In 1995, Mario Valencia was a young airman in the United States Air Force, stationed at Dahran Airbase in in Saudi Arabia, when a massive bomb tore through the Khobar Towers barracks—killing 19 of his fellow service members. Mario survived, but the explosion followed him home in ways he never expected. PTSD. Guilt. Substance abuse. In this episode of Veterans AZ, Mario shares what it took to climb out of that darkness, reclaim his life, and eventually build something new.

About Veterans AZ (http://VeteransAZ.org)

Veterans AZ is a video series that shares the stories of Arizona veterans and focuses attention on the many organizations and programs that serve veterans in the Valley of the Sun. The program is produced as part of the Scottsdale Veterans Advisory Commission's efforts to increase communication and awareness about veterans, their accomplishments, and the services and organizations supporting those who have worn the uniform of the United States armed forces. Produced by the City of Scottsdale, Veterans AZ features veterans' news and information from across the Valley of the Sun and Arizona.

Veterans AZ is also available in your favorite podcast app.

Veterans AZ – HonorHealth Military Partnership Program

The latest episode of Veterans AZ takes us behind the scenes of an innovative training program that helps medical providers in uniform prepare for active duty military service. Since it began in 2004, HonorHealth's Military Partnership Program has trained more than 3,500 soldiers and airmen in trauma and deployment skills - critical abilities that help save lives.

Join this conversation with Roxanne Flynn and Donna Tew from HonorHealth to learn more about the ways the Military Partnership Program supports the men and women in uniform, and also first responders right here in Arizona.

Learn more about the program at https://www.honorhealth.com/company/military-partnership

About Veterans AZ (http://VeteransAZ.org)

Veterans AZ is a video series that shares the stories of Arizona veterans and focuses attention on the many organizations and programs that serve veterans in the Valley of the Sun. The program is produced as part of the Scottsdale Veterans Advisory Commission's efforts to increase communication and awareness about veterans, their accomplishments, and the services and organizations supporting those who have worn the uniform of the United States armed forces. Produced by the City of Scottsdale, Veterans AZ features veterans' news and information from across the Valley of the Sun and Arizona.

Veterans AZ is also available on the ScottsdaleAZ YouTube page.

This episode of Veterans AZ shines a spotlight on the Arizona Veterans Mission Group, a nonprofit that provides legal assistance to veterans to help them receive the care and benefits they deserve. Join AVMG Director Anna Mineer and attorney Derek Debus to learn how they are helping veterans navigating the often complex world of VA benefits and the legal system.

Learn more about the Arizona Veterans Mission Group: https://arizonaveteransmissiongroup.org/

About Veterans AZ (VeteransAZ.org)

Veterans AZ is a video series that shares the stories of Arizona veterans and focuses attention on the many organizations and programs that serve veterans in the Valley of the Sun. The program is produced as part of the Scottsdale Veterans Advisory Commission's efforts to increase communication and awareness about veterans, their accomplishments, and the services and organizations supporting those who have worn the uniform of the United States armed forces. Produced by the City of Scottsdale, Veterans AZ features news and information from across the Valley of the Sun and Arizona. Veterans AZ is also available in your favorite podcast app.

Arizona governments are encouraged to air Veterans AZ on your channels – find full episodes, graphics, caption files and other resources in the Veterans AZ media portal: https://scottsdale.canto.com/v/VeteransAZ/

In this episode of Veterans AZ, we sit down with Shawn Banzhaf and Michelle Loposky who are part of the team at the Pat Tillman Veterans Center at Arizona State University.

The Pat Tillman Veterans Center assists active-duty, veteran and veteran-dependent students with their military education benefits and offers programs, events, and a place where student veterans can connect with and support each other. Shawn and Michelle are both U.S. Army veterans - learn about their experience and all of the things the Pat Tillman Veterans Center does to support military learners. (https://veterans.asu.edu/)

About Veterans AZ (http://VeteransAZ.org)

Veterans AZ is a video series that shares the stories of Arizona veterans and focuses attention on the many organizations and programs that serve veterans in the Valley of the Sun. The program is produced as part of the Scottsdale Veterans Advisory Commission's efforts to increase communication and awareness about veterans, their accomplishments, and the services and organizations supporting those who have worn the uniform of the United States armed forces. Produced by the City of Scottsdale, Veterans AZ features veterans news and information from across the Valley of the Sun and Arizona.

