In this episode of Oscar Mike Radio, I sit down with RickDungey from the Christmas Spirit Foundation to talk about the incredible mission behind Trees for Troops. Rick and I discuss how the foundation delivers real, farm-grown Christmas trees to military bases across the U.S., and what ittakes from logistics to community support to make it all happen.

Rick shares powerful stories from service members andfamilies who have received these trees, and the emotional impact they bringduring the holidays. He also explains how volunteers, donors, tree farmers, andpartners like FedEx come together each year to support the program.

In this conversation, you’ll learn how you can get involvedand why bringing a bit of holiday cheer to those serving far from home mattersmore than ever.

Go to https://www.christmasspiritfoundation.org/to learn more and support the mission.

Thank you, Rick, for talking with me. Merry Christmas!

In this Thanksgiving episode of Oscar Mike Radio, I reflect on nearly 25 years of career milestones, personal growth, and the support I’ve received from veterans, family, and friends.

Recording from Boston, I wanted to share my heartfelt gratitude for my sons, my weightlifting journey, and the freedoms of living in America.

There are many challenges to face during the holidays. I wanted to extend my thanks to first responders and militarypersonnel, and encourage listeners to cherish moments of connection. This episode is a sincere celebration of gratitude, resilience, and community support. Happy Thanksgiving!

I talk with fellow Marine Corps veteran Ted Painter, who is now Senior Enlisted Advisor of HMLA-773, MAG-49, 4th MAW,  and an Associate Vice President, MarketOperations for CareSource.

Ted shares insights from his 23-year military career and histransition into healthcare management, inspired by a personal health experience. We discussed CareSource’s innovative work supporting military families through Tricare, the challenges of implementing new programs, and theimportance of personal connection in healthcare.

Ted also reflects on leadership, service, and memorableMarine Corps stories, emphasizing his ongoing commitment to serving the military community.

Go to https://www.caresource.com/about-us/caresource-military-and-veterans/to learn more.

Ted has a story that can inspire Active and Veterans who arecurrently serving or transitioning to civilian life. Semper Fidelis, Ted!

In this episode of Oscar Mike Radio, I spoke with Chas Henry,Marine Corps veteran and author of Fuji Fire. We revisited the 1979 Camp Fuji fire in Japan. This was a devastating peacetime disaster triggered by a typhoon that claimed the lives of several Marines.

Chas shares his powerful investigative journey uncoveringthe systemic failures behind the tragedy and reflects on the resilience, leadership, and brotherhood that define the Marine Corps. This conversation honors the fallen, amplifies survivor stories, and underscores the importanceof remembering lessons from history.

Learn more about this remarkable chapter of Marine Corpshistory at chashenry.com/fujifire

Thank you for joining me, Chas. Semper Fidelis.

This show is an Oscar Mike Radio Special Series supportingGina Alderman's Veteran Unchained Anthology. We are bringing in Veterans Unchained 3.0: Battle Tested and the 250th Marine Corps Birthday with USMC Veteran and Featured Author Travis Partington for the upcominganthology "Veterans Unchained United 3.0”.

In this special episode, the Creator and Ret. U.S. NavyCommander Gina Alderman interviews Marine Corps veteran and author Travis Partington about his story “Ole Weeza.” Travis reflected on his military service, the deep bonds formed with fellow Marines, and the enduring impact of his late friendCorporal Shelley Rogers.

The conversation highlights the challenges, camaraderie, andsacrifices of military life, emphasizing that every service member’s experience is valuable. Travis shares the honor and responsibility of being a featured author, aiming to inspire others to share their stories and to preserve Veterans'legacy for future generations.

Veteran Unchained 3.0: Battle Tested releases on VeteransDay, November 11th, 2025. You will be able to buy it on Amazon.com

Thank you, Gina, for allowing me to show a different side ofmyself.  

