Tango Alpha Lima Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Congress”

Episode 251: What veterans should know about moving abroad

The American Legion — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Celebrating National Vet Girls Rise Day

THE INTERVIEW
Army veteran John Davis lives in the Dominican Republic, scuba dives, plays golf and works as a veteran advocate. In this episode, he shares what veterans need to know about the process to move abroad, what to do in advance, how to take care of their health care, mental wellness and much more.

SCUTTLEBUTT
New bill would make it easier for veterans who signed secrecy oaths for covert ops to obtain back benefits

A caucus of military veterans seeks to bridge the political divide in a polarized Congress

Marine recruit uniforms were photoshopped on at boot camp

Special Guest: John Davis.

Links:

Episode 248: Former Congressman still serving veterans

The American Legion — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0500

California Legion members standing strong and supporting communities devastated by wildfires.

THE INTERVIEW
Patrick Murphy, who joined the Army at 19, worked his way up to become the 32nd Army Under Secretary and America’s first Iraq War veteran to serve in Congress. Today, he continues to serve his brothers and sisters.

SCUTTLEBUTT
Happy Birthday Coast Guard
How Navy veteran Charles Sanna changed hot chocolate forever
Remembering President Jimmy Carter

Special Guest: Hon. Patrick J. Murphy.

Links:

Episode 243: How to help military families thrive

The American Legion — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 06:00:00 -0500

THE INTERVIEW
National Military Family Association CEO Besa Pinchotti talks about her family roots in Kosovo, and how her time as a journalist led to her advocacy for American military families. She also explains how NMFA helps meet the immediate needs for military spouses and children as well as advocate for legislation to make permanent changes to support military families.

SCUTTLEBUTT
Next year’s Congress will feature the most women vet members ever

Bronze Statue of Tuskegee Airman Found After Theft from Detroit City Park

Special Guest: Besa Pinchotti.

Links:

Episode 204: Tango Alpha Lima: With Honor Founder and CEO Rye Barcott

The American Legion — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 06:45:00 -0400

ASK US ANYTHING
How to “choose your own adventure” as a member of The American Legion.

INTERVIEW
Marine Corps veteran Rye Barcott, co-founder and CEO of With Honor, talks about how the cross-partisan organization works with the For Country Caucus, how they seek to advance veteran leadership in elected public service and the need to support our Afghanistan allies. .

SCUTTLEBUTT
Hamm gets the Slammer: Texas man sentenced in stolen valor case
Psychedelic Fast Track: MDMA approved for a fast-track review by the FDA
Celebrity Veteran: Serving in the Coast Guard a family tradition for a trio of Hollywood actors

Special Guest: Rye Barcott.

Links:

Episode 156: Tango Alpha Lima: "Interpreters Wanted" director Robert Ham

The American Legion — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

IN THE NEWS
VA and NIH launch study of Gulf War Illness.

THIS WEEK'S GUEST
Award-winning director and writer, Army combat veteran USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA program alumni and American Legion Post 43 member, Robert Ham joins us to talk about his feature documentary about Afghan Interpreters, "Interpreters Wanted," that will be released this spring on Vet TV.

RAPID FIRE
Mark Wahlberg is Not a Fan Of Tom Cruise Comparing His Work in Movie to Military Service
Air National Guardsman arrested after applying to be a hitman online to make some extra cash
Eagle Scout creates "Flags of Gratitude" memorial

Special Guest: Robert Ham.

Links:

Episode 148: Tango Alpha Lima: HillVets Founder and CEO Justin Brown

The American Legion — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500

IN THE NEWS
Jeff and Ashley talk about the new video game release from Steam Games. “Company of Heroes 3″ takes on a new facet of WWII history, and brings players into the battle between U.S. Forces, British Forces, Wehrmacht, and Deutsches Afrikakorps that ensued during campaigns in Italy and North Africa.

