Veterans Radio

Former F16 pilot Heather "Lucky" Penney talks about the shrinkage of the Air Force's fleet and its impact on national security. She is a senior fellow at AFA's the Mitchell Institute. At this think tank, she speaks and writes on US Air Force related issues and discussed them with host Jim Fausone.

Join host Jim Fausone this week for three interviews: Dr. James Rogers, war historian and drone expert, about modern drone warfare, the use of drones around the world, and where the military applications are headed.Robert Middleton, US Marine Corps veteran and National Commandant of Montford Point Marines of America, discussing the history of the first Blacks in the Marine Corp. He also shares details of the 14th Annual National Heritage Military Banquet & Awards Ceremony, a gala from the organization on June 23rd. Literature of War Foundation’s Michael Plunkett regarding its military book club approach to providing troops literature that unit members can read, discuss and bond over.

(Previously Aired on 5/19/2020) Andy Kubik spent 15 years in USAF Special Operations. He was stationed in theatres like Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. But his six overseas deployments as a combat controller and rescue man took its toll on his mental health and family. He talks about the heroic actions on November 23, 2001, that led to a Silver Star award. Substance abuse, PTSD, and TBI are mentioned; and the relationship with his son is highlighted with host Jim Fausone.

National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC.org) Founder Keith King talks about the success over the last decade of certifying veteran-owned businesses with host Jim Fausone,

GET ANSWERS FROM OUR EXPERT PANEL!Dale Throneberry – Founder and Host of Veterans RadioBrig. Gen. Carol Ann Fausone (ret) – Legal Help for VeteransBrian Hayes – Director of Communications, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare SystemDavid Saims – Director, Washtenaw County Veterans Affairs

(Previously Aired on 11/26/2019) Taras Lyssenko wrote a new book with everything from mystery and adventure, to government dealings and World War II history. "The Great Navy Birds of Lake Michigan" documents a 30-year-long effort to recover WWII-era Navy planes from Lake Michigan. He introduces the long-lost history of how Navy pilots trained and sometimes lost their lives and aircraft over Lake Michigan. It offers an inside look at his company’s recovery & salvage efforts and their sometimes-contentious relationship with federal agencies. These submerged Navy planes now find themselves in muesums and public spaces around the United States. Taras talks with host Jim Fausone of VeteransRadio.org to explain how this passion started for two Army guys and how it keeps history alive.

Marine Michael Plunkett talks about the Literature of War Foundation which supplies copies of the same book to units to read so they have a common experience to discuss. They read and discuss military history, leadership, recent engagements, etc. Plunkett explains how the nonprofit works to host Jim Fausone. Currently, 50 units have asked to start this military book club!

Our Memorial Day Program this year will include a reading of names of service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our great nation. Thank you to those who remembered and honored those lost by submitting names for the program.Dale speaks with Melissa Youngblood, President and Clinical Director of Therapeia Counseling. Melissa is a licensed professional mental health counselor and a Master-Certified Accelerated Resolution Therapist (ART). Melissa specializes in PTS in veterans, first responders, and healthcare workers, and has devoted much of her professional and personal life to helping veterans.We also talked with Doug Bradley, Vietnam Veteran, author, and educator, about his recent publication, “He Ain’t Heavy” (Medium, Warriors Publishing Group). Doug has authored many works about his Vietnam and post-Vietnam experiences, including:Who’ll Stop the Rain: Respect, Remembrance, and Reconciliation in Post-Vietnam AmericaDEROS Vietnam: Dispatches from the Air-Conditioned JungleWe Gotta Get Out of This Place: The Soundtrack of the Vietnam War, which was named “the Best Music Book of 2015” by Rolling Stone Magazine.

