Great Big Podcast

COVID-19: Pivoting to a ’New Normal’

The fight against COVID-19 is not over, but we're winning. This week, the podcast crew welcomes in folks from Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center who discuss changes underway at the hospital as they pivot to a 'new normal' here at the Great Place.  Sam, filling in for Melissa who is out qualifying on the rifle range, reports on Fort Hood's Military Spouse Appreciation Day events and Brianna reminds everyone  to check out the 1st Cavalry Division Band's free concert (open to the public)  at 7 p.m., May 15 at the outdoor Tablerock Ampitheater in Salado, Texas, in honor of Armed Forces Day.  The crew:- Dave Larsen, Fort Hood Public Affairs- Samantha Farlow, Fort Hood Public Affairs- SFC Kelvin Ringold, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command- SPC Brianna Doo, 1st Cavalry Division BandFeaturing:- LTC Ray Jaklitsch, Deputy Commander, Health Readiness, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center- CPT Eduardo Mendez, Officer-in-Charge, Fort Hood COVID-19 Vaccination CenterMusic provided with expressed written permission by the following artists:Will Courtney (http://www.willcourtneymusic)This podcast is a production of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hood and Fort Hood Public Affairs.  Contact us at FortHoodPAO@gmail.comLike us and follow us on Facebook at The Great Big Podcast and III Corps and Fort Hood

Movers and shakers and home wreckers

Permanent Change of Station. That's the Army term for "You're moving (again)." With the school year winding down, many Army families will find themselves on the move (again). As we head into the peak PCS season at Fort Hood, we brought in an expert from the post's Transportation Office to give some insight, and tips, for folks preparing to put the Great Place in their rear view mirror. But before that, we take you to a ceremony celebrating a $420 million upgrade coming for Fort Hood families living on the installation ... where they demolish two old homes.The crew:- Dave Larsen, Fort Hood Public Affairs- SFC Kelvin Ringold, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command- SGT Melissa Lessard, 504th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade- SPC Brianna Doo, 1st Cavalry Division BandFeaturing:- Philip Carpenter, Chief Operating Officer, Lendlease Inc.- LTG Douglas Gabram, Commanding General, US Army Installation Command- LTG Pat White, Commanding General, III Corps and Fort Hood- Donny Lenore, Chief, Personal Property, Fort Hood Transportation Office- Samantha Farlow, Fort Hood Public AffairsMusic provided with expressed written permission by the following artists:Will Courtney (http://www.willcourtneymusic)1st Cavalry Division BandThis podcast is a production of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hood and Fort Hood Public Affairs.  Contact us at FortHoodPAO@gmail.comLike us and follow us on Facebook at The Great Big Podcast and III Corps and Fort Hood

Project Hero & Army Strong

Resilience and perseverance. That's the common thread of this week's podcast as we focus in on Project Hero's Texas Challenge and then the Strongest Competition, Fort Hood's first in-person Morale, Welfare and Recreation event in more than a year. Kelvin made it in to tape the show, even though he just flew back from leave in Maryland, and Brianna took flight, as well, but for something totally different (that involved lots of screaming). Melissa is wired on coffee, and later, Dave welcomes in the newest member of the Fort Hood Public Affairs team, Samantha Farlow, who is excited to join the program (we think). The crew:- Dave Larsen, Fort Hood Public Affairs- SFC Kelvin Ringold, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command- SGT Melissa Lessard, 504th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade- SPC Brianna Doo, 1st Cavalry Division BandFeaturing:- SMA Michael Grinston, Sergeant Major of the Army- Retired SGM Aubrey Gaines, Project Hero rider- Blair Dupre, Sports/Living Editor, Fort Hood Sentinel- Samantha Farlow, Fort Hood Public Affairs- CPT Richard Rainey, 4th Bn., 3rd SFAB, Strongest Competition participantMusic provided with expressed written permission by the following artists:Will Courtney (http://www.willcourtneymusic)1st Cavalry Division BandThis podcast is a production of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hood and Fort Hood Public Affairs.  Contact us at FortHoodPAO@gmail.comLike us and follow us on Facebook at The Great Big Podcast and III Corps and Fort Hood

