Regular Infantry Guys Podcast

Brian Tally, a former SGT in the United States Marine Corps was severely injured due to the incompetence of several doctors and ER staff, at the VA hospital in Loma Linda, Ca. His misdiagnosis led to months of neglect and malpractice, that eventually nearly cost him his life. After nearly a year long battle with the VA’s General Counsel attorneys, Brian was denied compensation for his injuries, because the VA had concluded the accused physician was not a VA employee, but an “independent contractor” working within the VA. The VA also concluded that it’s not responsible, or accountable for the injuries and malpractice due to the current FTCA law / Contractor Exception. Brian is now on a mission to change the law to protect all veterans from unidentified “independent contractors,” and to ensure that VA is transparent and fully accountable.   Brian Tally Website

The epic story of the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, whose elite soldiers broke the last line of German defenses in Italy’s mountains in 1945, spearheading the Allied advance to the Alps and final victory. At the start of World War II, the US Army had two cavalry divisions—and no mountain troops. The German Wehrmacht, in contrast, had many well-trained and battle-hardened mountain divisions, some of whom by 1943 blocked the Allied advance in the Italian campaign. Starting from scratch, the US Army developed a unique military fighting force, the 10th Mountain Division, drawn from the ranks of civilian skiers, mountaineers, and others with outdoor experience. The resulting mix of Ivy League students, park rangers, Olympic skiers, and European refugees formed the first specialized alpine fighting force in US history. By the time it deployed to Italy at the beginning of 1945, this ragtag group had coalesced into a tight-knit unit. In the months that followed, at a terrible cost, they spearheaded the Allied

Every step of their journey there was one incident or decision that changed the direction of the outcome. Despite the physical, emotional and spiritual exhaustion, these small, yet conclusive, victories provided hope to persevere through the storms of life.   Operation Decisive Victory was founded to be that sense of hope for members of the veteran and first responder communities. Many times the ‘war at home’ is fought alone because civilians simply do not understand. This organization strives to work with government and private institutions alike to ensure the services provided for our military members are continuous and seamless for the individuals or families impacted.  There are no qualifiers, bureaucracy, limitations or red tape that will restrict us from assisting a veteran in need.   Operation Decisive Victory Website Link      

Chad Cole, a young US Marine Rifleman experiences the strains of the Marine Corps in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War. In a raw and looping narrative, Chad teaches the reader the importance of hearing and telling war stories from Vietnam and Desert Storm and also offers up his own experience with Lima Company 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines during Operation Peacemaker, the military response to the 1992 Rodney King Riot, in Los Angeles, California. By 1995 the young Sergeant leads a squad from 2nd Platoon, Lima Company 3/1, during Operation United Shield, the final United Nations withdrawal from "the dirty little war," of Mogadishu, Somalia. The author was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for Valor and the Combat Action Ribbon for his actions during United Shield. You can purchase his book from thedirtylittlewars.com and amazon/thedirtylittlewars Also, check out his veteran owned t-shirt company called Heavy Metal Thursday. 

The Warrior Reunion Foundation provides all-inclusive reunion experiences to reconnect units deployed to a combat theater together.   In May of 2010 the Marines of India Battery 3/12 deployed to the volatile Kajaki district of Helmand Province, Afghanistan. For the next 7 months they would be involved in daily contact with a well entrenched enemy force, while securing the critical infrastructure of the Kajaki Dam. With over 25% of the unit wounded and 5 Killed in Action, the men prevailed in the toughest fight of their lives together. Their deployment bonded them as family - brothers in arms - who would forever share a commitment to each other. In the years that followed many found themselves in a new fight: the fight to find their next mission in post-military life. The unit needed to face that challenge like they had all others: together. Five years after their return from combat India Battery renewed their commitment to each other. On Memorial Day Weekend 2015, the Marines of India Battery reunited, joined

SFC John Herbst joins me on this episode to discuss his reasoning for serving after 9/11 and how his deployment affects him to this day. He was honest and vulnerable during the conversation of what "eats" at him everyday and how his new purpose in life has helped him get back on the right track in life. You'll enjoy this episode and learn from struggles that we all go through at some point during our transition out of military service. Thanks for listening to his story. Pro Patria–For Country Ric 

