Borne The Battle

Updates on SBA loans for affected small businesses, where you can find Veteran Health Administrations COVID-19 Response plan and FAQs, VA's medical support to New York City, where mobile vet centers are currently being deployed to, and an interview with two of the mobilized on-the-ground Vet Center directors currently operating in New York City and New Orleans.

Most, if not all veterans, are forced to ask this important question before retiring and entering into civilian life: What am I to do for my career?  Many feel as if they are too late to pursue their goals or get their dream job. Justin Nassiri, a Navy veteran, thinks otherwise.  On this episode of Borne the Battle, featured guest Justin Nassiri shares his backstory and insight into how he was able to transition into civilian life and achieve his dreams. As a  Stanford MBA alumnus, a disciplined entrepreneur, and a successful consultant, Nassiri has much wisdom to impart.In this podcast, Jackson shares about the following topics:·      Key mentors during his time in service·      Indispensable life experiences that guided him to his early and continued success ·      Stories of veterans just like you who were able to make it to the top·      Practical advice for those looking to get started on their career CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JUSTIN NASSIRI (please make a heading font) Additional links: (Please mak

Included in this episode:  GI Bill Changes  National Cemetery Information  Update on rehiring retired VA medical staff  VA Home Loan assistance website 

This week's episode of Borne the Battle features Navy Veteran Darlene Iskra, the first woman to command a ship for the Navy.Despite her groundbreaking status, Iskra's initial goal in the Navy was not to be the first woman to command a ship. She just wanted to a career that was commensurate with her male counterparts. But her career includes many highlights of various roles for women in the military. One of Iskra's achievements includes being one of the first female diving officers in the Navy. She had no idea that she would become one of the first three female diving officers, thanks to her strong swimming skills. Throughout her career, Iskra helped women find their place in the military free from stereotyping. In 2003, she helped staff and pass legislation on Capitol Hill for the Smith-Cantwell Amendment. This amendment forbade the DoD to require women service members to wear an abaya in Saudi Arabia. Today, Iskra acts as an ambassador for the Women in Military Service for America Memorial. The memorial serv

An in-depth breakdown of VA Public Health's coronavirus website and a message from the chairman of the board of veterans appeals.Link: www.va.gov/coronavirus

This week's episode of Borne The Battle features Army Veteran Hallie Johnston, who shared some insight into her military career as a black hawk helicopter pilot, her transition to civilian life, and her purpose for joining and becoming a board member at Carry the Load.Carry the Load was founded by two Navy SEAL Veteran, Steven Holley and Clint Bruce. Carry the Load is a nonprofit organization that teaches ordinary Americans about the honor and sacrifices made by our nation's service members and first responders. Its goal is to show Americans what Memorial day is all about and why it's important.Carry the Load drives awareness, continuum of care and education as its three main pillars. Being a nonprofit organization that helps other nonprofit organizations, Carry the Load has raised $25 million for Veterans, first responders and their families.Each year, it hosts relays, marches and service events across the country to remember, honor and serve those who have served. For more details about participating in Car

A quick update on VA's responses to COVID-19 / coronavirus pandemic and where to find information as it gets released. 

This week’s Benefits Breakdown features Army Veterans Vincent Mitchell and Dr. Eric Shuping. They discussed the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry and how Veterans can sign up.In 2014, Congress required the Department of Defense and VA find a way to record and offer help to service members and Veterans who have health concerns related to airborne hazards and open burn pits. The registry officially began in June 2014.There are two main parts of the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry: Online Survey Appointment (Free Exam) To be eligible for being a part of the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, you must be a Veteran or service member who served in the following areas: Iraq Afghanistan Kuwait Saudi Arabia Bahrain Djibouti Gulf of Aden Gulf of Oman Oman Qatar United Arab Emirates Waters of Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HELPING THE REGISTRYCLICK HERE TO SIGN UPFor registry help, please call at 1-877-470-5947.#BtBattle Veteran of the Week: Marine C

