All Episodes - Mandatory Fun

The story of the slave who survived the Alamo

The attack on the Alamo in 1836 was not a 13-day siege and slaughter as often portrayed in film and television. Don't get me wrong – the defenders of the mission-turned-fortress were killed en masse as Mexican troops stormed the structure. It's just that not everyone inside the Alamo died that day.

Why Navy SEALs will storm the beaches of Normandy in 2018

Jumping into freezing water is just part of the legacy of being a Navy SEAL. During World War II, the U.S. Navy Combat Demolition Units were just a handful of guys equipped only with a pair of shorts, a knife, and maybe some explosives. But the roots of being amphibious is still close to the Navy special warfare community – that's why they still call themselves "Frogmen." Some 74 years ago, these Navy Combat Demolition Units braved the freezing waters of the English Channel in the predawn hours of June 6, 1944 – not to mention the thousands of Nazi guns pointed at them at the water's edge. They were trained for this. Not necessarily the undertaking of being the secret first wave of invaders of the most fortified positions in the world. No, they were trained to win against any and all odds or obstacles. These men were the precursor to modern-day SEALs, moving to do their part on the beaches before the D-Day Landings. That's how SEAL training works to this day, teaching recruits to overcome the things they think can't be done. Now, in tribute to those few who landed at occupied France well before the rest of the Allies, 30 current and former Navy SEALs, as well as some "gritty" civilians will recreate those NCDU landings. Today's SEAL re-enactors will do a seven-mile swim to land at Normandy, then they'll scale the cliffs on Omaha Beach, to place a wreath at the memorial there. At that point, they'll gear up with 44-pound rucks to do a 30-kilometer ruck march to Saint-Lô. Why? To raise awareness (and funds) for the Navy SEAL Heritage Museum in Fort Pierce, Fla. – and the wide range of programs they offer to support family members of those SEALs who fell in combat, doing things only the U.S. special operations community would ever dare.

How going to war brings out the best and worst in people

Our guest Sebastian Junger is not a military veteran. He makes that clear, but he sure sounds like one. Maybe it's because he's seen more conflict than many in the United States military. If there's an expert on modern warfare and the long-term effects of those who live it, that person is Sebastian Junger. He joins us to discuss his new PBS documentary airing on Memorial Day "Going To War" and explains how people transform before, during and after combat.

It will make you angry to learn how a veteran lost $100k in benefits

PTSD is temporary, here are the first steps to defeating it

How to 'Conquer Anything,' according to a Green Beret

Combat poetry reveals what life is like on the Afghan front lines

4 survival skills that will help you thrive in a disaster or zombie apocalypse

That time Senator Mitch McConnell was fooled by 'Duffel Blog'

5 insane stories from the life of Britain's most successful double agent

The real James Bond is finally revealed: A few years ago Larry Loftis decided to stop publishing legal articles and work full-time on researching and writing the story of Dusko Popov, the daring World War II double agent who worked tirelessly to keep the Nazis off guard about the upcoming D-Day invasions. That work became his book Into the Lion's Mouth: The True Story of Dusko Popov: World War II Spy, Patriot, and the Real-Life Inspiration for James Bond. Loftis received his undergraduate degree and his Law degrees from the University of Florida. His background in writing stems from his time on the university's Law Review as the Senior Executive Editor and Senior Articles Editor. He is the author of a number of scholarly legal articles. But you'd never know about Larry's background in dry academic writing by reading his book. Into the Lion's Mouth is a riveting narrative that is as unbelievable as it is addictive. Even former CIA director Michael Morrell called it "impossible to put down. The most shocking aspect of this book is that every word in it is absolutely true. With the attention to detail that only a lawyer could bring to researching a book of this magnitude, Loftis poured through thousands of historical documents (including MI5 archives) related to Popov and his missions, even revealing that it was actually Popov's adventures which inspired the many tales of Britain's 007, James Bond. 1. Popov was captured by the Nazis before he became a spy. Dusko Popov was a student in Germany as the Nazis took power and began to persecute the German Jews. No fan of the Nazis, Popov thumbed his nose at the thugs who came to intimidate patrons of Jewish businesses. He was quickly visited by the Gestapo, who imprisoned him and tortured him for information. He was able to escape Germany because of his family's connections. Hermann Göering ordered his release to Yugoslavia. 2. He was recruited by his best friend.   Johann-Nielsen Jebsen – known as "Johnny" – went to school with Popov. But Jebsen is from a very wealthy European family with German roots. They met each other at the university of Freiburg but where Popov was expelled from Germany, Jebsen, as a German citizen, was forced to join the Nazi war effort. He joins the Abwehr (German military intelligence) as a spy recruiter. His first recruit is Dusko Popov and the two both became double agents for the British. 3. He warned the U.S. about the attack on Pearl Harbor Popov warned the FBI on Aug. 18, 1941, that the Japanese were about to attack Pearl Harbor. Popov and his MI6 supervisor met FBI officials at the Commodore Hotel and for three hours laid out the entire plan. Popov was in the country to set up a spy ring in New York and recon the defenses at Pearl Harbor. The attack was supposed to be a repeat of the British attack on the Italian fleet at the defended port of Taranto in 1940. The Japanese wanted to know how they could be as successful as they enter the war against the Americans. The reason President Roosevelt never saw the information will enrage you. Check out the book (or finish this podcast) to find out! 4. He was critical to the success of D-Day. The British determined that the best way to keep the Germans off guard on D-Day was to convince them that the invasion would come at Pas-de-Calais, not Normandy. At the risk of his life, with interrogators who were convinced that Popov was compromised by the British, Popov returned to Germany. He gave the Nazis the false information the British wanted them to believe during multiple, marathon interrogation sessions that lasted for hours at a time over a series of days. Popov was the only spy who was interrogated by the Nazis about D-Day. 5. His real-world girlfriend was a movie star. Just like his silver screen counterpart, James Bond, Popov had a slew of women he used for various reasons as a undercover agent for two opposing countries. But his heart belonged to just one – and she was as glamorous as the rest of his World War II life: Hollywood movie star Simone Simon.

This corpsman wants to keep saving lives with 'Combat Medicine'

When Doc Todd left the Navy after spending three years as a corpsman, he didn’t have any transition assistance or training. He lost friends. He lost Marines. After separating from the military, he saw even more of his Marines take their own lives through substance abuse and suicide. It’s wasn’t the ending he had expected when he joined. He joined the Navy in 2007 after spending four years in sales and restaurant jobs. He wanted to experience some meaningful growth in his life and be part of something bigger than himself. That – to him – meant joining the U.S. Navy. Doc ended up spending the bulk of his time with Marines in “America’s Battalion,” 2nd Battalion 8th Marines. In 2009, he and his Marines were in Afghanistan in Operation Khanjar, the largest aerial insertion of Marine troops since the Vietnam War.  Though he experienced his own struggles upon leaving the military, he didn’t turn to music as a means of coping. He actually waited until he had the strength to better express himself instead. Doc Todd in the studio. “Honestly, from an artistic perspective, I didn’t know who I was yet. Or who I was becoming,” Doc says. “I found it very difficult to make a statement musically when I didn’t know what to say.” When Doc picked himself up was when he was finally able to realize his purpose was helping others. Like a true corpsman, he never wanted to stop looking out for others. He saw too many overdoses, too many suicides. He decides to enter the veteran’s space, but to do it in his own way. In June 2017, his album Combat Medicine dropped to widespread acclaim and national praise, not to mention a flood of personal stories from those who listened to it and felt the message.   Doc is currently working on a release titled “The Shadow Game EP,” on Runaway Train Records.   Mandatory Fun guest: Doc Todd is combat veteran who proudly served our country as a Fleet Marine Force Corpsman (combat medic) in the United States Navy. Since Doc’s honorable discharge in 2009, Doc moved to Atlanta and worked at restaurants and a premier hospital, while he pursed his college education on the G.I. Bill. Doc graduated from Georgia State University magna cum laude with an undergraduate degree in studying Economics and Public Policy in 2014. He then joined Northwestern Mutual where he began to build a financial management practice, before pursuing his music. Doc resides in Atlanta with his wife Abby, two young daughters Savannah and Audrey, and dog Memphis, who Doc rescued shortly after coming home from war. 2017’s Combat Medicine   Doc Todd’s Website Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Spotify Pandora Apple Music Amazon

Introducing This is War

How a comedian can go from Hollywood to Kabul

"It was like walking onto the surface of the moon," Graham Elwood says of his first experience walking off of a C-17 in Afghanistan. His experience was not unlike many of our own first times deploying to a far-off edge of the world. We take a long, long C-17 (or god help you, C-130) ride for seemingly endless hours. There are no windows. The plane is packed. Forget about an in-flight movie or looking out the window. And when you walk off, it's invariably the middle of the night and you and the hundred or so people you're with walk off the flightline in a single file. From there, who knows? There's a good chance the "hurry up and wait" has just begun. For civilians visiting war zones for the first time, it's no different – except they have no idea how to speak the acronym language. "They said 'When your bird hits the LZ, find your POC, they'll take you to the MWR tent then you can go to the DFAC,'" he jokes. "It's like... what are you saying to me right now, man?" Elwood is a Los Angeles-based comedian with appearances in comedy clubs across America, on college campuses, and even CBS' Late Late Show. He's also a veteran podcaster with shows like Comedy Film Nerds, and The Political Vigilante, and he's a co-creator of the Los Angeles Podcast Festival. None of that prepared him for performing for U.S. troops deployed in combat zones. His first documentary, Laffghanistan: Comedy Down Range, is about his first time volunteering to go do just that. It's amazing how fast you can go from playing the Hollywood Improv to playing Bagram Air Base. For someone who admits he's pretty far removed from the Global War on Terror, it all came home to him when went around the small firebases of Afghanistan. It was his first time in helicopters, driving in unarmored vehicles on the ground in Afghanistan, and seeing minefields. It got real for him for him real fast. "What was said to me and what I've said to other comedians," he says. "Well don't go over there if you don't want to be changed. It will change you. You have no idea. This is no joke." Now that Elwood has done a number of these shows and tours around deployed military bases, he looks back at his first experience in this episode of Mandatory Fun. Nothing could adequately prepare him for performing a comedy act in Afghanistan. All the dive bars and sh*t holes he played as a young comedian is the best thing he could do to prepare. He was still freaking out but couldn't help but put himself in the shoes of young troops. "I'm here for two weeks," Elwood says. "and MY family is freaking out. Imagine them and  their families and how much they're freaking out." But they quickly realized that they need to be the comics. They were there for a reason: to give American troops fighting overseas a few laughs, a taste of a normal night, and a show to help ease their tension, even if it was only for a short time.   Mandatory Fun is hosted By: Blake Stilwell: Air Force veteran and Managing Editor Tim Kirkpatrick: Navy veteran and Editorial Coordinator Orvelin Valle (aka O.V.): Navy veteran and Podcast Producer Catch the show on Twitter at: @MandoFun and on our Facebook group.