SPC Vanessa Guillen: Solemn, somber ceremony dedicates gate

The family of SPC Vanessa Guillen, the 3rd Cavalry Regiment Soldier slain at Fort Hood on April 22, 2020, returned to the installation to join with leaders from III Corps and her Brave Rifles nearly a year later to unveil a gate on the east side of the installation dedicated to her memory. Most of the podcast team was at the April 19 ceremony, and they take you there in this special episode, raw with emotion, where LTG Pat White said, "The permanent gate makes it clear, we're not going to forget Vanessa. Her legacy is going to live on through this monument." The crew:- Dave Larsen, Fort Hood Public Affairs- SFC Kelvin Ringold, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command- SGT Melissa Lessard, 504th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade- SPC Brianna Doo, 1st Cavalry Division BandFeaturing:- LTG Pat White, commanding general, III Corps and Fort Hood- SFC Jeremiah Edwards, NCOIC, 3rd Cavalry Regiment Color Guard- SPC Oscar Deleon, 3rd Cavalry Regiment Color Guard- Mayra Guillen, older sister of SPC Vanessa Guillen- Lupe Guillen, younger sister of SPC Vanessa GuillenMusic provided with expressed written permission by the following artists:Will Courtney (http://www.willcourtneymusic)1st Cavalry Division BandThis podcast is a production of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hood and Fort Hood Public Affairs.  Contact us at FortHoodPAO@gmail.comLike us and follow us on Facebook at The Great Big Podcast and III Corps and Fort Hood

Alcohol awareness & Fort Hood keeps it green with Earth Day on the way

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. Carl Smith, from the Fort Hood Army Substance Abuse Program, joins the crew first, followed by a Girl Scout Cadette who uses her green thumb to tackle her Silver Award project and help the community at the same time.  Kelvin isn't having a good week, thanks to a flying tire; Melissa has been working long hours covering the multinational warfighter exercise on post; and Brianna solved the case of the missing driver's license. Dave remembers to introduce the crew and thank the guests for the first time in months, thanks to the input from an unnamed first-time listener. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? The crew:- Dave Larsen, Fort Hood Public Affairs- SFC Kelvin Ringold, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command- SGT Melissa Lessard, 504th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade- SPC Brianna Doo, 1st Cavalry Division BandGuests:- Carl Smith, Fort Hood Army Substance Abuse Program- Jackelyn Ferrer-Perez, Fort Hood Environmental Sustainability Program manager- Cameron Houser, troop leader/mom, Girl Scout Troop 6318- Inara Houser, Girl Scout Cadette, Troop 6318Music provided with expressed written permission by the following artists:Will Courtney (http://www.willcourtneymusic)Justin StokesThis podcast is a production of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hood and Fort Hood Public Affairs.  Contact us at FortHoodPAO@gmail.com. Like us and follow us on Facebook at Fort Hood Broadcast Ops or Fort Hood Garrison Command.

III Corps command team emphasizes ’People First,’ takes on extremism

This week, the podcast crew welcomes in the command team of the 3rd Armored Corps ... America's Hammer. They discuss the People First initiative, which has grown Army-wide, and is now in Phase 2 across the Phantom Warrior Corps. They also discuss recent extremism stand-down days held throughout III Corps formations with the help of an expert from the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, New York, even as they are in the midst of a multinational warfighter exercise at the Great Place. We cover a lot of ground in an hour, so check it out.    The crew:- Dave Larsen, Fort Hood Public Affairs- SFC Kelvin Ringold, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command- SGT Melissa Lessard, 504th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade- SPC Brianna Doo, 1st Cavalry Division BandGuests:- LTG Pat White, commanding general, III Corps and Fort Hood- CSM Cliff Burgoyne, command sergeant major, III Corps and Fort Hood- Dr. Daniel Milton, associate professor/research fellow, Combatting Terrorism Center, United States Military Academy at West Point, New YorkMusic provided with expressed written permission by the following artists:Will Courtney (http://www.willcourtneymusic)This podcast is a production of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hood and Fort Hood Public Affairs.  Contact us at FortHoodPAO@gmail.comLike us and follow us on Facebook at The Great Big Podcast and III Corps and Fort Hood

Month of the Military Child & Blair Goes Off to the Movies!

