Patriot to the Core bookshelf -

Ep 093 | Leading Well in Turbulent Times

August 8, 2022 By Thad Forester

“Good judgment comes through experience, which comes from bad judgment.”

Brig. Gen. Robert (Gwyn) Armfield and Lt. Gen. Bruce Fister, both USAF, retired are on the show to talk about their new book “Lead to Serve and Serve to Lead.”

They use their experience from extensive military careers and now consulting with companies–from non-profits, to large organizations.

Some specifics we discuss:
-Leading in a crisis
-How do develop leaders, including delegating effectively
-Giving feedback: possibly an area where most leaders struggle
-Gwyn and Bruce’s mistakes and responses to them

I’ve already given the book a 5-star rating on Amazon and recommend it to all listeners to Patriot to the Core.

Purchase the book here: Lead to Serve book

You can also listen to my previous interview with Gwyn here.

*PTC is on Patreon. If you like what you’re hearing please check out how you can help the cause so I can provide quality content and keep on keeping on!

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Ep 092 | Justin Roberts – On the Ground in Ukraine

July 26, 2022 By Thad Forester

Former Army Chaplain Justin Roberts (@justindroberts) has been in Ukraine since April 2022 recording a documentary film series to highlight people who are doing good in Ukraine–helping with aid, managing donated money effectively and honestly, and just serving their fellow man.

I wanted to know what it’s like in the war where he’s been. How are the Ukrainians living? What is their morale? Are they going about their daily lives in some parts? How do they respond when Russian soldiers come to their home? Why is this war mostly artillery and not small arms?

It was fascinating to talk with Justin from his air b and b in Lviv. He goes out with the military in the mornings and works from his home in the afternoons and evenings.

Below are links where you can follow him, watch videos showing the destruction and fight of the Ukrainian military and civilians, and listen to my first interview with him from back in 2018. Please follow him and support where possible.

Do Good Army on Facebook

Do Good Army on Tiktok

Episode 53 of Patriot to the Core

Justin on War Stories podcast

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Ep 091 | William Markham – One Veteran at a Time

July 18, 2022 By Thad Forester

Retired Chief Master Sergeant William Markham spent 30 years in the Air Force, was inducted in the 2021 Air Commando Hall of Fame and in the 2022 USSOCOM Hall of Heroes.

I know him personally because he was the chief of my brother Mark’s squadron (21st STS out of Pope Field, NC). I never met him until he delivered the notification of Mark’s death to our family on Sept 29, 2010. And he rarely left our home for the next week. Our family has tremendous respect for Markham.

Now, he has found a way to give back to his community and our veterans. He is the Chairman of Project OVAT and Executive Director of The Patriot Fund.

He’s a big believer in service dogs and in helping our vets get the services they need b/c he had several difficult years of figuring out his benefits, insurance and disability.

This man was on the ground in Afghanistan in Oct 2010 and was awarded the Silver Star on that deployment. He’s served our country well and now continues to serve in other ways.

Mentioned in this episode:

Ep 36: Kurt Buller

Ep 48: Bart Decker

Ep 88: Kyle Stanbro

Ep 76: Gen. Gwyn Armfield

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Ep 090 | Troy Bye – The Long Road to Cyber Security, Insider Threat & Intelligence

June 20, 2022 By Thad Forester

M. Troy Bye, is an Executive Director with ManTech and has spent much of his career managing large IT programs for customers within the Intelligence Community in the Washington D.C. area. ManTech has a long history of supporting the FBI. Now, with the FBI’s transition of many of their cyber programs to Huntsville, AL, Troy recently relocated his family to support ManTech’s efforts in transitioning the FBI work to the Huntsville area.

In early 2022, Bye started the “Our Town Podcast” to facilitate his integration into the community as he interviews a wide range of guests on various topics related to business, entertainment, sports, and the arts. Troy and his wife, Wendy, have four children and reside in Madison, AL.

As a very young boy, his father and mother both suffered serious and permanent brain injuries–one year apart. Fortunately, he had family and other role models to help him get where he is today.

Mentioned in this episode:
–Huntsville ranked #1 place to live in US – US News and World Report
–Rocket City Trash Pandas
–ManTech

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Ep 089 | Jennie Taylor – Gold Star Wife and Mother of 7

May 2, 2022 By Thad Forester

Jennie Taylor was taking a much needed break by spending the weekend with friends from college, therefore she wasn’t home when the “knock” came at her door.

In January of 2018, her husband, Major Brent Taylor left his position as Mayor of North Ogden, UT and deployed to Afghanistan with the US Army for what would have been a year-long deployment. On November 3, 2018 Major Taylor was killed in action in a planned, insider attack by one of the Afghan commandos he was training.

In the months and now years since Brent’s shocking death, Jennie has unexpectedly and frequently found herself in a position to speak out about the price of freedom, the value of community support, and the healing that can be found when moving forward with a conviction to find hope and happiness in spite of life’s heartache and pain.

You can read more about Major Brent Taylor below:

Military Times

https://www.majorbrenttaylor.com/

And watch Jennie’s Ted Talk here

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