How to survive any dangerous situation with these deadly skills

Clint Emerson is not your average U.S. Navy retiree. He's not your average anything and he never was. That might be why so many Fortune 500 companies want Emerson to not only speak at their corporate gatherings but also teach them how to survive some extreme circumstances. Emerson is a former Navy SEAL and the author of a number of books, notably "100 Deadly Skills: The SEAL Operative's Guide Eluding Pursuers, Evading Capture, and Surviving Any Dangerous Situation." He also wrote "100 Deadly Skills: Survival Edition" and "Escape the Wolf: Risk Mitigation Personal Security Handbook for the Traveling Professional." In his books, he covers everything from making a homemade taser to teaching your children how to handle themselves during an active shooter situation. No one needs to be a sheep among wolves when going about their daily lives – and Emerson wants you to know how to handle yourself. "Violence is not limited to bad guys," Emerson says. "Violence is okay for good people to activate and use against anything coming your way." He spent 20 years in the Navy as what he calls a "violent nomad." But it was a lifelong dream. In this episode of Mandatory Fun, he describes how a chance meeting in an airport with a man who claimed to be a SEAL altered the course of his life forever. But he wants you to be a violent nomad in the same way – he wants to make you self-reliant, able to self-rescue, and help others in any given situation, be they natural disasters, man-made crises, or medical emergencies. And you can do it without hiring him and his consulting firm to show you what "violence of action" means. "This kind of violence of action can save your life," he says. "You just need to know how to turn it on." Mandatory Fun is hosted By: Blake Stilwell: Air Force veteran and Managing Editor Tim Kirkpatrick: Navy veteran and Editorial Coordinator Orvelin Valle (aka O.V.): Navy veteran and Podcast Producer Catch the show on Twitter at: @MandoFun and on our Facebook group.  

5 of the biggest changes coming to the US military

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, the gang comments on some of the biggest coming the U.S. military will face in the coming days. Because external challenges are easy for a fighting force like ours, the internal struggles are the ones we really want to talk about. These affect not only the troops themselves, but potentially their families, friends, and morale as well. New physical standards for all The recent years have been huge for the military community in terms of change. The most important changes include who can join, who can serve openly, and how they can all serve. Even the service chiefs are trying to understand how this will affect everyone. Chief Petty Officer Selectees from Yokosuka area commands stand in ranks after a physical training (PT) session (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ben Farone)[/caption] Related: Mattis just finished his review of transgender troops But at a junior enlisted and NCO level, we know we're just going to deal with it, no matter what. Women are going to be in combat, along with transgender troops serving openly. What will the new fitness standards look like? Should there be a universal standard? Mattis is cleaning house The Secretary of Defense, universally beloved by all servicemembers of all branches, wants the military to become a more lethal, more deployable force. To this end, he wants to rid the branches of anyone who is not deployable for longer than 12 months. Defense Secretary James N. Mattis hosts with the Montenegro's Minister of Defence, Predrag Bošković for a meeting at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., Feb. 27, 2018. (DoD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)[/caption] Those numbers are significant, too. Experts estimate up to 14 percent of the entire military is non-deployable in this way, which translates to roughly 286,000 service members. It's sure to make any military family sweat. Okinawa's "labor camp" The Marine Corps' correctional custody units want to open a sort of non-judicial punishment camp on the Japanese island of Okinawa. The purpose is to give commanders a place to send redeemable Marine who mess up for the first time in their career. Brig Marines simulate hard labor during a Correctional Custody Unit demonstration Jan. 12 in the Brig aboard Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jessica Collins)[/caption] In the military, we joke (sometimes not so jokingly) about the idea of "turning big rocks into little rocks" when we talk about getting caught committing a crime while in the service. No one actually commits the crime they're joking about. But what isn't a joke is hard labor imposed by a military prison sentence. Now even troops with Article 15 can be forced to turn big rocks into little rocks. A new military pay raise Yes, the military gets a raise pretty much every year. Is it ever enough? No. Do they make what they're worth? Absolutely not. Is Congress even trying ? Sometimes it doesn't feel that way. Well, this year they're getting the biggest bump after nine years of waiting. Are they worth more? Of course they are. President Donald Trump lands at Berry Field Air National Guard Base, Nashville, Tennessee on Jan. 8, 2018. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Jeremy Cornelius)[/caption] Marine Corps blues face a real challenge For years (actually, decades), the Marines' dress uniform has been the unchallenged, drop-dead sexiest uniform in the American armed forces. Now they face a usurper that really does have a shot at changing their spot on the top of the ranking. Now read: 5 reasons the USMC Blue Dress A is the greatest uniform of all time Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey salutes the Anthem pre-kickoff during the Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field. SMA Dailey displayed the Army's proposed 'Pink and Green' daily service uniform, modeled after the Army's standard World War II-era dress uniform. (U.S. Army photo by Ronald Lee)[/caption] The Army is reverting to one of its classic uniforms from the bygone World War II-era: the pinks and greens. The decision was met with near universal jubilation from the Army (it was a golden age for the U.S. Army in nearly every way). Now former airman Blake Stilwell demands the Air Force develop its own throwback jersey. Mandatory Fun is hosted By: Blake Stilwell: Air Force veteran and Managing Editor Tim Kirkpatrick: Navy veteran and Editorial Coordinator Eric Mizarski: Army veteran and Senior Contributor Orvelin Valle (aka O.V.): Navy veteran and Podcast Producer Catch the show on Twitter at: @MandoFun and on our Facebook group.

6 military movies you need to watch in 2018

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, the crew discusses what military movies veterans need to see in 2018. Since all veterans have their own idea of what makes a good military movie, Blake, Tim, and even the new WATM contributor, Sean chime in what they think makes a solid war film. Is having a war film base on a true story more important than having epic explosions? Or a movie where the real heroes of the day play themselves make for a better cinematic experience? 1. 12 Strong Directed by Nicolai Fuglsig, the film chronicles one of the first Special Forces teams to deploy to Afghanistan after the attacks on 9/11. The SF team joins forces with the Afghan resistance and rides into battle against the Taliban on horseback. 12 Strong brilliantly captures how difficult it is for ground troops to work and fight alongside Afghan freedom fighters against the insurgents due to the language and cultural barrier. The film stars WATM friend Rob Riggle, Chris Hemsworth, Michael Pena, and Michael Shannon. 2. The 15:17 to Paris Directed by Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood, the film focuses on the American soldiers who discover a terrorist plot on a train headed to Paris. Interesting enough, the three Americans who thwarted a terrorist attack play themselves in the film alongside actress Jenna Fischer — and we like Jenna Fischer.  3. Tough As They Come Starring and directed by Hollywood legend, Sylvester Stallone, the film tracks Travis Mills (played by Marine veteran Adam Driver), a quadriplegic soldier returning from Afghanistan after his horrific injury. Back in the U.S, Mills has to reconcile with his stepfather while coping with his new life using prosthetic legs and arms. You may recall that Mills' book was a New York Times bestseller. 4. The Last Full Measure Directed by Todd Robinson, the film showcases a Pentagon investigator who teams up with a few veterans of "Operation Abilene" to persuade Congress to award deceased Air Force medic, William Pitsenbarger the Medal of Honor 35 years later. Pitsenbarger is accredited with saving over 60 ambushed service members in one of the bloodiest campaigns of the Vietnam War. The film stars Sebastian Stan, William Hurt, and Samual L. Jackson. 5. Ruin Directed by Justin Kurzel, the film chronicles a nameless ex-Nazi captain who navigates the ruins of post-WWII Germany to atone for the crimes he committed during the war by hunting the surviving members of his former SS Death Squad. Gal Gadot is rumored to have a role, but additional information hasn't been released. 6. The 34th Battalion Directed and produced by Luke Sparke, the film follows four friends from Maitland, New South Wales who join the 34th Battalion to serve on the Western Front. The film depicts the experiences of the unit, which was recruited in 1916.

This is why it’s so damn hard to play a veteran, according to an actor

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, the crew speaks with standup comedian turned actor Tone Bell. Tone isn't a veteran, but as always, there's a connection. On the Netflix show Disjointed, Tone plays a veteran who has served on three Iraq combat deployments and now deals with the everyday struggle of veteran issues. To play the role, Tone prepped for multiple levels of PTS, the process of veteran transition, the culture of cannabis, all while bringing his comedic charm to the character. These hot topics would send the average actor running toward the next potential part, but this comedian believes this role only made him a better thespian. Since Hollywood doesn't have the best track record of getting the veteran characters right, we tend to become very harsh in our criticism — which we're entitled too. "[The role] it took a toll on me as a person in my day-to-day life," Bell admits. Since Disjointed Part:1 debuted on Netflix, Tone has received numerous amounts of support from the veteran community for finally getting the role right and not going over-the-top with his performance. "You just want to get it right," Tone Bell says. "You want people to appreciate it and not go 'bullshit' that's not the way it happened."  