(Previously Aired on 9/3/2019) In December 1890, the Army engaged a band of Lakota Indians at Wounded Knee Creek. Who shot first is lost to history, but the deaths of approximately 350 Lakota and 30 Army troops made it one of the bloodiest engagements of the American-Indian period. The Army calls it a battle; the Lakota people call it a massacre. Multiple times the Lakota people have sought an apology (received), reparations, and revocation of the 20 Medals of Honor awarded. Historian and Army Colonel Samuel Russell (ret.) discusses the history, and his submittal to the House Armed Services Committee regarding HR 3467 "Remove the Stain Act" of 2019. Russell offers host Jim Fausone why the bill is misguided and what precedents it would set.

Julie Dyer, a 20-year Navy veteran, started her promotional business while on ship. She has owned Express Yourself Promotional Products, LLC for over 20 years, and is an NVBDC-certified veteran-owned business! Julie talks to host Jim Fausone about the value of certification and the importance of the National Veterans Business Development Council (NVBDC.org).

This week’s show includes guests from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society (CMOHS), the National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC), and the Patriot Promise Foundation.Dale speaks with Laura Jowdy, Medal of Honor historian and resident archivist from the CMOHS. Laura’s role is to ‘keep the memory of our nation’s heroes alive.’ You can learn more about Laura and her work here, and learn more about the CMOHS here. Dale also speaks with former Air Force General Bob Taylor, founder of the Patriot Promise Foundation. Bob is a former B-52 navigator, veteran of the Gulf War, and author of “From Service to Success,” a roadmap of how other veterans and their families can find their new purpose. We also hear from NVBDC founder and CEO Keith King, who speaks with host Jim Fausone. Keith is a US Army and Vietnam War Veteran, has over 40 years of experience in advertising and public relations, and has an extensive background of lobbying for and assisting veterans with the transition from military to civilian life.

(Previously Aired on 6/16/2019) MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM "BILL" HENDERSON'S CAREERMajor General William A. "Bill" Henderson was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. As a Marine pilot, he flew 125 combat missions over South Vietnam, Laos, and North Vietnam. From 1970-1974, he served as an F-4 check pilot and instructor. He left active duty and then joined the Michigan Air National Guard, flying F-100s and A-7s. He was named commander of the Michigan Air National Guard in 1992 and was promoted to Major General in 1996. He also served as the corporate pilot, chief pilot and director of flight operations for General Motors Corp.AUTHOR DWIGHT ZIMMERMAN - THE HISTORY OF TOP GUNDWIGHT JON ZIMMERMAN is a bestselling and award-winning author, radio show host, producer, and past president of the Military Writers Society of America. A writer of extraordinary scope in genres, he has written everything from comic books to young adult, adult histories, biographies, and more. He has received critical praise for his skill in adapting bestselling adult works into young adult and graphic novel formats.Zimmerman's new book is TOP GUN: 50 YEARS OF NAVAL AIR SUPERIORITY, and was scheduled for a May 2019 release. It is an exciting history of the U.S. Navy's fighter pilot training program that includes the origin and evolution of aviation combat and the impact of the Tom Cruise "Top Gun" movie.

(Previously Aired on 11/21/2017) Dave Biller discusses the environmental contamination at Andersen AFB, Guam, and its impact on him as an airman in a Civil Engineering Squadron in the mid-1980s. Dave talks to host Jim Fausone about the VA's handling of his claim and the impact of groundwater contamination on the new Marine base in Guam.

Law Professor Yelena Duterte talks about Veterans Basic Income as a "big idea" to help veteran transitions, VA processing problems, and as a recruitment tool. Yelena is a professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago and Director of the Veterans Legal Clinic. She talks to host Jim Fausone about the benefits a veteran basic income could provide.

Join us on Mother’s Day, 2024, to hear the incredible story of Navy Senior Chief Shannon Kent, mother of two and Navy intelligence warrant officer and language specialist. Senior Chief Kent was KIA in Syria in January 2019. Her story is told in “Send Me: The True Story of a Mother at War” co-authored by her husband Joe Kent and Marty Skovlund Jr. (editor-in-chief, Task & Purpose). Host Jim Fausone speaks with the authors.To learn more, see this recent article from Task & Purpose.To find a bookseller, visit the publisher page.Jim also speaks with Carrie Filipettie, executive director The Vandenberg Coalition: can civics education help solve the recruiting crisis?Learn more about Carrie here.

