Eye on Veterans

In this era of VA budget cuts and workforce layoffs, we talked about it with Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Communications Chief, Air Force veteran Dan Clare. After a recent meeting with VA Secretary Doug Collins, who recently spoke at DAV’s Mid-Winter Conference, Clare shared how Collins claimed his #1 priority was taking care of our vets, but did not offer any details about how exactly he’s go...

As we experience an uncertain time of change and massive government layoffs, the state of Maryland is expanding its support for veterans. We talked with Tony Woods, Army veteran and Secretary of Maryland Veterans, Military and Families, about the specific ways they’re supporting vets. We begin with his days leading troops in Iraq. Woods also shares a surprising personal revelation about his time i...

Luke Graziani, is a U.S. Army Veteran with 4 deployments to Iraq and AFG. After checking his email on February 13, he cringed after reading he was being fired from his public affairs officer role at The Bronx VA Hospital. He shares how despite having stellar performance reviews from his supervisor, the letter from DOGE cited “job performance” as one of the reasons for his termination. Graziani als...

The Purple Heart Foundation supports military veterans and their families in many ways. We talked with CEO, Stephen Ruckman, and US Army Reserve MSG Henika "Nika" Carroll about her 23 years of service and how their short-term financial assistance grants helped her overcome crippling debt. Carroll also shares personal advice for making VA disability claims, and Stephen Ruckman highlights other gene...

Tim Jensen, a Marine Corps combat veteran, is on a mission to stop veteran suicide. The powerful veteran activist and head of Grunt Style Foundation (advocacy arm of America’s patriotic T-Shirt brand Grunt Style) talked with us about the current state of suicide prevention. Jensen shared a surprising connection between suicide and psychotropic drugs, and others for anxiety, depression and even med...

After the recent Executive Order for Federal employees to return to the office, Jenna Carlton, DoD employee and founder of The Millennial Veterans Facebook group is facing a tough choice- stay in her current job, or quit. She described how her DoD job was fully remote from first the day she was hired. She shared how they live over an hour away from base, but found a way to effectively make her fam...

Let’s talk about love! Andrew Carroll, Director of The Center for American Letters, returns with some of the most romantic words ever written, by service members fighting wars around the world. This collection of over 200K letters spans the Revolutionary War to World Wars all the way up to modern emails from our current generation. We begin with the beautiful words for a loving wife, composed on a...

In this interesting conversation presented by Navy Federal Credit Union, Jill Schlesinger opens with 3 vital steps every veteran needs to take, if they want to have enough money when they’re older. Schlesinger guides us through a variety of financial planning tips and offers useful advice for the basic investor. We also discuss the difference between 401Ks and other types of investment accounts an...

Looking for a career in cybersecurity? This is your chance! We talked about a new Google Cybersecurity Certificate training program with Army veteran, (Ret.) Lt. Colonel Bryan Radliff, from Syracuse University’s D'Aniello Institute for Veterans Military and Families (IVMF). Radliff shares benefits like; no cost to veterans, 150+ hours of the latest, industry-standard training, and how it’s designe...

Today we’re hearing from attorney Bart Stichman, Co-founder of National Veterans Legal Services Program, regarding the case “Soto vs United States” and how a Marine Corps combat veteran (and 9,000 other vets) had their benefit claims denied, and disputed by our government.  The petition was filed on behalf of USMC vet, Mr. Simon Soto who was initially approved for Combat Related Special Compensati...

This is the end of a 2-part series and a powerful interview with Army combat vet, turned software developer Lukas Simianer, Founder, VetCLaims.ai. After teaching himself computer coding, he went from flat broke to creating software that is revolutionizing the VA claims process. We begin with his rise to tech entrepreneur as the founder of Clusiv- an e-learning platform built to assist the blind. S...

This episode is the first of a 2-part series where we hear a powerful interview with Army combat vet, Purple Heart recipient turned software developer Lukas Simianer- who fights the VA for vets, and wins. Wounded in Afghanistan at the age of 19, Lukas left the military with only a few hundred bucks in his pocket and started the difficult transition from enlisted soldier to civilian life. He strugg...

