Semper Try

Marine Corps veteran Jon Cole, host of The Bunkhouse Podcast, returns for Part 3 of his conversation on Semper Try. In 2008, Jon deployed to Iraq as a young Marine. While overseas, he was promoted to corporal, married his pregnant girlfriend through a proxy marriage, and returned home just weeks before the birth of their first daughter. A year later, everything changed. Now a sergeant, Jon deploye...

Marine Corps veteran Jon Cole, host of The Bunkhouse Podcast, returns for Part 3 of his conversation on Semper Try. In 2008, Jon deployed to Iraq as a young Marine. While overseas, he was promoted to corporal, married his pregnant girlfriend through a proxy marriage, and returned home just weeks before the birth of their first daughter. A year later, everything changed. Now a sergeant, Jon deploye...

What happens when you finally decide to join the Marine Corps, only to discover that the job you signed up for isn't the job you're going to get? In Part 2 of my conversation with fellow Marine and The Bunkhouse Podcast host Jon Cole, we pick up with his decision to leave bull riding behind and pursue something he'd wanted to do for years: become a United States Marine. In 2006, at 21...

What happens when you finally decide to join the Marine Corps, only to discover that the job you signed up for isn't the job you're going to get? In Part 2 of my conversation with fellow Marine and The Bunkhouse Podcast host Jon Cole, we pick up with his decision to leave bull riding behind and pursue something he'd wanted to do for years: become a United States Marine. In 2006, at 21 years old, J...

Jon Cole had a plan. He was going to become a United States Marine. But just weeks before leaving for boot camp, a bull-riding accident changed everything. Growing up in a small North Carolina town, Jon developed a love for rodeo and the challenge of staying on a 2,000-pound bull for eight seconds. It took him 30 to 40 attempts to complete his first successful ride, but he kept getting back on. Af...

Jon Cole had a plan. He was going to become a United States Marine. But just weeks before leaving for boot camp, a bull-riding accident changed everything. Growing up in a small North Carolina town, Jon developed a love for rodeo and the challenge of staying on a 2,000-pound bull for eight seconds. It took him 30 to 40 attempts to complete his first successful ride, but he kept getting back on. Af...

Vietnam veteran and Army helicopter pilot Robert Mitchell survived the war. But leaving Vietnam didn't mean leaving the war behind. In Part 2 of our conversation, Robert shares what happened after he left the Army in 1970 and began a journey that would take him across Europe and ultimately change the direction of his life. Struggling with the psychological effects of war, Robert traveled throu...

Vietnam veteran and Army helicopter pilot Robert Mitchell survived the war. But leaving Vietnam didn't mean leaving the war behind. In Part 2 of our conversation, Robert shares what happened after he left the Army in 1970 and began a journey that would take him across Europe and ultimately change the direction of his life. Struggling with the psychological effects of war, Robert traveled through E...

Robert Mitchell didn’t go looking for war. In 1966, his student deferment disappeared and the draft was closing in. Instead of waiting to see where the Army would send him, Robert made a choice: if he was going to serve, he wanted to fly. That decision put him into the Army’s Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviation program and eventually behind the controls of helicopters headed for Vietnam. In Part...

Robert Mitchell didn’t go looking for war. In 1966, his student deferment disappeared and the draft was closing in. Instead of waiting to see where the Army would send him, Robert made a choice: if he was going to serve, he wanted to fly. That decision put him into the Army’s Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviation program and eventually behind the controls of helicopters headed for Vietnam. In Part...

This episode of the Semper Try Podcast is a little different. What started as a six-part Today in Military History series turned into a full deep dive into one of the most historic units in the United States Army: The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment — The Old Guard. This whole series started after I heard Army veteran David Weisenhorn on the Chat 62 Podcast , a fellow member of VET — Voices Empowering...

This episode of the Semper Try Podcast is a little different. What started as a six-part Today in Military History series turned into a full deep dive into one of the most historic units in the United States Army: The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment :The Old Guard. This whole series started after I heard Army veteran David Weisenhorn on the Chat 62 Podcast, a fellow member of VET: Voices Empowering Tom...