(Previously Aired on 10/27/2020): Captain Steven J. Craig (ret.) tells the story of the grounding and rescue of the USCG Cutter Jarvis on its maiden voyage to Alaska in 1972. He tells the story of its namesake, Lt. David Jarvis, and his 1897 rescue of icebound whalers in Alaska. A Japanese fishing trawler came to the rescue in the best tradition of the sea. The Captain discusses the Coast Guard and his 38 years in the service with host Jim Fausone. "All Present and Accounted For" is a Military Writers Society of America award-winning book, go pick it up today.

Vice Admiral Kevin P. Green (ret.) has been thinking about recruiting challenges for over two decades. With the Navy and other services in the worst recruiting crisis of the all-volunteer service, his insights are instructive. He talks with host Jim Fausone how recruiters must use leadership and meeting today's youth where they are. He asserts if the youth have "ambition and heart" they will be able to enlist. It may take time to overcome limitations like physical fitness, but it can be achieved and a world of opportunities exist.

Topics include Caregiver Programs, VA Healthcare for less Than Honorable Discharges, Cancer Treatment closer to home, How the Rating system works, VA Claim Denials, and much more.GET ANSWERS FROM OUR EXPERT PANEL!Dale Throneberry – Founder and Host of Veterans RadioBrig. Gen. Carol Ann Fausone (ret) – Legal Help for VeteransBrian Hayes – Director of Communications, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare SystemJoseph F. Battisfore – Director, Veteran Service Office, Houghton County, MI

Vice Admiral Kevin P. Green (ret.) talks about the fleet numbers, naval drones, partners as force multipliers, the 35-year building cycle, and other challenges facing the Navy today from budgets and defense industrial base. Green talks to host Jim Fausone about the good jobs in shipbuilding as well as the Navy.

A suicide bomber took the life of Senior Chief Petty Officer & Cryptologist, Shannon Kent (U.S. Navy), on her 5th overseas deployment in 2019. Now her husband and father of two, Green Beret Joe Kent (11 deployments), tells her story with Marty Skovlund Jr., Army Ranger & Editor of Task & Purpose. Shannon Kent was an incredible linguist, patriot, and mother. This story is inspiring and uplifting notwithstanding the tragic circumstances of Shannon's death in Syria on an intel mission. Joe and Marty talk to host Jim Fausone.

(Previously Aired on 7/24/2018) Ryan Pitts served for 6 years in the US Army. During a firefight in 2008, Ryan was wounded but fought against overwhelming odds. He was awarded the MEdal of Honor in 2014. Today, he works in the defense industry and is an ambassador for the Cohen Veterans Network of 10 mental health clinics which provide free care to veterans, service members, and family members. Jim Fausone explores Pitts' service and checks in for an update on CVN.

Join us this week for a discussion on US foreign affairs, military conflicts, weapons, and air power, with national security analyst Dr. Rebecca Grant and host Dale Throneberry. This is our tenth year hosting Dr. Grant and she remains one of our most popular guests!Dr. Rebecca Grant is a national security analyst based in Washington, DC. She earned her PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics at age 25 then worked for RAND and on the staff of the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force.Dr. Grant is Vice president and Senior Fellow at the Lexington Institute researching military and tech/artificial intelligence topics.In today's program we look at the Iran attack on Israel and Israel's response. Ukraine, Israel and Hamas, Russia's threat to Europe's security, China, Iran and Russia meetings, and much more.

(Previously Aired on 5/25/2020) This week’s broadcast is apropos for the Memorial Day weekend when we honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.Dale Throneberry will interview Joe Galloway, a civilian war correspondent. Galloway served four tours as a war correspondent in Vietnam and also covered the 1971 India-Pakistan War and half a dozen other combat operations.In Stilwel, Kansas there is a family run foundation that offers combat veterans equine therapy. War Horses for Veterans is the premier horsemanship, networking and personal growth program in the U.S. They are a Kansas City based nonprofit that brings combat veterans from across the country together in a safe and peaceful environment.