We showed a civilian how to be a vet, here's what we got

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we speak with standup comedian turned actor Tone Bell. Tone isn't a veteran, but he plays an Army veteran with multiple combat deployments under his belt and now who deals with everyday veteran issues like PTS and transitioning out of the military on the Netflix show Disjointed. You may remember Tone from a few other shows he's been on like 9JKL, The Flash, Truth Be Told, and Bad Judge with Kate Walsh. Disjointed' s producers and creative minds went to great lengths to develop his character and to get the veteran portion right. One of his character advisors on the show is WATM's resident Green Beret Chase Millsap.  In the show, "Carter" works as a security guard in a marijuana dispensary at Ruth's Alternative Caring owned by Ruth Feldman (played by Kathy Bates). To play the role Tone spent countless hours prepping the character by talking with veterans throughout his creative process and combed through the script alongside Chase. In the event, Tone reads a portion of the script where he felt the "Carter" character felt synthetic — he'd immediately voice his concerns with the producers. Tone receives several direct messages daily on social media from veterans who respect how he has portrayed the veterans on the screen. This notion promotes that aspect that showcasing veteran issues in a witty and comedic way is possible without the actor going too over-the-top with their performance. This process unique process of prepping for a role will hopefully create a trend throughout the entertainment space. All of Disjointed's episodes are currently streaming on Netflix — so check it out. It's freakin' hilarious.

This Green Beret will change what you know about action movies

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we speak actor, TV host, and former U.S. Army Green Beret Terry Schappert. You may remember Terry from the popular History Channel show Warriors, and now, Hollywood Weapons on the Outdoor Channel with Israel Defense Forces reconnaissance man, Larry Zanoff. Terry was a Special Forces Team Sergeant who happened to serve alongside WATM's own Chase Milsap. Hollywood Weapons gears up to take on the most insane challenges to tactfully reproduce our favorite action stunts to break the myths that movies want you to believe are humanly possible. From breaking through the glass of a Nakatomi Plaza window in Die Hard to blowing up Jaws' replica Great War shark with a single shoot — this show attempts them all by using only practical effects. "I have to make those real shots, with those real guns, under real conditions." — Terry pridefully states. The show breaks every down using high-speed cameras to catch all the little details audience members often miss as the movie's action sequence fly across the screen. Although the show is entertainment based, the talented and creative minds behind Hollywood Weapons have a unique way to educate their loyal viewers by scientifically breaking down what it would take to pull off our favorite stunts in the real world. Before the show started, Terry graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a degree in Anthropology, as well as being a classically trained actor, all while serving in the Army. "I remember I had to stop training, so you could go to an audition," former Army Green Beret officer, Chase Milsap humorously recalls.

This is why your next business book should be a military field manual

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we speak with U.S. Navy SEAL veteran turned entrepreneur Eli Crane. You may have seen Eli pitch his business Bottle Breacher on the hit TV show Shark Tank. Eli's appearance landed him a partnership with celebrity businessmen Mark Cuban and Kevin O'Leary. Eli stopped by our show to talk about what military strategies he uses to run his multi-million dollar business. "A lot of the tactics that we use on the SEAL teams actually work really well in business," Eli Crane states. "When you make some of the correlations in battle, you have the enemy, in business, you also have an enemy, but we usually call them the competition." Bottle Breacher is one of the fastest growing veteran owned and operated businesses in Arizona. Eli and his wife Jen dove into the Shark Tank with their sole product of the recycled, authentic decommissioned .50 caliber Bottle Breacher, manufactured in a one car garage. Having enticed Sharks’ Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary to invest, today they feature an ever-expanding product line serving customers both domestically and internationally. Bottle Breachers aims to provide the best handcrafted, personalized man-gifts, groomsman gift, and corporate/promotional products on the market. Through their success, Crane's company has donated to over 200 non-profits in the last year alone, providing us the opportunity to support military veterans, active military personnel, first responders, children’s foundations and various other non-profits. "At the end of the day, we do a lot more than bottle openers. What we really specialize in is man gifts." — Eli states. As a kid, Eli always looked up to those who served in the military and decided to join a week after the terrorist attacks on 9/11.  On his second attempt, Crane graduated BUD/s with class 256 and then was later assigned to SEAL Team 3 under legendary American Sniper Chris Kyle.

How unconventional tactics won the battle for Ramadi

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we speak with Scott Huesing, a retired U.S. Marine Corps Infantry Major with 24 years of service as an enlisted and commissioned officer. During his career spanning ten deployments, he operated in over 60 countries worldwide. Throughout his numerous deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa he planned, led, and conducted hundreds of combat missions under some of the most austere and challenging conditions. Before the Marines on-the-ground could consider fighting an unconventional war, they first had to demonstrate using unconventional tactics to fight the War on Terror in Iraq — that's exactly what retired Marine Scott Huesing did. "When I say "unconventional," I was willing to think outside of the box to some degree," Scott Huesing states. "If there was a Marine, soldier, sailor, airman, contractor that had a rifle, knew how to shoot it, I didn't care. If they wanted to come out in the combat zone and fight with us, that was an enabler." The Marine veteran is a published author since 2005. His upcoming book, Echo in Ramadi, is a ten-month snapshot in time that changed the face of operations on the battlefield; a captivating story of Echo Company, 2d Battalion, 4th Marines during the Second Battle of Ramadi in support of the Multi-National Forces (MNF) Surge Strategy in 2006. His true-life account provides keen insights into what may be an unfamiliar world to readers, but very familiar to those, like Scott, who lived it and endured this historic fight.  Echo in Ramadi was written to honor the sacrifices and spirit of his Marines and the families they supported – his way of honoring and paying tribute to troops he served next too.

Navy SEAL: No, the military does not destroy your creativity

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we speak with poet, activist, filmmaker, actor, and Navy SEAL veteran of 22 years, Mikal Vega. Mr. Vega joined the Navy at 17, entered the EOD profession for roughly nine-years, deployed multiple times throughout the world in support of a few SEAL teams when he decided that's what he wanted to do with the rest of his career. At 28, Vega earned a spot on the SEAL teams and added a few more tours of duty to his already impressive resume. After being honorable discharge in 2012, Vega started a nonprofit called Vital Warrior, providing Kundalini Yoga for veterans, first responders, and active duty service members. But, this wasn’t enough for this motivated sailor. Mr. Vega went on to express his creative side by entering the world of film and television and now serves as a military advisor on the hit NBC military-drama The Brave. As veterans, we hold a surplus of talents and personal creativity that we can draw from our unique military service and experiences. Like many combat vets who are fans of narrative filmmaking, Vega uses his in-depth training to bring the realism of combat tactics to the screen. NBC's The Brave focuses on a group of elite Special Operatives who embark on the most challenging and dangerous missions around the world to save the innocent lives behind enemy lines. During his service, Vega held many positions such as a SEAL Platoon Leading Chief Petty Officer, Personal Security Detail Shift Leader, U.S. Navy SEAL Combatives Instructor, U.S. Navy SEAL Demolitions Instructor and Senior Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician. He holds many awards, including the Purple Heart for injuries sustained during Operation Iraqi Freedom, two Bronze Stars with combat valor, Army Achievement Medal for Operation Joint Guardian Kosovo and the Navy Achievement Medal. Vega’s qualifications include, but are not limited to, Navy SEAL, Senior EOD Technician (Bomb Squad), Breacher RSO, HRST Master, free fall parachutist, U.S. Secret Service, Presidential Security Detail Operations, combat leadership, precision driver, dynamic firearms, SCUBA and closed circuit diving supervisor, Cold Weather Environment Survival, demolitions instructor and martial artist. Following his lifelong passion for acting, he used his career successes to fund Vital Warrior, a system that increases performance and resiliency through non-pharmaceutical stress mitigation techniques that can help veterans and their families recover from wartime trauma. He was recently elected as president of AK Waters Productions and has acted in film and television productions that include “Transformers 4” and “Hawaii Five-O,” among others. Vega lives in Los Angeles with his wife, daughter, and son.

Military brats are highly skilled at reading people and bad situations

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we speak with respected book author, speaker, publisher, and Vice President of Production at Warriors, Inc — Julia Dye. Warriors, Inc. is a unique organization that provides technical advice to the entertainment industry.  Mrs. Dye is the daughter of a World War 2 bomber pilot and is married to Hollywood’s drill instructor Capt. Dale Dye — who is featured in episode 37 of the Mandatory Fun podcast. Although growing up as a military brat has its issues, the advantages can form several unique traits within the individual. "Many of them speak more than one language, know more cultures, have seen more of the world, which is great for any kid," Julia said. Julia's book titled Through My Daughter's Eyes is a one-of-a-kind, much-needed look at what it means to come of age in a military family today. Book Excerpt: Dad wasn’t feeling the emptiness like we were. He was busy, I’m sure, fighting the war and leading his soldiers. You're probably wondering what it's like over there, so let's see if I can make it real for you, like it was for my dad. Start by finding the vacuum cleaner. Pop that sucker open and grab the dust bag. OK, now pour that over your head. Get it good in your nose and eyes. Hit yourself in the chest and make sure that you cough up a good cloud. It’s a start. I'm sure you think it's hot, and yeah, that's true, during the day. At night try walking over a frozen rock garden. Fun, no? You have to walk over that to get to the bathroom in the dark. And the during-the-day hot isn't like a warm summer day, even here in Texas. Think living inside a blow dryer. On high. While wearing a suit of armor. We’re getting closer. Oh, yeah, and while all that is going on, people are trying to kill you. While you are breaking into their houses. To follow Mrs. Dye work feel free to check out her website warriorspublishing.com and follow their nonprofit organization Our Military Kids. Our Military Kids grants pay fees for athletic, fine arts, and tutoring programs.

