Épisodes

  • Return or Quit: Millennial Vet on tough choice many vets, federal workers face
    Feb 19 2025
    After the recent Executive Order for Federal employees to return to the office, Jenna Carlton, DoD employee and founder of The Millennial Veterans Facebook group is facing a tough choice- stay in her current job, or quit. She described how her Procurement job for the Dept. of the Navy was fully remote from first the day she was hired. She explained how her family made the choice to move from Maryland to New Jersey, to be closer to their step-daughter recently diagnosed with diabetes. Without an actual office, her employer transferred her to a base in New Jersey, and only required one weekly in-person appearance. She shared how they lived over an hour away, but found a way to effectively make their family schedule work. After the recent order, she is grappling with the choice between a daily 3-hour commute or leaving her job and hoping to find a new one. Beyond the impact on her family, Carlton also shares how this decision is impacting vets nationwide and could even disrupt Naval fleet readiness in the months to come. For more on her story and other veteran content follow The Millennial Veteran Facebook group on Instagram and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themillennialveterans/ Connect with CBS Eye on Veterans Host, Phil Briggs phil@connectingvets.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Voir plus Voir moins
    24 min
  • Vintage Valentines: Historic military love letters that rival Shakespeare
    Feb 13 2025
    Let’s talk about love! Andrew Carroll, Director of The Center for American Letters, returns with some of the most romantic words ever written, by service members fighting wars around the world. This collection of over 200K letters spans the Revolutionary War to World Wars all the way up to modern emails from our current generation. We begin with the beautiful words for a loving wife, composed on a battlefield in Virginia, during the American Civil War. Carroll continues with an intriguing love letter that was really part of a secret intelligence mission during WWII. And we hear the bitter side of love, in a response to a “Dear John” letter from a Korean War soldier. Carroll also shows how some love letters can even bring total strangers together, as we hear about a love story that began with pen pals. And we take a whimsical look at the medical conditions associated with true love, from a pioneering African American doctor during the World War II era. So don’t wait, grab a pen and some paper and write to the one you love, because love letters are not just for Valentine’s Day anymore. Check out The Center for American War Letters at Chapman University here: https://www.chapman.edu/research/institutes-and-centers/cawl/index.aspx Connect with Navy vet and CBS Eye on Veterans Host, Phil Briggs phil@connectingvets.com Follow on X @philbriggsVet @EyeonVeterans @connectingvets To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Voir plus Voir moins
    41 min
  • “What vets should know about managing their money” w/ Jill Schlesinger, CBS Finance Analyst
    Feb 7 2025
    In this interesting conversation presented by Navy Federal Credit Union, Jill Schlesinger opens with 3 vital steps every veteran needs to take, if they want to have enough money when they’re older. Schlesinger guides us through a variety of financial planning tips and offers useful advice for the basic investor. We also discuss the difference between 401Ks and other types of investment accounts and consider which type would be right for varying types of veterans. We examine saving programs for your kid’s college education and unique ways to roll those funds into other types of accounts. We even take a look at today’s housing market and consider when it’s the best time to buy a home. Check out “Jill on Money” weekly radio show and podcast here: https://www.jillonmoney.com/ See Jill’s Schlesinger’s reporting on CBS News https://www.cbsnews.com/team/jill-schlesinger/ Loans, Investments and more ... Check out Navy Federal Credit Union here: https://www.navyfederal.org/ Contact: Phil Briggs, Host, CBS Eye on Veterans phil@connectingvets.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Voir plus Voir moins
    43 min
  • IVMF offers veterans FREE “Google Cybersecurity Certificate” program
    Jan 31 2025
    Looking for a career in cybersecurity? This is your chance! We talked about a new Google Cybersecurity Certificate training program with Army veteran, (Ret.) Lt. Colonel Bryan Radliff, from Syracuse University’s D'Aniello Institute for Veterans Military and Families (IVMF). Radliff shares benefits like; no cost to veterans, 150+ hours of the latest, industry-standard training, and how it’s designed for all veterans (and family) … even without prior IT experience. We also hear about IVMF’s Onward to Opportunity program and additional AI and CompTIA certifications currently available. If you’re interested in a cyber career check out IVMF training and upcoming cohorts here: https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/ Contact Phil Briggs, Host, CBS Eye on Veterans phil@connectingvets.com Follow on X: @philbriggsVet @EyeonVeterans @connectingvets To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Voir plus Voir moins
    23 min
  • Denied full combat back pay, a Marine’s case is headed to Supreme Court
    Jan 31 2025
    Today we’re hearing from attorney Bart Stichman, Co-founder of National Veterans Legal Services Program, regarding the case “Soto vs United States” and how a Marine Corps combat veteran (and 9,000 other vets) had their benefit claims denied, and disputed by our government. The petition was filed on behalf of USMC vet, Mr. Simon Soto who was initially approved for Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC), but later denied the full amount after government lawyers claimed a six-year ceiling on retroactive benefits. We open with the facts behind this case, and examine the PTSD he suffered after serving as Mortuary Affairs in Iraq, where he processed the remains of our fallen Marines and Soldiers. Stichman further explains: Why the government fights against veterans filing CRSC claims The arguments that will be heard by The United States Supreme Court in April We’ll continue to follow this story as it develops. If you need legal assistance for your VA/DoD benefit claim, check out The National Legal Services Program here: https://www.nvlsp.org/ Contact Phil Briggs, Host, CBS Eye on Veterans phil@connectingvets.com Follow on X: @philbriggsVet @EyeonVeterans @connectingvets To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Voir plus Voir moins
