Fuel the Fight – Details, episodes & analysis

Jim Miller is an MMA and UFC legend.  He currently holds the record for most UFC fights at 43 Octagon appearances and is preparing to be the first fighter to compete at UFC 100, 200, and 300 on April 13th at the T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas, Nevada where he will face fellow UFC veteran Bobby Green. While Jim everyone knows Jim takes his fighting seriously, you may not know he takes his food just as seriously.  On this episode we dive into Jim’s nutrition and why he is so passionate about his food and where it comes from. 

Be sure to follow Jim @jimmiller_155 on Instagram and watch him fight at UFC 300 on April 13th. 

Coach and MSG(Ret) AC Bryant III is back to discuss season 2 of Team Combat League as he leads the San Antonio Snipers.  

We discuss the evolution of the TCL and how Coach Bryant plans to win a world title with his team. 

Follow Coach Bryant on Instagram @bryantboxing 
@sanantoniosnipers_
@shin_yoo_sub
@teamcombatleague 

"TF Delta was an avant garde Army think tank designed to explore high performing organizations.  The question was 'What is the difference that makes a difference?'" That is; What was it made high performing organizations different from their contemporaries? The idea was to move from generally reactive (most of the military), and proactive (what many strived for) to truly high performing units. "

 - COL(Ret) John B. Alexander 

http://johnbalexander.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_B._Alexander

Dr. John Alexander has been a leading advocate for the development of non-lethal weapons since he created renewed interest in the field starting in 1989. In 2003 he served as a mentor to Afghan Ministry of Defense senior officials through the Office of Military Cooperation – Afghanistan, (Coalition Forces) Kabul. He has traveled to all eight (yes, 8) of the continents on Earth. He trekked the remote areas of Tibet including the Mount Everest Base Camp, went to Timbuktu in the Sahel in West Africa, tracked gorillas in Rwanda, met shamans in the Amazon, Mongolia and voodoo witch doctors in Togo and Benin, traveled across cartel controlled areas of Central America, visited ancient temples in Burma, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia.  In New Guinea, he witnessed the emergence of stone-aged tribes people who still practice cannibalism on occasion, and in 2014 was swimming in the open ocean with humpback whales in the Kingdom of Tonga. In 2015 we attended Kumbh Mela in Nashik India, visited Bali and Borobudur in Indonesia and was diving on the Great Barrier Reef off Australia. In 2016 a highlight was diving with Great White Sharks off Isle de Guadalupe, Mexico.

He entered the US Army as a private in 1956 and rose through the ranks to sergeant first class, attended OCS, and was a colonel of Infantry in 1988 when he retired. During his varied career, he held many key positions in special operations, intelligence, and research and development.  From 1966 through early 1969 he commanded Special Forces “A” Teams in Vietnam and Thailand.  His last military assignment was as Director, Advanced System Concepts Office, U.S. Army Laboratory Command.  After retiring from the Army, Dr. Alexander joined Los Alamos National Laboratory where he was instrumental in developing the concept of Non-Lethal Defense.  As a program manager, he conducted non-lethal warfare briefings at the highest levels of government including the White House Staff, National Security Council, Members of Congress, Director of Central Intelligence, and senior Defense officials. He also met with heads of industry, presented at academic institutions, including Columbia, Harvard and MIT. In 2004 he was invited to address the German Bundestag. In 2005 he went to The Hague and addressed international delegates to the Chemical Warfare Convention. Later his civilian U.S. Government position afforded him Senior Executive Service (SES) equivalency. 

Dr. Alexander organized and chaired six major conferences on non-lethal warfare and served as a US delegate to several NATO studies on the topic.  As a member of the first Council on Foreign Relations non-lethal warfare study, he was instrumental in influencing the report that is credited with causing the Department of Defense to create a formal Non-Lethal Weapons Policy in July 1996.  He was a distinguished guest lecturer at several DOD universities and has advised the CIA, US Special Operations Command, and the National Intelligence Council. 