This Army veteran's book focuses on the stories of the 'Frontline Generation'

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we once again speak with Army veteran, national speaker, and acclaimed author of the 2017 Independent Publishing Award-winning book The Frontline Generation: How We Served Post 9/11 — Marjorie K. Eastman. Marjorie is also an accomplished executive and operational professional with over 20-years experience in leading people and various organizations. Her award-winning book began as a personal memoir for her son. Marjorie's goal was to capture the lessons and inspirations she learned serving beside men and women who represent the very best of what it means to be American — the 1% of the population in the military. She respectfully identifies this group as the Frontline Generation and notes that it is an untapped reservoir of leaders who have been strengthened by their Post 9/11 service. [2:00] Here's the reason why this acclaimed author decided to join the military. [7:25] Marjorie explains how she received her direct Army officer commissioning. [11:50] What gave Marjorie the motivation to move forward and write her now acclaimed book. [16:10] The story behind why Majorie smiled at a drill sergeant during boot camp [20:30] What helps define a strong female presence in a leadership position. [25:00] What veteran stories Marjorie loves to tell during her public speaking events. [31:15] The complete explain behind the story "Yes, man. No, man."

How the US Air Force tricked CSAF McPeak into staying in the military

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we talk to former Air Force Chief of Staff, General Merrill A. McPeak, who served as a military adviser to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council, and the President. He’s also a career fighter pilot with more than 6,000 hours under his belt, including time as a solo pilot with the elite Thunderbirds. The General currently has three books out, Below The Zone, Roles and Missions, and Hangar Flying, about his time being ringside during one of the most tumultuous moments in recent history: the Vietnam War, where Gen. McPeak was an attack pilot and high-speed forward air controller.

How the Vietnam War shaped the modern day US Air Force

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake speaks formerAir Force Chief of Staff General Merrill A. McPeak who served as a military adviser to the secretary of defense, National Security Council, and the president. He’s also a career fighter pilot with more than 6,000 hours under his belt, including time as a solo pilot with the elite Thunderbirds. The General's book Hangar Flying is about his time being ringside during one of the most tumultuous times in recent history as an attack pilot and high-speed forward air controller over Vietnam. In this episode, we talk on a wide-range of topics including: [1:35] The Mandatory Fun crew introduces General McPeak and his epic resume. [4:00] How allied troops managed to set traps on their North Vietnamese enemy. [7:00] The general discusses what it was like kicking off Operation Desert Storm. [10:30] The reasons behind why air doctrine changed since the Vietnam War ended. [13:45] The general breaks down the stats of the fighter pilots who have been shot down. [21:00] What it's like flying in an Air Force air show in front of political VIPs. [28:50] What influences the general had on Ken Burn's PBS Vietnam documentary and what it was like working with the filmmaking legend. [34:35] How the Air Force attempts to retain it's outstanding and well-trained fighter pilots. [35:30] What things the general loved about being a fighter pilot. [45:15] The importance of having nuclear weapons on station.

How playing cowboys and indians prepared this commander for war

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake speaks once again with Jimmy Blackmon, the author of Pale Horse, a book about his time commanding an Army aviation task force with the 101st Airborne Division at the height of combat in the Afghan War. Set in the very valleys where the 9/11 attacks were conceived, and where 10 Medals of Honor were earned. These are the stories of the pilots behind the lethal Apache helicopters who strike fear into the heart of their enemies as they work with medevac crews who risk their lives to save their fellow troops. Jimmy was also in the area when Pvt. Bowe Bergdahl decided to go for a stroll in Afghanistan. In this episode, we talk on a wide-range of topics including: [1:45] Jimmy humorously explains why he decided to join the military. [5:50] How growing up in Georgia prepared Jimmy for a career in the Army. [7:55] This is how playing Cowboys and Indians as a child helps develop skills for combat operations. [11:45] Jimmy compares his life as an enlisted soldier to growing up in Georgia. [13:45] The difference between situational awareness to situational curiosity. [15:05] The combat rules of flying vs. the combat rules on the ground. [17:15] The most challenging aspect of war according to a pilot. [24:30] How pilots develop skills to read the enemies' intention from high above. [27:50] How the enemy uses their terrain and weather to combat allied forces. [30:10] Jimmy's coolest memory from the battle at Observation Post Bari Alai [35:00] What Jimmy's been doing since exiting the military.

The best qualities about veteran entrepreneurs that investors love

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we talk to veterans Mike Lui and Buck Jordan from RMR Laboratories, an over-the-counter cannabis pharmaceutical company about the best qualities investors love in veteran entrepreneurs. RMR Laboratories produces cannabinoid oil that's applied as a topical cream to relieve pain and other medical ailments. Mike served in the Army for eight-years and deployed to Iraq where he led teams that helped rebuild the country by setting up its first democratic elections. Buck served also served in the Army a but as an officer and Blackhawk Pilot. After exiting from his military service, he began working as a venture capitalist and now is an RMR Laboratory investor. [1:55] Mike's unique career path from college, through the military, and into the cannabinoid industry. [4:13] Buck tells us how about his military service and what businesses he's helped build from the ground up. [7:03] We get a solid explanation of what the business term "quick exit" means and how we can get in front of other venture capitalists for investments. [9:25] They answer the tough question: How do you know if you are ready for a VC? [12:30] How being deployed helped Mike's business sense flourish. [16:10] What key aspects investors look for in startup companies. [18:25] What factors the military instills in veterans that potential investors highly respect. [20:00] The different types of investors you should know about. [24:14] What projects/ideas VCs are interested in investing into [29:00] What traits and characteristics veterans have that investors love the most.   For more information about RMR Laboratories and/or are interesting in investment opportunities click here.

These vets may have the answer to the future of cannabis pharmaceuticals

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake speaks with Army veteran turned co-founder and CEO of RMR Laboratories, Mike Lui, about his over-the-counter cannabis pharmaceutical company. RMR Laboratories produces cannabinoid oil that's applied as a topical cream to the skin for pain relief and to treat other medical alignments. Mike served in the Army for eight-years and deployed to Iraq where he led teams to help rebuild the country by setting up its first democratic elections. Even our WATM podcast producer O.V (who suffers from arthritis in his knees) tried out the CBD lotion. "It tingles," O.V. humorously states. "But it [his knees] feels better." [1:14] An introduction to RMR laboratories' CBD lotion that's designed to treat chronic pain. [3:20] The population of who using this new CBD based lotion and the immediate results. [5:45] Why and how Army veteran Mike Lui decided to enter the cannabis market. [8:45] Why some veterans wish cannabis treatments were more accepted the general population and the image behind its use. [10:15] Some interesting statistics on cannabis use in America. [12:36] Reasons why RMR is different than any other cannabis pharmaceutical companies. [13:20] Mike answers the ultimate question, "if I use this lotion, will I get high?" [16:25] Some of the challenges in operating a start-up cannabinoid company. [17:40] The cost of using this new and inventive product and how to get more involved with RMR labs. [19:00] The RMR team answers your Facebook questions. [20:45] Will you pop "dirty" on a drug test? [21:00] What the future could hold for cannabinoid product users and manufacturers. [23:40] The RMR lab team members speak out their final thoughts. For more information about RMR Laboratories and/or are interesting in investment opportunities click here.

How Bergdahl’s stroll in Afghanistan affected a unit's operations

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake speaks with Jimmy Blackmon the author of Pale Horse a book about his time commanding an Army aviation task force with the 101st Airborne Division at the height of combat in the Afghan War. Set in the very valleys where the 9/11 attacks were conceived, and where 10 Medals of Honor were earned. These are the stories of the pilots behind the lethal Apache helicopters who strike fear into the heart of their enemies as they work with medevac crews who risk their lives to save their fellow troops. We get an understanding of how warriors learned selflessness and found the closest brotherhood they ever known through the crucible of war. Jimmy was also in the area when Pvt. Bowe Bergdahl decided to go for a stroll in Afghanistan. "Every soldier out there has a mom and dad that loves them and they all make stupid mistakes at some point," Jimmy humorously states. "Thank goodness I didn't decide to go for a walk in Afghanistan." In this episode, we talk on a wide-range of topics including: [1:25] Jimmy's reaction to the controversial Pvt. Bowe Bergdahl's sentencing. [5:00] These are the predicted events that might occur if Bergdahl did receive jail time. [6:55] Jimmy explains went he meant in by writing the chapter in his book, "the plan begins to unravel," [10:55] How Operations Officer Jack Murphy worked with a team of Chinooks and Black Hawks on the battlefield. [14:00] What was going on in the troop's mind when Bergdahl decided to abandon his post. [18:00] This is the average timeline to begin a search for a missing troop on deployment. [22:00] Jimmy's final thoughts about all the service members that are still affected by this case.

How to stay fit and not get fat after you get out of the military

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Tim, and O.V.  speak with Army veteran and fitness expert Jennifer Campbell on what veterans can do during their busy day to stay in shape when going to morning PT isn't an option. "Veterans have a 70 percent higher chance of developing obesity than the general public," Jennifer Campbell says. The reason for this statistic is due to the change is a service member daily habit. The majority of the veteran community have been known to cease fire on their work out plans which creates a negativity jolt the body's system. In this episode, we talk on a wide-range of topics including: [2:00] The daily regiment of a fitness instructor to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but still staying "loose." [2:40] Information about the growing fitness trend between troops and professional athletes called "Merging Vets & Players." [4:50] Some positive traits of working out versus taking certain medications. [6:20] What "Overtraining Syndrome" consists of and how to avoid it. [10:00] How structured dieting and workouts are necessary for those looking to get into the fitness industry. [11:40] How to properly test your genetic makeup. [13:25] If you want to cheat on your diet — a.k.a. cheat days — here's how to do it the right way. [18:20] What you can learn about yourself from your genetic markers. [19:20] Important tips how to stay in shape while working in an office space setting. [23:20] Some dietary buzz words that freak everyone out.  [30:25] How we can stay looking young using our new health and fitness tools. [34:45] What type of alcohol we should be drinking if you're trying to stay in shape. 