    26 min
  • “Warrior Code” Part 2: VetClaims.ai wins the fight for VA benefits, How Congress may kill it
    Jan 24 2025
    This is the end of a 2-part series and a powerful interview with Army combat vet, turned software developer Lukas Simianer, Founder, VetCLaims.ai. After teaching himself computer coding, he went from flat broke to creating software that is revolutionizing the VA claims process. We begin with his rise to tech entrepreneur as the founder of Clusiv- an e-learning platform built to assist the blind. Simianer shares the battle he faced when state and federal programs chose inefficient status quo over his innovative software. He also shares how initial defeat led to an unusual offer from the CIA. And how psychedelics played a role in inspiring this groundbreaking software. We also hear a troubling description of the VA’s C&P (Compensation and Pension) medical exam, and the overwhelming burden of proof put on veterans seeking benefits. Simianer reveals how the code he developed allows VetClaims to instantly research millions of documents, making claims impossible to deny. We close with the shocking battle he now faces with Congress (mainly former military officers now politicians) who submitted bills that would crush VetClaims’ ability to help our vets. If you are struggling to get your VA benefits or correct disability rating, check out: https://vetclaims.ai/ For more on Lukas Simianer, VetClaims Founder and 82nd Airborne veteran: https://vetclaims.ai/founder-story/ Contact Phil Briggs, Host, CBS Eye on Veterans phil@connectingvets.com Follow on X: @philbriggsVet @EyeonVeterans @connectingvets To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Voir plus Voir moins
    42 min
  • “Warrior Code” Part 1: Army vet, VetClaims.ai Founder on winning the fight for your VA benefits
    Jan 17 2025
    This episode is the first of a 2-part series where we hear a powerful interview with Army combat vet, Purple Heart recipient turned software developer Lukas Simianer- who fights the VA for vets, and wins. Wounded in Afghanistan at the age of 19, Lukas left the military with only a few hundred bucks in his pocket and started the difficult transition from enlisted soldier to civilian life. He struggled with his own mental health, isolation, lack of any meaningful DoD support and eventually endured being so poor that he lived in a rat infested trailer. But rather than accepting a tragic defeat, he made a bold commitment to change his life and taught himself computer programming. Lukas shares his dramatic story, exposes how the DoD still fails to properly support enlisted veterans after their service and how he became a pioneering tech entrepreneur. We conclude this episode with the story behind his first success as a software developer, creating Clusiv- the world’s first online learning platform built for people who are blind. But that was just one step toward founding a revolutionary company that unleashes the power of AI to help his veteran brothers and sisters. Many of whom are currently battling the VA to get the support and benefits they rightfully earned. If you are struggling to get your VA benefits or correct disability rating, check out: https://vetclaims.ai/ For more on Lukas Simianer, VetClaims Founder and 82nd Airborne veteran: https://vetclaims.ai/founder-story/ Contact Phil Briggs, Host, CBS Eye on Veterans phil@connectingvets.com Follow on X: @philbriggsVet @EyeonVeterans @connectingvets To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Voir plus Voir moins
    39 min
  • Battle with the Bottle! Navy Commander on quitting drinking, mission to help vets get sober
    Jan 10 2025
    Thinking you might need to stop drinking? This episode is for you. As we kick off the New Year, many folks attempt to give up alcohol in what’s commonly called “Dry January”. But for many veterans, drinking becomes more than just a social vice … it can have dangerous, criminal and even deadly consequences. We talked with former Navy Destroyer Commanding Officer, Jay Wylie, who shared his battle with booze, and how drinking went from a coping mechanism, to collapsing his military career. Tracing the origins of his drinking to college, Wylie described a military culture that appeared to embrace it. He shared a remorseful look at his drinking problem, “I ended up getting so drunk and stupid on liberty with a couple of female crew members, that I broke every rule in the Captain’s book.” His booze-fueled behavior eventually led to conviction on sexual assault charges, which resulted in; being relieved of command of USS Momsen (DDG-92), court martialed, and sentenced to 42 months. In hindsight Wylie revealed, “as painful as that was… that’s what it took to get me sober.” He also shared the steps he personally took to end the destructive pattern caused by his out of control drinking. Now with 13 years of sobriety, he’s dedicated to helping other veterans quit drugs and alcohol. Wylie also shared how his work with Confidential Recovery, in San Diego, helps guide clients through the 12-Step process, and works with VA recovery services to help vets get the treatment they need, before suffering severe alcohol related consequences. He also offers insight on whether cannabis is helpful, or just another vice. As veterans (and even non-veterans) look to goals of self-improvement in the new year, Wylie’s story reveals there is hope and resources for veterans searching for a way to break the cycle and begin a better life. Learn more about Confidential Recovery here: https://www.confidentialrecovery.com/ For more resources check out Veteran Navigation Center here: https://veteransnavigationcenter.org/ Contact Phil Briggs, Host, CBS Eye on Veterans phil@connectingvets.com Follow on X: @philbriggsVet @EyeonVeterans @connectingvets To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Voir plus Voir moins
    54 min