Thinking you might need to stop drinking? This episode is for you. As we kick off the New Year, many folks attempt to give up alcohol in what’s commonly called “Dry January”. But for many veterans, drinking becomes more than just a social vice … it can have dangerous, criminal and even deadly consequences. We talked with former Navy Destroyer Commanding Officer, Jay Wylie, who shared his battle wi...

We’re keeping the Christmas spirit alive, by sharing incredible letters written by service members deployed long ago. The letters come to us from Andrew Carroll, Founder of The Center for American War Letters, who has archived and preserved over 200K letters- some dating back to the Revolutionary War. We discussed several pieces from the collection, including; a letter from an Army nurse, expressi...

It’s a week after the thrilling 125th Army-Navy Game, but even after the game, we still love hearing stories from our fellow Soldiers and Sailors.   During our time on USAA’s Media Row, we had fascinating conversations with military vets and senior military leaders. We start with Maj. General Brett Sylvia, Commanding General of the Army’s mighty 101st Airborne (Air Assault). He shared some history...

On this episode we talk with best-selling veteran authors about their fascinating books. We start with a brand-new release, “We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History” from Special Forces veteran, journalist and author Jack Murphy, who takes a deep dive into historical events that have never been written about before. Murphy describes his interviews with veterans who conducted ops you'l...

This is the story of Army veteran and former Apache helicopter pilot Kevin Byrne, and his unstoppable mission to fight Multiple Sclerosis (MS).   Initially diagnosed while leading a squadron in Korea, he has since become a staunch supporter of his fellow MS patients and the National MS Society, through his non-profit organization “Never Stop Never Quit”. Through his website he offers books, blogs,...

Marines are once again helping make Christmas wishes come true through the annual “Toys for Tots” gift donation campaign . We spoke with (Ret.) Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Simon Hebert about this awesome program. Herbert has unique experience as a Louisiana native who came from humble roots, and was once a recipient of gifts from Toys for Tots.  Today he enjoys being able to give back and contin...

Thanksgiving gatherings and football games have us in the mood for food! So, we’re serving up the story of Army veteran Andrew Arbogast, who went from flying combat missions to building Arbo’s Cheese Dip into a national success.  We start with some epic memories from inside the Apache cockpit- the world’s most advanced attack helicopter. Arbogast also recalls enjoying care packages filled with mea...

We talk with Army combat veteran, and former Special Forces Public Affairs specialist, Aaron Knowles about “Shred the Stress” an organization he founded to bring the therapeutic benefits of the “Onewheel” electric skateboard, to veterans everywhere.  We begin by tracking his days in Iraq and the events that nearly cost him his life. After surviving IED explosions and multiple life-changing moments...

Former Navy SEAL Marcus Capone and his wife Amber share their emotional story about how a medically assisted Ibogaine treatment session saved their family, and this combat veteran’s life. We begin by looking at how life as a Navy SEAL “breacher” and explosives expert, left Marcus with what seemed like untreatable PTSD and brain injuries. We learn how Marcus, once full of life and drive, was quickl...

Decorated Army veteran, (Ret.) Master Sgt. Patricia Baisden shares how the Purple Heart is more than just the medal awarded for being wounded in combat.  She described how years after her service, The Purple Heart Foundation helped her in ways the federal government does not. More than complex medical issues or acquiring the benefits she earned, she received help with life’s basic needs … car trou...

Navy Hospital Corpsman are revered among the infantry as the medics who rush into combat to treat the wounded. However not all Navy Corpsman pursue a career in healthcare or the medical field after their military service. Navy Corpsman veteran Vaughn Sullenberger went from serving with Marines to serving all veterans as a Mortgage Loan Manager for Navy Federal Credit Union. He shares the specific...

Many Americans just assume vets always vote for the candidate who talks toughest about national defense, or offers strong positions on policies related to terrorism. While in some cases that may be true, the biggest question this year is still quite simple- Do vets favor Trump or Harris? A recent survey of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) members, offers an interesting glimpse at wh...

We’re taking a deep look into one of the most the significant elections of our lifetime with the nonpartisan, veteran-led group, “Vet the Vote” who recently recruited over 163K vets to volunteer at election sites nationwide.  Army veteran, VTV Deputy Director Loren Westerfield and Navy helicopter pilot veteran, Julie Hendricks share the impact veterans make while serving at election sites. And as...