This week on Veterans Radio, our guests are Rev. Bob Bull (Vietnam Air Force Veteran, Peer Support Specialist, VVA 310 Service Officer, VCAT 9 QOL Chair) and Nicholas McBryan (US Army Medic. OEF/OIF Veteran). We’ll discuss suicide prevention and helping veterans in crisis. Please call into the program if you’d like to join the conversation: 734-822-1600 We’ll also be highlighting our NVBDC Veteran-Owned Busines of the Month! Julie Dyer is a Navy Veteran and owner of Express Yourself Promotional Products.

(Previously Aired on 1/16/2018) Florent Groberg's book, 8 Seconds of Courage, is the astonishing story of how he saved lives in Afghanistan by tackling a suicide bomber, becoming the first immigrant since the Vietnam War to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism. Medal of Honor recipient Florent Groberg discusses his book with host Dale Throneberry.

Brigadier General (ret.) Doug "Odie" Slocum spent a combined 49 years in the U.S. Air Force & Army National Guard. He talks about his career as a military brat, ROTC, flying jets, and leading troops. He talks with host Jim Fausone about leadership, putting people first, and his new book, "Violent Positivity".

(Previously Aired on 10/15/2019) On November 21, 2010, U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Kyle Carpenter was posted atop a building in violent Helmand Province, Afghanistan, when an enemy grenade skittered toward Kyle and a fellow Marine. Without hesitation, Kyle jumped on the grenade and somehow lived, while severely injured, to speak about it. You Are Worth It is a story of rebirth. In 2014, Kyle was awarded the nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his “singular act of courage” on that rooftop in Afghanistan, an action which had been reviewed exhaustively by the military. Kyle became the youngest living recipient of the award - and only the second living Marine so honored since Vietnam. You Are Worth It is a memoir about the war in Afghanistan and Kyle’s heroics, and it is also a manual for living. Organized around the credos that have guided Kyle’s life (from “Don’t Hide Your Scars” to “Call Your Mom”), the book encourages us to become our best selves in the time we’ve been given on Earth. Above all, it’s about finding purpose, regardless of the hurdles that may block our way. Kyle discusses his family, military service, his Marines, and overcoming his struggles by taking one small step at a time with host Jim Fausone.

As NATO reaches its 75th Anniversary, VADM Kevin P. Green (ret.) and Navy Captain Bruce Lemkin (ret.) discuss its value today. Host Jim Fausone asks if everyone is paying their fair share and if isolationism is in the future. These fellows of the American College of National Security Leaders give a broad and knowledgeable perspective of world threats and the value of NATO.

JENNA CARLTON – THE MILLENNIAL VETERANUS Navy Veteran and Author, Jenna Carlton, is also known on social media as The Millennial Veteran. She talks to host Jim Fausone about her time in the Navy, her transition to a government job, and a Task & Purpose opinion piece written on the current military recruiting crisis. Carlton contends younger veterans will not help until their transition, mental health, and physical health issues are all addressed by the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs.To learn more about Jenna and read her latest articles for Task & Purpose, click here.Find The Millennial Veteran on InstagramLearn more about “The Veteran Workbook,” a journal published by Jenna to help veterans as they transition out of the military.KEVIN GREEN & BRUCE LEMKIN – THE CURRENT STATE OF NATOAs NATO approaches its 75th anniversary, Admiral (ret.) Kevin Green and Captain (ret.) Bruce Lemkin join Jim for a discussion on the value of NATO today. Is everyone paying their fair share? Is there a risk of isolationism in the future? These fellows of the American College of National Security Leaders (ACNSL) give a broad and knowledgeable perspective of world threats and the value of NATO.

