The Veteran Edge
American Military University
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Transitioning out of the military is a life-changing and often challenging experience for servicemembers. American Military University offers thought-provoking interviews with veterans about their military service and the edge it gave them as they pursued their next career. Subscribe to The Veteran Edge for insight by veterans for veterans. Learn more at AMUonline.com/veterans.
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Available episodes
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Oct 24, 2022
Preparing to Transition out of the Military | EP12
In this episode, Dr. Larry D. Parker, Jr. talks to AMU graduate student, James Hodgman, about his 20-year career in the Air Force. Learn how he pursued multiple degrees and certifications while on active duty, and why education has been such a focal point in his life. As he prepares to transition out of the military, James shares advice for other servicemembers and also reflects on the incredible personal and professional benefits from serving in the military.
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Oct 3, 2022
How One Veteran’s Education Helped Her Transition to Civilian Life | EP11
On this episode, Dr. Larry D. Parker, Jr. – Lt. Col (retired), U.S. Marine Corps and Department Chair of AMU’s School of Business – talks with U.S. Navy veteran and AMU faculty member, D.J. Gurley about her military career, her education and her transition to civilian life.
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Jun 20, 2022
BONUS: Celebrating Commencement 2022
Hear from graduates and faculty members as they celebrate the classes of 2020, 2021, 2022!
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May 30, 2022
Great Military Leaders: General Douglas MacArthur | EP03
While a controversial figure, General Douglas MacArthur was a talented and outspoken military leader. In this episode, Wes O’Donnell talks to AMU military history professor Dr. Kelly Jordan about the leadership traits, and pitfalls, of General MacArthur and where he ranks as a military leader.
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May 16, 2022
Four-Star General Shares Life-Changing Moments that Drove His Success | EP09
Being successful, whether in the military or the civilian world, often involves the same formula. In this episode, AMU professor and retired Marine Dr. Larry D. Parker, Jr. talks to General Larry Spencer about the driving forces behind his 40-year career in the U.S. Air Force. Learn about the role of education, the value of mentorship and being surrounded by positive people, the drive to try new and difficult things without fear of failure, and much more.
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May 2, 2022
Veteran Advantages for Working in the “New Norm” | EP08
The pandemic changed the world of work. In this episode, retired Marine Dr. Larry D. Parker, Jr., talks to AMU’s Dean of Business, Dr. Marie Gould Harper, about the “new norm” of the working world. Learn about the advantages military veterans have in this new normal, including extensive training in adaptability and flexibility that can help them when transitioning to the civilian working world.
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Jan 14, 2022
Military, Masculinity and Strength | EP07
Why is strength still associated with masculinity? In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to professor Dr. Larry D. Parker, Jr. about his 24-year career in the Marine Corps and the connection between strength and masculinity. Learn how cultural changes are changing the perception that strength, power, and strength are masculine traits and why it’s so important to emphasize that masculinity and maleness are two different things.
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Dec 3, 2021
Applying Military Info Ops Skills to the Civilian Workforce | EP06
Military servicemembers have skills and training that can be extremely useful in the civilian workforce, however, it’s challenging to figure out how to translate those skills to the commercial sector. In this episode, Wes O’Donnell talks to AMU professor, retired U.S. Army Reserve Army Colonel Larry Dietz, about his military service and experience in psychological warfare, cyber warfare and information operations. Hear how servicemembers must work to define the hard and soft skills they learned in the military including the ability to identify credible sources of information, make decisions under pressure, and present complex situations in a direct and simplified way.
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Nov 19, 2021
Great Military Leaders: Frederick the Great | EP02
Greatness as a military leader isn’t all about battlefield victories, it’s about understanding a leader’s strategies, circumstances, and tactics. In this episode, Wes O’Donnell talks to AMU Military History professor Dr. Kelly Jordan about what qualifies Frederick the Great a great military leader. Learn about his focus on training his soldiers, which enabled them to have the skills and discipline to respond quickly when Frederick recognized opportunities in battle, thus outmaneuvering his often much larger opponents and losing fewer soldiers in battle. Learn how Frederick himself prepared relentlessly by studying war, developing fundamental principles of battle, and employing unique strategies like the oblique offensive. Also learn what today’s military leaders can learn from Frederick the Great’s strategies and tactics.
