Toby Harnden is Royal Navy veteran, global journalist, and award-winning author. We discuss his book “First Casualty: The CIA’s mission to avenge 9/11” and hear how CIA and Special Forces were dropped into the mountains of northern Afghanistan on October 17, 2001. This is the thrilling story of Team Alpha, an eclectic band of linguists, tribal experts, and elite warriors, who were the first Americans to operate inside Taliban territory. Harnden reveals how the Secretary of Defense was angry that CIA had taken the lead on the mission to kill Al Qaeda.  And we hear details about the lives of Team Alpha members. Harnden also shares details about an interesting and blood thirsty warlord the US paired with in order to crush the Taliban. The irony of this story is that the US actually had success eliminating Taliban forces this way … One can only imagine how different things would be today if we had continued, rather than moving the fight to Iraq. Get this book and more about Toby Harnden here: https://tobyharnden.com/ Contact CBS Eye on Veterans: phil@connectingvets.com Follow on Twitter: @philbriggsVet  @eyeonveterans

Dr. Gregory Fowler, President, University of Maryland Global Campus discusses his recent article “The Power of Education in Black America and Beyond” and how UMGC honors military experience to put veterans on the fast track to receiving a college degree. Read the full article here: https://www.umgc.edu/blog/power-education-black-america-beyond Contact CBS Eye on Veterans: phil@connectingvets.com Follow on Twitter: @philbriggsVet  @eyeonveterans

Hazard Ground is one of the most popular military podcasts in America. Each week veterans share military experiences where you can feel their tension and triumph.  This week, we focus on the man behind the mic, Mark Zinno a combat veteran, Army Reserve Officer, and podcast founder. He tells the story of how he went from running convoys in Iraq to hosting a sports talk show to sports betting analyst. Zinno reveals how his life was saved by the Iraqi forces he trained, and we examine why the Global War on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan had such radically different outcomes. We also hear about life before the Army, where Zinno was a cheerleader in college, and went on to perform in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens. Check out the Hazard Ground podcast here: https://hazardground.com/ Contact CBS Eye on Veterans: phil@connectingvets.com Follow on Twitter: @philbriggsVet  @eyeonveterans

After US military pilots shot down a Chinese spy balloon debates started over Biden’s reaction, and the overall capability of our nation’s intelligence community. We reached out to Rod Rodriguez, an Army veteran, and former Intelligence Officer with 20+ years of experience and deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He shares his experience and makes a surprising point that is never mentioned on the major news networks. Check out Rod weekly on “Military Matters” podcast by Stars and Stripes: https://www.stripes.com/multimedia/podcasts/military_matters/ Also check out Rod on “The Back Brief” podcast by ConnectingVets.com: https://www.audacy.com/connectingvets/podcasts/the-back-brief-33713 New Book: “From Lawyer to Warrior” Marine Corps veteran Chris Pavlak discusses his new book “From Lawyer to Warrior, Failing the bar, becoming a Marine and finding meaning”. He shares how the Marine Corps helped him find his true calling, after failing to reach his biggest goal. Pavlak also shares how ‘toxic shame’ can affect anyone struggling and what everyone should know as they experience setbacks in life. Pick up the book “From Lawyer to Warrior” here: https://lawyertowarrior.com/ Black History Month Salute In honor of Black History Month, we revisit our conversation with Army veteran Vernon Hood Taylor. Despite entering the military in the 1970’s with a sub-standard, racially-divided education rooted in the deep south, he went on graduate from University of Maryland Global Campus and eventually developed military programs that benefitted vets for generations.   Contact CBS Eye on Veterans: phil@connectingvets.com Follow on Twitter: @philbriggsVet  @eyeonveterans

Special Forces veteran, Delta Team Leader and bestselling author Brad Taylor is back with “The Devil’s Ransom”. This high-octane combat adventure is the latest in the Pike Logan series, where Logan, (a fictional Spec Ops vet whose team conducts the highest classified missions) is tracking down cyber terrorists who attacked a commercial spacecraft in flight, all while trying to avoid being taken out by Taliban and Russian mercenaries searching for an ancient treasure stolen from Afghanistan. In our interview, Taylor describes his location research in Croatia. He also shares the connection between sites in the book and, the HBO original series Game of Thrones. We also hear how Taylor depicts fighting terrorists and avoiding mercenaries with vivid details, like only an elite military operator can. And we discuss the real-world tools and technology used in the field by US Special Operations. Taylor also takes on an important questions regarding our desire for commercial space travel.  Is it the opening terrorists are looking for to launch the next horrific attack against the US? And what are the dangers we face in the real world? See more about Brad Taylor and “The Devil’s Ransom” here: https://bradtaylorbooks.com/ Contact CBS Eye on Veterans phil@connectingvets.com Follow on Twitter: @philbriggsVet  @eyeonveterans

