Love and toxic fumes are in the air
American Legion Tango Alpha Lima co-hosts Jeff Daly and Ashley Gutermuth hit a range of topics in this week’s podcast episode, available in all of your podcast catchers. They kick things off with the theme of the day:
• That, of course, is Valentine’s Day, which “does not exist for a military spouse,” Gutermuth says.
• Meanwhile, Daly describes his vision of “a perfect match” for a potential mate.
On a more serious topic, this week’s special guest is retired Army Ranger Jeff Brodeur, a strategist at the Department of Defense.
Brodeur has experience developing Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) strategy, plans and training programs throughout DoD. In private industry, Brodeur led CBRN survey teams in combat zones to support Department of State programs. As a CBRN executive he has served Department of Energy activities to include Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, Savannah River Site and the office of International Nuclear Security.
In 2018, he did a study of toxic warfare agents in Iraq. His team found devices there that were similar to one that an ISIS member tried to use aboard an airplane.
“I was able to provide some techniques to technicians on how to understand what they were looking for and how to mitigate it, if they found it,” Brodeur said, adding that he stayed on for three tours to conduct some of his research and discovery in and around Mosul. “Bottom line is what I discovered was that in the pursuit of improvised explosive devices, ISIS went through Mosul University.”
ISIS ransacked more than 200 chemistry laboratories “was harvesting chemicals in the pursuit of creating homemade explosive devices. What they didn’t use, they just trashed — they trashed the place.”
Brodeur also talked about burn pits, naturally occurring anthrax and other toxic elements in Iraq. “I wouldn’t necessarily get focused on one cause,” he said of the exposures. “It’s probably a number of issues that have caused our servicemembers to get sick.”
Daly and Gutermuth also tackle topics such as:
• The American Legion’s top priorities for Congress that will be on full display at the upcoming Washington Conference. This story has the details and you can download the brochure here.
• This week’s Veterans Awareness Campaign in Merced, Calif., where The American Legion’s Be the One initiative will take center stage. Learn more about Be the One, which aims to reduce the rate of veteran suicide.
• The scourge of Fort Hood, where a military commander has been suspended, following an earlier suspension of her husband.
Check out this week’s episode, which is among more than 160 Tango Alpha Lima podcasts available in both audio and video formats here. You can also download episodes on iTunes, Google Play or other major podcast-hosting sites. The video version is available at the Legion’s YouTube channel.