Eye on Veterans

This week we talk about Team Red White and Blue! We hear how this organization helps veterans nationwide find warrior fellowship through running, hiking, rucking, premiere national race events and even obstacle challenges like Spartan Races and the Tough Mudder.

Army Intel Officer and outgoing Team RWB founder, Lt. Col. Mike Erwin and Special Forces Col. (Ret.) Mike Sullivan discuss Team RWB’s mission and their fascinating careers.

Colonel “Sully” shares the athletic events planned in the coming year and we examine how these workouts replace the shallow digital connection with real life connections through running hiking and other national events.

We also examine why physical training with buddies is crucial as veterans age.

Find your fellow workout warriors with Team Red White and Blue and start training today:

https://teamrwb.org/

SPECIAL VETERAN TRIBUTE:

We recently learned of the passing of Army veteran Boone Cutler.

Cutler was one of the most influential veteran authors and activists of our time.

As a team leader with a Psychological Operations combat team on the deadly streets of Sadr City, Iraq, Cutler documented his experience and the associated trauma in the bestselling book “Voodoo in Sadr City”.

After a mortar blast resulting in a TBI and other physical injuries sent him to Walter Reed he began the fight of his life.

Based on his personal experience being overprescribed medications (to the point of overdose) Cutler shined a light on the VA’s “Combat Cocktail” scandal in ’07. He lobbied and forced a change in treatment which benefitted a generation of veterans.

As GWOT combat vets revealed a troubling national suicide epidemic, Cutler again advocated for his fellow warfighters and founded the Spartan Pledge. This simple commitment helped prevent countless vets from taking their own life.

We share audio from Cutler’s gripping interviews we recorded over the years, and we salute this inspirational veteran warfighter, Boone Cutler.

Till Valhalla, brother

See more on Boone Cutler here

This week we’re talking about a free resource that helps veterans meet hiring managers before they even apply. More than just a job board, 7 Eagle Group founder Jordie Kern created an online community where job seekers jump on Zoom calls directly with executives seeking veteran talent.

We discuss how like a career matchmaker, multiple daily Zoom sessions allow vets to interact with hiring executives, hear their personal stories, and even access training sessions.

We also hear how 7 Eagle utilizes the DoD Skill Bridge program that allows service members to work with companies for a short time, like a career test drive before leaving the military.

And we explore why veterans should seriously consider careers outside of their military occupational specialty, like trades, business ownership and more.

Check out 7 Eagle Group’s daily Zoom sessions, online training and career contacts here:

https://7eagle.com/

CBS Eye on Veterans, Host, Phil Briggs

[email protected]

Navy veteran Manuel Gomez has an awe-inspiring comeback story!

In this episode he describes his unlikely journey and how he became the founder of Vet Phoenix, a nonprofit which helps incarcerated veterans recover, rehabilitate and create a bright future.

For Manny, this struggle is personal- as he endured time in prison.

From addiction, to crime, to living alongside LA gang members in solitary confinement, he transformed his life. He would eventually become a social worker, doctoral scholar and founder of an organization that transforms lives.

We begin with a look back at his Navy service, and how prescribed medications sent him down a dark path.

Gomez described how his addiction to prescribed meds fueled a darker addiction and eventually spiraled into crime, and being sentenced to prison.

He shared vivid descriptions of prison life, solitary confinement, and how a Catholic radio station and hardened gang members inspired him to pursue a better path. He also recalled the emotional family moment when he dedicated his life to Christ, social work and a mission to mend spiritual wounds.

Gomez describes his incredible rise after being released.

He attended college earning a master’s degree, became an LA County executive and led programs for incarcerated vets, entered a Doctoral program and most recently launched Vet Phoenix.

He shares how this innovative program helps justice-involved veterans get back on track and live a new life of meaning and purpose.

He credits God for his success and is dedicated to sharing the unconditional love that inspired him to transform his life.

Discover more and support Vet Phoenix here:

https://vetphoenix.org/

Connect with CBS Eye on Veterans

[email protected]

We’re discussing veterans, cannabis, incarceration and a story brought to us from The Last Prisoner Project.

Alicia Deals tracks the story of her father, Air Force veteran Robert Deals, who was arrested, convicted and sentenced on cannabis related charges in Arizona, over a decade ago.

In 2020 Arizona residents voted to legalize cannabis. (Now legal for both medical and recreational use). In an ironic twist, Alicia Deals was awarded a state license to operate a dispensary in Tempe, AZ.

Yet her father remains behind bars.

Deals shares more details of her father’s case and describes where cannabis tax dollars are currently being spent.

The Last Prisoner Project’s Executive Director, Sarah Gersten describes other veteran cannabis cases from around the country and highlights their work to reform drug policy on both the state and federal level.

We also discuss Deals’ current plea for clemency and share the response we received from the Arizona Governor’s office.

See more from The Last Prisoner Project here:

https://www.lastprisonerproject.org/

It’s National Service Dog Month and we’re honoring the dogs from Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities (ECAD). We talked with two veterans whose stories demonstrate how these dogs truly save lives.

We begin with a look at the military service of Marine Corps Sgt Major John Ploskonka and Army Cavalry veteran and Purple Heart recipient Phil Bauer.

Bauer shared memories of the Chinook helicopter crash which resulted in the loss of his leg and Ploskonka shares how life after the military became a struggle, as he grappled with suppressed childhood trauma.

Both offered a glimpse of what it’s like living with anger, paranoia and constant anxiety.

Until the dogs entered their life. They each described how these dogs respond to their unique needs and the astounding ways they can read their minds. We also hear a fascinating scientific theory about they’re capable of doing it.

