Military Matters

The specter in the Spectre. The terror in Tonga. Just in time for Halloween, host Rod Rodriguez and guests share their own personal tales of frights, spirits and other paranormal events in this eerie episode of Military Matters.

Rod, former Army officer Dean Bundschu, former Marine and "To the Point" host Eric Mitchell, and an Air Force veteran named Mike relate spine-tingling tales of aggressive apparitions, ghosts in a gunship and bivouacs where things go bump in the night.

And Navy veteran Jennifer Marshall, host of the CW's "Mysteries Decoded," shares a lingering, otherworldly experience that began when she investigated a house that was the scene of famous murders.

Poltergeists and other paranormal phenomena rule the night in this episode that will prepare you for this haunted holiday season.

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In this fast take episode of Military Matters, host Rod Rodriguez discusses feedback we've gotten since the QAnon episode and explores possible characteristics of veterans and service members that make them so vulnerable to extremism.

Rod talks again with journalist and former former Army Ranger and Green Beret Jack Murphy, who shares his perspective on the QAnon community and his experience with former military colleagues who have become absorbed in the movement.

Rod and Jack discuss the prevalence of extremist ideologies among service members and veterans, particularly within the special operations community.

Does entering military service make a person more susceptible to extremism? What role does racism have in this phenomenon? What are the potential ramifications for national security?

The Military Matters podcast is working to find out the information that is important to you. Subscribe today!

In this episode of Military Matters, host Rod Rodriguez explores the murky world of QAnon, the far-right conspiracy theory that falsely claims President Donald Trump is fighting a shadowy cabal of Satanist pedophiles.

To find out how child pedophilia rings, Pizzagate, and the existence of a deep state made their way into the mainstream consciousness, and also to learn about the conspiracy theory’s links to the military and veteran community, Rod talks with QAnon Anonymous podcast co-host and Washington Post contributor Travis View, as well as with journalist Jack Murphy, who is a former Army Ranger and Green Beret.

Rod and his guests talk about how QAnon started, how it incorporates a wide range of differing conspiracy beliefs, and why it appeals to veterans and members of the military, including those with ties to the special operations community.

Does QAnon have potential for stoking extremist violence? Why do it and other extremist organizations work to recruit service members and veterans? What about those demographics can make them susceptible to QAnon’s message?

The Military Matters podcast is working to find out the information that is important to you. Subscribe today!

The full transcript of the podcast can be found here.

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In the most recent episode of Military Matters, host Rod Rodriguez explored unidentified aerial phenomena and what the Defense Department knows about those unexplained encounters. This week, he finds out from an expert about the facts that can be gleaned from those encounters.

Rod talks with Steve Justice, director of the aerospace division of To the Stars... Academy of Arts & Science. He is an aerospace engineer who spent 33 years at Lockheed Martin's fabled Skunk Works — an elite organization that has been at the cutting edge of U.S. defense technology.

Justice tells how he became involved with the controversial subject of UAPs, and how the subject for years has drawn the attention of other aerospace pioneers — including Kelly Johnson, the founder of the Skunk Works.

How does an engineer break down the information that is presented by a UAP? What factors make the sighting unusual? How does what was observed compare with known technology?

And what effect can fear have? If there is risk of a threat, who is likely to shoot first?

Whether or not we're alone in the universe, the Military Matters podcast is working to find out the information that is important to you.

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UFOs have long been a staple of science fiction: aliens and flying saucers, aerial technology that dwarfs anything that is man-made. But when video footage of unknown objects recorded by Navy fighter pilots was released publicly in 2017, all that changed.

To get to the bottom of what the Pentagon has found out about interactions with unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAPs, Military Matters host Rod Rodriguez talks with Luis Elizondo, the former head of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Intelligence Program, or AATIP, and is now a member of To the Stars... Academy of Arts & Science.

Elizondo talks about his previous work for DOD studying phenomena that exhibited characteristics outside the parameters of conventionally known technology and trying to find explanations for what was observed. He also tells of his struggle within DOD to share what AATIP learned.

What does it mean for the DOD not only to acknowledge UAPs' existence, but to set up a task force to detect, analyze and catalog UAPs? Could those UAPs potentially pose a threat to U.S. national security?

Is this proof of extraterrestrial life?

Whatever truth is out there, the Military Matters podcast is working to find it out for you.

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So far this season, the Military Matters podcast has looked at recent homicides of soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas. This week, host Rod Rodriguez and guest host Christine Bartruff bring you updates with the latest news in all three cases.