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Nov 5, 2021
Veteran Entrepreneur: Applying Skills Gained from Military Service | EP05
The military offers many benefits to servicemembers, but some opportunities and skills aren’t as recognized as others. In this episode, AMU’s Dr. Larry D. Parker, Jr. talks to Mario P. Fields, Sergeant Major (retired) U.S. Marine Corps, about the best opportunities he gained during his service. Learn how the military helped him mature, get an education, and develop job training skills that are highly sought after in the private sector. It also gave him the confidence, determination, patience, and drive to follow his passion as an entrepreneur when he retired after 26 years in the military.
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Oct 22, 2021
The Benefits of Age and Experience in the Military | EP04
Despite a life-long desire to join the military, Dr. Wallace “Rope” Burns didn’t enlist until he was in his 30s. Thanks to his advanced degree, he joined the Navy as a Supply Corps Officer, which took him into combat zones around the world where he had a critical role making sure troops had the supplies they needed. In this episode, AMU professor Dr. Larry D. Parker, Jr. talks to him about his unique military experience, his initiative to continue his education while in the military, and his transition to academia where he uses his expertise to teach students about supply chain management and transportation logistics. Also hear advice for all servicemembers preparing to leave the military about why it’s so important not to downplay leadership skills or the ability to do hard jobs.
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Oct 15, 2021
Tips for Navigating Your Post-Military Career | EP03
Figuring out your career path after the military can be overwhelming. In this episode, AMU’s Dr. Larry D. Parker, Jr. talks to USMC veteran Alan Lau about his experience transitioning into his civilian career. Learn why he recommends servicemembers spend time reflecting on their military career while also considering what kind of lifestyle they want as a civilian. Also learn why it’s so important for veterans to learn how to actively advocate for themselves in the corporate world, and realize their strengths of adaptability and flexibility as they navigate a post-military career.
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Oct 1, 2021
Before Transitioning, Take Time to Reflect on Your Military Service | EP02
Transitioning out of the military can be challenging and sometimes overwhelming. In this episode, AMU professor and former Marine Dr. Larry D. Parker Jr. talks to entrepreneur Charles Jackson about his experience transitioning out of the Marine Corps into civilian life. Learn why he recommends servicemembers take time to reflect on the skills, experiences, and passions they acquire during their service and assessing how it can apply to civilian life. Also learn the greatest strengths servicemembers can offer to the civilian workforce.
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Sep 24, 2021
Great Military Leaders: Alexander the Great | EP01
What makes a military leader truly great? In this first episode of this series, AMU Edge editor Wes O'Donnell talks to AMU military historian and professor Dr. Kelly Jordan about what defines a great military leader using an innovative framework that he developed to distinguish good from great military leaders. Learn what makes Alexander the Great a truly great military leader and how his military strategy, genius, courage, morality and other characteristics earns him a spot as one of the greatest military leaders of all time.
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Sep 17, 2021
Military Tuition Assistance: Understanding TA and VA Educational Benefits | EP01
The government offers valuable educational benefits for military servicemembers, but how and when to use those benefits can be confusing. In this episode, AMU professor and former Marine Dr. Larry D. Parker Jr. talks with military education expert John Aldrich about tuition assistance, or TA, for active-duty servicemembers, as well as veteran educational benefits through the VA. Learn the differences in these benefits as well as the existing gaps. For example, learn about the need to raise the tuition assistance cap, which hasn’t changed in 20 years despite rising tuition costs, disparities in housing allowance for veteran servicemembers pursuing an online education, and more.
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