by Travis Partington | Nov 25, 2017 | Podcast
I didn’t have any new insights for Thanksgiving this year. I still like my Thanksgiving story from Fort Bliss. Enjoy
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are enjoying time with family and friends.
Question of the Week
“Who did you vote for president?” I have been asked that by more people than anything else with Oscar Mike Radio. As I explained in the podcast, I don’t want to bring that into this show. Veteran’s advocacy is Oscar Mike. Which is to say it is On the Move and On Mission regardless of who is in the Whitehouse.
The Word
I talk about Thanksgiving as a Private First Class. 21 years ago, I was at Fort Bliss, Texas and it was my first Thanksgiving away from friends and family. A Sergeant and his wife asked a bunch of us Marines over for Thanksgiving dinner. It was a great to get off base and be spoiled for a little while on a day when were all missing home.
The POG and GRUNT Compliant Dept
They weren’t complaining so much this week as bickering what part of the turkey was the best. It doesn’t take them much to find something to argue over.
Unit Shout Out
This episode’s shout out goes to all active duty service members worldwide who can’t be with family and friends for Thanksgiving. I just want you all to know there are people out there who appreciate what you are doing for us everyday.
Upcoming Events
I wanted to get the word for out about Operation Wreaths for Veterans. It will be on Monday, December 5th. I don’t have a time yet for the event, but I will update Oscar Mike Radio once I have a start time. I think this is a good thing to do honor Veterans who are no longer with us. Click on the link below to get involved.
Just Checking In – Brockton, MA
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by Travis Partington | Nov 17, 2017 | Podcast
Jack (L) and Brian (R) talking about Veterans
November 8th, I was invited to come on the radio show South Shore News and Views on WVBF AM 1530 in Taunton, MA. SSN&V is hosted by Jack White, Bob Wisgirda, and Murray Vetstein. They had me on last year to do Oscar Mike Radio “Live” and it was an honor to be invited to come back on the show.
Joining me this was U.S. Navy Veteran Brian Hoffman. Brian served during the Vietnam war and had lived the post Vietnam experience. Currently is the Director for Corporate Relations for the The Children’s Museum in Easton (The Childrens Museum in Easton). It is always a pleasure to get to talk with another Veteran. Murray served in the U.S. Navy as well so this Marine felt right at home.
I learn a lot listening to older Veterans. Especially Vietnam Veterans who had a much different homecoming experience than Veterans do now. I feel it is important to get that perspective. Brian and Murray shared their views on the draft which were like mine.
Teamsters Local 653
Brian Hoffman had Brian McElhinney, Principal Office for Teamsters Local 653, (Teamsters Local 653 Website) call into to the show. We talked about how the Teamsters support Veterans hiring and other community outreach projects. So many times Unions seem to get nothing but negative press, so it was good to hear that a Veteran in Massachusetts could go to the Union after the military to look for work.
Brian Hoffman also thanked Brian McElhinney for the Teamsters support of Toys for Troops and the Children’s Museum in Easton. In both cases Teamsters Local 653 went above and beyond to help out with both efforts. It was good getting to learn about this.
Tim and Legend, Client Eastwood
In the second hour, Tim Montjoy from Operation Teammate called in to talk to us. Operation Teammate provides outings for children of military and first responders who are deployed. This allows Operation Teammate to craft events that provide mentorship opportunities to the children that attend these outings. Tim also talked about how the athletes are moved by the opportunity to show these children what hard work and dedication to education and sport can do for their future. To find out more, got to http://www.operationteammate.org/
This was my second year doing this with WVBF AM 1530 – South Shore New and Views. I love radio, and getting to be on with Jack, Bob, and Murray is a treat. South Shore News is one of many programs on WVBF AM 1530. You can get the complete list of shows and more information on http://www.hometowntalkradio.com/
See you all next year!
The oldest & second oldest interns in the world!
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by Travis Partington | Nov 10, 2017 | Podcast
The issue with NFL players kneeling during the Star Spangled Banner took another turn for me personally when members of the New Orleans Saints decided to kneel during the Star Spangled Banner in London, but stand for God Save the Queen. I felt it was disrespect at its worst because now protest was being highlighted on a world wide stage. I won’t get into all my feelings about the protest at this time, but suffice to say it did not make me happy. So much so that I have not watched the NFL or worn Saints attire since that moment.
So it was with a bit of surprise that I read about U.S. Navy Commander Ret. John Wells, who turned down accepting the People’s Health Champion Award from the New Orleans Saints. I think for me the issue was magnified by the Saints’ reaction, who called Commander Wells’ reaction “divisive”.
