Tango Alpha Lima Podcast

IN THE NEWS Lt. Amanda Lee of Moundsview, Minn., becomes the first woman to pilot the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet for the Blue Angels. THIS WEEK'S GUEST Commander B.J. Farrell is the first female commanding officer of the USS Constitution. She talks about life aboard the three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate known as “Old Ironsides” and the events surrounding a milestone year. RAPID FIRE There&#...

IN THE NEWS Celebrating Disability Pride Month THIS WEEK'S GUEST Kristen "Chief" Beck is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL who gained public attention in 2013 when she came out as a trans woman. Her story has been told in her 2013 memoir, “Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy SEAL's Journey to Coming out Transgender,” and in the 2014 CNN Documentary, “Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story.” Beck co...

IN THE NEWS In honor of the start of a new Legion membership year, Jeff and Ashely share membership stories and invite the Alphas to share their own membership stories. THIS WEEK'S GUEST We're doubling down on our Ashlies this week with our guest, New Jersey-based actress, voice-over artist and stand-up comedian Ashley Gutermuth. Ashley is married to a career Air Force reservist, and she&#...

IN THE NEWS Jeff and Ashley analyze an angry critic's 1/2-star review of "Top Gun: Maverick" THIS WEEK'S GUEST Syracuse University Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation, Dr. Mike Haynie, joins the podcast. Dr. Haynie discusses the University’s veteran-connected programs and resources for service members transitioning out of the military, and the evolution of th...

IN THE NEWS Security cam video reveals VA employee body-slamming and beating 73-year-old veteran at Georgia VA Clinic. _NOTE: The incident took place on April 28, and while Lawrence F. Galliard Jr. was arrested and charged, at the time of our recording, he still had his job. WSB-TV reporters posted the video on June 20, and on June 23, VA Secretary Denis McDonough issued an apology to the patient,...

In this final installment of our Transition series, we’ll be joined by Marine Corps veteran Hill Pluviose, who talks with us about the initiatives to support the military community and career resources NBC Universal Comcast offers for veterans and their families through their Veterans Network and the NBC BOLD Vets Residency program. He also talks about his podcast, Vet Talk with Hill and the NBC P...

Part Three of our transition series features guest Graciela Tiscareño-Sato, an Air Force veteran, award-winning author, marketer, bilingual public speaker, and business owner Graciela talks about her book, "B.R.A.N.D. Before Your Resume," and sheds light on how she helps servicemembers, veterans and spouses create powerful, targeted AUTHENTIC Personal Brands that help them become better...

The second episode in our special military transition series features retired Col. Jeffrey Powell. After an amazing military career, Powell retired in September of 2019. Like so many others, 2020 and the COVID pandemic shattered his plans and he struggled to find his place as a civilian. Powell shares the story of his struggles, lessons learned, and how he emerged determined to strike out on a pat...

To coincide with the June 22, 1944, anniversary of the signing of the original GI Bill, this week The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast is publishing a special, four-part series on military transition, career tips and more. The first episode in the series will feature two military veterans: Disney Parks Experiences and Products Manager of Executive Communications, Cappy Surette and Walt Dis...

IN THE NEWS Air Force gamers comes out on top during the Pentagon's first official video game tournament. THIS WEEK'S GUEST Documentary filmmaker Ian Adelson, and his grandfather, U.S. Air Force veteran and former Misty squadron flight surgeon Dean Echenberg, join us to talk about their work on the documentary "The Misty Experiement" The film tells the story of the special U.S. A...

IN THE NEWS Jeff and Ashley discuss the news of the first Russian soldier sentenced to life in prison in Ukraine's first war crimes trial. OUR GUEST Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Merryl Tengesdal talks about launching her military career in an effort to fulfill her childhood dreams, her accomplishments along the way, including becoming the first African American woman to fly the U2 Dragon-Lady....

IN THE NEWS Jeff and Ashley are urging the Alphas to "Be The One" Rather than focus on the number of veteran suicides, our hosts are joining in The American Legion's new initiative to focus on the number one: Be the ONE person that does the ONE thing that can save ONE veteran's life. INDYCAR driver Tony Kanaan raced in the Indianapolis 500 over Memorial Day weekend in the No. 1 &...

IN THE NEWS A greedy Michigan Guardsman filed a pay inquiry for a missing part-time drill paycheck, prompting an investigation that uncovered he had been quietly collecting full pay and allowances for more than two years after resigning from full-time Guard status with the Hawaii National Guard Active Reserve in 2017. The NCO is awaiting trial for theft of more than $200,000 of public funds. Ashle...

