AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast

Host Patty Barron, Director of Family Readiness at AUSA, speaks with Chelsea Ortiz, Program Manager for MyArmyBenefits, the Army’s official benefits information website. They discuss transferring GI Bill benefits, the Yellow Ribbon Program, managing divorce and TRICARE, and much more.
Family Voices, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, aims to connect Army families to speakers and issues that are important to their everyday lives. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.MyArmyBenefits Links
Official Site: https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/
GI Bill: https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Post-9/11-GI-Bill
Yellow Ribbon Program: https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/yellow_ribbon.asp
Divorce and TRICARE: https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/News/How-Does-Divorce-Affect-Your-TRICARE-Benefit
Follow MyArmyBenefits on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/myarmybenefits/

To celebrate the Army’s 244th birthday this week, we learn about the NEW National Museum of the U.S. Army, targeted to open in 2020 at Ft. Belvoir, VA. Co-hosts Nzinga Curry, Director, AUSA’s Institute of Land Warfare, and MAJ Brad Cooper, Army Fellow, interview special guests LTG Roger Schultz, USA-Ret., President, Army Historical Foundation and Ms. Tammy E. Call, Director, National Museum of the U.S. Army. The museum is an immersive experience that tells our Soldiers’ stories in all eras, through their own voices. With over 750,000 projected visitors, the museum will offer a touchpoint for young citizens considering Army careers and will generate excitement and inspiration for anyone seeking to serve in their communities. One featured area of the museum is the Experiential Learning Center and its G-STEM (Geography, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) exhibit, offering kids a chance to play in Fort Discover while other visitors learn Soldier skills from the simulators and games in the Training Center. Another highlight is the Army & Society exhibit, covering things we enjoy as citizens that started as Army requirements. Kiosks with Registries honoring Army Soldiers, civilians and animals will be spread throughout the museum. Be sure to add your stories to the Registries and then look them up when you visit.
Army Real Talk, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, aims to help AUSA and the Army better connect with the younger generation. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
Army Historical Foundation
https://armyhistory.org/
The U.S. Army Registries – Honoring Army Soldiers, Civilians and Animals
https://armyhistory.org/the-registries/
https://armyhistory.org/the-registries/

Co-hosts Sergeant Major of the Army (Retired) Ken Preston and Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Troy Welch, both of AUSA’s NCO & Soldier Programs, discuss what it means to lead by example for emerging leaders and young professionals. Operating within a band of excellence applies to all aspects of life, on- and off-duty, when setting an example for your Soldiers. The goal is to take that piece of the Army you’re responsible for and make it better than it was before you got there.
Soldier Today, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, focuses on what is important to Soldiers and NCOs. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

Host Joe Craig, Director of AUSA’s Book Program, speaks with author Joseph Celeski about his new book The Green Berets in the Land of a Million Elephants: U.S. Army Special Warfare and the Secret War in Laos 1959-74. The Green Berets' service in Laos was the first strategic challenge since its formation in 1952, and proved one of the first major applications of special warfare doctrine. Clouded in secrecy until the 1990s, this story is comprehensively told for the first time using official archival documents and interviews with veterans. Joseph Celeski served for thirty years in the U.S. Army, twenty-three of them in Special Forces, and has published several works on special forces and counterinsurgency.
Thought Leaders, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, brings in-depth conversations with authors of military books and senior leaders. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

In honor of Military Spouses, Family Voices host Patty Barron, interviews Angie Dickinson, the spouse of LTG James Dickinson, about a song she wrote, Rolling Along with the Army. The first line of the song provides an idea of what to expect: “Rolling along with the Army, we keep the flag unfurled, standing with Soldier for peace around the world.” This uplifting tribute honors military spouses around the world, raising their families and supporting their Soldiers as part of the Army community.
Family Voices, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, aims to connect Army families to speakers and issues that are important to their everyday lives. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

Co-hosts Nzinga Curry, Director, AUSA’s Institute of Land Warfare, and MAJ Brad Cooper, Army Fellow, discuss how to develop young Soldiers with experienced Army leaders LTC Courtney Abraham, CPT Nick Bono and 1SG (Retired) Stephen Canonico. Listen to discover more about the people who make up the Army and their commitment to excellence. How do leaders draw innovative solutions from Soldiers? What is the value of transparency and vulnerability in leadership? How does the Army support Soldiers as lifelong learners?
Army Real Talk, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, aims to help AUSA and the Army better connect with the younger generation. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org. 

The Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) Daniel A. Dailey discusses the new centralized NCO evaluation system, moving from time-based to merit-based promotions, with host Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Troy Welch, Director, NCO & Soldier Programs, AUSA. The new system will promote the best NCOs while minimizing time alone as the main factor for advancement. Now Soldiers can continue to serve, even if they reach the current 30-year cut-off point, as long as they rank amongst the top of their peers. When and how will the new system be rolled out? Will Soldiers have a chance to prepare? What happens if you rank towards the top of your peer group, or instead, the bottom?
SMA Dailey’s Challenge – We want to hear from listeners. E-mail us your questions about the new NCO evaluation system to be answered in a follow-up episode: podcast@ausa.org 
Soldier Today, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, focuses on what is important to Soldiers and NCOs.

The first week of May is Public Service Recognition Week, and our podcast today is in honor of America’s public servants. Our guest host for this special edition is Mr. John Nerger, a career Army Civilian who retired from the Department of the Army in 2015 after nearly 36 years of federal government service, including 15 years as a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES). He leads a discussion on what it is like to work for the Army with two current Army Civilians, Ms. Diana Nalli, a financial management analyst with the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management & Comptroller), ASA (FM&C), in the Army Budget Office, and Ms. Shruti Jha, an environmental engineer at the Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (CCDC GVSC) in Warren, Michigan.
Special editions of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast feature guest hosts leading discussions on timely Army topics. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
Army Civilian Careershttps://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/army-civilian-careers.html
DOD Civilian Internship Programhttps://godefense.cpms.osd.mil/internships.aspx
Senior Executive Servicehttps://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/

Peter Doran, President & CEO of the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), joins Colonel (Retired) Daniel Roper, host of Thought Leaders, to discuss the U.S. military’s increased focus on long-term strategic competition with the revisionist powers of Russia and China and how this competition is playing out in Central and Eastern Europe.  Why are Europe and NATO critical to U.S. national interests?  How do the U.S and its NATO Allies deter Russian aggression and confront its exportation of chaos to the West?  What inroads has China made by building European infrastructure?  Where should the U.S. posture its Army in Europe to enhance deterrence, and should deterrence fail, to fight and win? 
Thought Leaders, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, brings in-depth conversations with authors of military books and senior leaders. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org. 
Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA)www.cepa.org@cepa@PeterBDoran

Join Patty Barron, host of Family Voices, as she discusses the real reasons we can’t seem to eat well, exercise, or sleep soundly. This fun and informative conversation with COL Deydre S. Teyhen, DPT, PhD, OCS, Commander, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), covers everything from where to put the broccoli in your refrigerator to apps that will have you sleeping like a baby. She makes getting healthy fun and DOABLE!
Family Voices, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, aims to connect Army families to speakers and issues that are important to their everyday lives. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
WRAIR:Website: https://www.wrair.army.mil/Facebook: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research; @WRAIROfficial
Performance TriadWebsite: https://p3.amedd.army.mil/Facebook: Performance Triad; @PerformanceTriad