THIS WEEK'S GUEST
HillVets founder and CEO Justin Brown tells the origin story of how a networking event for veterans working in the Capitol has evolved into a veteran and military community helping one another in their pursuit of continued service in government.

Justin explains the leadership and fellowship programs, and how HillVets works with other VSOs to accomplish their mission.

RAPID FIRE
I'm a U.S. Marine turned Hooters girl - people thank me for my service... of their wings
Wisconsin post provides proper send-off to deploying commander
African Americans in USCG

Special Guest: Justin Brown.

Links:

Watch video of this episode on YouTube
Join The American Legion
New WWII video game drops players into Italy, North Africa campaigns
Action Center
HillVets | Serving Veterans & the Military-Connected in Washington D.C. — Our mission is to serve those who have served in their pursuit of continued service in government.
Be the One | The American Legion
I'm a U.S. Marine turned Hooters girl - people thank me for my service... of their wings | The US Sun
Wisconsin post provides proper send-off to deploying commander | The American Legion
African Americans in USCG | Legiontown U.S.A.
African American Chronology
(20+) American Legion Post 83 - Merced, Ca. | Merced CA | Facebook

Episode 135: Tango Alpha Lima: President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition with Rob Wilkins

The American Legion — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0500

IN THE NEWS
Jeff and Ashley get ready to reconnect with Ralphie, and discuss the midterm election, which yielded the largest increase of veterans heading for Capitol Hill since the Vietnam War.

THIS WEEK'S GUEST
The Honorable Rob Wilkins joins the podcast to kick off our health and wellness series and help motivate everyone to finish out the year strong.

Wilkins talks about his role on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, and stresses the importance of veterans leading the way in advocating for health and wellness in their communities.

RAPID FIRE
Chief select gives birth and Chiefs mess pins her at hospital
High school artists create cards to thank veterans
Online Exchange expands access for veterans

Special Guest: Rob Wilkins.

Links:

Episode 128: Tango Alpha Lima: Mission Roll Call Executive Director, Cole Lyle

The American Legion — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0400

IN THE NEWS
VA is doing a major overhaul of disability rating criteria and how they evaluate mental health and other conditions.

THIS WEEK'S GUEST
Mission Roll Call Executive Director Cole Lyle joins the podcast to talk about how his advocacy organization uses polling to give veterans a more direct voice in policy-making.

Cole talks about how Mission Roll Call engages with veterans and their focus on veteran suicide, access to care and amplification of underserved veterans such as women or those in rural and tribal communities.

RAPID FIRE
Auxiliary member's company helps deliver mobility to veterans
New York state commander promotes drive-by membership
A new home for Va. Post 139, and new homes for at-risk veterans

Special Guest: Cole Lyle.

Links:

Episode 94: Tango Alpha Lima: Honoring WWII WASPs with author and activist Erin Miller

The American Legion — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0500

IN THE NEWS
While they're geared up to reflect on the more celebratory side of Military Women's History Month, Jeff and Ashley begin by addressing a challenge to women in the military. Ashley shares a report about a concerning increase in reports of sexual assault at U.S. service academies during the 2020-21 academic year, to the highest number ever since DoD began closely tracking in the problem 2006.

THIS WEEK'S GUEST
Author and activist Erin Miller shares the story of her grandmother, Elaine Danforth Harmon, who served with the Women Airforce Service Pilots - or WASPs - during WWII.

When her grandmother's final wish to be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery was denied by the U.S. Army in 2015, Erin began a grassroots, social media and lobbying campaign to fight the decision and have a law passed to recognize the service of the WASP for inurnment eligibility at Arlington National Cemetery.

RAPID FIRE
Marine and nurse charged with fake vaccine card scam
VA propses changing disability ratings for mental health
'Call of Duty' can make you a better sailor or Marine

Special Guest: Erin Miller.

Links:

Episode 89: Tango Alpha Lima: 2022 Legislative Priorities with Lawrence Montreuil

The American Legion — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0500

American Legion National Legislative Director Lawrence Montruiel returns to celebrate the organization's legislative wins from 2021 and give a briefing on the Legislative priorities for 2022.