How to see those never-before-published 'Terminal Lance' comics

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake speaks with Marine veteran and "Terminal Lance" creator Max Uriarte about his newest projects and other current events. Related: 'Terminal Lance' creator talks about the Marine Corps and the future of his comic "When I first started 'Terminal Lance' I was convinced I was going to get my sh*t pushed in," Max humorously explains. "I knew I was going to get in trouble. I was waiting for that phone call." Soon, Max was releasing hundreds of “Terminal Lance” comics covering a wide range of topics, including military customs, the most popular (and the most disgusting) MREs, long-distance relationships, and other aspects of life in the Corps. His latest book "Terminal Lance Ultimate Omnibus" delivers the complete collection of Abe's shenanigans. It features over 500 serialized comics published on terminallance.com, with additional comics previously published only on the Marine Corps Times newspaper, and new, never before published comics. The Omnibus will also include Uriarte's signature blog entries and previously unpublished bonus material. The "Terminal Lance Ultimate Omnibus" hardcover book will be available April 24, 2018. We also discussed Uriarte's new podcast "After Action," a show about national security, military life, and other random bull—t, according to Uriarte. It's co-hosted with Paul Szoldra, the founder and editor-in-chief of the popular military satire site Duffel Blog. You can listen to After Action on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn. Uriarte joined the Marine Corps in 2006 as a 0351 Marine Assaultman and was stationed at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Uriarte deployed to Iraq twice with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom between 2007 and 2009. During Uriarte's four years of enlistment in the Corps, he served as SMAW Gunner, Team Leader, Squad Leader, .50Cal Gunner, Combat Photographer, and a Combat Artist. In 2010, Uriarte started the hit comic strip "Terminal Lance," which soon became the single most popular comic strip in the military. In 2016, Uriarte released the world's first graphic novel about Iraq, written and illustrated by an Iraq veteran, called "The White Donkey: Terminal Lance." The "White Donkey" was independently published in February 2016 and was a massive success. Within 72 hours of its release, it was picked up by publisher Little, Brown & Company for smash publication on April 19th, 2016. Hosted By: Blake Stilwell: Air Force veteran and Managing Editor Tim Kirkpatrick: Navy veteran and Editorial Coordinator Orvelin Valle (AKA O.V.): Navy veteran and Podcast Producer  

How post-9/11 vets are bringing new life to the American Legion

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake speaks with Army veteran Jennifer Campbell who is currently the Second Vice Commander of the American Legion Post 43 in Hollywood, Ca. Recently, Jennifer and the commander of Post 43, Fernando Rivero were featured in a Wall Street Journal article about how they engineered a plan to bring some fresh energy to the post. The young veterans of the post managed to fuse and honor old military traditions with the new generation of combat veterans. In this episode, we talk on a wide-range of topics including: [1:05] Jennifer states why she decided to join the Army after growing up in a Navy family. [4:00] We talk about the path on how to join the leadership of an American Legion. [9:50] Insightful advice for other post-military organizations that are struggling to stay afloat. [11:23] Jennifer briefly explains "Operation the First Reformational Congress" is all about. [15:30] We get an update on the modern and exciting renovations legendary Post 43 is getting. [17:00] The new post modifications features a new state of the art one of these... [18:30] Jennifer makes a list of all the film productions and celebrities associated with the post. [20:20] Jennifer tells us the spooky inside history that happened in the historic legion. Hosted By: Blake Stilwell: Air Force veteran and Managing Editor Tim Kirkpatrick: Navy veteran and Editorial Coordinator Orvelin Valle (AKA O.V.): Navy veteran and Podcast Producer  

The best military movies by service branch

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Tim, and O.V. talk with stand-up comedian and Marine veteran Mitch Burrow about what their favorite military movies are broken down by branch. Everyone loves to watch movies from all genres. Veterans and service members have a unique connection to military films for various reasons other than great characters and storylines. In this episode, we talk on a wide-range of topics including: [0:55] Mitch humorously plugs monster energy drink for sponsorship and advises how to avoid drinking sip cans on accident. [4:10] Who was more badass? Maverick or Iceman from "Top Gun." [4:37] What scene in "Top Gun" made Mitch go straight to Mach-3 and our favorite Navy movies. [6:30] Our take on the only thing the film "Hurt Locker" got right. [11:30] What Army movies our considered our all-time favs. But not Army movies in Vietnam like Blake tried to get us to talk about. [15:11] We create the perfect list of Marine Corps movies that are freaking epic [21:00] How awesome "Generation Kill" is and if you haven't watched it you're wrong. [23:24] How difficult it was to watch and finish "Jarhead 2." Long story short, it was tough. [25:15] What we loved the most from "Heartbreak Ridge." [28:00] The best Air Force movies ever made. [30:30] Then lastly, we funnel in our short list of favorite Coast Guard films. Mitch is a Marine Corps veteran that served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. He then started a career in manufacturing before realizing that it sucked. Now, Mitch has found his true calling in acting silly on a stage in front of strangers on a nightly basis. To follow Mitch or check out one of his shows visit his website: Mitchburrow.com.

The real-life dictator who ruined his country and became a cannibal

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Tim, and O.V. talk with stand-up comedian and Marine veteran Mitch Burrow about a communist Army cadet, a cannibal dictator and make a smooth segway into Ken Burns' Vietnam documentary. General Idi Amin dethroned the government of Milton Obote and declared himself President of Uganda. During his 8-years of ruthless leadership, its estimated he massacred approximately 300,000 civilians. Then its rumored, the Ugandan president was a closet cannibal and like munch on human remains. In this episode, we talk on a wide-range of topics including: [1:10] The WATM crew discuss the Army cadet who is reported to be of the communist party. [3:35] Mitch and Blake attempt to create a list of historical dictators that weren't considered dicks [5:45] Blake talks about the dictator of Uganda who decided one-day to start eating people. Yew. [6:35] Mitch puts in his two cents on why capitalism is better than communism. [8:11] Blake attempts a smooth segway into discussing Ken Burns' Vietnam documentary on PBS. [11:55] We break down who was fighting for who during the Vietnam War. [14:00] Mitch makes a humorous statement clearing the air about his Marine Corps aspirations. [19:15] Tim plugs his new WATM article franchise about what movies characters are doing after the credits roll. Mitch is a Marine Corps veteran that served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. He then started a career in manufacturing before realizing that it sucked. Now, Mitch has found his true calling in acting silly on a stage in front of strangers on a nightly basis. To follow Mitch or check out one of his shows visit his website: Mitchburrow.com. Hosted By: Blake Stilwell: Air Force veteran and Managing Editor Tim Kirkpatrick: Navy veteran and Editorial Coordinator Orvelin Valle (AKA O.V.): Navy veteran and Podcast Producer

These fantasy benefits would make being a vet so much better

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Tim, and O.V. once again speak with stand-up comedian and Marine veteran Mitch Burrow about what fantasy benefits vets would love to receive. We asked Mitch what fantasy benefits or one law he would love to get exempted from, his response wasn't surprising for a Marine Corps veteran. "Murder. I would kill so many people," Mitch humorously states. "Do you know how clear the [highway] 405 would be? I wouldn't have been late today." Also Read: How to kidnap Marines — according to a combat training role player When service members exit the military, they will receive an essential document nearly as important as their birth certificate — the DD-214. Veterans won't be able to file for any monthly compensation or post-service healthcare until they have the paperwork in hand and are registered at the V.A. Contact your local Veteran Service Officer for more details. In this episode, we talk on a wide-range of topics including: [03:07] Mitch Burrow's new podcast with Mike Cummings on iTunes called "What if." [04:50] Mitch's second podcast is a comedic show about politics called "We're with them." [07:25] Voice acting on the popular military comedy series "Action Figure Therapy." [12:20] Tim's tip on how to get your medical records current years after getting out of the military. [15:45] Some quick thoughts on veteran health care. [18:00] What law would we all love to be exempt from? Mitch is a Marine Corps veteran that served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. He then started a career in manufacturing before realizing that it sucked. Now, Mitch has found his true calling in acting silly on a stage in front of strangers on a nightly basis. To follow Mitch or check out one of his shows visit his website: Mitchburrow.com. Hosted By: Blake Stilwell: Air Force veteran and Managing Editor Tim Kirkpatrick: Navy veteran and Editorial Coordinator Orvelin Valle (AKA O.V.): Navy veteran and Podcast Producer

The military superpower veterans have but sometimes fail to use

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Tim, O.V., and Blake speak with The Marine Rapper a.k.a. TMR about all the A-level training our service members receive but don't capitalize on it when they get out. Every veteran's journey after the military is different. While some of us pursue the career along the lines in which the military trained us for, others take a different path and sometimes fall short of their full potential. "They [veterans] have a set of skills, they have leadership abilities, and there is so much more we can do," Blake passionately states. "Granted, I'm a writer, and I have five degrees, and none of them have to do with writing." A veteran finding his or her purpose is essential to life outside of the military. So when did TMR decide to become a rapper after serving the Corps? "When I started getting better at it," TMR jokingly admits. "In the Corps, I wasn't at the level I am now. If you've ever surfed the internet looking for military rap songs, chances are you've come across the unique sound of "The Marine Rapper." Known for sporting a red mohawk and wearing an American flag bandana, TMR served 10 years in the Marine Corps as a Combat Correspondent where he earned a Combat Action Ribbon and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals during his service. After successful tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, TMR left the Marine Corps in February 2014. After entering back into civilian life, TMR began focusing on music as a profession and for cathartic expression.

