Chevrons - Ep 043 - Running Through Walls, Building Trust, Setting Standards

In this episode we speak to Air Force Master Sgt. Dominic Collis, a Security Operations Superintendent currently serving with the Space Force. We learn about his passion for serving, and explore his interesting perspective, gained from two decades of service in the Army, at a Navy-run joint base, a tour with NATO in Spain and now with the newest service branch, the Space Force.

This episode, we speak to Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major James Perrault, the Command Sergeant Major for the 151st Regional Support Group. He shares his advice and lessons learned from his 31 years of service.

This episode is different than our usual episode. We will take some time to review all eleven episodes that we published this year. We’ll highlight the best advice and stories from each guest and talk about what we learned in 2024. Thank you to our listeners! If you have any topic or guest ideas that you’d like to see in the New Year, please reach out! We’d love to hear from you. As you continue to work to become the best version of yourself in the new year, we hope to provide advice, guidance and opportunities for self improvement. Let’s make 2025 the year of growth. Happy New Year!

In this episode, we talk to two Chief Master Sergeants in the Air National Guard – Chief Keith Delgado and Chief Joseph Pitta. We discuss the importance of professional military education, and bettering yourself as you become the best version of yourself. The skills that you learn in these courses are critical to the development of our future leaders. We will hear from Chief Delgado, the senior enlisted leader for the 102nd Medical Group, and Chief Pitta, the Senior Enlisted Leader of the 267th Intelligence Squadron about their experience.

The holidays can trigger many emotions, including challenging ones. In this episode, we talk about how the best ways to handle the inevitable stress that comes with the upcoming holiday season - for both deployers overseas and service members at home. How do we best handle our emotions? How do we take control of our reactions? How do we navigate the common stressors and triggers that arise during this time? How do we stay resilient and take care of ourselves during this time? Erin Faye, Massachusetts Air National Guard Military and Family Readiness Program Manager, gives her personal and professional advice to answer all these questions! If you are feeling having difficulty managing your emotions and would like to seek help, there are several different resources available to you. Military One Source is a 24/7 resource that is always available to military members and their families for support. If you are thinking about harming yourself or would like emotional support, get immediate help by phone: call or text 988, or reach out to the crisis hotline at 988lifeline.org. If you like this episode, subscribe anywhere you listen to your podcasts! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chevrons.podcast/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558477243750

This will be a conversation about how, in the military, individuals from diverse backgrounds can come together under a shared purpose to contribute to something bigger than themselves and serve their nation. The contributions of immigrants who serve and swear allegiance to the nation are recognized and appreciated. So for a little background, non-U.S. citizens may be eligible to apply for naturalization, which is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a lawful permanent resident after meeting the requirements established by Congress, as defined by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. For many, joining the U.S. military offers a fast track to becoming a U.S. citizen. In this episode, Technical Sgt. Timothy Thorpe, a Massachusetts Air National Guard recruiter, and his recruit, Airman Daniel Olubodun will join us to talk about their experience. Airman Olubodun is native to Nigeria, was granted U.S. citizenship during Basic Military Training. For more information about U.S. Citizenship through military service, reach out to a local Air National Guard recruiter or Military One Source has some incredible resources for you to check out. Support is available to service members and their families who have questions about applying for citizenship. You may also call the USCIS toll-free Military Help Line: 877-247-4645.

National Guard Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony L. Whitehead joined us on an episode of the Chevrons Podcast to talk about his story and his perspective from decades of service and shares his advice for the enlisted force. SEA holds the highest enlisted level of leadership in the National Guard. SEA is the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., serving as the Chief's principal military advisor on all enlisted matters affecting training, utilization, health of the force and enlisted professional development. Listen to the episode now, anywhere you stream your podcasts.

On this episode of Chevrons, we meet U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Mannion. Mannion is an Intel Analyst with the 203rd Intelligence Squadron based at Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He is a four-time veteran of the Boston Marathon and has run marathons in New York and London. Running parallel to his passion for long distance running is his dedication for causes that help others. Along the way, he relies on the tools and techniques he uses in preparing for races and applies them in other areas of his life, both in and out of uniform. Listen to this episode anywhere you stream your podcasts! Follow along on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @chevrons.podcast!

Join us in welcoming our first U.S. Coast Guard Guest on the podcast, Air Station Cape Cod's Command Master Chief Jacob Linder. We talked to Linder, only two weeks before his retirement, about his 27 years of service and leadership advice for all enlisted members. We discuss the meaning of "deckplate leadership," methods of self-improvement, the importance of not being afraid to ask for help and more. Listen to this episode anywhere you stream your podcasts! Follow along on Facebook and Instagram @chevrons.podcast!

In this episode of Chevrons, we talk to Chief Master Sgt. Shane McGuire from the 102nd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group and Senior Master Sgt. Rachel Jacobs from the 102nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, about the importance of participation and being involved in something that contributes to a cause bigger than ourselves. We talk Top 3 Council, Rising 6, and explore a number of other opportunities that enlisted service members can take advantage of in giving back to the force.