MCA Scuttlebutt

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome a saxophonist from the Marine Corps’ President’s Own Band, Gunnery Sergeant Connor Mikula. This is a conversation we’ve been wanting to have for a while, so it was a real treat to have Gunny Mikula take time out of his busy schedule to come down and hang out with us. Gunny takes us through his journey to being a member of the President’s Own, how the President’s Own fits into the overall mission of the Marine Corps, and his experiences touring and performing at the White House and 8th and I. It was a lot of fun learning about this extremely niche organization within the Marine Corps and getting to see behind the curtain on the President’s Own and what it’s like to be a member of this elite musical organization.    Enjoy!  marineband.marines.mil  instagram.com/connor_james_mikula  <p>The post #212: Jam Sesh with the President’s Own’ saxophonist, GySgt Connor Mikula first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and for your continued support. This week, we welcome Chaplain CDR David Duprey and Dr. Lelia Brady to the show. Chaplain Duprey is a Navy chaplain currently attending Naval War College and Dr. Brady is the Assistant Branch Head- Prevention & Response, Behavioral Programs. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and we are so lucky that CDR Duprey and Dr. Brady were able to make time in their busy schedules to come on and talk to us about their work in this important endeavor. Both of our guests have dedicated their lives to holistic health and well-being and are devoted to helping Marines and service members thrive both mentally and physically. This episode is full of great nuggets, wisdom, and resources. As always, if you need help, get help. And if you haven’t heard from a friend in a while – reach out. Too many of the people we’ve served with have the words, “I had no idea” or “I hadn’t talked to them in years,” when we find out about a fallen brother or sister. Don’t underestimate the power of something as simple as a text or phone call.  Enjoy!  linkedin.com/in/lelia-b-b4933914a/  https://www.marines.mil/News/Marines-TV/videoid/507397/dvpTag/Chaplains <p>The post #211: Recognizing Suicide Prevention Awareness Month with Chaplain CDR David Duprey and Dr. Lelia Brady first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for listening and your continued support. This week, we continue our Road to 250 segment, celebrating the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday in 2025. Throughout the rest of the year, we’ll feature stories and history from throughout the 250 years of the Marine Corps. These episodes will be nested within the MCA’s overall Road to 250 Campaign, where you will find featured articles in both the Gazette and Leatherneck highlighting events and battles within specific periods in Marine Corps history. The MCA also has a commemorative Road to 250 coin collection. These commemorative challenge coins can only be found through the MCA. Go to marineshop.net to order individual coins or email customerservice@mca-marines.org to order the entire set or learn more.  This month, we walk the Road to 250 with another Semper Cinema crossover. The team decided to watch Heartbreak Ridge. Luckily, the film is set around the 1983 invasion of Grenada, which fits into September’s era of Marine Corps history, or else we might be accused of just using the podcast as an excuse to watch cheesy Marine Corps movies on the association’s dime. And, to add further legitimacy to this segment, we brought our editor-in-chief, Col Chris Woodbridge, into the studio to talk about the movie, the invasion of Granada, and what influences both have had on a generation of Marines coming up in the 80s and 90s.     Enjoy!.  <p>The post #210: Road to 250/Semper Cinema – Heartbreak Ridge first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in. This week is the conclusion of our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, we were recording from the showroom floor, but as some of you know, this year we recorded some on video for our YouTube channel and others we recorded as audio-only podcasts. In this series, we’ve covered conversations ranging from veteran support organizations to future ops and wargaming to Toys for Tots, so if you missed any, please go back and check them out. We’ve really enjoyed sharing these conversations with you. Hope to see you at Modern Day Marine 2026.  Our final episode features Gunnar Spafford and John Haehn from Toys for Tots. Gunnar is the Deputy Vice President of Business Development and John is not only the Media Manager but also the voice of and mascot of Gunny Bear, the Toys for Tots mascot. Gunnar and John talk to us about what it is that Toys for Tots does, some of the history of the foundation and it’s links to Walk Disney, some of the successes and challenges, and how people can support providing for children at need. One of the mottos of Toys for Tots is that it’s more than just a toy and we’re really happy that we were able to put a spotlight on the good things this foundation is doing for kids and the community.   Enjoy!  linkedin.com/in/gunnar-spafford  linkedin.com/in/john-haehn-184a63102  toysfortots.org  <p>The post #209: MDM 2025 – Toys for Tots first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and for your continued support. This week, we continue with our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, we were recording from the showroom floor, but as some of you know, this year we recorded some on video for our YouTube channel and others we recorded as audio-only podcasts. For the next few weeks, we will be releasing these audio-only conversations that range from veteran support organizations to future ops and wargaming to Toys for Tots. We’re really looking forward to sharing these conversations with you.   This week’s episode features George Leone from Homecoming 250 Navy and Marine Corps. George is the founder and president of Homecoming 250 Navy and Marine Corps. George discusses with us his foundation’s plan for the Navy and Marine Corps’ 250th celebration and shares with us the impetus behind this charity volunteer foundation, as well as his personal background on how he came to create it.    Enjoy!  