As I started reading more about his Navy career, I realized that what he did in turning down the award is only a small part of who John Wells is. You can read his thoughts about why he chose to decline the award here The Hill Article – Why I chose to turn down the award
I say this because when I started looking at his organization – Military Veterans Advocacy (http://www.militaryveteransadvocacy.org/) that I realized that John has been bringing the fight to a whole different kind of battlefield you may not see in the movies or a video game.
John was a Surface Warfare before studying to become a lawyer. After he retired from the Navy, he moved to Louisiana, and started Military Veterans Advocacy. According to their website,
“Military-Veterans Advocacy strives to provide comprehensive advocacy to protect the rights of current and former members of the military. Instead of engaging on single issues, Military-Veterans Advocacy is committed to moving forward on several fronts to protect the rights of service members and veterans.
There are four core principles to Military-Veterans Advocacy, Inc.’s plan of attack: (1)Litigation, (2) Advocacy, (3) Training and (4) Education. This unique and successful broad brush approach maintains the “big picture” while serving the needs of the individual.”
John went over each principle during the podcast and we talked about the Sgt Bowe Bergdahl verdict. I asked John what he thought Veterans needed most and he said help with toxic exposure. I don’t want to give too much away here, but I learned a lot. There is a lot that has to happen to make the case in front of Congress so money and resources can be allocated for Veterans.
I created Oscar Mike Radio for times like these when I can learn from someone and show people what they are doing. John may be retired, but he is not done fighting. Thank you Sir.
To find out more about Commander Wells and Military Veterans Advocacy, check out these links
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by Travis Partington | Nov 4, 2017 | Podcast
From the AMVETS Post 61 Website
This week I had the pleasure of talking with Bill Adkins who is the 1st Vice Commander for the Department of Kentucky and the Commander for AMVETs Post 61. Tracy Hays is a Past Department President as well as a Past Local President. Her current role is serving as the National Executive Committee Woman for the Department of Kentucky and the Americanism Chairperson for Auxiliary 61. I felt like I was going to learn a lot about AMVETS and how Post 61 keeps the mission going in Louisville, KY. Bill and Tracy were great at getting me up to speed with what AMVETS does.
There are many veterans organizations out there. Most have strict rules about who can join and how they advocate for Veterans. For instance, someone in the Army cannot join the Marine Corps League, and I can’t join a VFW because I am not a combat veteran. Each organization is different in who they let join and what their mission scope is. This means that sometimes people who want to advocate or socialize in certain Veterans’ circles cannot.
This is where I learned that AMVETs is different. They have Auxiliary Units like the Ladies Auxiliary, AMVETS Riders and Sons of AMVETS as a way for family members and non military to get involved. AMVETS will work with state and local Veterans representatives or with Veterans directly.
It is also important to note that with over 250,000 dues paying members, AMVETS is one of the single largest Veterans Advocacy Organizations in the U.S. AMVETS leadership can be found testifying on Capital Hill on many different issues that affect Veterans. So if you want to get involved, you will be welcomed.
Go to http://amvets.org/ to find out more. I want to thank Bill and Tracy for their time, and can’t wait to have them back on to find out what else they are doing .
You can find Post 61 on their website – http://www.amvets61.com/.
The address is 9405 Smyrna Pkwy. Louisville, KY 40299
Phone: (502) 968-2161
Tracy asked me to post the following events for AMVETS Post 61
November 5th
Craft Show
Location: AMVETS Post 61
Time: 12-4 PM
All proceeds benefit the AMVETS Post 61 Scholarship Fund
November 11th
Annual Veterans Day Dinner
Location: AMVETS Post 61
Time: 5:30 – Program starts at 6:30 PM
Proceeds will go towards the Kentucky Veterans Trust Fund Homeless Veterans Program
ONGOING EVENTS
Dress for Success in which AMVETS collects gently used business or business casual clothing for the VA Medical Center in Lexington KY. They help homeless veterans with resumes, job skills, job interview coaching, etc, but they are in need of clothing for those veterans (men and women) to wear for their job interviews. They also need undergarments, socks, and shoes as well as coats, hats, and gloves this time of year. Anyone in the Louisville area, can email auxiliarypres@hotmail.com for more information.
AMVETS Post 61 is collecting unserviceable American Flags for proper retirement in a ceremony held in July. We have a drop box outside the post so anyone can bring them by anytime.
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