IN THE NEWS A discussion of the military's history of toxic exposure and The American Legion's push for a Senate vote for the Honoring our PACT Act to address these issues for generations of military veterans. THIS WEEK'S GUEST Award-winning multimedia journalist, former U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondent and current U.S. Navy Reserve PAO Amy Forsythe stops by to talk about her new...

IN THE NEWS 100 Miles for Hope is in full swing, and Jeff and Ashley are pumped up! The hosts ponder the various benefits of physical activity. THIS WEEK'S GUESTS We're doubling the fun with two professional bodybuilders and 100 Miles for Hope Ambassadors, Julia Waring and Rachelle Cannon. Both of these International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Figure Professional Athlete...

IN THE NEWS Our hosts discuss the dilemma caused by the Navy deputizing doctors to enforce drug rules - even for those seeking mental health assistance. THIS WEEK'S GUEST American Legion member Bobby McDonald visits to talk about his passion for military history, his work with the Buffalo Soldiers re-enactors and the upcoming Quasquicentennial of the Buffalo Soldiers Iron Riders. RAPID FIRE Be...

National Judge Advocate couldn't stay away, so makes a special appearance in honor of this week's guest. IN THE NEWS Emma Noble of Birmingham, Ala., has been crowned as the 2022 National Oratorical Contest Champion, and in celebration, Ashley throws down some Oratorical Contest facts and history. THE INTERVIEW 120 episodes into the Tango Alpha Lima experience, and we’ve finally scored an i...

Jeff and Ashley are reunited in Boston with former podcast co-host, National Judge Advocate Mark Seavey, and three other Legion members for Tough Ruck 26.2 Boston. Seavey, along with Media & Communications Chairman David F. Wallace of Virginia, South Dakota Department Service Officer Courtney VanZanten and Ashley’s husband, National Guard Sgt. Robert Maldonado, a member from Post 180 in Vienna...

IN THE NEWS Jeff Daly makes a triumphant return to the show and shares his heartfelt thanks for the care and support he recieved from his Legion family. Ashley shares a story of 4 airmen awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for evacuating more than 150 civilians from Kabul. THE INTERVIEW Our guest this week is Chad Robichaux, a former Force Recon Marine and DoD contractor with eight deployments...

IN THE NEWS CV and Ashley kick off Children & Youth Month with a discussion of the programs and services that support The American Legion's advocacy for young people. THE INTERVIEW Ashley and Jeff visit with actress Jamie Gray Hyder, best know in the military community as Lt. Nora Salter in the video game "Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare." RAPID FIRE Posting POW footage on social...

IN THE NEWS CV makes a guest appearance, and he and Ashley get excited for 100 Miles for Hope and the Boston Tough Ruck. THIS WEEK'S GUEST Jeff and Ashley spend time with retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. John "Ace" Astle, talking about his new book, "Jungle Combat: A Combat Pilot’s Tape Recorded Transcripts from Vietnam 1968-1969," as well as a lifetime of expereiences that i...

IN THE NEWS Jeff takes a nostalgic trip back to Camp Pendleton. Jeff and Ashley get excited for their upcoming trip to support an American Legion rucking crew at the Boston Tough Ruck in April. THIS WEEK'S GUEST We're joined by Carol Lindamood Harlow, Chief Development and Communications Officer for the Honor Flight Network and Terry Campbell, who participated in an all-women Honor Flight...

IN THE NEWS Jeff and Ashley get ready for a battle royale as they plan a 100 Miles for Hope host vs. host challenge. THIS WEEK'S GUEST The American Legion is the guest of honor for the 103rd birthday celebration as we spotlight how we help veterans, servicemembers and their families through programs such as Buddy Checks, the National Emergency Fund, Operation Comfort Warriors, 100 Miles for Ho...

IN THE NEWS In this week's Women's History Month spotlight, Ashley celebrates the service Anna Mae Hays, who, in 1970, became the first woman promoted to Brigadier General in the U.S. Armed Forces. THIS WEEK'S GUEST U.S. Army Reserve Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lia Mort, the winner of season 3 the CBS television competition series "Tough as Nails," joins Jeff and Ashley to talk a...

IN THE NEWS While they're geared up to reflect on the more celebratory side of Military Women's History Month, Jeff and Ashley begin by addressing a challenge to women in the military. Ashley shares a report about a concerning increase in reports of sexual assault at U.S. service academies during the 2020-21 academic year, to the highest number ever since DoD began closely tracking in the...