Randee Howard is an Operations Associate for The War Horse. Originally from Chicago, she earned her B.A. in Urban Studies from Columbia University in 2021. She was the women's veterans representative for two academic years and volunteered as a non-fiction writing tutor to incarcerated women at Rikers Island. Before her enrollment, she served four years on active duty in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Electrician on helicopters in San Diego. She deployed on USS Makin Island (LHD-8), an amphibious assault ship to Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Currently, she volunteers as Director of Policy for the Black Veterans Project. She talks about the Navy and the Black Veterans Writing Project with host Jim Fausone.

Join us for a discussion with three Veterans Radio board members on their experiences as women in the military, serving in operational and technical roles, the transition to civilian life, and more. Featuring: Kate Melcher, U.S. Army (2005-2020)Dr. Christine Cook, Army National Guard & U.S. Army Res. (1986-2016)Lydia Pinkham, U.S. Coast Guard (2011-2017)ILLUMINATE - ADVOCATE - EDUCATEOur mission since 2003 has been to advocate for the veteran and provide education for veterans and their families along with illuminating the extraordinary actions of ordinary people who have gained and preserved the freedom all Americans enjoy - and the ultimate price that is often paid.Veterans Radio includes our listeners' stories and experiences, not only while in the service, but afterward as well. Interviews with guest speakers and authors are a weekly feature.Veterans Radio is a production of Veterans Radio America, Inc. a 501(3) non-profit corporation. EIN # 83-2746681

Host Dale Throneberry and Carol Ann Fausone, (USAF Brig Gen ret), from Legal Help for Veterans answer your questions during our monthly Benefits Program.Topics on this program include: Upgrading your current rating. Reapplying for conditions now covered by the Pact Act. New ratings for gastrointestinal conditions.Contact Veterans Radio with your questions for our next Benefits Program on Sunday, May 5th at 5 PM eastern.

CAPTURED AND CONFINEDCaptured on November 2, 1950, by North Korean-Chinese Soldiers, Father Kapaun was confined at Prison Camp #5, Pyoktong, North Korea until his death, at the hands of his captors, on May 23, 1951. Granted the title of “Servant of God” by the Catholic Church Father Kapaun is the Most Decorated Chaplain in US military history.In April of 2013, President Obama awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for Father Kapaun.THE MIRACLE OF FATHER KAPAUNJoin Veterans Radio Host Bob Gould and guests: Father John Hotze, Priest, and Judicial Vicar for the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, Roy Wenzl, national award-winning reporter for the Wichita Eagle and co-author of The Miracle of Father Kapaun, and William “Bill” Funchess, soldier and fellow POW who was there at Camp 5, all together to honor a great humanitarian.

Dr. James Patton Rogers is an expert in drone warfare. He discusses the evolution of drone warfare, the 1st and 2nd Drone Ages, and how we're moving into the 3rd Drone Age. Rogers discusses drone use from Ukraine to Africa with host Jim Fausone. Go read his recent book, "Precision: A History of American Warfare".

Claire Dahl, a retired Ann Arbor history teacher, talks with Dale about Rosie the Riveter and the notable women who entered World War II. Claire was recently featured in an article by Cynthia Furlong Reynolds in the Ann Arbor Observer. Read the full article from the Ann Arbor Observer here. Dale also speaks with Larry St. Antoine, board member for Camp Liberty Michigan, about the camp’s history and all they are doing to help veterans. Camp Liberty is a nonprofit that helps provide inclusive outdoor recreation programs to service members and their families. Learn more about Camp Liberty here.

Army Veteran Scott Lopez made people a lot of money in sales and finally said, "I'm going to work for myself". He took his years of experience in IT Sales for OEMs and entered the alternative OEM Distribution business. He says getting locally certified and using his Hispanic/Veteran status helped open doors. Scott talks about the benefits of a National Veterans Business Development Council (NVBDC.org) certification with host Jim Fausone.

Allan Lutes, President of Camp Liberty, Inc., explains the non-profit's programs in 2023 & 2024. Allan discusses new staffing opportunities at Camp in Brooklyn, Michigan. He talks candidly about their programming, fundraising, and volunteer challenges after pandemic shutdowns. Allan gives host Jim Fausone an update on Camp Liberty.