How Taco Bell influenced a rapper to become a Marine

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake speaks with The Marine Rapper a.k.a. TMR about how he went from wrapping tacos to rapping music lyrics. "I joined the military because I was working at Taco Bell and ironically as a [taco] wrapper," TMR recalls. "I wanted more, so I became the manager. I'm going to do the same route as the [Taco Bell] founder did and become a Marine." If you've ever surfed the internet looking for military rap songs, chances are you've come across the unique sound of "The Marine Rapper." Known for sporting a red mohawk and wearing an American flag bandana, TMR served 10 years in the Marine Corps as a Combat Correspondent where he earned a Combat Action Ribbon and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals during his service. After successful tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, TMR left the Marine Corps in February 2014. After entering back into civilian life, TMR began focusing on music as a profession and for cathartic expression. The Marine Rapper 's Action Figure is a bouncy, hyper, fast-paced journey that chronicles the making of his identity. Each song is accompanied by a music video that will be released weekly on YouTube starting Sept. 29. TMR's Action Figure will be available for purchase on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Tidal and everywhere where digital music is sold Sept. 29. In addition, a limited run of signed physical copies and merchandise will be exclusively available on TMR's website: themarinerapper.com  

How to kidnap Marines, according to combat training role player

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake speaks with Kelvin Garvanne about his life as an Arabic/Iraqi role player who took training U.S. ground troops to a whole new level — even conducting mock kidnapping scenarios. During these training drills, Marines are "killed" (taken out of play for a period of time) or held hostage by the role players if they're caught off on their own. "We kidnapped Marines," Mr. Garvanne explains. "One of the things we wanted to do in real time was capture a Marine." Before U.S. forces deploy to a foreign region like Afghanistan, pre-deployment training is conducted in environments similar to the terrain in which they'll be exposed. Since the landscape and elevation of 29 Palms almost mirrors that of Afghanistan, Marines are sent there to partake in Mohave Viper — an intense, five-week long training course. The Marines live there for the scenarios and receive cultural training from experts — immersing themselves in war games against native speaking role players for an all-out showdown. These highly supervised training scenarios are considered the best exercises troops can receive as they live in enormous MOUT (military operation urban terrain) areas built to reflect life in Afghanistan. Kelvin Garvanne attended the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. He is an Emmy award-winning creative artist who is fascinated by the world and enjoys investigating the context of national and world events. Garvanne is a native New Yorker who has lived in Washington, D.C., Bogota, Colombia, Madrid, Spain, and Los Angeles, California. He has traveled through several countries including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, Panama, Mexico, and Haiti. For the last nine years, he provided Islamic culture and Iraqi and Pashto language training to military and civilian personnel deploying overseas. Garvanne continues to develop opportunities to advise and train military and civilians positioned in careers involving global service. He also develops creative projects to expose the human condition.

These are the Hollywood actors who train our troops for combat

Role players are an essential element for troops preparing to travel overseas and face-off with the enemy. They provide a cultural boost immersing troops in a violent world in which they're about to deploy. Role players submerge themselves into training scenarios commonly setting up mock firefights, ambushes, and suicide bombings — all for the troop's benefit. In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake discusses with Kelvin Garvanne about his life as an Arabic/Iraqi role player for U.S. ground troops heading into combat. For the last nine years, Garvanne has provided Islamic culture and language training to military and civilian personnel deploying overseas. "A role player is basically there to interact with the battalion's training," Garvanne explains. "There are different levels on how you can interact. We were all characterized as 'meat puppets' which were basically folks who were just there to do whatever was told of us to do. " These mock up firefights consist of loud gunfire (blanks), firework explosions and a Hollywood makeup team to create realistic blood and guts. Garvanne attended the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. He is an Emmy award creative artist who is fascinated by the world and enjoys investigating the context of national and world events. Garvanne continues to develop opportunities to advise and train military and civilians positioned in careers involving global service. He also develops creative projects to expose the human condition.

These simple luxuries can make your next deployment tolerable

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Tim, and Chase speak with stand-up Mitch Burrow about what simple luxuries we wished we had while on deployment. Mitch is a Marine Corps veteran that served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. He then started a career in manufacturing before realizing that it sucked. Now, Mitch has found his true calling in acting silly on a stage in front of strangers on a nightly basis. Being forward deployed without the amenities that service members are used to from back home can suck. While some military branches have chow halls with an all-you-can-eat menu, others are forced to eat highly-processed foods from heavy duty plastic bags — a.k.a. MREs. Although we wish for the most part that life would be the same while deployed, it's the simple things in life service members miss the most. So what unique and simple amenity would Marine veteran and stand-up comedian Mitch Burrow liked to have had while deployed? His answer was simple. "A data plan." — Mitch To follow Mitch or check out one of his shows visit his website: Mitchburrow.com.

How an aspiring sergeant major became a stand-up comedian

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Tim, and O.V. speak with Mitch Burrow, a funny burly-guy who went from being a Marine to becoming a stand-up comedian. When we join the military all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, we have sort of an idea of what we want to do with our lives — but we change our minds dozens of times before landing a career that we hopefully love. Mitch is a Marine Corps Veteran that served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. He then started a career in manufacturing before realizing that it sucked. Now, Mitch has found his true calling in acting silly on a stage in front of strangers on a nightly basis. So why did Mitch decide to jump on stage and be a comedian after getting out of the Marines? "I love stand up comedy, so I was like you know what? If this is working at a party or a social group, let me try it on stage," Mitch humorously recalls. "So I drove down to San Diego to the comedy store in La Jolla and had three shots of tequila, and I drank a couple of Budweisers then I got on stage. I've been told it went pretty good."

How drunken shenanigans earn fighter pilots their callsigns

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Shannon, Tim, and O.V. discuss the interesting process of how Air Force officers receive their callsigns. In the military, callsigns are considered much more than just a name, rather a perfect representation of the airmen's personality. The Air Force holds "naming nights" for young pilots where their fellow service members put potential callsigns on a wall that relate to a specific story. Then on the night of the naming ceremony, the pilot being "named" sits in front of everyone as they come up one-by-one and explain the story behind their purposed callsign. "It's kind of like a roasting," Air Force veteran Shannon Corbeil humorously explains. "This is where you get to make fun of your friends." Although the other branches use callsigns, they don't typically go as far as having a roasting ceremony to narrow down the potential names.        

These are the wars we'd fight in if we had a time machine

In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Chase, Tim, and O.V. discuss what role we'd like to serve in during any war. Many veterans today are so intrigued by military history, they've considered what war they feel like they missed out on. Although when (hypothetically) given the opportunity to change from their real life MOS to whatever occupation they wanted, the podcast crew surprisingly decided to stick to their original area of expertise. "I would still select the Navy, and it would be during World War II on a battleship like the USS Iowa," O.V. proudly stated. As it turns out, everyone reverted to what he knows best. Blake, a combat camera veteran with the Air Force, chose to be a combat cameraman but also opted to serve during World War II. "If I were going to go back and be a combat cameraman, I would want to land at D-Day," Stilwell said. "I wouldn't mind dying as long as my footage got back that's the whole point.

5 perks that will help you win your time in the military

We did not join the military for the fabulous pay. If pay were the only motivator, we'd all go somewhere else. Most vets will have you believe that he or she joined because it's their patriotic duty. While that may be part of the reason, Blake Stilwell's alcohol fueled honest answer sums it up for a lot of the troops: "At 18, and with my only experience being a sea food cook, I don't know where I was going to go," Stilwell said. "It was either the Air Force or 'Deadliest Catch.'" Referring to the popular Discovery show about king crab fishing off the coast of Alaska. There's more to the salary we make in the military; there are tons of advertised benefits. From cash bonuses to the G.I. Bill, the military takes care of its own. And then there are the little-known advantages of service life — the perks. In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Chase, Tim, and O.V. discuss their favorite perks of service life.

This is the World War II film Dale Dye wants to make with a cast of veterans

Dale Dye wants to make the "air version" of Saving Private Ryan, and he wants to film it with as many military veterans as possible.   "If you think of the first 18 minutes or so of Saving Private Ryan," Dye said. "This will be that but airborne. This will be guys coming out of those aircraft and sky full of tracers."   Dye wrote the script for "No Better Place to Die" from a story he'd studied during his active duty days. He felt the story perfectly exemplifies what Americans troops can do when they come together after everything goes wrong.   It's about the 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers during the D-Day invasion and their contribution to winning the war. If it weren't for these troops, the German's may have pushed the allied beach invasion back out to sea, according to Dye.   While the filmmaking world knows him as Hollywood’s drill sergeant, Dye has reserved the director's seat for himself.   "Given what I've done in my 30-year career the only way this going to get done right, the only way this is going to blow people right out of their seats is if I direct it because I know how," Dye said. "I know how to do this cool."   As for hiring veterans, Dye is looking to fill on and off camera roles to make a filmmaking statement.   "My absolute promise is that I'm going to make this movie with as many veterans in front of the camera and behind the camera as I can find, Dye said. "That's the way I'm going to do it. I'm hoping that it will serve as a showcase to Hollywood. It will show them the talent that's out there and what these folks can do. What they bring to the table and how motivated they can be, and I want to demonstrate that."

Officers and enlistees confess the best and worst about each other

Historically, the military has relied on clearly defined bounds of acceptable interaction between the officer and enlisted ranks to maintain good order and discipline. It is a long-standing custom that dates back hundreds of years and has proven itself effective time after time. But not everyone feels it's custom worth holding on to. "I think there should not be a difference between officer and enlisted ranks," said former Air Force officer Shannon Corbeil. "I believe we should all reach rank based on experience and accomplishment." On the other hand, Chase Millsap — another former officer — believes the military should maintain its coarse because officers bring a higher lever of maturity only accomplish through higher learning and training. However, Blake Stillwell and Tim Kirkpatrick — two former enlistees — argue that the stupid partying and immatureness is what officers experienced during college. In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, two former officers and enlistees confess the best and worst about dealing with each other while in active service.

What we learned from working with Iraq and Afghan locals

Green on blue attacks — attacks by Afghan soldiers on Coalition forces — are one of the many dangers our troops in the Middle East face every day. These deadly morale-sapping attacks are difficult to predict and leave lasting negative trust issues between the locals and American forces. As many as 91 incidents resulted in 148 Coalition troops killed and as many 186 wounded between 2008 and 2015. In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Marine infantry officer turned Army Green Beret Chase Millsap, and our Navy corpsman smartass Tim Kirkpatrick share their experiences working with the locals. Millsap with the Iraqi Police and Kirkpatrick with the Afghan National Army. As you'll listen, their experiences differ.