Nationally, April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Army takes it a step further, proclaiming April as the Month of the Military Child. This week, the podcast crew welcomes in folks from the Fort Hood Family Advocacy Program and the post's New Parent Support Program to discuss the aims and goals of those programs. In addition, Sentinel Sports/Leisure Editor Blair Dupre ACTUALLY went to a movie theater to check out two new films and review them for our listening audience. We also find out what the crew members like on their pizzas and learn that tough-guy Kelvin is really just a big softie ... especially when it comes to animals. The crew:- Dave Larsen, Fort Hood Public Affairs- SFC Kelvin Ringold, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command- SPC Brianna Doo, 1st Cavalry Division BandGuests:- Monique Russell, Fort Hood Family Advocacy Program Manager- Melissa Scheller, Fort Hood New Parent Support Program Manager- Blair Dupre, Sports/Leisure Editor, Fort Hood SentinelMusic provided with expressed written permission by the following artists:Will Courtney (http://www.willcourtneymusic)The CoronadosThis podcast is a production of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hood and Fort Hood Public Affairs.  Contact us at FortHoodPAO@gmail.comLike us and follow us on Facebook at The Great Big Podcast and III Corps and Fort Hood

Spring into action: tackling issues, talking childcare

For years, the Army Family Action Plan has been the mechanism to institute change and improvements at Army installations. This week, the podcast crew highlights AFAP and how you, too, can make a difference. They also discuss the need for in-home childcare providers on the installation with the director of the Fort Hood Child Care Program. Spring is officially here in Central Texas, folks, even if the podcast crew isn't sure when it actually began.    The crew:- Dave Larsen, Fort Hood Public Affairs- SFC Kelvin Ringold, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command- SGT Melissa Lessard, 504th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade- SPC Brianna Doo, 1st Cavalry Division BandGuests:- Sallie Davis, Fort Hood Army Family Action Plan Coordinator- Sylvia Fontenot, Director, Fort Hood Family Child Care Program- Stephanie Salmon, Living Editor, Fort Hood SentinelMusic provided with expressed written permission by the following artists:Will Courtney (http://www.willcourtneymusic)The HubcatsThis podcast is a production of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hood and Fort Hood Public Affairs.  Contact us at FortHoodPAO@gmail.comLike us and follow us on Facebook at The Great Big Podcast and III Corps and Fort Hood

Here in Central Texas, when it rains, it pours

Didn't we just have a HUGE snow storm? Well, guess what? Flash flood season is right around the corner, folks. This week, the podcast crew discusses the dangers we face here in Central Texas every year with some experts who want you to ask yourself this question when you see a flooded roadway: Is it worth it? Turn around, don't drown.    The crew:- Dave Larsen, Fort Hood Public Affairs- SFC Kelvin Ringold, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command- SPC Brianna Doo, 1st Cavalry Division BandGuests:- Edward Anderson, Program Manager, Fort Hood Flood Warning System, Texas A&M Blackland Research and Extension Center- Edmund "TC" Coffman, Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, Fort Hood Directorate of Public WorksMusic provided with expressed written permission by the following artists:Will Courtney (http://www.willcourtneymusic)This podcast is a production of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hood and Fort Hood Public Affairs.  Contact us at FortHoodPAO@gmail.comLike us and follow us on Facebook at The Great Big Podcast and III Corps and Fort Hood

Law and Order (but with an amnesty period)

The Magistrate Court at Fort Hood, together with the post's Directorate of Emergency Services, is offering a warrant amnesty period March 22 through April 1. This week, we find out that there are approximately 1,500 federal warrants out there (1,300+ for traffic violations/citations), and the Fort Hood court is offering a 10-day window for folks to clear those warrants up. Not sure if you're on the hit list? Call the court at (254) 669-6182. Besides talking law and order this week, we find out that Kelvin still doesn't know much about the Beatles, Melissa is the only crew member with a tattoo, and all of our desperado co-hosts have talked their way out of speeding tickets at one point in their lives.   The crew:- Dave Larsen, Fort Hood Public Affairs- SFC Kelvin Ringold, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command- SGT Melissa Lessard, 504th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade- SPC Brianna Doo, 1st Cavalry Division BandGuests:- CPT Olivia Haigler,  Special Assistant, United States Attorney, Fort Hood Magistrate CourtMusic provided with expressed written permission by the following artists:Will Courtney (http://www.willcourtneymusic)Justin StokesThis podcast is a production of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hood and Fort Hood Public Affairs.  Contact us at FortHoodPAO@gmail.comLike us and follow us on Facebook at The Great Big Podcast and III Corps and Fort Hood