National Vietnam War Veterans Day is fast approaching (March 29). Army Veteran Major General James T. Jackson (Ret.) is the national director of the Vietnam War Commemoration. Directed by Congress and executed by Department of Defense, the commemoration’s goal is to reach out and thank those–our Vietnam Veterans–that never got a proper welcome home.Currently, there are over 6.2 million living Vietnam Era Veterans. They deserve a proper thank you for raising their right hand. On this episode of Borne the Battle, Major General James T. Jackson shares the vision and mission behind the efforts of this program and how you can help participate.Lapel pinThe commemoration seeks to give a lapel pin to each Vietnam Veteran. This small token of appreciation has meant a lot to so many.Later, Jackson talks about mentors, his time in service, different resources to help Vietnam Veterans, and the stories of healing and reconciliation he has seen as a result.#BtBattle Veteran of the Day: Army Veteran James Matthews Additiona

Marines Veteran Hiram Murray is a film military advisor and actor in LA. Murray discusses his journey from NYPD police officer on 9/11 to the USMC, to the LAPD and how those experiences led him to his current roles in Hollywood.

This episode of Borne the Battle features Air Force Veteran Charlynda Scales. She is a TEDx Speaker, Seasoned Brand Ambassador, and Girl Scout Gold Award Winner, and an entrepreneur. She is a veteran who started a business with a piece of paper willed to her from her grandfather and a $25,000 initial investment.Her grandfather, Charlie Ferrell Jr, was also an Air Force Veteran. He used to make a special sauce for friends and family. Grandpa Charlie was also Charlynda's "silver dollar salute" shortly before he passed away. Eight years later, Charlynda was handed the recipe as a gift from her late grandfather. Starting out with no business experience, she turned grandpa's sauce into a sustained legacy for her family. It is called MuttSauce because her grandfather's callsign in the Korean War was "Mutt" because he could blend in anywhere. Mutt Sauce has received many entrepreneurial awards and recently launched on Amazon.This episode covers: The relationship between Charlynda and her grandfather A discussion of

very year after the president’s “State of the Union” speech, the Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs gives he VA’s “State of VA.” Normally it is where the Secretary will proclaim the department’s successes from the previous year and outlines their priorities in the coming year.This year, Secretary Robert Wilkies touted: A 16% increase in the female veteran community who enrolled in VA services since becoming secretary. Leading the White House’s PREVENTS Task Force. Cutting 8,000 VA employees in 2019 who did not meet the secretary’s performance standards. The Secretary’s priorities for the upcoming year include: MISSION ACT: Expanding caregiver benefitsto those that served before 1975. Suicide Prevention: Help charities, nonprofits, local and nongovernmental organizations find the 60% of the “20 veterans a day” who have no contact with VA. Roll out the Electronic Health Record: Providing a paperless healthcare transition from DoD to VA. Continue to develop and lead in medical research and development. Create the

This week’s Borne the Battle begins where episode #169 left off, featuring guest Cheryl Mason, Chairman of the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA).In this Benefits Breakdown, Chairman Mason talks about the third lane of Appeals Modernization. Where the first two lanes allow Veterans to appeal their compensation claim decision to a claims adjudicator, the third lane allows Veterans to appeal a compensation claim decision directly to the Board.More importantly, Chairman Mason addresses many questions Veterans ask: Which lane is right for you? What are the differences between each lane? How long will each take? Should you work with a VSO? How do you monitor the progress? Chairman Mason oversees the Board’s 1100 personnel, its budget, and ensures the Board conducts hearings, decides appeals for Veterans and their families, and ensures a Veteran’s voice is heard.#BtBattle Veteran of the Week:Army Veteran Roy N. ScowAdditional Links: blogs.va.gov/VAntage/70885/va-releases-updated-dod-list-identifying-agent-orange-sit

What does the VA Home Loan Program, the VA Office of Faith and Opportunity, the VA Assistive Technology Program, Vet Centers, Appeals Modernization Office and VA’s diabetes training and self-management have in common? They were all featured as benefits breakdown episodes on Borne the Battle in 2019. Borne the Battle Veteran of the Week: Air Force Pararescueman Veteran John PighiniAdditional Links:- https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/- https://www.va.gov/cfbnpartnerships/WelcomeMessage.asp- https://www.prosthetics.va.gov/AssistiveTechnology/index.asp- https://www.vetcenter.va.gov/- https://benefits.va.gov/benefits/appeals.asp- https://www.nutrition.va.gov/Diabetes.asp