10 things that will change the way you look at grunt officers

Grunt officers get a bad wrap when they arrive to their first unit. Like any newbie, "Butter Bars" — military slang for 2nd Lieutenants — have to earn the respect of their men despite their rank. Related: These legendary military officers were brilliant (and certainly crazy) But it doesn't stop there, there's added pressure from the other officers higher in the chain. When Chase Millsap a veteran officer of both the Army and Marine Corps infantry got to his first unit, he received a warning call from the other Os.   "There wasn't even like a welcome to the unit," said Millsap. "It was like 'you are a liability, you are going to screw this up for the rest of us. If you think you have a question, don't ask it.'"   It was a well timed warning and every new officer needs that grounding phone call. There's a tremendous amount of pressure coming out of the infantry officers course and these guys are ready to fight — "they are gung-ho," according to Millsap.   In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast Tim and I ask Millsap everything we ever wanted to know about Grunt officers. Here are 10 questions we asked: How do you get into the Naval Academy? What are some popular tattoos with grunt officers? What kinds of nicknames do officers give each other? Do officers mess with new officers? How did you know when you earned the respect from the men you lead? Do officers make stupid purchases after deployment? What is it with officers and safety briefs? Do officers get extra attention from the enlisted troops at the base gate? Do officer rely on the intelligence of the Lance Corporal Underground — the E4 Mafia? What's the Lieutenant Protection Association (LPA)?

How Navy corpsmen and Army medics work together in the field

Rivalries are nothing but tough brotherly love between military service branches. Sure, we give each other a hard time but put us on any mission together, and we become an unstoppable force. Army medics and Navy corpsmen are a perfect example of service branch cooperation. When they work together, they save lives. For this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we invited former Army medic Ruty Rutenberg to chat with our resident corpsman about deployment responsibilities. Tune in to learn the differences between their jobs on the field and in garrison.   Disclaimer: Let's be honest — we only work so well together because we're secretly trying to outdo the other side.

5 Air Force legends with incredible stories you need to know about

Hundreds of heroes have emerged through the ranks of all service branches with remarkable stories of courage and selflessness. And while some stories are well known, the ones we talk about in this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast are seldom told. You'd think these stories are made up, such as in the case of airman Snuffy, or propaganda ploys to recruit more troops. Either way, every service member should know about these Air Force legends and their badassery. Here's a brief description of our heroes for reference: Col. Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr., the Tuskegee airman who almost shot Muammar Qaddafi. Chappie was already a legend before calling out Qaddafi in 1968 having served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Sgt. Maynard “Snuffy” Smith, the original airman Snuffy. Despite being an undiciplined slacker avoided by everyone, rose to the challenge in the face of certain death to save his crew. Douglas W. Morrell, the combat cameraman who lived the entire history of the Air Force. Eddie Rickenbacker, the racecar driver-turned airman who broke all of the Air Force's records. Charlie Brown, the B-17 Flying Fortress pilot who was spared by German ace fighter pilot Oberleutnant Franz Stigler. These two rivals became close friends after meeting in 1990.

20 stupid questions about the Coast Guard we always wanted answers to

It's common for the four major military branches — the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Army — to work together, but seldom do we share missions with the Coast Guard. But it wasn't always this way. While the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security, there have been instances when it fell under the Department of Defense. In actuality, the U.S. Coast Guard gets passed around a lot. In addition to the DoD, it has also fallen under the Department of Treasury, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of the Interior. So, it isn't hard to imagine why some service members get confused when it comes to the Coast Guard. For this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we invited fellow coastie and We Are The Mighty contributor Mary-Elizabeth Pratt to answer questions about the Coast Guard we've always wanted answers to but were too afraid to ask for fear of looking stupid.

A corpsman's advice to ISIS militants who fake injuries to get out of jihad

Bad back, knee sprains, and other injury claims ISIS militants are using to scam out of duty are child's play compared to excuses deployed by the finest members of the E-4 Mafia. "For starters, headaches and stomachaches are rookie excuses," says Tim Kirkpatrick, a former Navy corpsman and newest member of the We Are The Mighty Team. "There's no way to diagnose these 'chief complaints' because they're subjective." As a veteran with multiple deployments, Tim has heard every excuse in the sick call commando's manual and can tell you what works and what doesn't. "A Marine rarely gets out of a hike," he says. "He has to be dead or dying to get out of it, but there are ways." In this episode of the "Mandatory Fun" podcast, Tim and reformed members of the E-4 Mafia — your hosts, O.V. and Blake — divulge their 'skating' tips to ISIS fighters looking to file a proper jihad-ache. Hosted by: Blake Stilwell: Air Force veteran and Senior Contributor Tim Kirkpatrick: Navy veteran and Editorial Coordinator Orvelin Valle (AKA O.V.): Navy veteran and Podcast Producer

What you need to know about the Navy SEAL Trump picked for his cabinet

New York Times best-selling author of “American Sniper” Scott McEwen joined us to discuss Ryan Zinke, the co-author, and subject of his latest book “American Commander.” McEwin teamed with Zinke — a former SEAL Team Six Commander and the only US Navy SEAL in Congress — to write a book about the now-politician’s life. Zinke is also Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of the Interior. Zinke’s military career began in 1985 when he graduated from Officer Candidate School and attended SEAL training (BUDS class 136). He was first assigned to SEAL Team One in Coronado, California, then was later selected for SEAL Team Six where he was a Team Leader and a commander. As McEwin tells it, after a decade of service, Zinke was assigned as Deputy and Acting Commander of Combined Joint Special Operations for Operation Iraqi Freedom where he led a force of over 3,500 Special Operations personnel. In 2006 he was awarded two Bronze Stars. An author experienced in telling the stories of high-level special operators, McEwin goes on to explain how Zinke retired from active duty 2008 after serving 23 years as a Navy SEAL. Zinke later ran for Congress and was sworn into the House of Representatives on January 6, 2015, and became the first Navy SEAL in the House.

This is what happens to every state in a modern Civil War

After the turmoil generated from the recent presidential election, we were left to wonder if a second Civil War is possible and if so, how it would play out. Join us for an entertaining wargaming discussion in which every state declares war on each other. We talk about fighting tactics, how long it will last, and who the winners and losers are. Read the original article "Here's what would happen if every US state declared war on each other" by Jon Davis, a Marine Corps veteran who writes about the military, international defense, and veterans' welfare and empowerment.

The reason why Russia fears 330 Marines

Norway recently invited 330 U.S. Marines to its country for winter warfare exercises and Russia went all nuclear over it. Frants Klintsevitsj, the deputy chairman of Russia's defense and security committee, said on national TV that a nuclear strike was on the table over the Devil Dog deployment. But how much damage can 330 U.S. Marines and their personal gear do? We did a little research, and it turns out Russia's response might have been spot on. Join us for an entertaining discussion of Marine Corps history and learn about its fearsome reputation.

Spooky military ghost stories and urban legends

There's a lot of death in the military; that's what happens in wars — people kill each other. Whether it's by partaking in the fighting or as a result of collateral damage, it is inevitable. According to popular myth — mostly what we've watched during all those Halloween specials — people become ghosts by suffering a violent or unfair death. By this reasoning, bases and battlefields are gold mines for spooky military ghost stories. Join us for a ghostly episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast where we explore the lost souls and vengeful spirits roaming military bases and battlefields in the afterlife.

This is what happens when you ask Rob Riggle to the Marine Corps ball

Marine Corps veteran Rob Riggle joins us for a hilarious conversation about his transition to acting, what he thinks about celebrities at the Marine Corps Ball, and how he advocates for veterans.

These are the weapons you need to know about at AUSA 2016

The Army's hard-charging chief of staff Gen. Mark Milley is making big changes to the Army, and this year's annual Association of the U.S. Army conference features the weapons and technology to make his vision a reality. From kamikaze drones to dream vehicles, here's our favorite gear from AUSA 2016.

3 incredible Medal of Honor stories that will blow your mind

For over a decade, actor Stephen Lang has performed a one-man show based on the real-life stories of eight Medal of Honor recipients. The play has taken him to U.S. military bases and ships around the world performing for the troops and even before the people he portrays. Recently, footage from his performances was stitched together for the film "Beyond Glory." For this episode of the Mandatory Fun Podcast we invited Lang to discuss "Beyond Glory" and three Medal of Honor stories from the film.

What every boot needs to know before partying in the Middle East for the first time

If you've ever moved to a new city or transitioned to a different school as a kid, you may have experienced culture shock. The ordeal could be disorienting, but it probably wasn't long before you made new friends and adjusted to your environment. Now amplify that times 100, that's what it's like for some troops visiting foreign countries for the first time. In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we discuss why partying in the Middle East is so darn hard.

How some famous military celebrities spent their time in service

Before they were big-name celebrities, the veterans on this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast were everyday Joes in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Some — like Montel Williams — were among the those who made full careers out of their time in service. Others were not cut out for the military and were eventually kicked out. Regardless of their experience, one thing's for sure — their military careers didn't determine how famous they'd become after the service.

Why a new sidearm replacement is a big deal to the troops

Firearms technology has advanced by leaps and bounds over the last 20 years. While civilians and law enforcement have taken advantage of new designs, the military hasn't been as quick to adjust. In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast we discuss the military’s plans to find a pistol replacement, the role of today’s battle rifles, and why ammo matters. Hosted by: Blake Stilwell: Air Force veteran and Managing Editor Tracy Woodward: Benevolent smartass and Social Media coordinator Orvelin Valle (AKA O.V.): Navy veteran and Podcast Producer Guest: Christian Lowe: Executive Editor at We Are The Mighty

The origins behind some of the best military nicknames

A nickname is a revealing character indicator. Whether it's bad or badass, it's usually determined by peer evaluation unless there's an obvious appearance quality. In this episode of the WATM podcast, we discuss our favorite military leader nicknames and how they earned their labels. Some leaders wear it with pride, while others resent their moniker.

This is how the US will respond when World War III erupts

With the conflicts in the Middle East and America’s tumultuous relationships with Russia and China, it’s not hard to imagine the final chapter in the World War trilogy. While fighting a conflict on the World War scale won’t be fun, there’s sure to be plenty of fireworks. Luckily, America and NATO-affiliated countries have prepared for such a scenario. In this episode of the We Are The Mighty podcast, we discuss which American forces will be the first on the scene when World War III erupts.

