Top Game Podcast

In Episode 25, I finally sit down with the outgoing Operations Chief of III MEF Information Group, MGySgt Rich Deuto. As he heads back to familiar territory as the incoming Senior Enlisted Leader for Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion, we investigate his passion for history, the impact of growing up as a Marine brat, as well as the impact that has had on his won family as his son later joined the Marine Corps.

His arrival on Okinawa two years ago was my opportunity to have a 2691 MGuns on island with me that I could engage with regularly for much the same kind of professional discussions you hear on this podcast. I held off as long as I could to record this episode because I wanted to have as much observation time before the interview. Personally, the interviews which focus on a guest with whom I have a strong personal relationship are the most intimate. I'm sure you'll agree the exchange was value added to the show.

Episode 24 highlights Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion's Senior Enlisted, MGySgt Leon Ransom, Jr., a single father currently preparing his family for assignment overseas in Okinawa, Japan. In the course of the interview, MGuns highlights the dangers of Retirement On Active Duty (ROAD), key considerations to bring to bear when a Marine engages with the monitor, and the significance of advocacy and proponency.

Fundamental takeaways include the value of leveraging executive championship, extending your sphere of influence, as well as scrupulous navigation through the human terrain at the upper echelons of the enlisted ranks.

MGuns later goes on to disclose the underlying motivation behind his outreach to at-risk youth. It is predicated on his desire to give back to the role models who were there to guide him along the way. A central component to his message is the interdependency between family readiness and national security. In his words, "Family is the basis of all things." My translation of that would be, "La familia es todo."

Episode 23 brings us to Saul and Claudia Barajas. Saul was my Military Language Instructor back in 2000 as I was going through the Spanish Course at DLI. Our paths diverged for many years but the bond remained intact. Tragically, his family suffered the devastating loss of their daughter, Caprice, in 2011. What followed was a combination of denial, anger, and depression coupled with redemption and restored faith. In the course of our conversation, we explore the beauty of the military community and the support system that guided them through the "worst of times."

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In Episode 22, I sit down with MGySgt John Tiffany to dive into the wave tops of his 26 year career. We met in passing at Ft. Meade back in 2015, regrettably never having the opportunity to be stationed together. It could have been his wild eyed intensity or our shared love of science fiction but an immediate bond was established. Indicative of the intimacy of our OCCFLD, we're never really more than one degree of separation from one another past a certain level. As we recount some of the characters we've had the mutual pleasure to serve with, the conversation never strays far from the character and calibre of the Marines who comprise the Force. A key undertone consistent throughout our conversation is the critical requirement for vigilance against the self induced pressure to take sacrifice to the extreme as well as identifying productive countermeasures against that drift.

In Episode 21, I interview one of my closest friends in the Marine Corps, MGySgt Vince Quinteros. In the exchange, we cover a timespan from the beginning of our careers to his current billet as the Operations Chief of Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion. During our conversation, he highlights the complexity inherent to being a linguist in uniform and having to balance competing priorities. We discuss the aggressive posture he adopted to get on deployments that later became core experiences that molded his career. He reminds the audience to cherish every moment because our time in uniform is a fleeting experience. Master Guns encourages each of us to avoid a risk-averse posture, particularly when an opportunity is identified. In line with his pugilistic nature, he jabs back during the conversation about the fact that someone needs to interview me.

In Episode 20, I sit down for the first time one on one with MGySgt John Stancel, one of our 2659s currently serving on the staff of the Deputy Commandant for Information. His insight into the modernization of our occupational field along with his experience at MARFORCYBER brings to light some of the challenges we face as disruptive technology continues to erode how we've historically conducted operations. Deeply dedicated to his fellow Marines, his perspective on leadership is centered on his desire to hold himself to the standard of the Marine SNCOs who mentored him early on in his career.

In Episode 19, I sit down with Jenn Cocco as she explains to the audience what this podcast has meant to her. She details some of her personal medical and family history and how the Marine Corps experience helped prepare her for all she's had to endure. Her lessons learned over the course of a career include the challenging nature of lat-moving into the 2600 occupational field and her transition from enlisted to warrant officer. A key take away is the nature of the relationships between warrant officers and staff non-commissioned officers in the Corps. The difficulties surrounding a dual active duty household, geographical separation and raising two beautiful twin daughters was the central theme during our conversation.

In Episode 18, we host our first 0261, MSgt Conor Mahoney. Currently serving as the Data Strategist for the Marine Corps, we get into topics ranging from professional military education, augmented intelligence, data stovepipes, philosophy and science fiction. More than anything, Top Mahoney expresses his inner resolve towards the relentless pursuit of excellence.

In episode 17, I sit down with one of my favorite Marines, Sara Clark. In only the way she can, she highlights some of the battles and issues she's struggled with in her attempt to balance out privacy versus transparency, as well as motherhood against professional obligations. She also grants us key insight into her "combative nature" and why it's important for each of us to become invested in the way ahead for our Corps.

In Episode 16, I sit down with my wife to discuss some key issues facing military families, to include overseas assignments, family readiness, spousal employment & access to education.

At the suggestion of another guest, we started off asking one another questions, but I took this opportunity to highlight her nomination for the Armed Forces Insurance sponsored 2019 Military Spouse of the Year award.

The beginning gets a bit emotional as I deliver a long overdue letter to her as the episode takes off, but once the tears and sniffling subside, we get down into some key concerns as well as some Castro family history.

Be sure to visit the links to the MSOY Campaign. There are plenty of amazing stories. They all deserve recognition.

https://msoy.afi.org/contestants/elizabeth-castro/

https://msoy.afi.org/