Sergeant Mark Green served in the U.S. Army National Guard for 12 years. On his last deployment and upon his return home he was transitioned to the Army Warrior Transition Battalion where he underwent two surgeries and began his recovery. Encouraged to get up and out of his room by his cadre, Green began going to adaptive sports activities and was introduced to not only adaptive cycling, but now, Run For The Warriors Race Director, Robyn Womac, who at the time was the adaptive sports coordinator for the Battalion. Handcycling quickly became his outlet where he didn’t feel limited by his disability and gave him the opportunity to socialize. When he was faced with the news of having another surgery, Green was worried that he would have to give up his newfound passion. This was a fear Womac wouldn’t allow him to have. Not even a month after surgery, Womac moved Green from a recumbent bike to a handcycle that allowed him to still remain active despite his cast. Hope For The Warriors Details                       

On this episode I sit down with retired Army SFC Jay Lawrence. He talks about his tv channel Combat Zone 360 and his purpose behind it.    The purpose of Combat Zone 360 is to educate civilians and veterans alike. We are going to interview military recruiting branches, nonprofit organization’s for veterans, families of veterans, and veterans themselves. Links to his youtube channel: Combat Zone 360

Combat Veteran Justin Roswell chats about his upcoming MMA Bellator  220. He shares with us his drive for putting his body out there and how fighting helps his transition.   

Hope For The Warriors® launched Warrior’s Compass, powered by JobPath, a web-based employment search engine and career support hub designed to assist transitioning service members, military spouses and veterans with locating employment in the civilian community. Made possible by the support of Clayton Home Building Group®,  Warrior’s Compass is part of Hope For The Warriors’ transition services programming, offering resources for veterans starting new careers, as well as helping employers find qualified veteran or military spouse candidates.   As a national nonprofit, Hope For The Warriors assists veterans, service members and military families with a variety of programming, including clinical health and wellness, sports and recreation and transition services. Accessed by applying for services within the nonprofit, Warrior’s Compass offers a comprehensive range of resources including resume support, job training, military skills translation, candidate matching and structured mentorship from other veterans. It

Marine Combat Veteran Chad Russel shares his story with 3/1 Lime Company, the Fulluja Offensive, Post-Traumatic Stress and Post-Traumatic Growth.   “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.” - Thomas Paine

Combat Veterans Stan Lake and Daniel Charles are best friends who were deployed to Iraq together. They both had a vision (maybe not at the time) to make funny videos of while deployed to send back home to the families. Think of Jackass the tv show, but for military morale. This was long before Vet T.V. or any other famous veteran comedy platforms that we see now. They created a film that shares a story of laughter, sadness, and the transition home through these films. The link will be attached to the free film below. I felt the film hit home for us who make the transition home and miss war... More so, we miss out tribe, the brotherhood or sisterhood.   www.hammerdownfilm.com www.catchingcreation.com Make sure to check there nature programming Catching Creation too. You'll be sure to get a laugh!  www.youtube.com/catchingcreation https://youtu.be/Gd6zkHZmoRI Also, Stan has some sweet nature photography on his instagram.  www.instagram.com/stanlakephotography

Alex Tufail is combat veteran and a full-time guide with the Walking Connection organization. He leads group and veterans on guided hiking trips throughout the country and world under the I-Conquer banner. We met him through a trip hosted by Hope for The Warriors (Grand Canyon hike) He is also an avid rock climber. He owes much of this transitioning back home from war to being outside in the elements. Get ready to laugh, he's a funny dude and a great friend.    https://www.walkingconnection.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513076355

Co-Founder of Regular Infantry Guys, Gennaro Ringley, comes on to the show to highlight his experience of traveling across country to California to pursue his dream of working with Nick Diaz Fight Academy as a strength and conditioning coach. Although he wasn't able to reach this dream, he found a Foundation called Mighty Oaks for Warriors. At this program, he found Peace, Hope, and Joy. He is now an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Emory and Henry College. Tune in to listen to the details.

Mark Bilosz Director of Veteran Benefits Administration Winston-Salem North Carolina Regional Office has a conversation with us about important veterans benefits issues that affect veterans. In addition, he shares how his regional office is making significant strides to reach veterans within the community. Thank you Mark for sharing your passion with us–serving veterans.  I'll attach important links below. If you have benefits questions please get in touch with the VBA in Winston Salem, NC.    Outreach Events Outbased locations on Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg, a full list of locations and hours is available at Veteran Service Organizations and VA Outreach personnel can assist with claims: Information on VSOs is available on Kernersville Health Care Center has VBA Public Contact personnel available full days on Wednesdays and Friday afternoons