What you need to know about North Korean threats

For the past 40 years, the United States and South Korea participate in a joint military training exercise simulating a war against the Communist north. The exercise mobilizes around 20,000 U.S. and South Korean troops in land, sea and air maneuvers. In return, North Korea typically responds with missile launches and nuclear tests — increasing tensions and the potential for conflict on the peninsula. In this episode of the We Are The Mighty Podcast Mark Harper and Shannon Corbeil — two former Air Force officers — share their experience with these war games and what you need to know about the threat from the DPRK.

The wars that could break out in the next 4 years pt. 2

Now that the conventions are over and Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are the official presidential nominees for their respective parties, how will the incoming Commander-in-Chief handle the turmoil around the world? Will America be led down the path of imminent war, or will the new president avoid these chaotic scenarios? Join us for part two of the potential wars that could break out in the next four years.

Let's talk about America's rocky 'frenemy' relationship with Russia

America's relationship with Russia wasn't always as bad as it is now (or was during the Cold War). Thanks to help from Czarist Russia, for example, England had a tough time controlling the colonial rebellion during the Revolutionary War. And who can forget the alliance with Stalin during World War II? In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, our hosts explore the on-again, off-again relationship with the Ruskies. 

The wars that could break out in the next 4 years

The incoming Commander-in-Chief has a full plate of foreign and domestic issues come January 20th. His or her first term is filled with potential flare-ups around the world. Some include the usual suspects, like Iran and Russia but also some newcomers. In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, our veteran hosts discuss the potential wars our next Commander-in-Chief will have to avoid or engage. 

Every warrior should have this PTS healing experience

Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) can be a debilitating condition and often referred to as the silent killer of veterans. Alarmed by the 22 veteran suicides per day statistic, Jake Clark founded Save A Warrior, a warrior-led healing experience to save active duty service members, veterans, and first responders from committing suicide and improve their lives. In this episode of the We Are The Mighty podcast Jake Clark and Raychad Vannatta—Save A Warrior's executive director—stop by to discuss their mission and tactics for curbing PTS.

These legendary military leaders were brilliant (and certainly crazy)

The thin line between brilliant and crazy cliché couldn't be truer than for the generals and admirals in this entertaining episode of the We Are The Mighty podcast. While they accomplished incredible feats and heroics on the battlefield, they have another side the history books leave out. Hosted by: Logan Nye: Army veteran and associate editor Blake Stilwell: Air Force veteran and managing editor Tracy Woodward: Benevolent smartass and Social Media coordinator Orvelin Valle (AKA O.V.): Navy veteran and Social Media editor

How the Gurkha warriors of Nepal became so feared

The Gurkha warriors of Nepal are fearless soldiers who famously serve in the British and Indian militaries. Their reputation for bravery, fighting ability, and heroism dates back to the Middle Ages. Staff Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw of the Indian Army, once said, “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gurkha.” A fitting statement for a force who’s motto is, “better to die than to be a coward.”

Sebastian Junger: How tribal connection may be the key to our psychological survival

New York Times bestselling author Sebastian Junger dropped by We Are The Mighty to discuss his latest book “Tribe.” Here’s what the publisher says about the book: Through combining history, psychology, and anthropology, “Tribe” explores what we can learn from tribal societies about loyalty, belonging, and the eternal human quest for meaning. It explains the irony that—for many veterans as well as civilians—war feels better than peace, adversity can turn out to be a blessing, and disasters are sometimes remembered more fondly than weddings or tropical vacations. “Tribe” explains why we are stronger when we come together, and how that can be achieved even in today’s divided world.

The insane Vietnam War adventures of legendary sniper Carlos Hathcock

Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Hathcock is a Marine Corps legend and one of the most lethal snipers in history. His incredible true-life war stories are the stuff Hollywood movies are made of. In this episode of the We Are The Mighty podcast we talk about his sniper duels, that time he crawled two miles to kill a Vietnamese general, and more. Don't miss this episode of a real American badass. Hosted by: Logan Nye: Army veteran and associate editor Blake Stilwell: Air Force veteran and managing editor Tracy Woodward: Benevolent smartass and Social Media coordinator Orvelin Valle (AKA O.V.): Navy veteran and Social Media editor

What we learned about the French Foreign Legion

In 1831, King Louis Philippe of France expanded his country’s fire power by establishing a military branch made up of mostly foreigners: the French Foreign Legion. Immediately after its creation, the Foreign Legion recruited fighters from Switzerland, Germany, and other countries to protect and expand the French colonial empire. Despite the Foreign Legion’s involvement in most of France’s wars since being created, the French don’t get too bummed about their losses. Let’s just say, their relationship is complicated. In this episode of the WATM podcast, the editorial team discusses France’s bizarre relationship with its force of foreign fighters.

The best military movie characters of all time

Whether they inspired you to join the military or remind you of your time in service, one thing is for sure: there's probably a movie character that resembles you or a buddy. Just like in real life, some are lovable, some are righteous, and some are just plain evil. In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we talk about our favorite characters from iconic military movies. Whether you agree or not, tell us about it in the Mandatory Fun Facebook group. 

7 amazing badass war prisoners who defied their captors

Imagine being a prisoner of war (POW) at the height of a major conflict. You’re hundreds of miles away from the closest allied territory and thousands of miles from home. Are you prepared for months or years of hardship and torture? Will you give into being a propaganda prop in exchange for food and better treatment? Will you plan an escape? In this episode of the WATM podcast, the boys of the editorial team discuss how a handful of badass war prisoners handled their captors and made the best out of their terrible predicaments.

Max Uriarte on the future of ‘Terminal Lance’ and making movies

The creator of the military counter-culture comic strip “Terminal Lance”—Max Uriarte—is the guest for this week’s podcast. Max leads a busy life these days. He just published his much anticipated graphic novel “The White Donkey,” he’s working on building an animation studio, and he continues to publish his wildly popular comic strip. This episode delves into the origins of the Terminal Lance universe, Max’s film aspirations, and his reasons for getting serious in the “White Donkey.” As usual, the show is hosted by: Logan Nye: Army veteran and WATM Associate Editor Blake Stilwell: Air Force veteran and WATM Managing Editor Orvelin Valle (AKA O.V.): Navy veteran and WATM Social Media Editor

Noah Galloway talks about joining the ranks of 'American Grit'

Noah Galloway is a veteran who sustained injuries in an IED attack on his second deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. He lost two of his limbs and sustained severe injuries to his right leg and his jaw. Like many disabled veterans, Galloway became withdrawn, out of shape and depressed. The former fitness fanatic and athlete was drinking, smoking, and sleeping his days away. But late one night, Galloway realized that there was more to him than the injuries. He walked out of his room realizing that he was setting the example for his boys of what a man is. And for his little girl, the example of how a man should act and it terrified him. He needed to make a change, and he needed to do it fast. He joined a 24-hour gym and started eating right. He participated in obstacle races and adventure races around the country, such as Tough Mudder, Spartan events, Crossfit competitions plus numerous 5K and 10K races. Now a personal trainer and motivational speaker, Galloway doesn’t take excuses from his clients, fans, or followers – and finds ways to get things done. Galloway was a season 20 participant of Dancing With The Stars, in which he took third place following his appearance on the cover of Men's Health Magazine and numerous other publications. Most recently Noah joined WWE Superstar John Cena and three other veterans on American Grit, a military-inspired show on the Fox Network that splits 16 of the toughest men and women into four teams as they work together to face survival challenges. It's Galloway's job to push his team of civilians to work together and to go beyond their limits. The show airs Thursday, April 14th at 9/8 central on Fox.

Keeping up with Bryan Anderson

Bryan Anderson is an Iraq War veteran turned model, actor, motivational speaker, book author, and more. He achieved all of these noteworthy accomplishments while being a triple amputee. Bryan enlisted in the Army in early 2001 and shipped out to his duty station on September 11, 2001. He served two tours in Iraq as an MP (Military Police) Sergeant before being injured by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) that resulted in the loss of both legs and his left hand. He was awarded a Purple Heart and spent over a year rehabilitating at Walter Reed Hospital. Bryan's story has received extensive media coverage including features in Esquire Magazine and articles in major publications, such as LA Times, New York Times, and Chicago Sun. He appeared in the HBO documentary, Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq with the late James Gandolfini, CSI: NY, The Wrestler with Mickey Rourke, and American Sniper with Bradley Cooper. Bryan is an upbeat and enthusiastic veteran who enjoys life and all its challenges. His energy is contagious, and his outlook on life is inspiring. You will not walk away listening Hosted by: Logan Nye: Army veteran and WATM Associate Editor Blake Stilwell: Air Force veteran and WATM Managing Editor Tracy Woodward: Benevolent smartass and Social Media coordinator Orvelin Valle (AKA O.V.): Navy veteran and WATM Social Media Editor

What the OV-10 Bronco means in the fight against ISIS

Last week the U.S. Air Force tweeted to the world that it needs help naming its newest bomber, the B-21 Long Range Strike Bomber. (What could possibly go wrong?) Well ... we discuss the possibilities and provide examples where crowdsourcing failed. We also discuss the OV-10 Bronco's comeback and what it means in the fight against ISIS. And on a lighter note, we talk about which service branch we'd join knowing what we know about the military today. Hosted by: • Logan Nye: Army veteran and WATM Associate Editor • Blake Stilwell: Air Force veteran and WATM Managing Editor • Orvelin Valle (AKA O.V.): Navy veteran and WATM Social Media Editor

The US versus the world

Welcome to the first WATM podcast! This episode explores how the U.S. would fend off the rest of the world from a hypothetical invasion. Just imagine the shocking scenario where the U.S. pissed off China, Russia, Iran, and its traditional allies, such as the UK and France. Now imagine if these countries formed a unified coalition to attack the U.S. How long would the U.S. hold them off? Which tactics would it deploy? What role will its citizens play? The WATM editorial team discusses how this terrible idea would play out for the rest of the world. Hosted by bunch of vets who are easily entertained by weapons, tactics, and all things military: Logan Nye: Army veteran and associate editor Blake Stilwell: Air Force veteran and managing editor Tracy Woodward: Benevolent smartass and Social Media coordinator Orvelin Valle (AKA O.V.): Navy veteran and Social Media editor