Top Game Podcast

In Episode 15, SgtMaj Marquez & I sit down at his dinner table and shoot straight on a range of topics from his approach to leadership, his brush with adversity, the formative influence of his SNCO leadership to taco rice and the command climate on Okinawa. A recognized and seasoned leader, SgtMaj reflects on the changes he has personally witnessed during his career and the rays of hope that he can reference to demonstrate the Corps is in good hands.

Long overdue, Episode 14 finally brings the CWO community front and center with none other than CWO5 Jim Musch. As the senior SIGINT Marine in the OccFld, he provides unique perspective in several areas. Chief amongst them is the role the CWO fulfills in the command structure. He also delves into the intricacies associated with assignment to HQMC. Further, he touches on the significance of a strong working relationship with the senior enlisted members in the community. One key takeaway from the interview was how he’s been able to balance the pursuit of excellence with the demands of maintaining a strong family.

Episode 13 of Top Game finds us in San Angelo, Texas with the Marine Corps Detachment Goodfellow’s Senior Enlisted Advisor, MGySgt Kyle Cornett. A MARSOC veteran and key leader in the community, we had the opportunity to cross paths for the first time at a working group earlier this year. With a measured approach to leadership and a keen eye for slicing to the heart of any friction points, MGuns Cornett is uniquely situated in a key billet as our OccFld goes through a significant overhaul. As you’ll undoubtedly hear in this interview, he’s the right man for the job.

Episode 12 of Top Game brings us to 1st Radio Battalion's Operations Chief, Master Guns Scott Daubert. A dedicated teacher and mentor, he highlights several key takeaways critical to his success, particularly getting the buy in of your fellow SNCOs.  He discusses his broken service time and the influence toxic leadership had upon him early on in his career.  During the discussion, we cover the importance of mentoring "junior SNCOs," the learning styles of our youngest Marines, and the need to understand the impact family readiness has on a Marine's performance.  

Episode 11 of Top Game drops today with the highly anticipated MGySgt Sean Nakao, MARSOC veteran and current Operations Chief of America’s Radio Battalion. In our conversation we explore not only the importance of caring about the life we lead in uniform, but more specifically, how we can transfer that attitude to those around us. He also covers the significance of making career decision based on facts as opposed to emotion. More than just shop talk, the interview also geeks out on everything from Japanese Whisky to Pokemon Go, software defined radios, beam forming and mesh networks in the modern household. Key amongst the topics explored is the search for balance between Duty to family and Duty to the Corps. As Master Guns eloquently stated, “If it’s right for my family, then it’s right.”

Episode 10 brings one of the hardest working SNCOs in our OccFld into the spotlight and outside of his comfort zone. A former grunt and lat mover, Top Jerome's dedication and perseverance have enabled him to play "catch up" in such a challenging and technical field. From his studies as a heritage language student at DLI to his multiple deployments as a SNCOIC, he touches on some of his formative experiences, as well as his earnest effort to "measure up" to some key mentors in the field. Later in our conversation, we discuss the weak link in the force structure, the importance of bridging the gap with junior Marines, and the SNCOs role in the development of junior officers.

In Episode 9 of Top Game, your host sits down with none other than MSgt Samuel Octavius Carter, the 2651 OccFld Specialist. In the conversation, the topics range from lessons learned in trust and friendship, the value of a healthy home life, and the reasons why sometimes, “It Takes A Marine” to thrive in this lifestyle.

In episode 8, MSgt Scoggins, the 2600 OccFld Specialist, sits down with your host to highlight the complexity behind balancing the needs of the occupational field with the needs of the Marine Corps. He articulates in detail his approach to “crowdsourcing” subject matter expertise down to the LCpl level as well as the importance of having those perspectives at the ready when engaged with leadership regarding the modernization of the Corps. As the conversation turned personal, he also describes his calculus for retirement, the challenges of being a good stepfather, and the patience and humility required to set things right with your loved ones.

At the request of many, Sgt Eric Moreno is our first NCO guest. Initially nervous and understandably so, he sits down with your host to discuss some of the challenges faced by an older Marine still at the front end of his career. In his interview, he not only covers his perspective as a team leader, but the importance of establishing positive working relationships with the supported unit. 

SgtMaj George Garcia III sits down with your host to discuss the challenges of the 8999 community to "keep the promise," his decision to walk away from his Occ Field, and the importance of always being ready.

Episode 5 with MGySgt Orlando Reyes is our first step outside of the 26XX field. A logistician by trade, he sits down with your host to discuss the obstacles he’s been able to overcome and some he is still contending with. We covered everything from the challenges of recruiting duty to his very personal suicide attempt and his personal redemption and vindication through his efforts to communicate his experiences to those coming up behind him.

Your host takes you through some of the motivation behind the Top Game podcast and lines out a snapshot of things to come.

MSgt Chris Thomason sits down with your host to discuss the unique perspective of the "re-tread," life outside the Marine Corps and what ultimately brought him back to active duty.

MSgt Darry Cross and his wife, Joyce, sit down with your host and reflect upon a life shared in the Marine Corps.

Radio reconnaissance and MARSOC veteran, GySgt Chris Sonnabend sits down with your host to reflect on lessons learned in the Marine Corps.