Raven Conversations

Latest Episodes:

Raven Conversations: Part 2 Two-Weeks Ready and disaster preparedness with BG Jeremy Horn Mar 07, 2019

Show notes

In this second part of a two episode series about disasters, the commander of the Washington Air National Guard, Brigadier General Jeremy Horn, sits down with us to talk about all the options available to people in order to prepare for a catastrophic natural disaster. Some of the things we talked about are how to put together a two-week survival kit, making a communications plan for your family and connecting with your neighbors. Get prepared at: mil.wa.gov/preparedness Email public affairs for your story ideas: jason.r.kriess.mil@mail.mil

Raven Conversations: Part 1 Two-Weeks Ready and disaster preparedness with Maximilian Dixon Feb 22, 2019

Show notes

The beauty that surrounds us in the Pacific Northwest is nothing short of awe-inspiring. But the stunning scenery and bountiful outdoor activities come with a powerful and shocking price. For millions of years Mother Nature has forged our landscape with mighty earthquakes and volcanoes. For the next two episodes we will talk with experts who will lay out exactly what we face as far as natural disasters here in Washington. What they are, what you can expect when they happen but most importantly how you can prepare for them. In this episode we chat with Maximilian Dixon. He is the Hazards and Outreach Program Supervisor at the Emergency Management Division and he has vast amounts of knowledge about the Cascadia Subduction Zone that could strike within our lifetime. Get Two-Weeks Ready! mil.wa.gove/preparedness

Raven Conversations: MOS Spotlight - Linguists and Military Intelligence Feb 08, 2019

Show notes

In this episode we bring you the first in a series of shows dedicated to the different MOSs and AFSCs in the Washington National Guard. We will have a guest on who is in a certain job field to talk all about it, what it's like and what people can look forward to if they are interested in going that route in their careers. Before battles are fought and targets are destroyed, critical information needs to be gathered about our adversaries in order for our military leaders to make informed decisions. The majority of that information is gathered from foreign language sources. Staff Sergeants David Larson and Kurt Erickson are both intelligence professionals with foreign language skills. Larson speaks Japanese and Erickson speaks Russian. We talk about how they train and excel in their language, the different countries they've traveled to for language immersion training, the valuable world-class education they received from the Defense Language Institute, and most importantly how they use their language skills to gather vital foreign intel needed to make critical wartime decisions. For public affairs assistance and support call 253-512-8989 or email jason.r.kriess.mil@mail.mil or joseph.f.siemandel.mil@mail.mil

Raven Conversations: What we're doing to prep for wildfire season with Col Kevin McMahan Jan 25, 2019

Show notes

There are a couple proposed legislation that are making their way through state government in Olympia. Both are very beneficial to our Guardsmen. One is HB 1137 which would raise Guard state active duty pay to meet our current state minimum wage or an amount equal to the rates established by the national wildfire coordinating group, whichever is greater. The other is SB 5197 which creates the Washington National Guard postsecondary education grant program. This bill would, when combined with other education benefits like the GI Bill, make postsecondary education free for any state college or university. If you would like to pledge your support for these bills, you can head over to https://leg.wa.gov There you can find your representative and send them an email. Our conversation on today's show is with Col. Kevin McMahan. He is the Director of Joint Operations in the Joint Operations Center. We talk about how we prepare for wildfire season, how we train and how we are able to predict just how bad the fire season will be. As always send your story ideas to jason.r.kriess.mil@mail.mil

Raven Conversations: New Year, New Me – Yoga and ultra-running Jan 10, 2019

Show notes

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2019. In this episode, Sara and Jason talk with two people in our organization who are making strides to spread the joy of healthy living and exercising. Master Sgt. Samantha Stewart is a Retention Office Manager in the 194th Wing in the Air National Guard, and she is also a certified yoga instructor. She holds one-hour yoga sessions in building 109, the 194th Wing auditorium, at 1115. The classes are free and open to service members and Camp Murray employees. Check out Master Sgt. Stewart on Instagram and Facebook: @samanthastewartyoga. She can be reached by email at samantha.r.stewart13.mil@mail.mil. 1st Lt. Krosby Keller. He is an Air Battle Manager at the 225th Air Defense Squadron in the Western Air Defense Sector. And he is also an avid ultra runner. Most people think of long distance running in terms of marathon or 26.2 miles. Ultra running goes even further. 50, 100 even 200 miles! Sara is an ultra runner herself and boy, did they have a lot to talk about. Original music by Matthew Tomaszewski. You can hear some of his other works at www.metaessence.net As always, send your story ideas to me, Jason Kriess at jason.r.kriess.mil@mail.mil.