homecoming250.org  linkedin.com/in/george-s-leone  <p>The post #208: MDM 2025 – Homecoming 250 with George Leone first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for listening and your continued support. This week, we continue with our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, we were recording from the showroom floor, but as some of you know, this year we recorded some on video for our YouTube channel and others we recorded as audio-only podcasts. For the next few weeks, we will be releasing these audio-only conversations that range from veteran support organizations to future ops and wargaming to Toys for Tots. We’re really looking forward to sharing these conversations with you.   This week’s episode features Matt Watkins from Operation Headshot. Matt talks to us about his journey to the yellow footprints, transitioning from active duty to the reserves, and Operation Headshot. Operation Headshot provides tools for transitioning military members, veterans, and spouses to help build a brand, expand their network, and become self-sufficient in pursuit of success as they navigate life beyond military service. He explains how his battles with mental health led to his desire to give back and create Operation Headshot to lower unemployment rates among veterans and military spouses, ease financial distress, and improve mental health and well-being of military families.  Enjoy!  operationheadshot.com  linkedin.com/in/matthewwatkins13  <p>The post #207: MDM 2025 – Matt Watkins and Operation Headshot first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for listening and your continued support. This week, we continue our Road to 250 segment, celebrating the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday in 2025. Throughout the rest of the year, we’ll feature stories and history from throughout the 250 years of the Marine Corps. These episodes will be nested within the MCA’s overall Road to 250 Campaign, where you will find featured articles in both the Gazette and Leatherneck highlighting events and battles within specific periods in Marine Corps history. The MCA also has a commemorative Road to 250 coin collection. These commemorative challenge coins can only be found through the MCA. Go to marineshop.net to order individual coins or email customerservice@mca-marines.org to order the entire set or learn more.  For August, we walk the Road to 250 during the Vietnam War era with our guest and Leatherneck legend, Paul Thompson.  As a young Marine Combat Correspondent, Sgt Paul Thompson was assigned to the staff of Leatherneck in the 1960s. He traveled throughout Vietnam, telling Marines’ stories as he covered the war for the magazine. Paul joins us in studio to tell us what it was like being recording history as it unfolded.  Enjoy!  Related Leatherneck Articles:The People of Leatherneck, November 2017 Hue, July 1968 – Republished February 2022 <p>The post #206: Road to 250 – Vietnam War with Leatherneck Legend Paul Thompson first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we continue with our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, we were recording from the showroom floor, but as some of you know, this year we recorded some on video for our YouTube channel and others we recorded as audio-only podcasts. For the next few weeks, we will be releasing these audio-only conversations that range from veteran support organizations to future ops and wargaming to Toys for Tots. We’re really looking forward to sharing these conversations with you.   This week’s episode features the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab’s Sergeant Major, SgtMaj Christopher Singley. SgtMaj Singley joins us after having presented at the Warfighting Pavilion on Day 2 of Modern Day Marine, speaking on the 30 years of innovation at the Warfighting Lab. SgtMaj talks to us more about that, and he gives us some history on the Warfighting Lab and the genesis of its mission, his thoughts on the value of experimentation, and MCWL’s role in the projection and implementation of Force Design.   Enjoy!  <p>The post #205: MDM 2025 – MCWL Sergeant Major, SgtMaj Christopher Singley first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support. This week, we continue with our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, we were recording from the showroom floor, but as some of you know, this year we recorded some on video for our YouTube channel and others we recorded as audio-only podcasts. For the next few weeks, we will be releasing these audio-only conversations that range from veteran support organizations to future ops and wargaming to Toys for Tots. We’re really looking forward to sharing these conversations with you.   This week’s episode features Gunnery Sergeant Kevin Harris. Gunny Harris was the Delta Company Course Chief at the School of Infantry East but took over the role of Battalion Chief Instructor in June. Gunny talks to us about his impression of Modern Day Marine and how innovation plays into his training plan, namely drones and UAS, and how he applies this knowledge into developing future Marine infantrymen.    Enjoy!  <p>The post #204: MDM 2025- GySgt Kevin Harris, SOI-E first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we begin our audio-only Modern Day Marine 2025 series. As with the previous MDMs, we were recording from the showroom floor, but as some of you know, this year we recorded some on video for our YouTube channel and others we recorded as audio-only podcasts. For the next few weeks, we will be releasing these audio-only conversations that range from veteran support organizations to future ops and wargaming to Toys for Tots. We’re really looking forward to sharing these conversations with you.   This week’s episode features the President of the Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation, Tim Parkhurst. Tim talks to us about the history of Marine scout snipers, his efforts to continue to collect and increase the awareness of the Marine scout snipers, and his and his foundation’s efforts to build a scout sniper war memorial at the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park. This is a great conversation about the legacy of these storied Marines.    Enjoy!  linkedin.com/in/timothyparkhurst  scoutsniperheritage.org/memorial  <p>The post #203: MDM 2025 – Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation President, Tim Parkhurst first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>