Oscar Mike Radio

Carroll Harris served in the Marine Corps and retired as a Lt. Colonel before joining the US Postal Inspection Service.

I learned a lot about how The US Postal Inspection Service works to keep Americans safe. Operation Protect Veterans is a way to ensure our nation's heroes are not scammed out of their benefits.

The US Postal Inspection Service & AARP worked together to create Operation Protect Veterans, ...." and provide valuable information and resources that veterans, their loved ones, and their friends can use to help protect against scammers."

According to Carroll, all Americans need to be vigilant in protecting others from scammers and bad actors who would take advantage of Veterans and other Americans. I liked how the Marine has never quit protecting against enemies foreign and domestic.

Go to https://www.uspis.gov/veterans to learn more about how to protect yourself.

Thank you for sharing with us Carroll. Semper Fidelis.

Veterans must file a PACT Act claim or submit an intent to file by August 9, 2023, to have their benefits backdated to August 10, 2022, the day the legislation was enacted.

The PACT Act is a significant expansion of VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. This Act includes over 20 new presumptive conditions associated with burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures. It also adds new presumptive locations for exposure to Agent Orange and radiation.

Veterans can find answers to their questions and file a claim via www.va.gov/pactact

To review a claim or appeal status, and submit evidence for your claim or appeal, Veterans can use the VA: Health and Benefits App, available for download on Apple or Android devices at https://mobile.va.gov/app/va-health-and-benefits.

If a Veteran disagrees with the VA's decision on a claim, or if a claim was decided in the past and is uncontested, the option to file a Supplemental Claim is available. Veterans can learn more about supplemental claims and how to file at https://www.va.gov/decision-reviews/supplemental-claim/ .

I was introduced to Bob Notch through Michael Geary of Hellfish Haven. Michael had Bob on our W.A.R (We are Resilient) collaboration and Bob was on with his to talk about the Veterans Collaborative.

Bob served in the Army and flew the UH-60 Blackhawk. Later in his Army career, he transferred to the Army Reserve where he finished his time in the military.

After serving he transitioned through a couple of civilian jobs until he was asked to be CEO of Veterans Collaborative.

According to the mission statement, it “gathers targeted and current local and virtual event listings, information, resource trackers, and directories relevant to various service areas and resource networks. You can directly update the shared calendar appearing throughout the site, as well as resource trackers whenever possible. Making contributions increases the efficiency of outreach efforts and saves everyone in the network the energy of creating and maintaining various resource lists –– freeing up everyone’s time to focus on their individual missions and impact.”

I wanted to quote this because too many times Veterans Organizations hold onto the tools and information, they have instead of figuring out how to take what they have and work with other organizations to be better advocates for Veterans.

The concept of Veterans Organizations working together means that we can go further together. We learn in the military that no one fights alone, and it should be the same when we are advocating for Veterans. Let’s Collaborate

Thank you for coming on and talking with me Colonel.

Go to https://www.collaborate.vet/ to learn more and sign up

Anyone that has done anything in the military content creation space has run into Michael Madsen at one point or another. We connected a while ago when I was making the switch from being strictly a podcast to video. I asked him to come on because he is an example of someone who continues to serve.

Michael joined the Army as a Private and then got into flying helicopters. His career is an example of what one can do when they take advantage of every opportunity afforded to them.

After retiring in 2014, Michael started working as a Veterans Service Officer. I have always liked that you are getting information from someone who has personally gone through the VA system.

At minute 23:50 Mike says something about the Volunteer VSO Program that I have never heard. Trust me, you will have the same reaction I did!

As if Michael was busy enough, he also works with Operation Rallypoint V.P. of the Valkyrie Initiative in Birmingham, Al. and is the owner of the Foxhole Internet Radio Network, LLC.

Listening to Michael, I realized he could have chosen to retire, and taken it easy as he rode off into the sunset. Instead, he has chosen to keep serving by sharing his knowledge with others.

You can find out more about the organizations Michael supports by going to the links below.

• https://oprallypoint.org/

• https://www.facebook.com/TheValkyrieInitiative/

• https://www.facebook.com/FoxholeRadioNetwork/

Thank you for sharing with us Michael.

April 23rd, I was at the Middleborough VFW filming with Richard Fitts Jr. and Arthur O’Callaghan for, “A Letter to M.I.A.s”. Setting up to film I was checking my gimbal when Richard Fitts Jr. asked me to meet this woman at a table. What was interesting was she had brought a lot of framed photos and documents to the filming.

Joe came on Oscar Mike Radio for number 327 – Nothing is Louder than Silence.

https://oscarmikeradio.com/327-joe-hernandez-nothing-is-louder-than-silence/

Nothing is Louder than Silence was an autobiography about Joe’s childhood. One Drunken Night is a result of Joe’s lifelong love of poetry.

One Drunken Nights tells stories of Joe’s childhood and military service. When I was reading this work, I felt the authenticity of what Joe’s life was like.