If you've never heard an episode of Borne the Battle, this is a great place to start. Marine Veteran Tanner Iskra shares some meritorious segments from 2019. Segments include soundbites from NC farmer Valroy Williams, actress Jennifer Marshall, Postal Inspector Carroll Harris, Carry the Load's CEO Veteran Stephen Holley, Professional Wrestler Jan Ohrstrom, Pearl Harbor survivor William Bonelli, Camp Valor Outdoors' Denise Loring and Dan Duitsman, PopSmoke Media's Daniel Sharp, SecDef's Flight Surgeon and 9/11 first responder Dr. John Baxter, NASCAR Driver Jesse Iwuji, Wreaths Across America's Chairman Wayne Hanson and Actor Dale Dye.

“1917” and “The Last Full Measure” will soon be coming to a theater near you. These military movies have been carefully crafted to capture an authentic look at life in the military. Fortunately, many military films and TV shows have been carefully crafted with the help of Veterans like Dale Dye, Travis Wade, Jennifer Marshall, and Hiram Murray. They came on Borne the Battle to discuss the business of making military films in the current Marvel and Call of Duty era.CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LAST FULL MEASUREAccording to the panel, Hollywood often looks to Veterans for military advising, but only recently has it begun to see the benefits of casting Veterans as actors. The panel discusses professionally balancing the two roles on set.Additionally, the panel talks how difficult it is to make military films. From getting the right actors at the right time to placating Hollywood execs. In the panel, Dye mentions why it is worth it to “herd cats” on set.CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NO BETTER PLACE TO DIEFinal

IT’S A BONUS for subscribers - A Merry Christmas episode! A panel of three Marine Veterans making a difference in their new respective fields. Sam Meek, CEO of SANDBOXX, Martha MacPhee, Director of Special Projects for Susan Davis International and Richard Cardona, Video Content Strategist. Panel was conducted at the Modern Day Marine Expo and was presented by the Military Times.

Should every American Citizen serve in the military? Should women be required to register for the selective service (draft)? What should the future of the Selective Service look like? Navy Veteran Shawn Skelly and Marine Corps Veteran Ed Allard are commissioners for the Commission on National, Military and Public Service. Their mission is to recommend answers to these and many more questions, to Congress by March of 2020. Shawn and Ed came on Borne the Battle to discuss the two years of data that the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service has gathered to answer those and many other questions.Some of the goals of the National Commission are: Reviewing the military selective service process. Listening to the public to learn from those who serve. Igniting a national conversation about service. Developing recommendations that will encourage every American to be inspired and eager to serve. According to their interim report, the Commission has learned: Americans value service. Americans are w

It isn’t easy when you have diabetes. Did you check your blood sugar? Are you exercising and keeping a good diet? Do you have your insulin handy?Mary Julius, a program manager for the diabetes self-management education and training at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, wants to help educate Veterans and their families about how to self-manage diabetes.Julius broke down the differences between Type I and Type II diabetes. Persons with Type I diabetes produce little or no insulin. Persons with Type II diabetes make insulin but there is a resistance to the insulin. According to Julius, diabetes awareness and education are increasingly important for Veterans and their families; “25% of Veterans receiving VA care have been diagnosed with diabetes.” Without awareness and education, people diagnosed with diabetes put their health at risk. Thus, Veterans who have been diagnosed with diabetes should work closely with their primary provider, but, she emphasizes, Veterans and their family also need the tools and

WAA is a national campaign that coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at over 1,700 national cemeteries, culminating at Arlington National Cemetery. The three-fold purpose of WAA aims to remember fallen U.S Veterans, honor those who currently serve, and teach children the value of freedom. Here, Hanson explains WAA’s humble beginnings and its rise into the national organization that it is today.This week’s Borne the Battle features Wayne Hanson, the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Wreaths Across America (WAA).In this episode, Hanson discusses his time in the Army and the socio-political atmosphere of when he returned from Vietnam. He talks about transition and his gradual involvement at WAA. Lastly, he shares the four words from a stranger that kept him motivated to work even to this day.For more information on Wreaths Across America, or for info on how to volunteer, visit the WAA website.