Raven Conversations: The Washington Youth Academy Dec 07, 2018

Show notes

In this show we take you inside the Washington Youth Academy. It is a FREE life intervention, credit recovery program and any resident of Washington state can attend between the ages of 16-18. The academy recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary. This program has quite simply, changed lives. But the program is not easy. They wake up a 4:45 AM, they do physical training, rain or shine, they learn military drill and ceremony, they have a rank structure with platoons and squad leaders and first sergeants. They live there, they sleep there, and they build life long friendships there. They also go to school. There are high school teachers just like your typical high school. They can earn back as much as 8 credits which go on their high school transcripts and can bring them back on track to graduate with their peers. We sat down with three cadets currently attending the academy. You will hear it directly from their mouths what it’s like and how they feel about the school, the cadre who provide the fair but tough love and just how much the academy has put them on the path to living a productive and goal oriented life. Follow the Washington Youth Academy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonYouthAcademy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6wkS7NMl5KYr0EQUQDpudQ/videos How to apply to the Washington Youth Academy: https://mil.wa.gov/youth-academy/how-to-apply Visit the Washington Youth Academy Foundation: https://www.wyafoundation.org/

Raven Conversations: Talking with CW3 Scott Pierson with the 133rd Army Band and the 10th CST responds to suspicious package in Olympia Nov 21, 2018

Show notes

In this episode Jason and Sara sit down with the commander of the 133rd Army Band, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Scott Pierson. He’s been leading the band for more than eleven years now and has nothing but good things to say about his soldiers and their dedication to spreading the joy of music wherever they go. Follow the 133rd Army Band on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/133dArmyBand/ In the second half of the show we talk with three members of the 10th Civil Support Team, Major Wesley Watson, Staff Sgt. Ian Crocker and Warrant Officer Dan Jones. Those three, along with other members of the team, were called to the state Capitol in Olympia on November 5th to inspect the contents of a suspicious package that was discovered at the Jefferson Building. Read about the incident here: https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article221156910.html As always send feedback and show ideas to jason.r.kriess.mil@mail.mil And be sure to follow us on social media! www.facebook.com/washingtonguard www.instagram.com/wanationalguard www.twitter.com/wanationalguard www.youtube.com/user/wanationalguardpao

Raven Conversations: The Big Boss: Chatting with the TAG Nov 07, 2018

Show notes

In this episode Jason and Sara sit down with the big boss himself, Major General Bret Daugherty. He talks about his career, his vision for the Washington National Guard and some of his most pressing topics that he’s working on. As always send story ideas and podcast feedback to Jason.r.kriess.mil@mail.mil www.facebook.com/washingtonguard www.instagram.com/wanationalguard www.twitter.com/wanationalguard www.youtube.com/user/wanationalguardpao

Raven Conversations: Talking Cyber Security with Col. Kenneth Borchers Oct 25, 2018

Show notes

In this show, Jason sits down with Deborah Discolo with the Joint Services Support (JSS) on Camp Murray. The JSS is a veritable one-stop shop for service member resources. Everything from financial and tax advice to job seeking classes to rock painting. Yes, rock painting. And all free of charge. In armories all across the state there are family assistance specialists there waiting to help you out with anything you may need. In the second part of the show, Sara and Jason talk with Col. Kenneth Borchers, commander of the 252nd Cyberspace Operations Group. Many of the members that make up the 252nd come from the giants in Washington’s technology industry – Amazon, Google, Microsoft, etc. They talk about cyber security, the unit’s recent work securing our election system and no, the Cyber Awareness Challenge is not going anywhere. Follow the JSS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JSSWA Watch Governor Inslee/Secretary of State Wyman's news conference featuring Col. Kenneth Borchers: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2018101044 As always send story ideas and podcast feedback to Jason.r.kriess.mil@mail.mil www.facebook.com/washingtonguard www.instagram.com/wanationalguard www.twitter.com/wanationalguard www.youtube.com/user/wanationalguardpao

Raven Conversations: Leadership with CMSgt Trish Almond Oct 11, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, Jason and Sara talk with Chief Master Sgt. Trish Almond. CMSgt. Almond is the senior enlisted leader of the Washington National Guard and adviser to the adjutant general. They talk about her career, the various programs she oversees and her philosophy on leadership. If you have a story idea, have a question or would like more info on the Washington National Guard, send an email to jason.r.kriess.mil@mail.mil. We would love to answer your question on the show! 2018 Turkey Drop information: https://jssturkeydrop2018.eventbrite.com or phone: 1-800-364-7492 Trunk or Treat information: Robbin Seeberger email: robbin.a.seeberger.ctr@mail.mil or phone: 253-512-7985 Link to the employee survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ees18main

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