VA News Podcast

It's always humbling to speak with a combat Veteran and even more inspiring to speak with one like this week's guest, Travis Mills. Travis joins the podcast this week to talk about his service, his injuries, his foundation, being a motivational speaker, and being a "re-calibrated warrior."

Covered in Episode 39:

• Marine Veteran breaks world record to fight stigma
• Interview with Army Veteran Travis Mills  
  • Why he decided to join the Army
  • Three deployments to Afghanistan
  • Sustaining his injuries and recovering from them
  • Meeting the President
  • His efforts through his foundation and as a speaker
• VA's most important resource: Veterans Crisis Line
• #VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran George Pappas

I'm sure everyone enjoyed bathing in the glory of our nation's freedom as we celebrated our Independence Day this week. I hope everyone's holiday was safe and joyful. This week's podcast features Darren Sherrard. Darren is an Army Veteran that served two decades and is now putting his skills to work for VA. He serves as VA's Associate Director for Recruitment Marketing. Darren helps drive the initiative that is VA Careers and helps communicate the value in working for VA to its potential employees.

Covered in Episode 38:

• State Department VIP fellowship
• Interview with Army Veteran Darren Sherrard  
  • Why he decided to join the Army
  • Learning how to be a good leader
  • Transitioning after 20 years of military service
  • Getting his job with VA
  • The value in working for VA and his approach to recruiting
• Use VA Careers to find your opportunity at VA
• #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Samuel V. Wilson

One of my favorite things about podcasting is learning about different parts of life and new concepts. Last week we learned about the positive effects roleplaying games have on Veterans, and this week we will learn about powerlifting. Enter: Steve Goggins.

About Steve:

Steve served in the US Army from September of 1983, until May of 1990. While in the Army, he served in the 82nd Airborne and was a member of the Armed Forces Powerlifting Team. He has competed in powerlifting for over 25 years and was the first powerlifter to squat 1100 pounds. he has won many titles since he started powerlifting as a teenager.

Covered in Episode 37:

• Office of Enterprise Support Services
• Interview with Army Veteran Steve Goggins  
  • Why he decided to join the Army
  • Being a member of Armed Forces Powerlifting Team
  • Transitioning out to pursue a new career
  • The life of a powerlifter and coach
  • His experience using VA for health care
• Reporting your experience to your patient advocate
• #VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran David Major

Episode 36 brings us Joshua Heath. Josh served in the Army from 2006 to 2011 as a 91J Quartermaster and Chemical Equipment Repairer. While he was in, he ran a Dungeons and Dragons game for MWR while in Iraq, helping soldiers destress and escape. Now, he uses his company Reach Out Roleplaying Games to help connect people and create communities through gaming. Josh is going to talk to us about the benefits of playing RPGs and the effects he's seen in Veterans.

Covered in Episode 36:

• Women Veterans Summit
• Interview with Army Veteran Josh Heath  
  • Why he decided to join the Army
  • Playing Dungeons and Dragons with soldiers
  • His use of the G.I. Bill
  • How role playing games benefit Veterans
• Finding or advertising resources at your VAMC
• #VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Russell Pool

This week's podcast features Army Veteran Jeremy Paris. Jeremy served in the '90s in personnel. He is currently with Veteran Artist Program and hosts the Veteran Resource Podcast. He helped coordinate the 2017 Women Veteran Art Exhibit in collaboration with VA's Center for Women Veterans.

About Jeremy:

Jeremy Paris was born in Buffalo, NY and joined the US Army immediately after graduating from high school.  After ten years as a Personnel Administration Sergeant he left the military to become a government contractor performing computer support to the Department of Defense.  Although the initial plan was to be a contractor for two years and then split, he spent the next 16 years supporting the same customer within different rolls.   Jeremy has been on the staff of Veteran Artist Program (VAP), a non-profit Veteran Service Organization since 2010.  While at an event in Washington DC with VAP Jeremy shook hands with people representing so many veteran-focused organizations that he was blown away.  It was the realization that most veterans had no idea that these organizations existed that prompted Jeremy to start this podcast.  The new mission of the Veteran Resource Podcast is that every single one of the 20,000 veterans transitioning out of the military each month will have the opportunity to learn about the veteran organizations that are available to them.

