2025- GySgt Kevin Harris, SOI-E first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we begin our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, we were recording from the showroom floor, but as some of you know, this year we recorded some on video for our YouTube channel and others we recorded as audio-only podcasts. For the next few weeks, we will be releasing these audio-only conversations that range from veteran support organizations to future ops and wargaming to Toys for Tots. We’re really looking forward to sharing these conversations with you.   This week’s episode features the President of the Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation, Tim Parkhurst. Tim talks to us about the history of Marine scout snipers, his efforts to continue to collect and increase the awareness of the Marine scout snipers, and his and his foundation’s efforts to build a scout sniper war memorial at the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park. This is a great conversation about the legacy of these storied Marines.    Enjoy!  linkedin.com/in/timothyparkhurst  scoutsniperheritage.org/memorial  <p>The post #203: MDM 2025 – Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation President, Tim Parkhurst first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This week, we welcome Ryan Pavel to the show. Ryan is the CEO of the Warrior-Scholar Project and the inaugural winner of the Marine Corps University Foundation’s General Alfred M. Gray National Award for Service and Education. We caught Ryan while he was in the DC area, and he was kind enough to come and talk with us about transitioning from service, particularly into higher education. Ryan discusses the challenges veterans have moving into academic spaces, from expectations to enrollment to ways of being successful. Spoiler alert: Oftentimes, properly defining what success is will enable your ability to achieve it. Ryan and the Warrior-Scholar Project help address these challenges and prepare veterans for success. Ryan’s perspectives are invaluable, and his energy is infectious. We had a lot of fun talking about this serious topic.  Enjoy!  warrior-scholar.org/apply  linkedin.com/in/ryanpavel  twobitrye.com  <p>The post #202: Warrior Scholarship and Transitioning into Higher Education with Ryan Pavel first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we continue our Road to 250 segment, celebrating the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday in 2025. Throughout the rest of the year, we’ll feature stories and history from throughout the 250 years of the Marine Corps. These episodes will be nested within the MCA’s overall Road to 250 Campaign, where you will find featured articles in both the Gazette and Leatherneck highlighting events and battles within specific periods in Marine Corps history. The MCA also has a commemorative Road to 250 coin collection. These commemorative challenge coins can only be found through the MCA. Go to marineshop.net to order individual coins or email [email protected] to order the entire set or learn more.  This month, we walk the Road to 250 with frequent guest and friend of the show, SgtMaj Justin LeHew. SgtMaj LeHew talks to us about how the WWII and Korean War period helped define the Marine Corps. Where we can’t overstate the significance of the Marine Corps’ amphibiosity during the Island Hopping Campaign, we talk about how vision and innovation during the pre-war years, and the employment of Marines during the Korean War, namely the amphibious landings at Inchon, may have done even more to solidify the Marine Corps as the amphibious force in readiness.   <p>The post #201: Road to 250 – WWII Amphibiosity with SgtMaj Justin LeHew first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. Well, here we are, episode 200. We can say with all sincerity that this milestone is as much of a surprise to us as I’m sure it is to you. But, we are so thankful for your support and for giving us an excuse to run our soup coolers for an hour a week. And as a thank you to our listeners for continuing to tune in every week, we’ve got a great guest for you this week.   We honestly wrestled with how we were going to approach our 200th. Were we going to do something in-house? Do a panel of our favorite guests? Well, I think we nailed it. For our 200th episode, we bring a treat to your ear holes, 1stSgt Chase McGrorty-Hunter. It would be a lie if I told you that we planned this (as I’m sure many of you are aware, there is very little planning that goes into what we do)  because it’s actually amazing that we waited 200 episodes to have Chase on. But as fate would have it, Chase was back in the Q-Town area and was generous with his time to come into the studio to have a little chin wag. And wag chins we did. Chase has an extensive body of work that can’t be contained in the limits of this show description but he talks with us about his journey to the yellow footprints, the value of not just professional military education but continuing education in general, and his future projects and leadership vision for enlisted Marines. We’re so happy to share this conversation with you all and are so happy this worked out to be our 200th episode.   