Tango Alpha Lima Podcast

Retired Air Force veteran Brandon Fertig has transformed from a conservative, mild mannered civilian to a passionate outdoor adventurer.

An employee of Philips, he has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, skydived and whitewater rafted in Colorado, and gone scuba diving, rode horses, skied, fished, snorkled, kayaked, biked, and hiked all over the world.

Fertig’s eight-day climb of Mount Kilimanjaro was in support of MedTechVets, a nonprofit that helps veterans transition to rewarding careers.

Other topics in Episode 290 include the return of a Medal of Honor recipient’s remains, an update on Gulf War Illness treatment and a rare Stars Wars trading card.

Army Navy Game

USA250 Challenge

CDC recognizes Gulf War Illness

Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Army Capt. Willibald Bianchi have been identified

One-of-a-kind Star Wars collector’s card surfaces at US Army post exchange

All Americans have been affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Global War on Terrorism as a whole. The Global War on Terrorism Memorial is being designed to share the stories, voices and experiences of GWOTveterans, their military families and all Americans. Retired Army Col. Kirsten Brunson and Gen. Xavier Brunson are the special guests in this episode, hosted by Army veteran Jennifer Ballou. It is the fourth in the initial six-part special series produced by The American Legion. It focuses on the GWOT memorial in Washington, D.C., that will serve as a special place of honor and remembrance.

Army veteran Dan Kunze, who joined the National Guard after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, talks about his new role as co-host of the Warrior Money podcast on Yahoo Finance, mental health, time management and other topics. 

Kunze, who appeared in an earlier episode about his role as vice chairman of Task Force Movement, also discussed impostor syndrome for military veterans, national security, technology, and civic leadership.

Other topics in this Tango Alpha Lima episode include Halloween tricks and treats, the VA's new MOS (Military Skills) Translator tool and National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day.

Links

Halloween Safety Tips

2025 Army/Navy game

Task Force Movement

Council of College and Military Educators

Join the USA 250 challenge!

Bridge My Return

The Global War on Terrorism Memorial will reflect the voices, unique experiences and war stories of those who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. 

Marine Corps combat veteran Elliot Ackerman, the co-chairman of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation’s Design Advisory Council, is helping to collect the voices that will be used to represent all those who served, sacrificed and contributed to the GWOT.

He is the author of a half-dozen books, including “The Fifth Act: America’s End in Afghanistan.” This episode, hosted by Army veteran Jennifer Ballou, is the third in the initial six-part special series produced by The American Legion. It focuses on the GWOT memorial in Washington, D.C., that will serve as a special place of honor and remembrance.

Traditional prosthetic care can be labor and time-intensive, difficult to scale to all VA facilities, and challenging for some veterans to access. However, the Veterans Health Administration’s Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning is making progress in digital prosthetics.

Digital innovation, AI and other technologies are allowing VA to deliver prosthetic devices to disabled veterans sooner so they can play video games, feed themselves, play sports like golf and pickleball, and more. Learn more in this week’s Tango Alpha Lima podcast.

Other topics in this episode include changes the Pentagon is making to MREs, Chuck Yeager’s historic supersonic flight and a Vietnam veteran’s journey back to school.

The American Legion is proud to be an Associate Sponsor of Army-Navy Game presented by USAA

Dr. Ripley discusses development of 3D-printed medical devices

Join the USA 250 Challenge

81-year old Vietnam War veteran graduations from Bristol College

Ron Cabral graduation video

New MRE options coming soon

Celebrating Chuck Yeager's supersonic flight

The design for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial will incorporate the stories of those most closely affected including veterans, their families, Gold Star Families and other military members. Kengo Kuma, who was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People, and Balázs Bognár from Kengo Kuma and Associates are the lead designers in the memorial to honor and memorialize GWOT veterans. They explain the design process, their vision and more for the project that will result in the memorial dedication in Washington, D.C. This episode, hosted by Army veteran Jennifer Ballou, is the second in the initial six-part special series produced by The American Legion.

Former Army 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper Doug Evans has landed on a niche for affordable health and wellness.

After losing both parents and witnessing his aunt's double amputation due to preventable disease, Evans had his "come to cucumber moment" and transformed his life through nutrition.

Now the founder and CEO of The Sprouting Company and bestselling author of The Sprout Book, Evans reveals how anyone can grow the most nutrient-dense food on the planet right in their kitchen — for under a dollar per serving.

Learn how sprouting works, why sprouts are up to 100 times more nutrient-dense than regular vegetables, and how this ancient practice is helping modern families eat fresh, healthy food without soil, sunshine, or fertilizer. 

Other topics in this episode include the Army-Navy Game, PBS “After Action,” the Department of Defense or Department of War, and more.

The American Legion and the Army Navy Game

The Sprouting Company

The Sprout Book

After Action on PBS

After Action Website

History of the Department of War

Legion Rider writes song about ALR

Ride with the Wind by Dick Cole

The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation is on a journey to dedicate a place of honor and remembrance for all service members and military families who served and sacrificed during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Former Army Green Beret and foundation CEO Michael Rodriguez shares his vision for the GWOT memorial in Washington, D.C.; how it is a “sacred duty” and more. This episode, hosted by Army veteran Jennifer Ballou, is the first in the initial six-part special series produced by The American Legion.

Alicia Freeman talks about how equine therapy helps veterans with mental health issues, her Stay in the Fight Veterans Foundation philanthropy organization and more as the special guest on this week’s Tango Alpha Lima podcast.

Other topics in this episode include International Podcast Day, Wiley X’s protective eyewear for military members, the decline of civic engagement, music as a lifeline for deployed troops and more.

Episode links

• The history of podcasts
• USA250 Challenge
• WileyX
• V.A.L.O.R. equine therapy
• Veterans volunteer longer, vote more often than civilian peers: report
• We The Veterans
• WTV: The 2025 Veterans Civic Health Index
• Deployment playlists, then and now: from Walkmans to wireless despair

Number One New York Times bestselling author Robert Edsel is the author of “The Greatest Treasure Hunt in History: The Story of the Monuments Men.” The book served as the basis for Academy Award winner George Clooney’s 2014 film, which stars an ensemble cast including himself, Matt Damon, and Bill Murray. 

Edsel, whose father served as a Marine during World War II, is one of the world’s foremost advocates for art preservation and the recovery of cultural treasures missing since World War II.

The Monuments Men and Women were the soldier-scholars who helped save many of the world’s great art and cultural treasures from the destruction of war and theft by the Nazis.

Other topics in this episode include a wounded Navy veteran’s “Alive Day,” how Sesame Street characters are giving back to the military community and more.

• Learn more about Robert Edsel
• Buy "Remember Us" on Amazon
• Join the USA 250 Challenge
• Watch Robert Edsel at the 2025 American Legion National Convention
• Poem: The Young Dead Soldiers Do Not Speak
• Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten
• The Forever Promise Project
• Army Monuments Officer Training
• American Legion Oratorical Contest
• Sesame Street helps military kids build healthy habits
• Sesame Street: Fun Recipes with Cookie Monster!