Bravo Zulu

Josh let's go on about the shitty conditions that lead to Sailors needing to show up to work 2 hours before liberty expiration, just to find parking and waste his life away.

Josh talks about the perceived recruiting crisis.

Josh is joined by Nick the Great Live in Studio. Catching up after being deployed 75% of 2023, going over some of the recent quality of life discussions. They talk about that committee hearing, and what really needs to happen. Getting married for BAH. That statistic of more under 25 yr old military members have kids than civilians. And of course, the recent NAVADMIN about various BS distraction changes, that top brass hopes will help Sailors stop asking about beards. Update: Drinks. were drank and only some of these things got talked about. Other topics not planned for were, officers hands in their pockets, Sailors w/o GED are better than you think, USS Kidd and more.

Josh discusses the MCPON kickoff letter for the FY24 CPO Initiation Season.

Josh reviews the last letter addressing the MCPONs third priority "Quality of Life".

Josh reviews and discusses the second of 4 letters the 16th MCPON released outlining his priorities for the CPO Mess. Providing a realistic conversation you can agree or not agree with, Josh tells how he interprets the vague and general message being sent out to the Mess.

Josh reviews the first letter of MCPON James Honea "Call To Action" of the Chiefs Mess.

Let’s talk about what you want to talk about! Josh answers questions from the chat. A viewer asks how to cope with being new in the Navy and dealing with missing family and friends. How does one prepare to advance while working out of rate. BONUS! Free Game is given on when and how to win SOQ Boards. Challenge your LPO and Chief with this free knowledge!

Bravo Zulu reads questions and posts from the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy AMA (ask me anything) that was held on 20Jan2023. Josh gives his opinion on some of the posts and answers as a know nothing Chief who just want’s to retire.

Josh is joined by his long time friend TI who serves in the Navy as a Public Affairs Officer. You can catch his career background in episode #58. After cruising the r/Navy subreddit, Josh found a question about "Navy Influencers". The conversation online was good, but plenty of opinion and little facts. TI volunteered to clear up some of the myths and give details behind what the Navy is trying to achieve through "Navy Ambassadors", the purpose that all Navy communications serve, and offers Josh the keys to the Snapchat. Stay tuned to see if Josh accepts.

Chad joins Josh in the studio to catch up about life and preparing for retirement. Chad shares how he didn’t realize the opportunity of success until he finally retired. How the comfort and stability of being good at your job vs being with family is often a harder choice than some realize. Only due to our own failures at being ready for the next step.

Josh brainstorms about the perceived mental health stigma that lingers throughout the military. Or is it just another society driven woke cultural battle that is being pushed to weaken our forces?

Josh and Nikki are joined by Nick for another table topics discussion. Who know's what's going to be asked. Worse yet, who know's how it will be answered when there's two bottles of tequila on the table for verbal lubrication!

Nikki joins Josh for another table topics episode. They share their thoughts on topics like, often given advice that is horrible. What's getting in the way of their interests and hobbies. They share insecurities that molded them into who they are today, and several more topics. 

Josh goes solo on the Tom Brady fiasco concerning the comparison of another NFL season to going on deployment.

Rob joins Josh as they watch the newest Texas Chainsaw Massacrew on Netflix and talk horror genre. How growing up watching scary movies impacted Rob's life and the changes they see in the horror movie genre today.

Josh is once again joined by his wife Nikki and long time friends Virginia and Gary. Virginia being a friend of 18 years, since Josh's High School days. Gary being a friend of 8 years, serving with Josh aboard the USS Rushmore. These "Table Topics" are dinner party based to help break the ice among strangers. Though the guests were not strangers hearing some of the answers was still enlightening. 

Josh is joined by his wife Nikki, who came up with the great idea of having a at home date night on the podcast, playing the game "Table Topics". 

Alex Puskarich a long time friend of the show. He served one tour in the early 2000s and left after completing his initial enlistment. Having always looked at the military as a job and stepping stone to more, he executed a very fruitful transition into being a civilian. Through sacrifice and blazing his own path, today he's a successful dad and strength and conditioning coach for a private facility in Las Vegas.

