Late For Changeover

Late For Changeover 1 May 2024

Today we talk about SpaceX making Starship in-space refueling, Prosthetics chief at Aurora VA improperly canceled 1,000 orders without telling vets, 4th ID bans leaders from contacting soldiers after work, Kirkland AFB Airman sets New Mexico powerlifting record, and on 30 Apr 1789 Washington is sworn-in as the 1st U.S. President.

Late For Changeover 24 Apr 2024

Today we talk about Rocket Lab launches new NASA solar sail tech toward orbit, Barksdale Air Force Base closes dining facility amid reports of a rat problem, Soldier earns ‘Ace of Syria’ nickname after downing 6 drones, and Pat Tillman killed in Afghanistan 20 years ago.

S4E06 Army MAJ (Ret) Ruslan Emelyanov

Joining me today is Army MAJ (Ret) Ruslan Emelyanov.
Ruslan was born and raised in the former Soviet Union.  When he turned 18, he was conscripted into the Soviet Army in 1989 and chose to be a Paratrooper.  Over the next couple years, he accepted an invitation to attend the newly formed Russian Military Academy.  He graduated in 1995 and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Russian Army.  He had also earned his Jumpmaster status at that time.  His first assignment was to join his new unit already fighting in the First Chechen War.  At the conclusion of the war, his unit redeployed in December 1996.  Ruslan was then reassigned to Moscow and transferred to the Military Police.  In 1998 as a Captain, he resigned his Commission and left the Russian Army.
Family relatives who lived in California applied for a Green Card for Ruslan, and in 2000, he joined his relatives in Carmel, CA.  When the Sep 11th attacks occurred in 2001, he contacted an Army recruiter about the possibility of joining the U.S. Army.  The recruiter said he could enlist with a Green Card and signed him up as an 11B Infantry MOS.  At 28, he attended Basic Training at Ft. Benning, GA.  After graduating Basic, he attended Jump School and earned his U.S. Parachute Badge.  His first assignment was to B Co., 2/35th Infantry at Schofield Barracks, HI.  In 2003, he renounced his Russian citizenship and was sworn in as a U.S. citizen.  In April 2004, his unit deployed to Afghanistan for a year tour.  Upon returning, he was promoted to SGT.  He also earned Jumpmaster in the U.S. Army.  A few years later, he was recommended for OCS at Ft. Benning, and in 2007 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry.  In 2009, Ruslan changed branches to Civil Affairs and spent the next 12 years working with Special Operations Forces out of Ft. Bragg, NC.  He retired from the Army in 2023.

S4E05 Air Force SMSgt (Ret) Juan Lopez

Joining me today is Air Force SMSgt (Ret) Juan Lopez.  Juan grew up in California both in Los Angeles and later Vacaville.  He attended Vacaville High School and graduated in 1999.  He joined the Air Force in 2000 and went to Basic Training in 2001.  His AFSC was 1C6 and he attended tech school at Vandenberg AFB, CA.  Juan’s first assignment was to 11 SWS (ALERT) at Schriever AFB, CO.  In 2002, he was reassigned to 2 SWS at Buckley AFB, CO.  After that tour, his next assignment was to work HEO with 460th Det 1 back at Schriever AFB in 2006.  Three years later, Juan was chosen to be an instructor with the 533rd Training Squadron back at Vandenberg AFB.  In 2013 he was assigned to 13 SWS at Clear AFB, AK for a one year remote tour.  He was then assigned back to Buckley with the 2 SWS to work the SBIRS Block 10 program.  In 2017, he was promoted to MSgt and then converted to the Reserves through Palace Front.  He was assigned to 4 SWS at Buckley as an Active Guard/Reservist.  Later, he was moved to the 710th Operations Group and was promoted to SMSgt in 2019.  Juan retired on 1 Nov 2021.

Late For Changeover 17 Apr 2024

Today we talk about inflatable space station modules made by Max Space, the return of horse-drawn caissons at Arlington Cemetery has been delayed, the cost of sustaining the F-35 is now forecasted to exceed $1.5 trillion, medical beard waivers have nearly doubled in the Air Force and Space Force, why the Marines were at Mar-A-Lago, and the 82nd anniversary of the Doolittle Raiders.

