The Scuttlebutt: Understanding Military Culture

S5 Ep.9: Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic

The Cohen Veterans Network is a not-for-profit philanthropic organization with a mission to improve the quality of life for post-9/11 veterans and their families, including those from the National Guard and Reserves, regardless of role or discharge status. To serve this mission, nineteen Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics are strategically positioned across the United States to provide high-quality, evidence-based mental health care at no cost. Joining The Scuttlebutt to talk about the clinics, the services they provide, and how veterans can sign up are Clinic Director and Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Leah Blain, PhD and Outreach Manager and retired Army Veteran (Ret.) Pete Whitney. If you need assistance or know someone who does, you can reach out to the SAC Military Family Clinic at 844-573-3146.

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To watch this episode, please visit our website at www.veteransbreakfastclub.org/scuttlebutt.

S5 Ep. 8: The Red Cross and The Military

Did you know that The Red Cross has been serving the military for more than 140 years and has deployed alongside military personnel in every U.S. conflict since the Spanish-American War? Joining Shaun this week to talk about this history, disaster relief, and the many services provided by the Red Cross and its volunteers is Regional Manager of the Greater Pennsylvania region, Pauline Duncan. Pauline's long career with the Red Cross includes managing the Service to the Armed Forces and International Services programs by helping members of the military, veterans and their families prepare for, cope with, and respond to, the challenges of military service. 

 

Watch the video version and listen to previous episodes at https://veteransbreakfastclub.org/scuttlebutt/

 

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S5 Ep. 7: What is a Marine Combat Artist?

Did you know you could enlist in the Marine Corps and serve as a Combat Artist?! I sure didn't. Then I came across this interview with Marine Corps veteran and Combat Artist, Elize McKelvey. Elize joins The Scuttlebutt this week with fellow Combat Artist and Artist in Residence at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Kristopher Battles to talk about their service, what drives them as artists and storytellers, and how they find moments in everyday life while deployed to eternalize with a paint brush. A conversation not to be missed on YouTube as we showcase their incredible art on screen. Don't miss this one!

 

Watch the video version, listen to previous episodes and find show notes and additional reading at https://veteransbreakfastclub.org/scuttlebutt/

 

More on the artists:

Elize McKelvey:

https://lesley.edu/stories/sgt-elize-mckelvey

https://www.militarytimes.com/video/2021/11/15/how-do-you-become-a-combat-artist-marine-veterans-unlikely-path-military-times-reports/

https://www.usmcmuseum.com/elize-mckelvey.html

https://www.instagram.com/inkstickart/?hl=en

 

Kristopher Battles

https://www.outono.net/elentir/2019/08/23/the-painting-of-kristopher-battles-the-last-combat-artist-of-the-us-marines/

https://mca-marines.org/wp-content/uploads/Kristopher-Battles.pdf

https://www.pinterest.com/krisbattles1/_saved/

 

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S5 Ep. 6: When is it Okay to Talk About Veteran Advocacy?

The Veterans Breakfast Club avoids partisan politics, but when is it appropriate to talk about Veteran Advocacy? The Scuttlebutt welcomes Marine Corps veterans, Dwight Boddorf (Township Manager) and Jessica King (VFW Commander of District 29) to talk about the state of Veteran Advocacy at the community, local, state, and national level. We define what veteran advocacy is, why it matters, some of the legislation that is currently being debated, and why there are so few veterans in Congress. "The Scuttlebutt is the perfect platform to talk about these issues in an intelligent, non-partisan way." 

 

Resources:

VFW Action Corps Weekly: https://www.vfw.org/advocacy/grassroots-efforts/vfw-action-corps-weekly

 

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S5 Ep. 5: Operation Pedestal

Recently, the Veterans Breakfast Club was joined by author and historian Sir Max Hastings on Greatest Generation Live. We’ve brought his fascinating conversation with Glenn Flickinger to the Scuttlebutt. Sir Max helps us understand the importance of learning about world history and talks about his process of writing about war. He also discusses what went into writing his most recent book, Operation Pedestal: The Fleet That Battled to Malta, 1942. “What can I tell people that will surprise them?” he says. “Where is the ‘Gee Whiz’ factor?” Our “Gee Whiz Factor”? Having a knight on the program!

