MCA Scuttlebutt

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. This week we welcome veteran Marine machine gunner, Marine Corps Heritage award winner, recent law school graduate, and current Bar exam hostage Kacy Tellessen back to the show. This week starts a little different than our previous episodes because the pre-show recording with Kacy was so fun we decided we needed to keep it. So we’ve cut an actual intro – which we recorded later – onto the beginning since the interview kind of picks up in medias res. Kacy takes us on an exploration of some of his experiences at law school, being selected to give the commencement speech, and how oftentimes, mental health begins with accepting that it is going to take work. Like Kacy says in the interview, “the word for life is perseverance.” For as much fun as we had and for as hilarious Kacy is, his perspectives on stress, achievement, and mental health are so profound. We hope you get as much out of our time with him as we did. Enjoy! To check out Kacy’s Gonzaga Law School Commencement Speech, click this link (Kacy’s speech starts at the 51:55 mark). <p>The post Scuttlebutt Ep 97: When You’re the Old Guy in the Room with Kacy Tellessen first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. “Science is expanding” and thank goodness we have a friend of the show like Dr. Adam Hunzeker to help us understand it better. This week we welcome Adam back to talk more about the science behind trauma and what it means that our bodies are a system of systems. Many of us remember the days when PTSD was called shell shock and going to a therapist was a potential career killer. Adam works tirelessly to remove the oversimplified labels, stigmas of mental health, and the common misconceptions of what happens to us when we experience trauma. For us to really come to a point where we are treating mental health in earnest, we need to acknowledge the complexities and nuances of trauma, and stop acting like the proverbial blind men with the elephant. Therapy is more than just getting more in touch with your feelings and we need to appreciate the complexities of the relationship between the mind and body so that we can get left of bang in this critical fight. For more information, or to share information, please reach out to Adam at: adamhunzeker@gmail.com <p>The post Scuttlebutt Ep 96: System of Systems with Dr. Adam Hunzeker first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Balloons, office hours with Kevin McCarthy, and the problem with simple solutions to complex problems. We seem to run the gamut with Dr. Michael Hunzeker in this latest installment of Strait Talk, but we got Mike in studio this time (William disguised himself as his Uber driver) so we had to take advantage. Mike helps us step into the gray zone and make sense of upcoming elections, sabre-rattling as a Sino-American jam sesh, and the potential for Taiwan to naturally progress toward a peaceful reunification and that particular scenario not being on leadership’s modelling for 2030. Love these talks and it was great to finally be able to do this face-to-face. Enjoy! <p>The post Scuttlebutt Ep 95: Strait Talk with Dr. Michael Hunzeker first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. This week we are recording from the floor of Modern Day Marine so that we can bring you the events and personnel of this outstanding convention as it’s going on. We’re wrapping things up on Day 3, but no good operation goes without a hot wash, so we got the boss on the microphone to give us his thoughts and impressions of Modern Day Marine 2023. As always, LtGen Chiarotti does not disappoint. He talks about the evolution of MDM—not only the format but of the mindset and vision behind it. He also talks about getting away from the idea of this being an expo and being more of an experience. And, he discusses how MDM has taken a holistic look at today’s Marine Corps while also being a center for true synergy of the Marine Corps’ vision for future conflicts and industry’s ability to facilitate it. This is a great conversation. If you ever wonder how the boss feels about MDM, wonder no longer friends. Enjoy! <p>The post Scuttlebutt Ep 94: Modern Day Marine Day 3 – Closing Thoughts with the CEO, LtGen Chiarotti, USMC (Ret) first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. This week we are recording from the floor of Modern Day Marine so that we can bring you the events and personnel of this outstanding convention as it’s going on. Vic and William had the chance to chat with leadership from the newly formed, Marine Innovation Unit, or MIU. In the world of DOD alphabet soup, the letters “M”, “I”, and “U” may not lead you to think of a unit that is as designed to tackle such a diverse set of problems. We thought this was either a new intel or information operation unit. But the innovation behind the formation, construct, and employment of the MIU is genuinely innovative (see what I did there?). It was great talking to LtCol J.B. Persons and Capt R.J. Jackson to help break down the ins, outs, command, structure, and concept of employment. This was an extremely informative discussion and it is fitting that MDM is where we would find these unique Marines. Enjoy! Website <p>The post Scuttlebutt Ep 93: Modern Day Marine Day 3 – Marine Innovation Unit with LtCol J.B. Persons and Capt R.J. Jackson first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. This week we are recording from the floor of Modern Day Marine so that we can bring you the events and personnel of this outstanding convention as it’s going on. Day 3 was amazing and we were just so blessed to start the day off with Kyle Carpenter. Author, speaker, podcaster, Marine, and