MCRA "The Official Podcast of the Marine Corps Reserve Association"

250th Navy/MC Birthday

PACT Act Presented by: Lisa Pape Senior Advisor, Department of Veteran Affairs, with Carrie Szonka and Monica Rivera

Interview with Dave Leighton

Since 1962, Marine KC-130 aircrew have flown millions of miles and flight hours. They have performed their missions magnificently around the globe in peace and in war. During this time, eight KC-130 crews, along with their passengers have made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. But there is no memorial acknowledging this service and sacrifice. This PODCAST will discuss the proposed VMGR memorial from a unique perspective. You will hear from the creator, Mr. Johnathan Keene; the driving force behind the Memorial, the Marine Corps Air Transport Association, Jacob Cobb; two spouses who lost their husbands in incidents, Sherry Kevianne and Jennifer Herrman; and what the Memorial will mean to the current KC-130 community, LtCol Courtney O'Brien, Commanding Officer of VMGR-352.

It is an honor to have the Vice President of VETSQuest, Col. CJ Williams USMC (ret.) with us for this episode of the Marine Corps Reserve Association Podcast.

Words from VETSQuest:

The work we do has always been community-focused. Through VETSQuest, we are able to support our current community of veterans, and those who will soon transition from careers in the U.S. Armed Forces into civilian roles. Our mission is clear: We're here to help veterans and their spouses land on their feet, securing their future and the futures of those depending upon them.

Serving our country takes courage—and so does transitioning to civilian life. Through VETSQuest's forthcoming business opportunities, management training programs, and recruitment initiatives, HireQuest Inc. and our family of companies are here to serve our veterans and their spouses.

Specifically, we offer three opportunities:

Manager-in-Training: This is a paid training program that allows you to learn our business model and then become a business owner by opening a HireQuest franchise.

Core staff: Each of our 230+ locations hire people for marketing, recruiting, business development, office administration, and management.

Direct hire: An opportunity for us to directly place you with one of our thousands of clients.

It is an honor to have the National President of the Women Marines Association, LtCol. Rhonda LeBrescu Amtower USMCR (ret.) with us for this episode of the Marine Corps Reserve Association Podcast.

Rhonda LeBrescu Amtower  Bio:

Rhonda LeBrescu Amtower retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in January 2001 after 25 years in the intelligence field. She enlisted in the Marine Corps in January 1976 and attended the 47-week basic course in Chinese Mandarin at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. She applied for and was accepted into the Enlisted Commissioning Program. Commissioned a Second Lieutenant in August 1977, she was assigned the MOS of Basic Intelligence Officer. She also held the additional MOS’s of Imagery Officer, Chinese Foreign Area Officer and Joint Service Officer. Her early assignments within the Intelligence field include: Imagery Officer at the Fleet Intelligence Center Pacific from 1978-1981; Officer in Charge of the Force Imagery Interpretation Unit with the First Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan from 1981- 1982; Officer in Charge of the Marine Detachment, Naval Intelligence Support Center, Suitland, Maryland from 1983-1985. She was selected as the first female Marine officer to serve in the Defense Attaché program and spent the next two years as the Assistant Naval Liaison Officer in Hong Kong. She served as the MAG-16 Intelligence Officer in Tustin, California from 1988- 1990. Her next assignment was as the Executive Officer of the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion at Parris Island, South Carolina from 1990-1992. She then attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and served a two-year joint tour with the Combined Forces Command/ U.S. Forces Korea as the Intelligence Exercise Planner. Her next assignment was in Camp LeJeune, North Carolina where she served as the II MEF G-2 Operations Officer from 1995 until her last assignment to Headquarters Marine Corps, Intelligence Department in August of 1998 to January 2001. Her personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2 nd Award), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal. Rhonda joined the Women Marines Association (WMA) in 1989 while stationed in Tustin, California and is a life member of National and of the local DC-l Chapter. She has served in WMA from the Chapter to National level in positions ranging from a National Area Director, 2nd Vice President and 1st Vice President before assuming the position of National President from 2008 to 2012. She continued to serve as a member of the National Board of Directors as the Immediate Past President from 2012-2018. In 2018 she once again assumed the position as the WMA National President and will continue to serve until the end of the 2020-2022 term of office.