Find out about arrests linked to the slaying of Pfc. Brandon Rosecrans, whose body was found May 18 in a town not far from Fort Hood and his burned Jeep was found a few miles away the same night.

In the case of Spc. Vanessa Guillen, who was killed on post in April, a memorial service has been planned and legislation has been proposed that would change the way sexual assault and harassment are reported in the military.

Pvt. Gregory Wedel-Morales had disappeared and had been listed as a deserter before his remains were found in June. His mother had struggled to have him buried with military honors, but he finally was laid to rest last week.

What are Army and Fort Hood officials doing to deal with the recent spate of violence and misconduct at the post? Do trouble spots in nearby towns play a part? Find out in this week's fast take episode.

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Correction: Gregory Wedel-Morales' rank was private, not private first class

Fort Hood, Texas, has seen a shocking number of soldiers killed in recent months and in this episode of Military Matters, the podcast looks at two of those cases — the homicides of Pfc. Gregory Wedel and Pfc. Brandon Rosecrans.

Host Rod Rodriguez talks with Gregory Wedel's mother, Kim, about her struggle to get information from police and Army officials about her son's case, and, after learning of the discovery of his remains, the agonizing effort she has endured to have his classification as a deserter rescinded so he could receive a military burial.

Defense lawyer Stephen Karns, a former Judge Advocate General officer, also helps shed light on the ins and outs of desertion cases and talks why he finds it surprising that Pfc. Wedel's command decided to take that course.

Rod also talks with Thomas Berg, the stepfather of Pfc. Brandon Rosecrans, and why he remains hopeful that authorities will find those who left his son shot and dead in his own burning Jeep.

There remain many questions about slayings at Fort Hood, and the families of Wedel and Rosecrans think their cases largely would have been overlooked had it not been for the months of publicity surrounding the murder of Spc. Vanessa Guillén, the topic of our season two premiere.

We understand that there are many other soldiers' deaths that are unsolved and we hope that by putting a spotlight on these two service members, we can help bring attention to them as well as to the cases we haven’t mentioned.

If you have any information about these or other cases, please call the Killeen Police Department at 254-501-8800 or contact your local law enforcement.

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The brutal killing in April of U.S. Army Spc. Vanessa Guillén at Fort Hood, Texas, has garnered wide attention and has put a spotlight on the military’s continuing struggle to combat the scourge of sexual harassment.

But largely overlooked has been the struggle her family has faced in trying to get help and answers since they first realized something was wrong — within hours of her disappearance.

In this premiere episode of the second season of Military Matters, hosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris talk with Natalie Khawam, who is the lawyer for Vanessa Guillén’s family, and Stars and Stripes reporter Rose Thayer, who has been covering the case since its start.

The Military Matters podcast team finds out how Guillén’s family first suspected something was wrong the very day she disappeared and how their first push for help the following day included an interaction with her killer.

The hosts also find out how the unusual response her family has gotten at Fort Hood has led to several roadblocks that have impeded their effort to piece together the events of Spc. Guillén’s final hours.

As we make our way through season two, Stars and Stripes’ podcast team wants to cover the stories that matter to you.

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Twitter: @StripesMMPod

Next week, as the Military Matters podcast returns with the start of our second season, we will focus on the case of Spc. Vanessa Guillén, whose disappearance April 22 from Fort Hood, Texas, garnered the attention of officials and celebrities.

Tragically, remains discovered in late June in woods not far from the Army post were determined to be Guillén’s. Her family is devastated, a suspect is dead, and a possible co-conspirator is in custody.

Many questions remain, including how the military handled Guillén’s family’s claim that she was sexually harassed, and how the investigation into her disappearance was conducted.

Efforts by Guillén’s family to bring attention to her disappearance also shed light on the disappearance of other soldiers from Fort Hood.

As we enter season two, Stars and Stripes’ podcast team wants to cover the stories that matter to you.

You may recognize Vincent “Rocco” Vargas from the Article 15 crew and from television and movies. What you may not know about are his struggles to be a dad and an actor and the sacrifice he’s making today in order to fulfill a promise to himself. Rocco opens up about his struggles with PTSD and what keeps him going.

To learn more about Vincent “Rocco” Vargas go to https://vincentroccovargas.com

You can find VetStory at https://connectingvets.com or search for VetStory wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

SEASON 2 of Military Matters is coming soon! Subscribe and share this podcast!