youngest living Medal of Honor recipient, it’s an understatement to say that Kyle Carpenter was a truly special guest. One word that I think encapsulates this special Marine is storyteller. Which has more to do with his humility and genuine interest in other people’s stories than telling his own. But today it was our turn to listen, which is fortunate because we were all at a loss for words being around him. Not an awesome attribute for a podcast, I know, but sometimes you need to just stop and listen. Kyle shares with us his thoughts on perspective, perseverance, and never taking anything for granted. It was not lost on us the significance of having Kyle on the show and we are all better for it. If you only listen to one Scuttlebutt episode, please make it this one. We’re still riding the wave. Enjoy! Website Instagram YouTube Podcast <p>The post Scuttlebutt Ep 92: Modern Day Marine Day 3 – Perspectives with Kyle Carpenter first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. This week we are recording from the floor of Modern Day Marine so that we can bring you the events and personnel of this outstanding convention as it’s going on. Veteran Marine and veteran of our World of Wargaming segment, Col Tim Barrick, spends some time talking to us about this unique event at MDM, OBJ 1. This is a full-spectrum wargaming convention that has card, table-top and digital games that work at the strategic level, all the way down to the finite tactical level, like tank-on-tank battles. This is such a cool convention, that many of the most popular civilian game developers have come to MDM to participate. This is such a cool event and it is really exciting that the Marine Corps is embracing this innovative and creative capability. If you’re at Modern Day Marine, please come see us. We’re over by OBJ 1 (the wargaming center), Aisle 2600 and we would love to thank you face-to-face for supporting our show. Enjoy! <p>The post Scuttlebutt Ep 91: Modern Day Marine Day 2 – OBJ 1 Wargaming Convention with Col Tim Barrick USMC, (Ret) first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. This week we are recording from the floor of Modern Day Marine so that we can bring you the events and personnel of this outstanding convention as it’s going on. It’s not too often that you get to meet someone who truly excels. This is not to say that we don’t know exceptional people. We all do. Especially those who have worn the uniform. But there is another level. There are outliers. Those who just see something, set a goal, and set out to achieve it without compromise, and by definition, are not run of the mill. So it was such an honor for us to spend time with CMDR Becky Calder. Becky is a former USNA basketball player, F-18 pilot, and the first female pilot to graduate Top Gun. She shares her experience as someone who has had their number retired and taken a ride through the Danger Zone. This was a true pleasure to spend some time with her. If you’re at Modern Day Marine, please come see us. We’re over by OBJ 1 (the wargaming center), Aisle 2600 and we would love to thank you face-to-face for supporting our show. Enjoy! <p>The post Scuttlebutt Ep 90: Modern Day Marine Day 2 – Being a student of leadership with CMDR Becky Calder, USN (Ret) first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. This week we are recording from the floor of Modern Day Marine so that we can bring you the events and personnel of this outstanding convention as it’s going on. Yesterday we had such a fun time with stand-up comedian, advocate and 2023 Air Force Spouse of the Year, Ashley Gutermuth. Ashley was at MDM hosting a panel speaking directly to military spouse employment and issues that effect service members and their families. Laughter is oftentimes the best medicine and it can help raise awareness of important issues. Ashley talks to us about how she sees comedy as a platform for advocacy and that the issues she’s addressing directly effects readiness and retention. Not to mention that advocating for spouses and families is just the right thing to do. This was a great interview and, as expected from an award-winning comedian, we had a lot of laughs. If you’re at Modern Day Marine, please come see us. We’re over by OBJ 1 (the wargaming center), Aisle 2600 and we would love to thank you face-to-face for supporting our show. Enjoy! Website LinkedIn <p>The post Scuttlebutt Ep 89: Modern Day Marine Day 2 – Comedian and Military Spouse Advocate, Ashley Gutermuth first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. This week we are recording from the floor of Modern Day Marine so that we can bring you the events and personnel of this outstanding convention as it’s going on. One of the things to love about MDM is that you get to run into some really amazing people you haven’t seen in years. Well, we ran into one of those amazing people, and we made him come on the show. Mark Brown now works at the Nevada Automotive Test Center helping them test and verify vehicles capabilities for both the DOD and the civilian industries. We spent some time talking about his fascinating experiences as an infantry officer, requirements developer, and now jack-of-all-trades in the Nevada high desert. He’s just got a ton of life experience and it was really great that he was willing to share some of them with us. If you’re at Modern Day Marine, please come see us. We’re over by OBJ 1 (the wargaming center), Aisle 2600 and we would love to thank you face-to-face for supporting our show. Enjoy! NATC <p>The post Scuttlebutt Ep 88: Modern Day Marine Day 2 – Nevada Automotive Test Center with LtCol Mark Brown, USMC (Ret) first appeared on Marine Corps Association.</p>