In this Oscar Mike Radio Special Edition, celebrating the250th Marine Corps Birthday, Travis interviews acclaimed filmmaker Michael Pack about his documentary, "The Last 600 Meters," which depicts key battles in the Iraq War in Najaf and Fallujah.

Michael discusses the 17-year journey to bring the film tobroadcast, the challenges of earning the Marine Corps' trust, and the importance of sharing veterans’ stories.

 The documentary, airing on PBS for the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday, aims to offer an authentic, ground-level view of modern warfare and honor the sacrifices of those whoserved. Michael also shares insights on future projects and the value of honest storytelling.

You can learn more at https://www.pbs.org/show/the-last-600-meters/ and watch the documentary's trailer.

Thank you, Michael, for making this film. Your tenacity hasearned my respect and that of my fellow Marines. Happy 250th, Semper Fidelis.

This show is an Oscar Mike Radio Special Series supportingGina Alderman's Veteran Unchained Anthology Series. Our second contributor for Veterans Unchained 3.0: Battle Tested features Sheila Farr, a US Air Force Veteran, Business Owner, Publisher, and Producer of the upcoming anthology"Veterans Unchained United 30."

Sheila shares her journey in assembling the anthologies, theimportance of Veterans telling their stories, and the collaborative process behind the books she produces. We talked about the upcoming third volume, the impact Veterans Unchained 1.0 and 2.0 have had on readers, and the uniqueperspectives Women Veterans bring.

Sheila also highlights her work supporting veterans on theGulf Coast, emphasizing the power of storytelling to connect, inspire, and empower the Veteran community.

Veteran Unchained 3.0: Battle Tested releases on VeteransDay, November 11th, 2025. You will be able to buy it on Amazon.com

Thank you, Sheila, for sharing with us!

This show is an Oscar Mike Radio Special Series supporting Gina Alderman's Veteran Unchained Series. We are kicking off Veterans Unchained 3.0: Battle Tested with Jan de Zwarte, a transformational life coach and a featured writer of the upcoming anthology "Veterans Unchained United 30."

Jan shares how he became involved through organizer Gina Alderman, his role in coaching the Veteran authors, and writing the book’s foreword.

We explored the anthology’s theme of “Leaderless Leadership,” the power of storytelling for healing, and the challenges veterans face transitioning to civilian life.

Jan discusses transformational coaching and the importance of empathy, reflection, and personal growth, inviting listeners to connect and continue the journey.

Veteran Unchained 3.0: Battle Tested releases on Veterans Day, November 11th, 2025. You will be able to buy it on Amazon.com

Thank you, Jan, for sharing with us!

In this episode of Oscar MikeRadio, Travis interviews Vladislav Shapiro, a Ukrainian veteran, mathematician,and U.S. immigrant. Vlad shares his experiences growing up in Kyiv, serving asa movie projectionist in the Soviet military, and immigrating to America. Hediscusses the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia’s imperial ambitions, and theimportance of U.S. support. Vlad also highlights his nonprofit, the UkrainianCultural Initiative (https://ukrainian-cultural-initiative.com/),which promotes Ukrainian art and culture in the U.S., and urges listeners tosupport Ukraine through advocacy, awareness, and humanitarian aid. Thank you,Vlad, for sharing with us!

In this episode, Travis sits down with Alexander Kobelev and Dr. Larry Poltavtsev to discuss how veterans can successfully transition into civilian careers in IT and cybersecurity.

We explored the challenges many veterans face, the need for tailored education, and the innovative learning platform they’ve built. Learnix blends technical training, soft skills development, and real-world experience into an easy-to-use platform.

The conversation dives into the impact of AI, the importance of lifelong learning, and how military experience gives veterans a powerful edge in tech.

Whether you’re a veteran looking to upskill or someone interested in how technology empowers transition, this episode offers valuable insights and motivation to keep growing and learning.

Learn more about the program at www.learnix.com.

Thank you, Larry and Alex, for joining me on Oscar Mike Radio.