Special Guest: Lawrence Montreuil.

Links:

Episode 87: Tango Alpha Lima: SVA NatCon 2022 Recap

The American Legion — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Jeff and Ashley share some of their conversations with speakers, exhibitors and attendees during the 2022 Student Veterans of America National Conference at the Disney Coronado Resort in Orlando, Fla.

SVA President and CEO Jared Lyon talks about some of the highlights of NatCon 2022
Michael Hoherchak talks about the Travis Manion Foundation
Solomon Jennings talks about the Congressional Wounded Warrior Fellowship Program
Tamika Brown talks about the Library of Congress Veterans History Project
SVA Student of the Year finalist Fatima Jaghoori from Kansas State University talks about her SVA Chapter's connection to American Legion Post 17 in Manhattan, Kan.
SVA Attendees shout out their local American Legion posts

Special Guests: Jared Lyon, Michael Hoherchak, Solomon "Sol" Jennings IV, and Tamika Brown.

Links:

Episode 91101: Tango Alpha Lima remembers 9/11 with Past National Commander Richard Santos

The American Legion — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0400

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, newly-elected American Legion National Commander Richard Santos was on Capitol Hill, poised to brief Congress on The American Legion’s priorities for the coming legislative year. Then the first plane hit World Trade Center in New York, and the whole world changed.
Richard Santos was the national commander of The American Legion on September 11th, 2001.

Shortly after the attacks, he penned a message that still resonates two decades later.

“America continues to heal and it is our responsibility as veterans to tend to the wounds,” he wrote. “Some will panic about the future; we must reassure them. Some will weep over a lost family member or friend; we must hold their hands. Some will be angry; we must temper their rage.”

In this first episode of a special series of Tango Alpha Lima bonus episodes, our hosts visit with American Legion Past National Commander Richard Santos, who shares his memories of that moment and the months that followed as he represented the nation’s largest veterans service organization during a time of national crisis. 

Special Guest: Richard Santos.

Links:

Episode 65: Tango Alpha Lima: First steps for Afghan Interpreters, Pay the Guard, and GOMORs Galore

The American Legion — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0400

CV gets a surprise, then shares a story of positive first steps for Afghan Interpreters as Fort Lee prepares temporary housing for evacuees.

Ashley talks about the National Guard facing shutdown as Congress debates payment of the $520 million tab to reimburse the force for protecting lawmakers during its months-long Capitol Hill mission.

Jeff learns about GOMORs (General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand) and debates Fort Knox official issuing them as punishments for unvaccinated troops caught unmasked.

Rapid Fire: Battle Taxis, Ft. Hood looks for lost NVGs, Immigrant turned U.S. Army soldier competes in Olympics, and drones fired fro grenade launchers.

Links:

Episode 26: Tango Alpha Lima: GIBill.com, “The Pledge” unveiled in Arlington and Suicide Prevention news

The American Legion — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 13:30:00 -0400

CV is befuddled by VA losing rights to the GIBill.com website.

Ashley celebrates the unveiling of "The Pledge,” a new statue dedicated to women in the military and service dogs at The Women In Military Service For America Memorial.

Jeff shares the news of progress addressing Veteran Suicide:

The 988 National Crisis Hotline will go live in Fall 2021
The Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 includes mental health elements
More measures could be coming with agreements to fast track a package of 9 House bills related to veteran suicide (COMPACT Act) which includes VA mental health care services to ALL veterans, regardless of their discharge status

Rapid Fire
Vanessa Guillen death ruled "in the line of duty"
46 books on the 2020 Marine Commandant’s Reading List
World War II all-volunteer jungle fighters known as Merrill's Marauders will recieve Congressional Gold Medal
Army says viral video showing a soldier drinking Ocean Spray and lip-syncing Fleetwood Mac during parachute jump may be a safety violation.

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