In 034 P3, the final part of Eusebia “Chappy” Rios’ story, Chappy shares what happened after 33 years of military service. From searching for a massive cobra in Baghdad to surviving dangerous missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, Chappy brings humor to some of the hardest moments of her career. She also opens up about retirement, losing her mother, living with PTSD, and finally asking for the help she...

In 034 P3, the final part of Eusebia “Chappy” Rios’ story, Chappy shares what happened after 33 years of military service. From searching for a massive cobra in Baghdad to surviving dangerous missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, Chappy brings humor to some of the hardest moments of her career. She also opens up about retirement, losing her mother, living with PTSD, and finally asking for the help she...

n Part 2 of my conversation with Eusebia “Chappy” Rios, we pick up her journey from enlisted Airman to Air Force chaplain—and the moments that shaped the way she showed up for the people around her. Chappy shares the advice that reminded her never to forget her enlisted roots, why she wanted people to see the cross before the rank, and how an unexpected conversation with a young Security Forces Ai...

n Part 2 of my conversation with Eusebia “Chappy” Rios, we pick up her journey from enlisted Airman to Air Force chaplain—and the moments that shaped the way she showed up for the people around her. Chappy shares the advice that reminded her never to forget her enlisted roots, why she wanted people to see the cross before the rank, and how an unexpected conversation with a young Security Forces Ai...

On this Patriot Day, 25 years after September 11, 2001, four members of VET, all United States Marine Corps veterans, come together to remember where we were when America changed forever. We share our memories of that morning. We remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost, those who answered the call, and a country that came together. Never forget September 11, 2001.

On this Patriot Day, 25 years after September 11, 2001, four members of VET, all United States Marine Corps veterans, come together to remember where we were when America changed forever. We share our memories of that morning. We remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost, those who answered the call, and a country that came together. Never forget September 11, 2001.

Sometimes Plan B becomes the path you were supposed to be on all along. Eusebia “Chappy” Rios spent 33 years in the United States Air Force , but her story didn’t begin with plans for a military career. When college wasn’t financially possible, the Air Force became Plan B — and that decision changed the course of her life. Chappy started as an Airman Basic in the Dental Corps , eventually working...

Sometimes Plan B becomes the path you were supposed to be on all along. Eusebia “Chappy” Rios spent 33 years in the United States Air Force, but her story didn’t begin with plans for a military career. When college wasn’t financially possible, the Air Force became Plan B — and that decision changed the course of her life. Chappy started as an Airman Basic in the Dental Corps, eventually working in...

In Part 3 and the final part of my conversation with Marine veteran Clifford Sosamon, we talk about something a lot of veterans face after leaving the military — finding that next mission. Cliff shares how getting involved with the VFW and veteran organizations helped him rediscover the community, camaraderie, structure, and purpose he had been missing since leaving the Marine Corps. We also talk...

In Part 3 and the final part of my conversation with Marine veteran Clifford Sosamon, we talk about something a lot of veterans face after leaving the military  finding that next mission. Cliff shares how getting involved with the VFW and veteran organizations helped him rediscover the community, camaraderie, structure, and purpose he had been missing since leaving the Marine Corps. We also talk a...

In Part 2 of my conversation with Marine veteran Cliff Sosamon, we pick up his story as the Marine Corps starts taking him places he never expected. Cliff went from becoming an LAV mechanic — a job he never wanted — to deploying to Haiti as part of Operation Restore/Uphold Democracy. From there, his career took another turn when he became a Marine Security Guard. Cliff shares what it was really li...

In Part 2 of my conversation with Marine veteran Cliff Sosamon, we pick up his story as the Marine Corps starts taking him places he never expected. Cliff went from becoming an LAV mechanic — a job he never wanted — to deploying to Haiti as part of Operation Restore/Uphold Democracy. From there, his career took another turn when he became a Marine Security Guard. Cliff shares what it was really li...

This week on the Semper Try Podcast , I sit down with fellow Marine veteran Cliff Sosamon for Part 1 of a three-part conversation. Cliff grew up in a small town in Illinois surrounded by military history. His dad served in the Air Force during Vietnam, and Cliff knew early on that college wasn't his path — he wanted to become a Marine. He shipped to MCRD San Diego in October 1992 , and that&#3...