Josh reads a USNI article. Leaders today have the same message. Josh breaks this article down with his own interpretation of it all. Often leaders confuse their "Why" with the "How".   https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2022/august/serve-first-lead-second-be-humble

Nick and Charlie drop in the studio to talk about weaknesses in mens relationships with men as well as woman. How social media is weakening or changing the strengths that men play by when dating. Will and Jada get brought up *eye roll*, rich people still got poor people problems. Nick wants to bring back toxic masculinity and emphasizes that lions no matter what are indeed and always a lion. 

Josh goes off on the senior led narrative that first term Sailors, by nature are complainers. How leadership focuses on "taking care of" and not "leading" Sailors, as explained in a sea story.

Josh monologues about some notes he's been taking for the podcast. Why we elevate our military leaders to some make believe higher status, stand in line for pictures with them and stand in awe of them?

Is being a good person required to being a good leader or service member? 

Who are you when you're wearing the uniform vs outside of the uniform? Is it the same person, how or what changes and why?

Chris Sarauer is a first enlistment Petty Officer Third Class, Sonar Tech (Surface) who always knew the Navy was going to be a one and done enlistment. What he didn't know is that his first enlistment was going to have him not working in his trained rating, on a ship that has little purpose in his eyes. Chris shares his story on how he ended up here, his views on what it takes to get through the day, and what his plans are once he completes his enlistment. 

Josh talks about the MCPON Q&A that took place on the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, and how drastically bad it went. 

https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Speeches/display-speeches/Article/3010030/mcpon-all-hands-call-transcript-on-uss-george-washington/

Benny Juarez is old school. Joined in 1988 he was raised by a generation of old school Navy not known to many today. From Corpsman drop, to busted down boatswain mate, SWCC Boat guy, to BM2 then wrapping up a stellar career as NC1, there are few stones left to be turned over by him. 

In this episode Josh talks about the emphasis that is placed on reading leadership books to become a better leader. Do they really teach you anything new? The CPO Guide 2nd Edition written by FLTCM (ret) Paul Kingsbury is a great training tool, but can it really make you a better leader? Knowledge without execution, is worthless.

Josh is joined by his friends, Tania, Nick and Kelvin, to discuss how their military service affected their marriages that eventually ended in divorce. Nikki co-hosts to share how she's dealt with Josh and his service as well as hers in their own marriage. Topics range from cheating, rules for husbands on deployment, and mentoring on how not to fall into the same traps. 

Josh returns from a partial week at sea, for the first time in 5 years. He and Chad talk about the struggles of having two crews getting along while being responsible for the same ship at different times. The hardships that turnover process has produced and likely hood it will happen again. Chad stumps Josh when he asks how that transition back to sea life is going. Episode available on YouTube as well. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUvrGi0HtDQ

In this episode Josh sits down with a Master Chief friend and talk shop. How does a new Sailor go from being sent to the brig for 30 days to becoming one of ten Master Chiefs in their rating? 

In this episode we ask the question about about how the sayings "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" and how that's similar good or bad to "what happens in the mess, stays in the mess." Do these saying automatically have a negative connotation to them? What are the first thoughts that come to your own mind when you hear them. Do sayings like this lend to a negative perception of the Chiefs Mess, that junior Sailors directly relate to bad conduct being swept under the rug? 

Nikki joins Josh in the studio to try and get some answers to help her better understand what his role and duties are as a Chief in the Navy. How they're much different from her's as a nurse in the civilian world. What her experience in the Navy provides her in the way of trying to understand and how it also prevents her. 

Gary joins us in the studio to received a charge that Josh owed him. Traditionally given during the CPO season, Josh was unable to attend Gary's pinning or visit during the 2020 season due to outside influences happening around the world. Josh delivers an unorthodox charge to a great friend of his. 

Josh sits down and gives more depth to episode #73. Drops some pro tips on what you should do and how to carry out mentorship once you've received it. Implement, don't lose touch, embrace, learn from others experience, and mentor in the open for all.