Allison Jaslow, CEO of Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), talks about veterans, the 2023 IAVA member survey, issues for women veterans, and the need for more emphasis on military recruiting. Learn more about the IAVA here. President of the Michigan Air & Space Forces Association, Brig. Gen. Doug “Odie” Slocum (ret.), discusses his career and mission of the Michigan AFA. Learn more about the Michigan AFA here.

Carrie Filipetti is the Executive Director of the Vandenberg Coalition. She and Hans Zeiger, Jack Miller Center, wrote about the need to teach civics to our youth so they can appreciate "why their country is worth defending". She explains teaching civics can help younger generations understand the value of freedom in the country and possibly be more inclined to serve the military. Carrie talks to host Jim Fausone about the Vandenberg Coalition and the Jack Miller Center.

Documentary photographer, photojournalist, and writer Jenn Tuero "J.T." Blatty, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2000 and served six years as an active-duty U.S. Army officer, deploying with the first troops into Afghanistan following 9/11 and again into Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since early 2018, she has been documenting the conflict in eastern Ukraine while simultaneously creating a photographic/audio archive of the 2014 volunteer soldiers of the Donbas (exhibited in Chicago and NYC in 2019-2020, March 2022 in Kyiv postponed due to the full-scale invasion), the revolutionaries who self-deployed during the original Russian invasion and saved Ukraine’s independence. A 2021-2022 Ukraine Fulbright alum, Blatty continues her photojournalistic work in Ukraine and recently completed writing Snapshots Sent Home: From Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine (publication Feb 20 2024), a military memoir that speaks of her journey in Ukraine, the volunteers, and a universal bond between combat veterans around the world. jtblatty.com

Leigh St. Julian Billeaud, of Lafayette Louisana, spent 6 years in the Navy and 6 more with the CIA. She talks about her experiences and coming back to St. Landry's Parish in Louisiana to find balance, start her family, and embark on a career in counseling. Leigh talks with host Jim Fausone about the value, benefits, and costs of therapy.

Welcome to Veterans Radio. This week are experts are Carol Ann Fausone, Retired USAF BG, Veterans Service Officer from Legal Help for Veterans and Brian Hayes, Director of Communications Health System Specialist/Public Relations, LTC Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. These are just a few of the topics we talked about in today's episode of Veterans Radio. Help for older Veterans is available through the VA. Elderly Veterans - Veterans (va.gov) What assistance are you entitled to? We talk about Incarcerated Veterans. What benefits are they eligible for through the VA. Incarcerated Veterans - Veterans (va.gov) How can the VA help Homeless Veterans. Homeless Veterans - Veterans (va.gov)

Andrew Pettegree, of Scotland's University of St. Andrews, discusses his recent publication "The Book at War" with host Jim Fausone. They cover the printed word for encouraging a nation to go to and stay at war, the value of books to the troops, the rationale for book burning, and related topics in a thought provoking interview.

Host Dale Throneberry speaks with author William Yeske about his book, “Damn the Valley,” a first-hand account from an airborne unit engaged in some of the toughest fighting in Afghanistan. Look for his book on Amazon. “DAMN THE VALLEY” was a phrase regularly uttered by the men that spent any amount of time in the Arghandab River Valley during the deployment of 2 Fury to Afghanistan in 2009–2010. The valley has claimed bodies from the troops of Alexander the Great, the British Empire, and more recently, the Russian Army. Operating in the valley was like nothing the men could have envisaged, they called it the “meat grinder.” It was a deployment that the media didn’t talk about, and the government doesn’t acknowledge. Three of the company were KIA, more than a dozen suffered life-changing injuries, and half the company had Purple Hearts—not many modern-day deployments have a 52% casualty rate. Since their return, many of the survivors have struggled to move on with their lives, and the unit has been declared at “extraordinary risk” by the Department of Veteran Affairs. No one who entered that region was left unscathed. Dale then speaks with Scott Lopez, NVBDC member, veteran, and business owner. Scott Lopez is the CEO and Founder of Zepol Productions Inc., (ZPI) which he founded in 2009. Scott brings over 25 years of channel experience, both creating distribution-specific brands and selling multiple service and hardware lines through the channel, and is proud of his Veteran and Latino American heritage, as a NVBDC-certified, service-disabled and veteran-owned small business (from nvbdc.org). Learn more about NVBDC.