Joe’s life and what he has done after the Army shows how different everyone’s experience is during and after military service. Even though our experiences were different, there is a kinship with Joe. I believe it is because he is an artist. Thanks, Joe, for making the start of year seven special. I can’t wait to get to Romania!

You can get One Drunken Night on Amazon for Kindle. Follow the Link

https://a.co/d/37qe0sn

This show will drop on Sunday, July 16th, 2023, at 11:00 AM. I started Oscar Mike Radio on July 16th, 2016. 352 shows later, I am still having fun, learning a lot, and working to advocate for those who need a voice in the military and Veteran community. It was great doing this show with Joe who was literally half a world away in Romania. I would have never thought all those years ago I would be having conversations like this. Thanks to everyone who has supported me, the best is yet to come. We are Oscar Mike and Mission in Flight.

351 – Brandi Pett – Yes, I am The Veteran Podcast

I had a different direction in mind for number 351. I was going to do a Fourth of July special with me repping Adam Semonick’s 016 Oscar Mike Radio Car. That was the plan until I saw a Facebook post from Air Force Veteran and fellow military podcaster Brandi Pett.

Brandi hosts the "Yes, I am a Veteran Podcast". Brandi came on a Livestream special to talk about her story. Brandi was a Staff Sergeant in the USAF as a Medic. A severe medical situation in the Ari Force almost killed her. Due to her medical situation, she had to leave the Air Force.

After getting out of the Air Force, Brandi focused on her health and recovery. She started finding ways to advocate for Veterans and her life took off.

Brandi was Ms. Veteran America finalist and 2020 Hot Mama of the Year! She is also a journalist, published author, and podcaster. I hope you enjoy this live stream as this is a story of resilience and overcoming challenges in many forms. The best aspect is we just scratched the surface so you will see Brandi again on Oscar Mike Radio.

Subscribe to Yes, I am The Veteran Podcast on Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/yes-i-am-the-veteran-podcast/id1677860031

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/YesIamtheveteranpodcast/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/yesIamtheveteranpodcast

Thank you, Brandi, for a great conversation!

I would like to start off by saying thank you to David Danforth and John Kennedy and the rest of the Veterans Brotherhood Veterans Motorcycle Club for connecting me with Ben Hendricks and Luke Young, the founders of The Garrison Speed Shop.

Luke, U.S. Army, and Ben, USCG, met after they left the service through the Nam Knights of America Motorcycle Club.

The Garrison Speed Shop was created to get Veterans and Community members in a space where they can be together while working on motorcycles. I ride a motorcycle. The idea of a place where I can go and work on my ride while socializing with others and learning some new skills is a type of advocacy, we in the Veteran community need. Turning a wrench or learning a new skill in metal fabrication from Luke and Ben will allow Veterans to engage in a hands-on way that can’t be done in other places.

You can get skin grafts for your hands, but I can’t find confirmation for palms. Wear gloves when riding a motorcycle.

Thank you for a great conversation, Ben and Luke, kickstand up and rubber down.

Go to https://garrisonspeedshop.org/ to find out more and help an amazing organization.

I got connected to Mike Utschig through Stephen Russell who came on in March of this year to talk about his work with “Tales of Nihilism”. Mike and Stephen served together in the Army, so it is cool that we got connected in this way.

Even before we talked Mike helped me when I was thinking about getting RedFall. He advised against it and was right. Diablo IV was the better choice.

Mike’s After-Action Reports is a way for Mike to tell people what he loves about all things movies, television, anime, and video games. He has successfully grown his YouTube Channel by producing relatable content that connects with his viewers.

You can find everything to do with Mike After Action Reviews by going to the following links.

• Website: https://mikesactionreviews.wixsite.com/website

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjRcA6RhVK31nOxl4Nc8Weg

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikesAfterActionReviews

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikes_after_action_reviews/

• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mikesafteractionreviews

• Store: https://mikes-after-action-reviews.creator-spring.com/

I would like to tell you that all of these are easy, and I have this down to science. However, my systems were acting up and I had a limited window to talk with him. There were people around me making sure my internet was up and I was apprehensive because I wanted to provide Aaron with a great experience.

I shouldn’t have worried at all. Just like E.O.D. Fudge, Aaron is smooth all the way through, and his story reminded me of how amazing people who have served in the military are and the power of resilience.

Aaron joined the Navy as a chef. That’s right, he cooked for sailors in the Navy and his love of cooking helped him excel. He wanted more so he left the Navy and joined the Army as an E.O.D Technician. Being an E.O.D Technician gave Aaron a renewed sense of purpose. He was injured protecting others and it changed his life.

After his injury, and separation, Aaron used his love of cooking to start making fudge. People liked it so much that he started selling it and so E.O.D. (Extra Ordinary Delights) Fudge was born. I can tell you that it is a good thing that I don’t live near Aaron because I would be camped out in his backyard so I could help with quality control. His creations are that good.

Go to https://eodfudge.com/ to learn about Aaron’s story and order some great fudge! Thank you for talking with me Aaron and showing us daily resiliency in action.