The Death of Mark Leshikar ICYMI

Final episode of Military Matters. Its been an amazing couple of years and I can't thank you enough, the listener, for your support and listernship. Hopefully we'll meet again!  Rod out. ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.

You've probably heard the term "quantum" now at some point in your life from the dizzying numbers of film, television, and podcasts describing worm holes, multi-verses, and time travel. But there is REAL work happening right now at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency that is set to change the way we live. This isn't one of those 50 years from now deals, its happening now! Quantum living could be knocking at your front door sooner than you think! ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.

Rod Rodriguez explores the aftermath of Vanessa Guillen's murder, such as the legal changes to a commander's involvement in sexual assault/harrassment investigations, the Fort Hood independent report, and "cover up" culture in the military. Did anything really change? ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.

In light of recent developments in the Vanessa Guillén case, we're revisiting our Season 2 episode. Host Rod Rodriguez talks with Natalie Khawam, the lawyer for Vanessa Guillén's family, and Stars and Stripes reporter Rose Thayer, who had been covering the case since its start. We discover how Guillén's family first suspected something was wrong the very day she disappeared and how their first push for help the following day included an interaction with her killer. We also discuss how the more questions the family asked about the whereabouts of their daughter, the more roadblocks to answering those questions the Army put down. ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.  

Rod Rodriguez talks bidding farewell to Jack Murphy, the end of the season, and potentially the end of the show! ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.  

As we wrap up this season of Military Matters we bid a fond farewell to my co-host Jack Murphy. In this episode I sit down with Jack and talk about his career in Special Operations, his journey into journalism, and what's next for Jack Murphy and his podcast the Team House.  ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.  

Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy discuss last week's interview with Dr. Paul Scharre about the world of defense and artificial intelligence. We also discuss Jack Murphy's foray into showing civilians the SOF side of life as well as our thoughts on AI on the battlefield. All that and more on this Fast Take. ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.

Artificial intelligence is now a tool millions of people are using every day. What does this mean for not only our military but for the militaries of our adversaries and allies? Dr. Paul Scharre, former U.S. Army recon Ranger and now the executive vice president and director of studies at CNAS, talks about his experience with AI, where the military stands on the cutting edge, and what the REAL risks are when using AI. All that and more on this episode of Military Matters! ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.

Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy talk about last week's episode with the folks at Task Force Dagger. We talk charities, PTSD treatment, and you can listen to Rod get 'mythbusted' by Jack in real time! All that and more on this Fast Take! Also, check out this interview with Task Force Dagger founder Stephen Thompson from USSOCOM's official podcast SOFcast! https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s4-e6-mark-stephens-retired-smu-operator-and-chairman/id1541155036?i=1000588132887 ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.

Task Force Dagger Special Operations Foundation provides assistance to wounded, ill or injured U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) members and their families. They respond to urgent needs, conduct rehabilitative adaptive events (RAE) and provide next-generation health solutions for issues facing our service members. We talk with Director of Operations, Jessica Houlihan and Marketing/Fundraising Director Courtney Snyder about the work Task Force Dagger is doing with PTSD, stellate ganglion block treatment, and more!  To learn more about TASK FORCE DAGGER, go to https://www.taskforcedagger.org/ ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.