Episodes

Marine Corps families have access to an incredible network of resources, but knowing where to start can sometimes feel overwhelming. In this episode of Behind the Camouflage, we sit down with Gregory Goldstein, Director of the Marine and Family Programs Division at Headquarters Marine Corps, to talk about the programs and services available to support Marines and their families throughout every stage of military life. From financial counseling and child care to PCS support, community services, ...

Building a career while navigating military life isn’t easy, but remote work is opening new doors for military spouses. In this episode of Behind the Camouflage, we sit down with military spouse and entrepreneur Mary Elaine Baker, founder of VA USA, to discuss her journey from classroom teacher to business owner and how she’s helping military spouses find flexible, meaningful employment through remote work. Together, we explore the realities of military spouse employment, the value of transferab...

Mental health matters, and knowing where to turn for support can make all the difference. In this episode of Behind the Camouflage, hosts Krista and Heather sit down with LCDR Chelsea Larro to discuss the OSCAR (Operational Stress Control and Readiness) program and the many resources available to support Marines and their families. Together, they explore how stress impacts readiness, how OSCAR-trained personnel help identify and address concerns early, and why seeking help is a sign of strength,...

What does it mean to lead, serve, and build community as a military spouse? In this episode of Behind the Camouflage, we’re joined by the presidents of leadership seminars from Camp Lejeune, Albany, Iwakuni, and Okinawa for a conversation about volunteerism, personal growth, and the power of connection. Together, they share how these spouse-led organizations are helping military spouses discover their strengths, develop leadership skills, and find purpose through service and community. From ins...

Welcome to BTC Unscripted, a new Behind the Camouflage series where the BTC crew trades the script for real conversations about life as military families. In this first installment, Marta, Krista, Heather, and Kayla share stories from years of school transitions, PCS moves, homeschooling adventures, and sending kids off to college. Along the way, they’re sharing laughs, lessons learned, and reassurance that no matter where this school year finds your family, you’re not navigating it alone. Mili...

Behind the Camouflage is back! Season 7 is here, and we’re kicking things off with one of the most talked-about topics in Marine Corps life: orders. BTC sits down with Major General Fridrik Fridriksson, Director of Manpower Management, for an inside look at how assignments are made, what factors drive manpower decisions, and how the Marine Corps is working to better support Marines and their families through PCS moves and career transitions. From common myths about orders to new initiatives aime...

Behind the Camouflage wraps up Season 6 with a special season finale episode of our summer series, “Home is Where the Marine Corps Sends You,” proudly sponsored by ROGER Bank. This week, the BTC team takes a trip down memory lane as we share our favorite (and least favorite) duty stations from throughout our military journeys. We talk about the places that truly felt like home, the communities that welcomed us, and the experiences that made each location memorable. We also reflect on some of th...

Behind the Camouflage returns with Episode 11 of our Season 6 summer series, “Home is Where the Marine Corps Sends You,” proudly sponsored by ROGER Bank. This week, we’re heading to the “Crossroads of the Marine Corps”to talk all things Quantico. Our guest, Jessica Rudd, shares what it’s like to be stationed at Quantico and how to make the most of life in the surrounding area. From exploring local attractions and hidden gems to getting connected with the community, Jessica offers a helpful look...

Behind the Camouflage returns with another episode of our Season 6 summer series, “Home is Where the Marine Corps Sends You,” proudly sponsored by ROGER Bank. This week, we’re diving into the practical side of PCS season with a conversation all about tips, tricks, and lessons learned from military moves. In this episode, the Behind the Camouflage team shares real-world advice for making your next move a little less stressful. From surviving “house camping”, to working with packers, and figuring...

Behind the Camouflage returns with another episode of our Season 6 summer series, “Home is Where the Marine Corps Sends You,” proudly sponsored by ROGER Bank. This week, we’re heading to Southern California to talk all things Camp Pendleton. Our guest, Raxel Phillips, brings a wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience to the conversation. As a Marine Corps spouse who has lived aboard Camp Pendleton since 2020 and as a Deployment Readiness Coordinator for Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Di...

Behind the Camouflage returns with another episode of our Season 6 summer series, “Home is Where the Marine Corps Sends You,” proudly sponsored by ROGER Bank. This week, we’re talking about a duty that can look very different from life near a major Marine Corps installation: recruiting duty. Our guest, Sasha Rentfro, shares what it’s like to navigate military family life while geographically separated from the built-in support systems many families rely on. From finding community outside the ga...

Behind the Camouflage returns with another episode of our Season 6 summer series, “Home is Where the Marine Corps Sends You,” proudly sponsored by ROGER Bank. This week, we’re talking about one of the biggest parts of any PCS: finances. Our guest, Jill Castilla, nationally recognized banking leader, financial technology innovator, community banking advocate, and President and CEO of ROGER and Citizens Bank of Edmond, joins us for a conversation packed with information every military family shou...