Veterans AZ is also available in your favorite podcast app.

This episode of Veterans AZ features an interview with Margy Bons, the founder of Military Assistance Mission – an Arizona nonprofit dedicated to helping our military service members and their families. Margy founded MAM in honor of her son, Marine Corps Sgt. Michael Adam Marzano, who died in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

MAM strives to provide financial assistance each year to 120 Arizona active duty, guard & reserve military service members. Each year approximately 2,500 military members and families benefit from MAM’s morale/event programs such as Operation Holiday Giving, Seats for Soldiers, and Baby Bundle Bash. Learn more about Military Assistance Mission at https://azmam.org/.

About Veterans AZ (http://VeteransAZ.org)

Veterans AZ is a podcast and video series that shares the stories of Arizona veterans and focuses attention on the many organizations and programs that serve veterans in the Valley of the Sun. The program is produced as part of the Scottsdale Veterans Advisory Commission's efforts to increase communication and awareness about veterans, their accomplishments, and the services and organizations supporting those who have worn the uniform of the United States armed forces. Produced by the City of Scottsdale, Veterans AZ features veterans news and information from across the Valley of the Sun and Arizona.

Veterans AZ is also available in your favorite podcast app.

This episode of Veterans AZ focuses on a unique partnership between veterans of the United States Marine Corps, and veterans of Federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI.

The Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation provides scholarships to the children of fallen United States Marines and Federal Law Enforcement Officers. Nationwide since 1995, the foundation has provided more than $90 million in assistance and support to the families of our nation’s fallen heroes.

The Arizona chapter was founded in 2004, and since then has raised more than $1.9 million for families here. Their annual fundraiser a golf tournament is June 9 at Grayhawk in Scottsdale. MCLEF-AZ hosts the Gathering of Heroes dinner the night before at American Legion Post 34 in Cave Creek Arizona.

Learn more at https://www.mclefaz.org/

About Veterans AZ (http://VeteransAZ.org)

Veterans AZ is a video series that shares the stories of Arizona veterans and focuses attention on the many organizations and programs that serve veterans in the Valley of the Sun. The program is produced as part of the Scottsdale Veterans Advisory Commission's efforts to increase communication and awareness about veterans, their accomplishments, and the services and organizations supporting those who have worn the uniform of the United States armed forces. Produced by the City of Scottsdale, Veterans AZ features veterans news and information from across the Valley of the Sun and Arizona.

Veterans AZ is also available in your favorite podcast app.

Veterans AZ - Comrades to the Corps

The latest episode of Veterans AZ is a conversation with Jason Duren and Jim Pomosh - Marine combat veterans from different eras who have developed a unique friendship, recorded on location at Jason's business: Cider Corps in Mesa, Arizona.

About Veterans AZ (http://VeteransAZ.org)

Veterans AZ is a video series that shares the stories of Arizona veterans and focuses attention on the many organizations and programs that serve veterans in the Valley of the Sun. The program is produced as part of the Scottsdale Veterans Advisory Commission's efforts to increase communication and awareness about veterans, their accomplishments, and the services and organizations supporting those who have worn the uniform of the United States armed forces. Produced by the City of Scottsdale, Veterans AZ features veterans news and information from across the Valley of the Sun and Arizona.

Veterans AZ is also available on YouTube or in your favorite podcast app.

This episode of Veterans AZ is a conversation with Frank Lambert – a West Point graduate who went on to serve with the 1st Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam. In March 2022, Frank was honored with the Veterans Heritage Project’s Storyteller Award, which recognizes a veterans willingness to share their story with others – something Frank Lambert has done many times over the past decade.

Thank you to the Veterans Heritage Project for arranging this interview - visit them at http://VeteransHeritage.org

About Veterans AZ (http://VeteransAZ.org) 

Veterans AZ is a video series that shares the stories of Arizona veterans and focuses attention on the many organizations and programs that serve veterans in the Valley of the Sun. The program is produced as part of the Scottsdale Veterans Advisory Commission's efforts to increase communication and awareness about veterans, their accomplishments, and the services and organizations supporting those who have worn the uniform of the United States armed forces. This program is produced by the City of Scottsdale, but features veterans news and information from across the Valley of the Sun and Arizona. 

Find episodes at http://VeteransAZ.org; Veterans AZ is also available in your favorite podcast app.