Posted on

#217: CUWOF with Brian O’Hare

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you joining us and your continued support. This week, we’re Catching Up with Old Friends and hanging out with Brian O’Hare again. Depending on your definition of “old friends,” it hasn’t been a long time since Brian was last on the show, nor is Brian long in the tooth, but that’s the name of the segment, so we’re sticking with it.  Much like the last time Brian was on (go listen to Episode 198 if you haven’t. We’ll wait), trying to summarize what went on is an effort in futility, wrapped in a quagmire, and sprinkled with good times.  Brian happened to be in the AO, attending the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, where he’s working on a novel. Brian fills us in on his creative process and talks about his upcoming documentary, Cannon Shot, which covers the most attended croquet match in the world, the Annapolis Cup, between the Naval Academy and St. John’s College. There’s a ton of other non-sequiturs, off-colored jokes, and trains of thought that never quite find their station. It is such a genuinely great time hanging with Brian and we are so glad he took the time to spend it with us.   

Enjoy!  

Podcast (mca-scuttlebutt): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | RSS

Posted on

In The Box – Behind The Camouflage Season 4 | Episode 6

This week we’re back with another round of In the Box, where we unpack listener questions and decide whether their choices are “in the box” or a little outside of it.

From overhead luggage etiquette and requiring spouse events to be kid-friendly, to celebrating our spouses’ accomplishments, and navigating the chaos of holiday travel, the BTC Team is tackling it all.

So grab your coffee and join the BTC Team for a candid and relatable conversation that might just have you asking yourself.. are you in the box? Give a listen!

Do you have a question you want BTC to answer in a segment of “In the Box”?

Submit your question here!

Podcast (behind-the-camouflage-podcast): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More

Posted on

#216: Remembering Beirut bombings with Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continue support. This week, as we recognize the 42nd anniversary of the Beirut bombings, we welcome Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff to the show. I’m not really sure where to begin in introducing Rabbi Resnicoff. He didn’t begin his career behind the pulpit but on the front lines. Rabbi Resnicoff served in Vietnam as naval officer on a small craft patrolling the rivers to deny enemy movement. He went to rabbinical school after his time in Vietnam and served 25 years as a Navy chaplain. Rabbi Resnicoff was instrumental in the creation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in DC and he was one of the three chaplains on site at the Marine Barracks in Beirut on that fateful day. Rabbi Resnicoff recounts his service in Vietnam, the challenges of attending rabbinical after having served in the war, and his experiences on the ground in Beirut on October 23rd, 1983. This is a very special episode and we are so excited to share it with you.  

Enjoy!

https://resnicoff.net

Podcast (mca-scuttlebutt): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | RSS

Posted on

Strength through Struggle – Behind The Camouflage Season 4 | Episode 5

In this episode of Behind the Camouflage, we sit down with Jill Castilla, Present and CEO of Roger and Citizens Bank of Edmond, for a powerful and emotional conversation about resilience, leadership, and financial readiness. Jill shares her deeply personal journey of overcoming trauma and how she found strength through struggle – offering inspiration for anyone navigating life’s toughest seasons.

She also provides timely, practical advice on managing finances through the government shutdown, with insights tailored to military families facing uncertainty. This episode is a reminder that even in hardship, there is power in perseverance. Give a listen!

Resources from this episode:

Army Emergency Relief

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

Podcast (behind-the-camouflage-podcast): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More

Posted on

#215: Amphibious Tractor Memorial Updates

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for tuning in and your continued support. This week, we are joined by Col John Atkinson and SgtMaj Justin LeHew to give us updates on the Amphibious Tractor Memorial. Since we last spoke with John and JD, these two, and the entirety of the Amphibious Tractor Association, have been working tirelessly on building the memorial, and finally, after seven and a half years, have a date for the groundbreaking. We talk about the legacy of the amphibious tractor and why it matters, the significance of the groundbreaking, and what is in store for the festivities. 

The groundbreaking will be at 3pm on Thursday, Oct 23rd, on the Memorial Walk of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. For those in the National Capital Region, please join us in celebrating this achievement, and those Marines who proudly wear the moniker, “Amtrac’er” 

YAT YAS! 

amphibioustractormemorial.com/golf-tournament 

Podcast (mca-scuttlebutt): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | RSS

Posted on

2025 MCA Spouse & Community Award Winners

Official Announcement

We are proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 MCA Spouse and Community Awards — honoring individuals whose dedication, leadership, and compassion strengthen the Marine Corps community.

