The Field Op

There comes a point in life when you look in the mirror and realize you're no longer the young Marine, soldier, sailor, or airman you once were. The question is: what do you do with that realization? In today's episode of The Field Op, I talk about aging, fitness, health, identity, and the transition from being the young warrior to becoming the seasoned warrior. This isn't about giving up. It's no...

Today on The Field Op, I sit down with retired Navy Chief Elton McLaughlin and Navy veteran Jermaine Lamb of the Unbound Second Watch Foundation. We discuss military service, transition, veteran housing, VA benefits, disability claims, homeownership, and the ongoing mission of helping veterans and their families build stronger futures. These gentlemen are proving that leadership doesn't end when t...

A senior military leader fails a fitness test, posts about it online, and gets praised for being "brave" and "accountable." But is admitting failure the same thing as accountability? Today on The Field Op, we're talking about leadership standards, combat readiness, physical fitness, and whether modern culture has started rewarding excuses more than excellence. This isn't about one individual. It's...

Retired Navy Chaplain Steve Mills joins The Field Op for a powerful conversation about military service, resilience, faith, leadership, and the unseen weight many veterans carry after deployment. From serving as an Air Force firefighter to deploying as a Navy Chaplain to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, and beyond, Steve spent decades walking beside service members during some of the hardest moments of...

Former chiropractor and fitness coach Hermann Diehl joins The Field Op to talk about fitness, nutrition, recovery, and longevity for veterans and men over 40. We discuss training smarter as we age, injury prevention, diet trends, hormone culture, and how to maintain strength, energy, and mental sharpness naturally—without destroying your body in the process. This is about capability, longevity, an...

Marine Corps veteran Cliff Sosamon joins The Field Op to talk about leadership, identity, discipline, and what happens when motivation disappears. As the creator of the Action Under Friction (A.U.F.) method and founder of Tailgate Chat, Cliff teaches people how to move forward through uncertainty, fear, and transition instead of waiting to “feel ready.” This is a conversation about rebuilding mome...

AI is changing everything in content creation. But is it making creators better… or just faster? Brian Colburn joins me on The Field Op to break down how AI should actually be used, where it helps, where it hurts, and how to stay authentic in a space that’s getting more automated by the day. If you’re creating content, this one matters. Listen now. The Field Op Links: https://linktr.ee/thefieldop...

Just got back from this amazing event and there’s a lot to unpack. From veteran creators to active duty voices, Military Content Creator 2026 showed where this space is headed—and it gets better each year. In this episode of The Field Op, I break down what I saw, the real conversations happening behind the scenes, and what it means if you’re building a platform of your own. No hype. Just real take...

Most veterans are leaving benefits on the table — not because they don’t qualify, but because they don’t understand the system. In today’s episode of The Field Op, I break down the Veterans Benefits Knowledge Base, a free resource built by veterans to help you take control of your claim, understand the process, and submit stronger cases. This isn’t about doing it alone. It’s about doing it right....

This one is different. In today’s episode of The Field Op, I sit down with Marine Corps veteran Leo Beach — and we talk about things most men never speak about. From childhood trauma to experiences during his time in the military, Leo has carried a weight that many silently live with. But this isn’t just a story about pain — it’s about what comes after. Through his service dog Isaac, Leo found a p...

Discipline doesn’t stop when you take off the uniform. In today’s episode of The Field Op, I sit down with Army veteran Sanna Garrett-Smith — former Drill Sergeant and now known as The Financial Drill Sergeant. We talk about leadership in the military, building discipline under pressure, and how those same principles apply to finances, business, and life. No shortcuts. No hype. Just structure, acc...

After Iraq was “taken,” the war didn’t end — it changed. In this episode of The Field Op, we break down Task Force Scorpion and the role of 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion during one of the most unpredictable phases of the war. From securing supply routes to adapting to insurgency warfare, this is a look at what really happens when conventional war turns into something far more complex....

Everyone today has opinions about war, geopolitics, and national security. Social media makes it easy to comment from the sidelines. But maintaining peace in a complicated world is far more difficult than most people realize. In this episode of The Field Op, I talk about the burden carried by those who defend freedom, the misuse of historical terms like fascism and Nazism in modern conversations,...