To help out Mrs Texas, Krendra Harralson, please visit https://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/

S4E04 Army SFC (Ret) Krendra Harralson

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Army SFC (Ret) Krendra Harralson.  Krendra grew up in Tacoma, WA and attended Lincoln High School.  As a Sophomore, she joined the school’s JROTC program.  During her Junior year, she signed a contract with the WA National Guard at 17, and attended Army Basic Training at Ft. Jackson, SC during the summer before her Senior year in High School.  After graduating in 1998, she completed her AIT at Ft. Sam Houston, TX as a 92B Medic.
Her first assignment was with the WA NG Aviation unit as a Traditional Guardsman until Aug 2000.  Then she enlisted in the Active Duty Army and was assigned to Wiesbaden, Germany with the 557th Ground Ambulance Company in 2003.  Her next assignment was to the 4th Engineer Battalion at Ft. Carson, CO.  In 2009 her unit was deployed to Taji, Iraq.  During that deployment, her unit was relocated to Kandahar, Afghanistan where she was battlefield promoted to SSG in 2010.  A year later, SSG Harralson was assigned to the 555th Engineer Brigade at Ft. lewis, WA.  Her last assignment was to Ft. Sam Houston, TX in 2016 and she retired in 2018.
After retiring, Krendra competed in the Ms. Veteran America through the non-profit Final Salute Inc.  Later, she received the appointed title of Mrs. Texas 2024 and will be competing for Mrs. USA at Omaha, NE in Aug 2024.  To find out more about Krendra’s journey and how you can help, please visit the links below:

Final Salute Inc.  https://www.finalsaluteinc.org/Home.html
Love Without Boundaries. https://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093336497504
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/krendra_harralson/

S4E03 Army SFC (Ret) Keith Francis

The Veterans of Foreign Wars organization is an unrivaled source of past and living  military history.  I had the honor of visiting VFW Post 101 in Colorado Springs, CO, where I met Army SFC (Ret) Keith Francis.  Keith grew up in Alexandria, LA.  In 1974, he attended Grambling State University.  After getting a little burned out on school, he talked to an Army recruiter and swore in at the Shreveport, LA MEPS in 1976.  He attended Basic at Ft. Jackson, SC and was branched into the Air Defense.  After completing AIT at Ft. Bliss, TX he was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Giebelstadt, Germany.
His following assignments included the 7ID at Ft. Ord, CA, the 2ID at Uijeongbu, South Korea, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Ft. Campbell, KY, the 25th ID at Schofield Barracks, HI, and the 4ID at Ft. Carson, CO.  Keith retired from active duty in 1996.

Late For Changeover 10 Apr 2024

Today we talk about NASA selects three companies to advance Artemis lunar rover designs, the Air Force proposes bypassing Governors in 7 States to move Guard Units into the Space Force, the Navy fires the head of its only South American Command, General Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia to General Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9th, 1865, and we play the military movie props auction game.

Late For Changeover 02 Apr 2024

Today we are joined by former Air Force SrA Josh Rzepecki.  Together we talk about Northrop Grumman’s orbital refueling port, on-orbit service satellites, on-orbit space junk removal, families at Edwards Air Force Base living in RVs,  Sailors can now live in RV parks full time, hip replacements and other orthopedic devices not properly tracked by the VA, and Woodrow Wilson declares war on Germany in 1917.

S4E02 Air Force (Ret) Ana Mondragon

Today I speak with Air Force Retired Major Ana Mondragon.  
Maj Mondragon grew up in San Angelo, TX, and attended San Angelo Central High School where she graduated in 1995.  She joined the Air Force in August 1995 under an Open Administration contract.  Upon completing basic training, she attended tech school at Kessler AFB in Biloxi, MS.  Her first assignment was to Reese AFB, in Lubbock, TX.  
In 1997, she was assigned to a Joint Support Squadron at Stuttgart, Germany.  She came back to the States in 2000 when she was assigned to the 55th Space Weather Squadron at Falcon AFB, CO.  As a SrA, she left active duty and joined the AF Reserves.  Shortly thereafter she transitioned to the Air Reserve Technician program as a GS 7 with the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson AFB, CO.  
After being promoted to Master Sergeant, she was hired in 2006 as an AGR in the 310th Space Wing with the 19th Space Operations Squadron.  She was later selected to the Deserving Airman Commissioning Program and was commissioned in 2010.  In 2017 she took a position with the 8th Space Warning Squadron at Buckley AFB, CO.  In 2020, she was hired into the 42nd Combat Training Squadron and was promoted to Major.  Maj Mondragon retired in 2024.