Check out Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities and donate to support programs like Project HEAL here:

https://www.ecad1.org/

This week we’re talking about Ibogaine Psychedelic Therapy with former Army Paratrooper, decorated combat veteran, and Purple Heart recipient Clayton Smith. We discussed his experience with ibogaine treatment which he reluctantly did, just so he could say he "tried everything" before ending his life.

Instead, it completely transformed him and gave him a new mission- healing fellow veterans through the nonprofit “Beond Service” which helps fellow vets gain access to this life-changing, and remarkable treatment.

We begin by unpacking common myths about psychedelics.

We also hear descriptions of his combat deployments and the uncomfortable truth about how trauma is not always related to war, but equally from events like military sexual assault or even childhood. Not all trauma is the same, but all are equal. Smith explained, “… one thing I want to share with the veteran community is that we don’t compare trauma.”

We talked about how despite VA therapy, Smith always felt like he was still broken and shared details of the plan he devised to end his life.

Inspired to try one last treatment, Smith shares vivid memories from his Ibogaine therapy session, and the life-changing lessons he learned from the experience. We also hear stunning results for other vets who attended Beond therapy sessions.

We wrap our discussion with details about the non-profit “Beond Service” which is changing the lives of veterans and their spouses. And we learn how anyone struggling with PTSD, depression or anxiety can find relief through the “Beond Ibogaine” treatment center in Mexico.

Find out more about Beond Service for veterans and the Beond Ibogaine therapy program at their campus in Cancun, Mexico:

https://beondibogaine.com/

We’re talking all about Cybersecurity with Dr. Calvin Nobles, (Ret.) U.S. Navy Cryptologic Warfare Officer and Dean of Cybersecurity & Information Technology at University of Maryland Global Campus.

We unpack the threats that exist all around us including how the military is defending against rogue nations, evolving AI, and drone technology. Nobles shared the threats he witnessed while commanding Cyber Operations for the US Navy and his time at the National Security Agency.

We also learned about cyber security education pathways and the certifications required for jobs in this rapidly growing field, which is actively recruiting veterans.

For more on cybersecurity opportunities, connect with Dr Calvin Nobles here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvinnobles/

Navy SEAL veteran Chief Anthony Rivera shares an inside look at Vetavize, the digital platform he founded to navigate the complex and frustrating VA Disability Benefit process. Powered by artificial intelligence, it guides veterans through filing their claim while helping them identify conditions and gather medical evidence needed to get their claims approved.

Rivera shared how after leaving the Navy he took a tactical approach and successfully managed his own VA claim, and then began personally assisting other veterans while working at Amazon.

Rivera shares how Vetavize is being used by local governments and law enforcement agencies to help their veteran employees.

We also discuss how Rivera has hope that the VA and Congress will start using this highly effective program to help all vets receive the benefits they earned. And, how he has some powerful, combat-tested allies in Congress- former Navy SEALs!

Find out more about Vetavize to get your correct disability rating and the benefits you’ve earned here:

https://vetavize.com/

This week we’re talking with Army Cavalry Scout veteran, and Medal of Honor recipient SSGT Clint Romesha, who continues to serve his fellow vets though America’s Warrior Partnership.

We begin with a look at his service and a fascinating look into the reconnaissance missions of the elite US Army Cavalry Scouts. Known as the “eyes and ears of the battlefield” he shares a vivid, behind the scenes look at combat operations.

We discussed the day that changed his life forever. It was 2009 in Afghanistan, when Clint defended the remote Combat Outpost Keating when it was almost overrun by 300+ Taliban terrorist forces. He was repeatedly exposed to enemy fire, devised a counterattack, provided cover for fellow soldiers to retrieve the fallen and kill the enemy’s surge. For his actions that day, Romesha was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2013.

Romesha shared the challenges he and many other veterans experienced after war, and how his initial career plans fell apart. He would eventually pursue hard and physical work in the oil fields of North Dakota. Leaning on his military training he also found success, and years after combat, received a mysterious phone from Pentagon.

We wrap our conversation with how he continues to serve his fellow vets through his work with America’s Warrior Partnership. He describes their mission to end veteran suicide by AWP’s ability to deliver mental health care, assist with financial issues, transportation and even help vets live better lives through better employment.

AWP and warriors like Romesha are always there their fellow vets and always have their six.

For more on Clint Romesha's inspiring life:

https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/romesha/

See how America's Warrior Partnership assists veterans in need and make a donation to this worthy organization here:

https://www.americaswarriorpartnership.org/

Connect with CBS Eye on Veterans, Host, Phil Briggs

[email protected]

Today we’re with Navy veteran Matt Thompson who built an incredible post-military career in the skilled trades … and how his use of Tik Tok has made his heating and air conditioning business wildly successful in Southern California.

His story began with a love of auto mechanics, which included building a car that ran on airplane fuel. His knack for fixing engines helped him consistently advance though the ranks.

Thompson shared how his military experience and credentials put him on the fast track to getting a contractor’s license in California, but it was his interest in social media that helped his business experience explosive growth.

He shared how he used YouTube, Facebook and Tik Tok to promote his business through a mix of HVAC related videos and glimpses into his hobbies. He also described how his videos became popular, and how today, he receives sales leads and even gets paid by social platforms for his content and HVAC product demos.

However Thompson is not pushing people to become an “influencer”. Rather, he calls for more veterans (and our kids) to consider careers in the skilled trades and use social to help build a thriving business.

Find Matt Thompson on Tik Tok and other social @Matts_Crafty

https://www.tiktok.com/@matts_crafty

See more of Thompson’s thriving heating and air conditioning business, EMT HVAC here:

https://emthvacs.com/

Connect with CBS Eye on Veterans, Host, Phil Briggs

[email protected]