Dr. Alexander wrote the seminal material on non-lethal warfare.  He published articles in Harvard International Review, Jane’s International Defense Review, The Boston Globe, The Futurist, The Washington Post, and several other journals. He has appeared frequently on television including Dateline, Fox News, Larry King, CNN, MSNBC, Newsweek, and other U

***LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM HERE: : https://www.baylor.edu/graduate/dscot/index.php?id=976730 ***

Colonel Enrique V. Smith-Forbes is currently the Program Director for the U.S. Army Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD), at the Medical Center of Excellence, Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), Fort Sam Houston (FSH), TX. He previously served as the Chief of Occupational Therapy services of Brooke Army Medical Center, JBSA, FSH, TX. He also served as the Program Director for the Doctor of Science in Occupational Therapy (DScOT) program, JBSA, FSH, TX.  Additional previous assignments include Chief Occupational Therapy Services at General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, Ft Leonard Wood, MO; OIC, Restoration clinic, 98th Combat Stress Control, Camp Liberty, Iraq, 2008-2009; and Assistant Chief, Outpatient orthopedic Occupational therapy section, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC.

Lieutenant Colonel Smith-Forbes has a Doctorate of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, a Master of Occupational therapy from Texas Woman’s University, TX, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Park College, Parkville, MO. He completed the U.S. Army Upper Extremity Neuromusculoskeletal Evaluation residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC. Lieutenant Colonel Smith-Forbes also completed the U.S. Army Officer Basic Course, AMEDD Captains Career Course, and the Army Command and General Staff Officer’s Course. He is a board certified hand therapist of the American Hand Therapy Certification Commission and holds active membership in the American Society of Hand Therapists, American Occupational Therapy Association and the Texas Society for Hand Therapy.

Colonel Smith-Forbes’ awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, and Air Reserves Forces Meritorious Service Medal. Colonel Smith-Forbes was also awarded the Army Medical Department "A" Proficiency Designator (9A) Award, the 2020 SAUSHEC COL Gerald Wayne Talcott “Outstanding Faculty Award,” the 2021 “COL Mary Lipscomb Harrick Army Medical Specialist Corps Research Award”, and has been inducted in The Order of Military Medical Merit (O2M3). His current research interests include upper extremity rehabilitation, patient adherence and behavioral health, and health and wellness interventions and outcomes for military populations.   

***LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM HERE: https://socialwork.uky.edu/academics/msw/army-msw-program/ ***

Lieutenant Colonel Teresa Murray is a native of Royal Palm Beach, Florida.  She graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry/Life Sciences. Upon graduation, she was commissioned as a Medical Service Corps officer and completed the AMEDD Officer Basic Course. Her first assignment was with the 32nd Medical Logistics Battalion (Forward) (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as an operations officer. She was then assigned as the Forward Distribution Platoon Leader, Bravo Company, 32nd Medical Logistics Battalion (FWD)(ABN). Following this assignment, she was selected to be the Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School and Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Following this assignment, she graduated as the Distinguished Honor Graduate of the Combined Logistics Captains Career Course at Fort Lee, Virginia, in 2006. She was then assigned as Brigade Medical Operations Officer for 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas, and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While deployed, she took command of Charlie Company, 15th Brigade Support Battalion, and served as “Trauma 6” until she was selected for the inaugural class of the Army-Fayetteville State University Master of Social Work (MSW) Program.     

Upon graduating from the MSW program in 2009, Lieutenant Colonel Murray completed the two-year Social Work Internship Program at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and was subsequently assigned as Behavioral Health Officer for 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). While assigned to “Strike,” she deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2014, serving in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. She was then assigned to Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon, Georgia, where she served as the Chief, Child and Family Behavioral Health Service; Chief, Community Behavioral Health Service; and the Director of Training, Social Work Internship Program. She was then selected for Long Term Health Education and Training to pursue her PhD in Social Work at The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. Upon completion of her PhD in 2020, she served as the Executive Officer and Assistant Professor for the Army-University of Kentucky Master of Social Work Program for two years prior to assuming responsibility as the Program Director in July 2022. She also serves as Deputy 73A Consultant to the Surgeon General. 