instagram.com/chase_hunter  linkedin.com/in/chase-mcgrorty-hunter-2a3ba9ab  threads.com/@bayonet_warfighting_society  instagram.com/bayonet_warfighting_society https://www.mca-marines.org/wp-content/uploads/LNK-November-2022.pdf <p>The post #200: Capturing the Narrative with 1stSgt Chase McGrorty-Hunter first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome Jonathan “JT” Taylor to the show. JT is a retired sergeant, a former scout sniper, and the President of the Scout Sniper Association. And at the time of the recording, JT was submitting a package to History Division to be confirmed as having the longest confirmed kill in Marine Corps history. Even more amazing than that is his work with the Scout Sniper Association. JT embodies the ethos of no Marine left behind and he and his brethren at the Scout Sniper Association are dedicated to making sure that this is true for the Marine scout sniper community. As a veteran support organization, they focus on not only maintaining the brotherhood that veteran Marines felt while in uniform, but also looking out for one another, even though they may be thousands of miles away. JT talks to us about hog calls, reunions, family support, and even raising funds to ensure their members can make their house payments. I mean, one of the first buttons you see on the home page of their website is: Request Help. JT has a great story, and we’re thrilled he came on to tell it. scoutsniper.org <p>The post #199: Telling the Scout Sniper story with the President of the Scout Sniper Association, Jonathan “JT” Taylor first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome Brian O’Hare to the show. Using the term “welcome to the show” is a bit of a misnomer for what is actually happening in this episode. It is more accurate to say that Brian welcomed us into his brain. And what a ride! This was one of the most fun episodes we’ve done as Brian is one of the most interesting people we’ve had the pleasure of speaking with. Trying to summarize the episode is an effort in futility, but the intent of bringing him on was to talk about his book, Surrender, and to get the story of his journey from Naval Academy midshipman to Marine to Hollywood renaissance man. What ended up happening was something that was that but also something so much more than we expected. Like stories of drinking with John Waters in Baltimore as a second lieutenant and ending up playing a convict in the movie Cry Baby. Please enjoy this wild ride with Brian O’Hare. We sure did. Enjoy! <p>The post #198: Shenanigans with the author of the book Surrender, Brian O’Hare first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we continue our Road to 250 segment, celebrating the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday in 2025. Over the next year, we’ll feature stories and history from throughout the 250 years of the Marine Corps. These episodes will be nested within the MCA’s overall Road to 250 Campaign, where you will find featured articles in both the Gazette and Leatherneck highlighting events and battles within specific periods in Marine Corps history. The MCA also has a commemorative Road to 250 coin collection. These commemorative challenge coins can only be found through the MCA. Go to marineshop.net to order individual coins or email [email protected] to order the entire set or learn more. For June, we walk the Road to 250 with Gazette and Leatherneck Editor-In-Chief, Col Chris Woodbridge. Col Woodbridge talks to us about the significance of the Interwar Period, the impact of the global crises of the time, and how this period shaped the future trajectory of the Marine Corps. Enjoy! <p>The post #197: Road to 250 – The Interwar Period with Col Chris Woodbridge, USMC (Ret) first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in an your continued support. This week, we welcome adjunct professor at Georgetown University, executive director for Battle Research Group, and author of the book Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War, Dr. Ben Connable, to the show. Ben is a retired Marine intelligence and Middle East Foreign Area Officer, was formerly a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, and a senior nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council. Ben talks to us about his experiences in uniform and as a foreign area officer, the impetus behind the writing of his book, and the empirical research he and his team at the Battle Research Group are doing to help improve the collective understanding of modern warfare. Ben speaks candidly and authoritatively and it was fascinating to get his thoughts on the current course of military thinking.  Enjoy! benconnable.com linkedin.com/in/benconnable battleresearchgroup.org groundcombat.org <p>The post #196: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War with Dr. Ben Connable first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in an your continued support. This week, we have another episode in our segment, Catching Up with Old Friends. In this episode, we welcome Will Schick back to the show. Will is one of the OGs. For those of us who grew up in the 80s and 90s, that has a very specific meaning, but for the context of a podcast, we’ll go with original guest. He was our fourth guest, so please go back and listen to Episode #4 to hear more about Will’s background and service. For those who missed it, Will is a former Marine intel officer and is currently the Director of Programs and Partnerships at the Asian American Journalists Association. It goes without saying we did a good bit of catching up, and it was great to hear all of the cool stuff Will is doing in journalism and mentoring the up-and-coming generation to help them navigate this fraught media landscape, and to hear his perspective on how we get information and consume media. Enjoy! <p>The post #195: Catching Up with Old Friends – Will Schick first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome the ballistician and co-creator of the 6.5 Creedmore, Dennis DeMille, to the show. Dennis is a veteran Marine mortarman who served as a drill instructor, was on the Marine Corps Shooting Team, and retired as a chief warrant officer before becoming the vice president of product development at Creedmore Sports (thus the name of the round) and is now the general manager of Tactical Walls. For those who don’t know, the 6.5 Creedmore is the current long-range precision rifle round for US Special Operations Command and the British Royal Marines. Basically, it’s the round bad asses use to do bad ass things. Dennis talks about his life before the Corps, his path from the shooting team to being the officer in charge of all the ranges at Camp Pendleton, and how the 6.5 Creedmore came to be. He has a really cool story about how it came to be named the 6.5 Creedmore and not the 6.5…DeMille. Enjoy! <p>The post #194: A Conversation with the Co-Creator of the 6.5 Creedmoor, Dennis DeMille first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>