How do we combat disinformation from violent extremists and terrorists in today’s media? We asked Navy veteran, journalist and co-founder of Military Veterans in Journalism, Zack Baddorf.  He was a Navy journalist who worked on countering recruitment campaigns for groups like ISIS, and the Taliban. This year MVJ is seeking veterans for investigative reporter positions that will uncover dangerous disinformation campaigns in American media. We also discuss how Russian disinformation has had devastating effects and how domestic extremist groups are actively trying to recruit active military and veterans for violence here at home. For more on the investigative reporter job openings contact Military Veterans in Journalism here: https://bit.ly/401hcsa Contact CBS Eye on Veterans: phil@connectingvets.com Follow on Twitter: @philbriggsVet  @eyeonveterans

The US Small Business Administration has many programs to help veterans start their own business. We talk with SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman (Gooze’mon) about how veteran business owners can secure funding and government contracts to make their business dreams a reality. Check out SBA programs for veterans here: https://www.sba.gov/. Army Special Forces veteran and investigative reporter Jack Murphy recently broke a story about how a recent bust led authorities to discover an alleged drug and human trafficking operation among Special Forces and Delta Force team members at Ft. Bragg, NC.  Murphy shares details he learned from soldiers within 3rd Special Forces Group. We also discuss how drugs use and sex crimes among these elite military soldiers is a symptom of a larger cultural issue related to the twenty-year Global War on Terrorism. Read the latest from Jack Murphy: “Panic grips Special Forces amid investigation into drugs, human trafficking” https://www.audacy.com/connectingvets/news/fear-grips-special-ops-amidst-human-trafficking-drug-arrests Contact CBS Eye on Veterans phil@connectingvets.com Follow on Twitter: @philbriggsVet  @eyeonveterans

What happens when veterans pair up with legendary Nashville songwriters? They produce songs more powerful than prescription drugs or therapy. We learned about Operation Song from Executive Director and Army combat veteran Mike Byer. Byer shares how he went from program participant to Executive Director, and shares a powerful story about how the songwriting process helped save his life.  We go behind the music and examine the songs like “Good Co-Pilot.” Created by a WWII veteran who recalls landing a jet on a carrier during a Hurricane, it’s a powerful testimony of his faith. And we unpack the story behind “Machine Gunner” which is an anthem about a Marine Corps veteran’s memories of being on patrol in Afghanistan.   Check out more incredible songs and how to get your memories made into music by Operation Song https://www.operationsong.org/ Contact CBS Eye on Veterans phil@connectingvets.com Follow on Twitter: @philbriggsVet   @eyeonveterans

Every week thousands of listeners check out the hilarious military podcast “Zero Blog 30,” from sports entertainment giant Barstool Sports. We talked with the show host, Marine Corps combat vet Uncle Chaps. Before podcast fame, he was Staff Sergeant Matthew Cothron (Cah-thron) We heard about his combat deployments, fierce fighting in Fallujah, Iraq and the day he was shot. Chaps also shared his personal battle to keep VA benefits and offers sage advice for all veterans seeking VA benefits. Chaps also shared a few stories from his weekly show and proves why ZB30 is one of the funniest military vet podcasts out there. Check out the Zero Blog Thirty podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/zero-blog-thirty/id1151856991 Contact CBS Eye on Veterans phil@connectingvets.com Follow on Twitter: @philbriggsVet   @eyeonveterans

British paratrooper veteran James Thornett tells the epic story of smuggling a truckload of liquor down the deadliest road in Iraq. This epic Christmas Eve story was the start of the legendary bar known as "The Baghdad Country Club”. For more about James Thornett and pics from “The World’s Most Dangerous Bar” check out: https://www.baghdadcountryclub.org/ Contact CBS Eye on Veterans phil@connectingvets.com Follow on Twitter: @philbriggsVet  @eyeonveterans