Lieutenant Colonel Murray’s military education includes Command and General Staff Officer Course, Airborne School, 82nd Airborne Division Jumpmaster Course, Family Advocacy Staff Training, and Combat Operational Stress Control Course. Her awards and decorations include Bronze Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Unit Commendation with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Expert Field Medical Badge, Army Parachutist Badge, and German Parachutist Badge. She has also been awarded the “A” Proficiency Designator for outstanding leadership and professional expertise within her field.

Lieutenant Colonel Murray is currently licensed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of North Carolina and has been recognized as a Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work. She is widowed and has two children: Lucas, 13, and Amelia, 9.  

Dr. Ed Thomas is back on the podcast to discuss the Restorative and Martial Arts (RAMA) program he ran at Fort Benning, GA and how the model might be used current day to create a similar program.  

Captain John C. Maitha enlisted for military service as a combat medic in 2002. He volunteered and was selected for service with the 75th Ranger Regiment and received follow on medical training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. CPT Maitha served in 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment as a platoon medic, company senior medic, and medical platoon sergeant where he deployed nine times in support of Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Additionally, he served on the 75th Ranger Regimental staff as the Medical Force Modernization NCO.    

CPT Maitha earned a Bachelor and a Master of Science degrees in Physician Assistant Studies from the Interservice Physician Assistant Program in San Antonio, Texas, and then commissioned as an officer in 2016. He served as an Aeromedical Physician Assistant in 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment located at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. Then he was assessed and selected to serve as the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment Physician Assistant where he deployed three times in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. He is currently the Field Craft Training Officer in Charge at the Combat Medic Specialist Training Program, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.    

CPT Maitha’s military education includes the Senior Leader Course, Basic Officer Leader Course, Captains Career Course, Medical Management of Chemical and Biological Casualties, Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation course, Army Flight Surgeon Course (Long), Tactical Combat Medicine Course, Jumpmaster School, Ranger School, Special Operations Combat Medic Course and Airborne School. 
  
CPT Maitha’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with V device (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Bronze Star Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Ranger Tab, Combat Medical Badge, Expert Field Medical Badge, Army Basic Flight Surgeon Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge.

He is happily married with four children.

COL Douglas was raised in Washington state, graduating from high school in Coupeville, Washington, in 1992. He graduated from Whitworth College with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and was commissioned through Gonzaga University’s ROTC program into the Medical Service Corps in 1996. He served as a 70K, Medical Logistics officer, in various assignments including PBO, BMO, Platoon Leader, Chief of Materiel, Company Commander, Medlog Planner, Branch OIC, and Deputy Chief (Instructor) until 2006.  In these roles, he supporting medical and other operations in Korea, Germany, and Italy for missions throughout those COCOMS including the Former Republic of Yugoslavia (Bosnia/Kosovo), NATO and other partnerships, Africa, and the Middle East. He served on the MEDCOM headquarters from 2001-2003 supporting the GWOT and MEDCOM operations and then taught medical logistics for the AMEDDCS. In 2006, he entered the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) and graduated with his Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies in 2008 while stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. He deployed to Iraq with both the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn. From 2012-2016, he served with the California Medical Detachment in Monterey, California; delivering healthcare and medical readiness support to a robust joint community in DoD educational programs. He was selected for the LTHET Doctor of Science Surgery fellowship in 2016 and attended this rigorous program from 2016 until graduation with his Doctor of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies in December 2017. He served as the Program Chair for this program at BAMC until March 2019, where he transitioned to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School (AMEDDCS). He became the interim Dean of the Graduate School in September 2021 and formally the Dean in April 2022. 

COL Douglas is appointed as an Associate Graduate Professor with Robbins College through Baylor University.  He oversees 14 graduate degree programs between 3 universities to delivery more than 350 graduate degrees annually and involving more than 60 training locations across the Joint services and DHA, as well as civilian partnership sites. 

He is happily married to his wife Tracy (Harvey) Douglas, and they have three children: Cecily (14), Ian (10), and Eleanor (7), all attending the Fort Sam Houston schools.