Listen to previous episodes, find show notes and additional reading at https://veteransbreakfastclub.org/scuttlebutt/

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S5 Ep. 4: What are Military Fraternities?

“For the Brothers, By the Brothers, Forged in Arms.” Mu Beta Phi is a Greek letter military fraternity founded in 2017 by three Active Duty and Retired military men, across three branches of service. Their aspirations to serve, support, and defend the men and women in the local and veteran communities amplified their passion to give back. Built off the principle of Mission, Brotherhood, and Professionalism, the brothers of Mu Beta Phi, have taken a sworn oath to STRENGTHEN the veteran community, restore FAITH in the community, and broaden KNOWLEDGE to our Veterans. Join us on The Scuttlebutt this week to hear from Co-Founder and retired Navy veteran, Gary Ammons and MBP National Media Coordinator and Army veteran, Gregory Williams. And be sure to listen to their podcast the PHIner Life Show. 

 

Watch the video version, listen to previous episodes and find show notes and additional reading at https://veteransbreakfastclub.org/scuttlebutt/

 

Thank you to our sponsors:

Tobacco Free Adagio Health: https://tobaccofree.adagiohealth.org

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S5 Ep. 3: Faith and War

One of these things is not like the other but somehow they have been intertwined throughout history. This week's Scuttlebutt episode welcomes three Air Force Veterans who are also ordained ministers. Eric Fenton, Ben Wright, and Michael Wurschmidt join us to talk about their service and where along their path they felt called to serve a higher purpose. But when it comes to the military , how do these two worlds co-exist? What is the responsibility of the chaplains on base? Is a veteran's faith any different than a civilians? And do chaplains carry weapons? All this and more in this week's episode. And be sure to check out Military Times for a report on the number of Catholics versus Protestants in the Army. 

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What is Operation Christmas Drop? The Scuttlebutt Holiday Special!

Joining the Scuttlebutt for a short and sweet Christmas special are Air Force Veteran Ben Wright to talk about the 70th Anniversary of Operation Christmas Drop and the one and only SANTA CLAUS! What is the correlation between Santa and the Military? Only Chris Kringle knows. Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Follow this link if you are interested in donating to Toys for Tots

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Listen to previous episodes, find show notes and additional reading at https://veteransbreakfastclub.org/scuttlebutt/

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S5 Ep. 2: Guess What?! The Marine Corp Cares About You

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David H. Berger recently released his 2030 Talent Management Plan and needless to say it has raised some eyebrows. One of the takeaways is how for the past 36 years the Marine Corp has been happy to let roughly 75% of first-term Marines walk out the door after their initial four years are up. The plan proposes shifting from a "recruit and replace" model to a "invest and retain" model - a significant break from tradition. But will this shift be beneficial for future conflicts? And how do Marines feel about it? Joining Ryan and Shaun to talk about it are Retired Marine Corp veterans Brad Washabaugh and Todd Kemper. You can read more about the TMP at Task and Purpose. Watch the video version at https://veteransbreakfastclub.org/scuttlebutt/. 

 

 

S5 Ep. 1: Tracers through a Camera Lens

Season Five of The Scuttlebutt kicks off with freelance photojournalist, Justin Merriman. Merriman’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, Time, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and publications across the globe. Join us to hear Justin talk about how he got his start in a small community newspaper in Western PA and eventually found himself embedded with the 101st Airborne in Afghanistan. For our audio listeners, be sure to check out the video version as we showcase several of Justin's images and ask him to break down how he has grown his talent to find the quiet moments in chaos.

 

http://www.justinmerriman.com/biography

https://americanreportage.com/