This week the VA launched “Action Week” to push veterans to get their benefits related to the recently passed PACT Act. VA Press Secretary and Army combat veteran Terrence Hayes explained how vets who served near toxic burn pits are essentially pre-approved for benefits and he outlined the process, the timeline and may other free resources. Get your benefits claims started here: https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/ Every year Wreaths Across America honors fallen veterans by placing wreaths on headstones across the country. Communications Director, Amber Caron explains how this year it’s bigger than ever- over 2.5M wreaths! Plus we hear about the personal connections families have with this annual tradition, and how every wreath is actually a fundraising tool for thousands of local programs. For more info on Wreaths Across America check out: https://wreathsacrossamerica.org  Contact CBS Eye on Veterans phil@connectingvets.com Follow on Twitter: @philbriggsVet  @eyeonveterans

A recent report published by Majority Staff of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs claims veterans are “more likely to be involved in right-wing domestic violent extremism”. Cole Lyle, Marine Corps combat vet and policy advisor, has strong words for the members of the committee and pushes back against their report. See the House report here: https://veterans.house.gov/imo/media/doc/report_on_peer_support_in_preventing_domestic_violent_extremism.pdf (Helpful or partisan politics? … you can see for yourself) For more info on how Mission Roll Call is helping get veteran voices heard on Capitol Hill check out https://www.missionrollcall.org/ Contact CBS Eye on Veterans phil@connectingvets.com Follow on Twitter: @philbriggsVet  @eyeonveterans

Kristopher Goldsmith is an Army combat veteran, acclaimed writer and investigator who has fought for veterans’ rights for years. He founded Task Force Butler Institute to expose disinformation and bring down the hate groups lurking online and behind some of the anti-government militias we saw attack the US Capitol, on January 6th. We discussed the connection between these groups and why they’re actively targeting military veterans. Goldsmith also described how he infiltrated a militia meeting and revealed the white supremacist leaders. He also shared how social media, message apps, and troubled celebrities like Kanye West, help these extremists promote their agenda in the mainstream news. More information and donation for Task Force Butler Institute here https://taskforcebutler.org/ Contact CBS Eye on Veterans phil@connectingvets.com Follow: @philbriggsVet  @eyeonveterans

Retired Air Force veteran Barry Williams went from serving his country to serving as manager for his son’s band.  Little did he know, his son would become country superstar Jason Aldean. We talked about his service, fatherhood and what it was like before fame. Williams also shared the story of how Jason Aldean got his big break in Nashville and how Macon Georgia is home to many music legends. We also talk with Army veteran Vernon Hood Taylor, who graduated from University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) in 1981. But his accomplishments didn’t stop there.  His work in education paved the way for all service members to receive college credits for their military training and education https://www.umgc.edu/

Nate Boyer went from Special Forces to play in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks. After separating from two high octane careers, Boyer knows firsthand the struggle many veterans have with transition. He talked about his new film “MVP” which documents the origin story of Merging Vets and Players, an organization that helps combat vets and pro athletes overcome depression in order to find a new purpose driven life. This powerful film also features cameos from NFL Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, Michael Strahan, Howie Long and an incredible performance by Mo McCrae. Watch it now on iTunes Prime Video, Verizon, Google Play, DirecTV, Microsoft Movies, and more! https://filmrise.com/film/mvp Vets and Bourbon Retired Army Captain Mary Tobin is being recognized by Evan Williams bourbon as an American-Made Hero. We talked with her about her time in combat and how the organization she now leads makes a difference in cities around the country. https://american-madeheroes.com/ From the Army to College Professor Army veteran Dr. James Wyatt is a University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) English professor living in Japan. He shares his journey from serving during the Vietnam era to helping service members pursue their college degree. https://www.umgc.edu/

Before he was the legendary guitarist for The Eagles, Joe Walsh lost his father who served as an Air Force pilot. That’s one of the reasons he founded “VetsAid” the annual concert that raises millions for vets and veteran services.  This year’s VetsAid salutes Ohio vets with bands from there. Featured guests include a reunion of Walsh’s former band The James Gang plus Nine Inch Nails, The Black Keys, Dave Grohl and The Breeders.  We also talked about his memories of Ohio and his time at Kent State University. To stream the show and make a donation check out VetsAid 2022 here: https://www.vetsaid.org/vetsaid-ohio The Best Cities for Veterans Wallet Hub dot com recently ranked the Best Cities in America for Veterans to live, and analyst Jill Gonzalez shared details about the best and worst on the list. See the full report here https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-cities-for-veterans/8156 The Best College Majors for Veterans For many military veterans, starting a new career often begins with pursuing a college degree. Air Force veteran Will Stevens has been there.  And now he’s the Associate Director of Enrollment for UMGC in Asia and he has some great advice for vets.  Check out everything UMGC has to offer here: https://www.umgc.edu/ https://workingnation.com/ https://www.jdogjunkremoval.com/ https://www.sba.gov/