Behind the Camouflage returns with another episode of our Season 6 summer series, “Home is Where the Marine Corps Sends You,” proudly sponsored by ROGER Bank. This week, we’re heading to the nation’s capital to talk about the unique experience of being stationed in Washington, D.C. Our guest, MCA’s very own Silha Bess, shares what it’s like to trade the traditional base setting for city life, navigating the pace, opportunities, and challenges that come with living in and around D.C. From findin...

Behind the Camouflage returns with Episode 5 of our Season 6 summer series, “Home is Where the Marine Corps Sends You,” proudly sponsored by ROGER Bank. This week, we’re heading overseas to explore one of the Marine Corps’ most unique duty stations: Guam. Our guest, Andrea Magrath, shares what it’s like to prepare for and embrace life on this small but unforgettable island. From the important pre-PCS details like health checks and household goods shipments to the realities of settling in far fr...

Behind the Camouflage continues our Season 6 summer series with a special “In the Box” episode proudly sponsored by ROGER Bank. This week, we shift from place to policy as we sit down with Amanda Watkins, Headquarters lead for the USMC PCS Advocacy Council, whose work directly supports Marine Corps families navigating the challenges of PCSing. Amanda brings clarity, candor, and hard‑earned expertise to the questions families ask most—from the etiquette of tipping your movers to the critical ste...

Behind the Camouflage returns with Episode 3 of our Season 6 summer series, “Home is Where the Marine Corps Sends You,” proudly sponsored by ROGER Bank. This week, we explore the quiet beauty and community spirit of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. Our guest, Demi Arias, shares what it’s like to call Coastal North Carolina home—from the peaceful pace of this “sleepy” town to the deep sense of connection that forms among families stationed there. Demi offers thoughtful insight into the rhy...

Behind the Camouflage continues Season 6 with another installment of our summer series, “Home is Where the Marine Corps Sends You.” In Episode 2, we’re headed to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, where the base motto says it all: “We Make Marines.” This week, we’re joined by Shelby Bateman to talk about what makes MCRD Parris Island such a special and unique duty station. From the pride and tradition of living and working at the depot to the challenges that come with the fast pace and ...

Behind the Camouflage is back for Season 6, and we’re kicking things off with the return of our summer series, “Home is Where the Marine Corps Sends You.” This season, we’re diving into the unique places, experiences, and challenges that come with military life, from overseas duty stations like Guam and Okinawa to recruiting duty, life at the recruit depot, and everything that goes into making a PCS happen. In our season opener, we welcome Claire Weisenfels, who is currently stationed in Okinaw...

It’s the Season 5 finale of Behind the Camouflage and we’re closing out the season with a conversation from the BTC team! In this finale, we share how we each build community as Marine Corps spouses, highlighting the different ways we connect, create relationships, and find our people throughout military life. This conversation reflects the many paths to building a sense of belonging. We also talk about what’s currently happening with the BTC program and how it continues to grow. And of course...

In this week’s episode of Behind the Camouflage, we sit down with Julie Fulton, School Liaison Officer at Camp Lejeune, to talk about one of the biggest transitions for military-connected children, Kindergarten! With years of experience supporting military families and helping shape the School Liaison Program, Julie shares insight into why transitions—especially early ones like entering kindergarten—can be so impactful for both children and parents. We discuss the unique challenges military fam...

In this week’s episode of Behind the Camouflage, we sit down with Dr. Kendra Lowe, Director of Military Spouse Programs at First Command, Air Force veteran, military spouse, and nationally recognized advocate for military families. Dr. Lowe shares her journey of service — from in the camouflage, to behind the camouflage, and now into a role where she is actively supporting and inspiring military spouses across the workforce. We dive into the importance of military spouses in today’s workplace, ...

In this week’s episode of Behind the Camouflage, we sit down with Hope Fiorvanti, a recently retired federal professional with 27 years of distinguished service and a highly respected leader in the field of protocol. Hope gives us an inside look at her journey from military spouse to protocol officer, and how her life within the Marine Corps community opened the door to a career supporting senior leaders and high-level events. From her early days as a military spouse to serving as Chief of Prot...

Hey, hey, hey listeners! This week we’re introducing a brand new segment called “Well, That Was Hard.” In this segment, we talk about the real-life challenges that come with military spouse life — the moments that test your patience, stretch your resilience, and sometimes leave you looking back and saying… well, that was hard. In this episode, the BTC team dives into one of the most common military spouse experiences: “PCSing”. From the challenges of rebuilding careers and finding childcare at e...

Hey, hey, hey listeners! It’s time for another In the Box episode, and this week we’re diving into some of those relatable situations that military spouses at every stage of life have probably experienced. In this episode, the BTC team talks about navigating uncomfortable situations with senior spouses and how to handle those moments with confidence and grace. We also unpack the big feelings that can come up around wanting spouse get-togethers without children — and why that can feel more compl...