These awards recognize those who inspire positive change, foster meaningful connections, and go above and beyond to support Marine Corps families.

Community Changemaker of the Year is awarded to individuals who have driven meaningful change by identifying challenges and implementing solutions that positively affect the lives of Marine Corps families, spouses, and the broader community. 

  • Pacific Region – Mrs. Jennifer Hall
  • West Region – Mrs. Kandi Hart
  • East Region – Dr. Soyini Garvey

Community Catalyst of the Year Awarded to individuals who go above and beyond to create inclusive, welcoming spaces that foster connections, collaboration, and mutual support among Marine Corps families.

  • Pacific Region – Mr. Vincent Toth
  • West Region – Mrs. Lindsay Swoboda
  • East Region – Mrs. Berlinda Castillo

To each of our awardees — thank you for your vision, your heart, and your unwavering commitment to building a stronger, more connected Marine Corps community. You are the reason this community thrives.

The 2025 MCA Spouse & Community Awards will be presented to the awardees at the Sixth Annual National Meeting of the Marine Corps Association & Luncheon to be held on December 4th, 2025.

Posted on

#214: Road to 250 – Operation Odyssey Dawn

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for listening and your continued support. This week, we bring you the penultimate episode of our Road to 250 segment, celebrating the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday in 2025. Throughout the rest of the year, we’ll continue featuring stories and history from throughout the 250 years of the Marine Corps. These episodes are nested within the MCA’s overall Road to 250 Campaign, where we have featured articles in both the Gazette and Leatherneck highlighting events and battles within specific periods in Marine Corps history. The MCA also has a commemorative Road to 250 coin collection. These commemorative challenge coins can only be found through the MCA. Go to marineshop.net to order individual coins or email [email protected] to order the entire set or learn more. 

This month, we walk the Road to 250 during the Global War on Terror era of Marine Corps history. Walking with us is LtCol Michal Wyrsch, an artillery officer turned Harrier pilot who eventually flew F-35s before retiring. Michael shares his experiences as an artillery forward observer during Operation Phantom Fury and a Harrier pilot during Operation Odyssey Dawn, the air campaign in Libya during the Arab Spring. As a member of multiple MEUs, his participation during the Long War spans the land, sea, and air, and we are excited to engage with his unique perspective on the decades-long war across multiple theaters.  

Enjoy! 

Podcast (mca-scuttlebutt): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | RSS

Posted on

Special Episode: The Government Shutdown

In this special breaking news episode, we sit down with Jen Goodale, Director of Military Family and Survivor Policy at the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) to discuss the government shutdown and its impact on military families. Jen breaks down what’s happening, what it means for pay and benefits, and shares practical resources and actions families can take to prepare and find support during this uncertain time.

MOAA Call to Action – The Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 (H.R. 5401)

Podcast (behind-the-camouflage-podcast): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More

Posted on

#213: Lessons from the Smoke Pit with Adam Walker

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome Adam Walker to the show. Adam is the creator of Leatherneck Magazine’s newest segment, Lessons from the Smoke Pit. Adam is a retired Master Gunnery Sergeant who has found a lot of value in telling the sometimes tragic, but oftentimes funny, stories of his experiences in the Marine Corps. He talks to us about the value of having a creative outlet, especially for veterans. There’s only so much room in our packs, and finding a way to process our experiences is a valuable way to lighten the load and work through the things we’ve been through. He also shares his road to the yellow footprints, his experiences recruiting during September 11th, and his time serving during the Long War. Adam’s perspectives are so profound, and his genuine humility is so infectious and disarming. This is a great conversation, and we can’t wait to get more lessons from the smoke pit.  

Enjoy! 

Podcast (mca-scuttlebutt): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | RSS

Posted on

In the Box – Behind the Camouflage Season 4 | Episode 4

This week we’re rolling out a special edition of the show: In the Box. Think of it as our way of putting listener questions under the spotlight and deciding whether their choices are “in the box” or… maybe a little outside of it.

From Marine Corps birthday ball attendance, to bringing pets to family day, and even the popular debate on the dress code at the PC – we’re weighing in with equal parts humor, honesty. and military spouse real talk. So grab your coffee and join the BTC Team for a candid and relatable conversation that might just have you asking yourself.. are you in the box? Give a listen!

Do you have a question you want BTC to answer in a segment of “In the Box”?

Submit your question here!

Podcast (behind-the-camouflage-podcast): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More