MCRA serves members of the Marine Corps Reserve through the promotion of professional development, advocacy for the Marine Corps Reserve, furthering the relevance and value of the Marine Corps Reserve and its individual members, and advancing the interests of the total United States Marine Corps in order to preserve the security of the United States

If you want to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by Email: USMCRA@usmcra.org

It is an honor to have Mayor Jondavid Longo and our guest host Colonel. Alexander Snowden USMCR, with us for this episode of the Marine Corps Reserve Association Podcast.

Mayor Longo's Bio:

After graduating from Beaver Area High School in 2008, Jondavid enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as an Infantry Rifleman. As a Marine, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and The Global War on Terror and to Latvia in support of Operation Saber Strike. In 2013, Jondavid enrolled at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. He graduated from SRU with a Bachelor’s degree in History in 2015. The recipient of The Dr. Mark Mraz Memorial Scholarship for Secondary Education, he also graduated with a Master’s degree in Secondary Education Social Studies in 2017. It was during his time as a graduate student that Jondavid sought to serve his community as Mayor and would go on to become the youngest Mayor in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania's history. Mayor Longo serves on Slippery Rock Area Parks and Recreation’s Board of Directors as Secretary, is a member of The Butler County Alliance for Children’s Board of Directors, and as Secretary of the Butler County GOP. Living out his motto, “Service Over Self,” Mayor Longo donates 100% of his Mayoral salary to Slippery Rock Area charities and nonprofits.

Colonel Snowden's Bio:

Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee Colonel Snowden graduated in 1995 from Colorado State University. He was commissioned in 1997 as an Infantry Officer and began his service with 3d Battalion 8th Marines. in 2004 Colonel Snowden left active service and joined the Selected Marine Corps Reserve. Deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom he led numerous combat missions in the Helmand Provence. Colonel Snowden is now the operations officer at Joint Enabling Capabilities Command (JECC) in Norfolk, VA. In his civilian career Colonel Snowden is the area Vice President for Wishbone Orthopedics, and the Secretary for the Marine Corps Reserve Association.

MCRA serves members of the Marine Corps Reserve through the promotion of professional development, advocacy for the Marine Corps Reserve, furthering the relevance and value of the Marine Corps Reserve and its individual members, and advancing the interests of the total United States Marine Corps in order to preserve the security of the United States

If you want to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by Email: USMCRA@usmcra.org

It is an honor to have Col William Paul  (ret.) with us for this episode of the Marine Corps Reserve Association Podcast.

Col William Paul Bio:

Colonel William G. Paul, USMCR (Ret) began his career in 1952 when he arrived at Quantico to begin Basic Officer School training or TBS. Following Basic School, his first assignment was to MCAF Santa Ana, CA. He then deployed to Korea, following the Armistice which was a very tense time in our country's history. After two years on active duty, he became a Marine Corps Reservist, where he returned to the University of Oklahoma to complete his LAW DEGREE. While he excelled as a lawyer, which we will explore during this conversation, he continued to serve in the Marine Corps for 30 years

MCRA serves members of the Marine Corps Reserve through the promotion of professional development, advocacy for the Marine Corps Reserve, furthering the relevance and value of the Marine Corps Reserve and its individual members, and advancing the interests of the total United States Marine Corps in order to preserve the security of the United States

If you want to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by Email: USMCRA@usmcra.org

It is an honor to have MajGen James Williams  (ret.) with us for this episode of the Marine Corps Reserve Association Podcast.