Every November we recognize National Veteran Small Business Week, So we talked with three experts about how to turn your business dreams into reality. Joan Lynch, former ESPN executive and Head of Working Nation.com talks about hot job categories and vets who have found success. Army veteran and founder of J-Dog Junk removal, Jerry Flanagan, shares how he went from a Jeep and a trailer to franchises nationwide. Army veteran Larry Stubblefield, Head Veteran Development for the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) explains how the SBA can help veterans with business plans, expert guidance and getting the funds needed to go from brainstorming to starting a successful business. Check out our guests at the following links: https://workingnation.com/ https://www.jdogjunkremoval.com/ https://www.sba.gov/

Rod Rodriguez is an Army veteran and host of the podcast “Military Matters” for Stars and Stripes military news. He recently documented vets trying to rebuild their lives after being ravaged by Hurricane Ian.  The audio clips he shares capture their raw emotions and vivid descriptions of being inside a mobile home as it was severed in half. Also, we examine the similarity for veterans between war zones and volunteering. And what all of us can do to help make a difference. Hear the Military Matters podcast here:   https://www.stripes.com/multimedia/podcasts/military_matters/

Right now, there are literally thousands of job openings for veterans!  We talked with former Army Secretary and Task Force Movement, Chairman, Patrick J Murphy about a new partnership with Military Hire dot com.  This public-private partnership looks to solve America’s supply chain problem with free CDL scholarships and cyber security jobs for vets. We also talked about his interesting history with Philly sports...Let’s go birds! Find out more about these high paying jobs at https://www.militaryhire.com/.

At the height of the Vietnam War, John "Chick" Donohue snuck into combat zones, just to bring his buddies beer! This insane but true story is captured in the book "The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Memoir of Friendship, Loyalty & War" and we had the honor of talking with the Marine Corps veteran, merchant marine and beer run legend himself.  https://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Beer-Run-Ever-Friendship/dp/0062995464 

“The Greatest Beer Run Ever” is the story of how Marine Corps veteran and merchant marine John “Chick” Donahue smuggled beers into Vietnam, just to show his buddies in combat, that his friends back home still care. Retired Special Forces veteran Col. Hans Bush was the film’s military technical advisor and he shared how they worked to make every detail accurate. He also shared some behind the scenes stories of actors Zac Efron (John Donahue) and Russell Crowe. The film is currently streaming on Apple TV+ Check out the book that inspired it all here https://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Beer-Run-Ever-Friendship/dp/0062995464 

Host of ABC TV's business start-up show "Shark Tank" Barbara Corcoran wants to help military and veteran small businesses as they enter this year's crucial fourth quarter. We talked about her upcoming free webinar “Business Unusual with Barbara Corcoran, presented by AT&T Business” which airs on Wed Oct 12.   Register for free at 888Barbara.com

For some veterans, getting busted is just part of a much bigger problem. Independent veteran advocate, Josh Marks, reveals how many counties in Maryland are not properly addressing the trauma, substance use, and mental health disorders of vets caught in the legal system. Chris Deutsch from Justice for Vets dot org shares how Veteran Treatment Courts across the country are helping them get their life back on track.

We talk with former Navy officer Thibaut Delloue about his new book “The Wardroom: An Officer's Tour at Sea and the Crisis of the US Navy” where he cites examples of this culture and a dangerous lack of training.  He also examines how current conditions may impact our ability to handle the next global crisis. Find the book and more about veteran author Thibaut Delloue here https://thibautdelloue.com/

This weekend some people will be surprised to see more than 20 veterans riding horses down the middle of New York City streets. These vets, along with mounted divisions of NYPD are riding in support of the 7th annual “Ride to Zero”. We talked with Meggan Hill-Mcqueeny about the goal of ending veteran suicide and the incredible programs from Braveheart Equine Therapy. Plus, powerful examples of vets who overcame PTSD, Depression, and other post-war conditions through horse training therapy on their horse farm in Illinois. For more about BraveHeart, Horse Therapy programs check out their website http://www.braveheartriding.org/