Covered in Episode 35:

• Secretary Shulkin interview
• Interview with Army Veteran Jeremy Paris  
  • Why he decided to join the Army
  • Finding a renewed purpose
  • His work with Veteran Artist Program
  • Growing his Veteran Resource Podcast
• Center for Women Veterans
• #VeteranOfTheDay Air Force Veteran Andres F. Rodriguez

This week's podcast focuses on the announcement made by Secretary Shulkin on Monday. The Department of Veterans Affairs will be adopting the same electronic health record system used by the Department of Defense. The podcast features audio from SECVA at the White House press briefing. He provides remarks on the announcement originally made at VA's central office earlier that day, followed by questions from the media.

Covered in Episode 33:

• The American Veteran Episode 1102
• SECVA White House Press Briefing
  • Remarks on EHR announcement
  • Questions from media
• Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Corps Veteran Matthew Norris

I hope everyone had a safe and solaced Memorial Day. I had the opportunity to meet with hundreds of Veterans and other members of our community at Sunday's Rolling Thunder demonstration. It was humbling hearing riders talk about their fallen comrades and whom they were riding for. It's moments like those that keep me grateful for our nation's service members and Veterans.

This week's podcast features retired Army Brigadier General Henry Huntley. Henry I are colleagues in the Office of Public Affairs at VA's central office. Each time I speak with Henry, my respect for him grows. Henry had a long, decorated career in the Army before coming over to VA. He's going to talk to us about his time in the service, his transition out, and how VA fulfills his post-military service to Veterans.

Covered in Episode 33:

• Rolling Thunder 2017
• Interview with Army Veteran Henry Huntley  
  • Why he decided to join the Army
  • Stories from his decades of service
  • Transitioning back to civilian life
  • Working at VA
• Finding your career at VA
• #VeteranOfTheDay Marine Veteran Philip Paul Clark

Each year, at their national convention, Student Veterans of America announces a Student Veteran of the Year. This award is competitive and quite prestigious as the Veterans considered have impressive resumes as service members and as student Veterans. 2017's Student Veteran of the Year is Kate Tillotson, a Marine Veteran currently attending University of Tulsa.

Kate served in the Marine Corps for four years as a Radio Operator. After she got out, she began pursuing higher education. Now, she's the president of her Veterans group on campus. Kate talks to us about growing and developing her SVA chapter to be one of the most active groups on campus.

Covered in Episode 32:

• Recap of #VeteranChat on Twitter and Life Insurance chat on Got Your 6
• Interview with Marine Veteran Kate Tillotson  
  • Why she joined the Marine Corps
  • Her experience in the Marines
  • Going from military to student life
  • Challenges of being a student Veteran
  • Growing and developing her SVA chapter on campus
• Finding your campus' SVA chapter or student Veterans group
• #VeteranOfTheDay Marine Veteran Robert Consulmagno

Episode 31 of This Week at VA is another "best of" type episode. This volume of Meritorious Segments includes soundbites from AMVETS National Director Joe Chenelly, Team Rubicon Chief Operations Officer Art delaCruz, and Team RWB Executive Director Blayne Smith.

Even if you've heard each episode, I know you'll appreciate hearing these stories and sentiments again.

Covered in episode 31:

•  Blayne Smith talks about value of Team RWB

• Joe Chenelly describes AMVETS' service to Veterans

• Art delaCruz explains his role at Team Rubicon and why the organization is so powerful

We are 30 episodes into the podcast and I'm going to do something a little different with this one. This is going to be a "best of" episode. I pulled four clips from our more popular interviews to feature in what I'm calling "meritorious segments."

Even if you've heard each episode, I know you'll appreciate hearing these stories and sentiments again.

Covered in episode 30:

•  Kayla Williams on deploying to Iraq

• Jared Lyon on the value that student Veterans bring to a campus

• John Lee Dumas about why he chooses VA in Puerto Rico

• Bill Rausch about his feelings regarding his Bronze Star and being proud of his service