MajGen James Williams  Bio:

Major General Williams was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. His formative years were spent in Reading and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received a B.S degree from Slippery Rock University, in 1975. He reported to Officer Candidate School in January 1976 and received his commission in March 1976. He was subsequently assigned in 1976 to the 3rd Marine Division to serve with the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines serving as a rifle platoon leader, and the Super Squad Platoon. Returning from overseas in January 1978, he reported to 2nd Force Troops (now 2nd Marine Logistics Group), as the assistant command inspector. He was then assigned to the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company as a Force Recon platoon leader and deployed several times for NATO exercises.  During this tour with the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C, he served as ceremonial platoon leader; White House presidential military social aide to Presidents Carter and Reagan; coach of the barracks boxing team; head, The Basic School Correspondence Course, Marine Corps Institute; and attended graduate school at Georgetown University from 1979 to 1981. During 1990–1991, the battalion was called to duty for Operation Desert Shield/Storm. He was then selected and assigned to be the deputy commander, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Augmentation Command Element (I MACE) in 2000. In 2000, he graduated from the U.S. Army War College. In 2002, while in this assignment he was assigned as the deputy director, Operations CJTF-180, conducting combat operations in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. He was selected for promotion to brigadier general in 2003. His career continued until his retirement as a MajGen in 2010.

MCRA serves members of the Marine Corps Reserve through the promotion of professional development, advocacy for the Marine Corps Reserve, furthering the relevance and value of the Marine Corps Reserve and its individual members, and advancing the interests of the total United States Marine Corps in order to preserve the security of the United States

If you want to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by Email: USMCRA@usmcra.org

In honor of Black History Month, it is an honor to have MGySgt Jones (ret.) with us for the Marine Corps Reserve Association Podcast.

MGySgt Jones Bio:

Carey Jones is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant and combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom / Operation Enduring Freedom. He served as the Communications Chief for Headquarters Battalion in Camp Lejeune, NC until his retirement in September of2019. Carey held various billets throughout his career. His most notable tours include drill instructor at officer candidate school and for enlisted personnel at Parris Island, SC.; senior enlisted advisor for 2d Marine Division G6; ethics instructor for Headquarters Bn and 2dMarine Division’s Corporals course. His overseas tours span from the Asian Pacific to the Middle East. He is an active mentor within the community and volunteers his time to assist troubled youth assigned to Florida’s Youth Challenge Academy in Palatka, Florida. He is an affiliate of Abundant Life International Baptist Cathedral in Jacksonville, North Carolina; Montfort Point chapter in Jacksonville, Florida, and a former member of the National Association of Black Veterans chapter in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Carey’s post-military career is spent working as an MBA/finance student at Webster University on Naval Air Station Jacksonville campus. He completed his undergraduate studies with American Military University and holds a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in Information Technology Management.

MCRA serves members of the Marine Corps Reserve through the promotion of professional development, advocacy for the Marine Corps Reserve, furthering the relevance and value of the Marine Corps Reserve and its individual members, and advancing the interests of the total United States Marine Corps in order to preserve the security of the United States

If you want to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by Email: USMCRA@usmcra.org

In honor of Black History Month, it is an honor to have MajGen Wilson (ret.) with us for the inaugural show for the Marine Corps Reserve Association Podcast. 

MajGen Wilson Bio:

A graduate of the University of South Carolina, he received his commission in the United States Marine Corps through the Navy ROTC program in 1972. He has a long and distinguished record of service to our country in both active and reserve duty assignments. He has commanded Combat Arms and Combat Service Support units from the Company, Battalion, Group and Brigade levels. His staff assignments included service in manpower, operations, and logistics positions. Selected as a General Officer in 1999, he served as a Deputy Commanding General for Marine Forces Central Command and the Deputy J3 for Central Command in Tampa, Fl; Commanding General for 4th Logistics Service Support Group in New Orleans, La; Commanding General for II MACE, 2nd Brigade Commanding General and the Deputy Commanding General II MEF at Camp Lejeune, NC; Director, Manpower and Reserve Affairs at Headquarters Marine Corps in Quantico, Va.; Commanding General Marine Forces Europe and Africa in Stuttgart, Germany; Deputy Commanding General Marine Forces Command in Norfolk, Va and Commanding General Marine Forces Southern Command in Miami, Fl. In 2003, he commanded a Joint Task Force of Coalition Partners in combat in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom based in Kuwait.

MCRA serves members of the Marine Corps Reserve through the promotion of professional development, advocacy for the Marine Corps Reserve, furthering the relevance and value of the Marine Corps Reserve and its individual members, and advancing the interests of the total United States Marine Corps in order to preserve the security of the United States

If you want to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by Email: USMCRA@usmcra.org