Eden Stratton, a War Horse Journalist, wrote about the high representation of Black Women in the U.S. Army's Sergeant Major ranks. The culture these women built to support the promotion of enlisted black women is explored. Stratton talks with host Jim Fausone about the surprising statistics and the value of mentorship and connections.

NATIONAL ASSOC. OF BLACK MILITARY WOMEN WITH TWEILA ROCHELL-CAUTHENMarine Gy Sgt Tweila Rochell-Cauthen discusses her military experiences and the role of National Association of Black Military Women (NABMW), which is advocating for the service academies to boost the number of minorities admitted so that the number of black officers increases. NABMW filed with the US Supreme Court supporting military academies using race as a factor in admissions for the purpose of increasing black officers. She talks to host Jim Fausone about the value of military service and the benefits of diversity.BLACK SURGEONS OF THE CIVIL WAR WITH AUTHOR JILL NEWMARKJill Newmark discusses 14 Black surgeons who served with the Union Army during the Civil War. She explores their struggles to get trained in surgery, prejudice in society and the military, struggles as Black officers, and overcoming obstacles. Newmark talks with host Jim Fausone about their desire to practice medicine, the status of commission and contract officers, racial inequities, and post-war struggles. Her book is “Without Concealment, Without Compromise: The Courageous Lives of Black Civil War Surgeons.”

Marine Gunnery Sergeant Tweila Rochell-Cauthen discusses her military experiences and the role of the National Association of Black Military Women (NABMW). Which is advocating for the service academies to boost the number of minorities admitted so that the number of black officers increases. NABMW filed with the US Supreme Court supporting military academies to use race as a factor in admissions to increase black officers. She talks to host Jim Fausone about the value of military service and the benefits of diversity.

PREPPING FOR THE NEXT FIGHT - AUTHOR HOPE HODGE SECKHost Dale Throneberry speaks with Hope Hodge Seck, author of “Prepping for the Next Fight” appearing in the February 2024 issue of Military Officer, a publication of the Military Officers Association of America. Seck is an award-winning investigative reporter covering the military and national defense, and is the former managing editor of Military.com. What all the branches of the military are doing to prepare for the next fight. "SPEAK OUT!" - USMC VETERAN BILL GRAHAMThen, Dale talks with Vietnam-era USMC Veteran Bill Graham, contributor for The VVA Veteran, a publication of Vietnam Veterans of America. Bill recently wrote “Speak Out! The Case for Universal National Service” regarding an alternative to selective service. Read Bill’s full article on The VVA Veteran online The VVA Veteran, a publication of Vietnam Veterans of America.

President of the Michigan Air & Space Forces Association, Doug "Odie" Slocum, discusses his career and mission of the Michigan AFA. The retired pilot & General talks about their pillars of Education, Advocacy, and Support for our Air & Space Forces. The newly established Ann Arbor location joins the Sterling Heights chapter of Michigan. All are welcome at AFA chapters to learn what's happening in the air and space defense of our country. Brigadier General (ret.) Slocum talks to host Jim Fausone about the events and purpose of joining AFA.

GET ANSWERS FROM OUR EXPERT PANEL! Dale Throneberry – Founder and Host of Veterans RadioBrig. Gen. Carol Ann Fausone (ret) – Legal Help for VeteransBrian Hayes – Director of Communications, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare SystemDavid Saims – Director, Washtenaw County Veterans Service Dept., MACVC Trustee Missed this month's program? Tune in the last Sunday of the month for our Benefits Program. Send your questions to [email protected]