Success rarely happens by accident. It comes from persistence, disciplined thinking, and surrounding yourself with the right people. In today’s episode of The Field Op, I sit down with Dr. Hobbs to talk about leadership, building professional networks that actually create opportunity, improving financial discipline, and the power of long-term thinking. We also discuss her new networking initiative...

Thomas Long is back on the show, and we’re talking about real movement inside the veteran community this year. New initiatives. New collaborations. Real opportunities. But more importantly — we’re talking unity. Too often, veteran organizations operate in silos. This year is about locking arms, shield to shield, and forging a stronger path forward together. If you care about the direction of the v...

Indexed Universal Life. Whole Life. “Tax-free retirement.” SGLI. VGLI. Service members and working families are being flooded with financial pitches — but most people don’t understand what they’re actually buying. In this episode, we break down: • What IUL and cash value policies really are • How they’re structured (caps, fees, surrender periods) • Why they’re aggressively marketed to veterans and...

Everything in life has a cost. You either pay with discipline, sacrifice, and discomfort today… Or you pay later with regret. From the famous “I almost joined” stories to missed chances in life, business, health, and purpose — this episode is about choosing which pain you’re willing to live with. Temporary struggle builds permanent strength. Avoidance builds permanent regret. 🎧 Listen now. #TheFi...

Every awards show lately feels less like a celebration of art and more like a lecture platform. Celebrities are absolutely entitled to their views — but when did entertainment stages become soapboxes? On today’s episode of The Field Op, we break down why so many people feel like Hollywood has forgotten its mission. We’ll talk context, audience expectations, and why veterans and everyday Americans...

This week on The Field Op, I sit down with Marine Corps veteran David Willis, host of the HomeFront Sitrep podcast — a veteran‑led show dedicated to elevating real veteran voices, grassroots service organizations, veteran businesses, and inspirational stories from those who’ve served. We dive deep into why veteran representation matters, how storytelling fosters connection and healing, and why bui...

“Once a Gunny, Always a Gunny.” This week on The Field Op, I sit down with Gunnery Sergeant Samuel Deeds, Marine Corps veteran and co-host of HomeFront Sitrep. With his boots-on-the-ground experience, straight-shooting leadership, and mission mindset, Gunny brings real insight on what it means to lead during and after service. We cover his transition out of the Corps, building community, and how H...

New Episode: Intentions, Not Just Resolutions This year, forget the BS goal setting. Let’s talk intentions—those quiet commitments that actually keep you grounded and growing. In this episode of Reset & Rise, we dig into why intentions matter more than flashy resolutions, and why the best way to start the year strong might just be checking in on a friend who’s hurting. The mission is growth. T...

From firecrackers at midnight in Bogotá to MREs under desert skies, this episode is a deeply personal walk through the Christmases that shaped me. I share the journey of a kid growing up in Colombia, a young immigrant adjusting to the U.S., a Marine spending holidays in uniform, and now a man trying to build meaningful traditions for his family. In the middle of it all is gratitude—for life, servi...

🎙️ NEW PODCAST: Crossroads & Comebacks Ever felt like you lost your edge? Like the world moved on, and you're standing there wondering what the hell happened? This episode is about those moments—when you hit the wall, lose your title, or just don’t feel like the same warrior you used to be. It’s about finding your way back… with intention, fire, and purpose. If you're tired of feeling stuck an...

In a world that sometimes feels like it’s lost its damn mind, this episode is a reminder that gratitude and patriotism aren’t dead — not even close. Pacho shares personal stories from recent encounters where civilians showed real appreciation for military service. From wearing the uniform again at the Marine Corps Ball to feeling the gap between the younger generation of Marines, it’s a raw, refle...

Last week, I threw on the uniform — yeah, I still fit in it — and headed to the Marine Corps Ball. What hit me wasn’t just the pride of wearing those blues again, but the realization that time keeps marching on... fast. In this episode, I talk about the bond that never breaks, even when the hair grays and the flagpole feels a little farther away. From the traditions that remain unchanged to the ne...