1 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: If it doesn't work, you're just not using enough. You're 2 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:26,799 Speaker 1: listening to software radio, special operations, military news and straight 3 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: talk with the guys in the community. And were going everyone, 4 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: welcome back to soft Rep Radio. I am your host today. 5 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: Steve Balistrari joining us shortly. We're gonna welcome our two guests. 6 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:52,560 Speaker 1: We have Admiral Bob Basil coming us to us from Charleston, 7 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: South Carolina. And we also have retired general Brigadier General 8 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: Gary Pappas from Boston, Massachusetts, who was in the Massachusetts 9 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: National Guards. And what we're talking about today, and I 10 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 1: know a lot of our listeners, a lot of our 11 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 1: readers have had, you know, questions, and we've had conversations 12 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: and we've written about it. We talked about mission readiness, 13 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:22,679 Speaker 1: you know, in the military, and that's where we're going 14 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 1: to delve into today. But as a lot of you know, 15 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: COVID nineteen has impacted our country in a lot of 16 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: different ways, and one of the most notable examples is 17 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: the rise and food insecurity. Many children and our schools 18 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:43,400 Speaker 1: today rely on meals as the primary source of daily calories. 19 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: And because of the COVID and because of the school shutting, 20 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: down they were a lot of them were left without 21 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: reliable healthy food, so school meals. Obviously, we're very important. 22 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: Our military leaders that are joining us today are part 23 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 1: of and I want to make sure I get it's 24 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: the Councils for Strong America, but they're also did they 25 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: deal with what's called mission readiness and Uh, one of 26 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 1: the things about mission readiness is preparing our children for 27 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: military service down the road. And our leaders that are 28 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: with us today are gonna talk to us about that. 29 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: And one of the most reading about this organization, one 30 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: of the most interesting things that I saw and reading 31 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,639 Speaker 1: about them was when they first started this in two 32 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: thousand nine of eligible I guess between seventeen and twenty 33 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: four year olds. Uh, we're ineligible for the military due 34 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: to their weight. And that hasn't gotten better, I believe 35 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: in and they can correct me if I'm wrong. That 36 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:58,639 Speaker 1: number went up to So this is what mission readiness 37 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 1: is all about. And with that, I want to welcome 38 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 1: our two guests. First of all, Admiral Gary Basil from Charleston. Welcome, sir, 39 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us here on the Software Radio Podcast. Steve, 40 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: thanks for the opportunity to be with you today. And 41 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 1: to share a little bit about mission readies and especially 42 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: the the latest venture in mission readiness, and that has 43 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: to do with the summer lunch programs. UH. You may 44 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 1: know that we we had we take a different perspective. 45 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: We look at these issues facing children from from a 46 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: national security perspective, UH, and that's primary. I had several 47 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: squadron mates who wound up in recruiting and they would 48 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: tell me just how tough it was to UH to 49 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: get candidates for military service. Overall, nationwide, seventy one of 50 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: young Americans between the age of seventeen and twenty four 51 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 1: are not eligible to serve. That leaves you a little 52 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: a small pot there of of fish in a small 53 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: pond where everybody else is fishing too. And one of 54 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: those big factors you mentioned is physical fitness. They're they're 55 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: primarily obesity that physically disqualifies them. Many years ago, post 56 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: World War Two, the the the chair of the Selective 57 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: Service Commission, Lieutenant General Hershey UH, petition Congress to establish 58 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: a lunch program as school food program. Pre World War 59 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: two and during World War two recruits a recruit we're 60 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:49,359 Speaker 1: not eligible to recruit because of malnutrition. It was a 61 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 1: whole different storming out of the depression. But we've got 62 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 1: a similar problem facing us now with malnutrition, particularly you. 63 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: Uh food insecure is the term we use. Mm hmm. Well, 64 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: and with that, I want to welcome our other cats. 65 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:13,599 Speaker 1: Brigadier General Gary Pappas from my home state of Massachusetts. General, 66 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 1: welcome to the podcast today, and I wanted to ask you, 67 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: how did how did you get involved with mission readiness? Well, 68 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: I've always been interested in this this subject. Fact. It's 69 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: as a younger commander of different units we were charged 70 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 1: with responsibility recruiting and retention. Recruiting was problematic when you 71 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 1: see these these numbers of people that are ineligible. Uh, 72 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: So I took it interesting when this uh an invitation 73 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,479 Speaker 1: to join mission rates came along, I jumped a chance, 74 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: hope that makes some kind of an impact locally here 75 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: in Massachusetts. Uh. My my job when I was a 76 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,039 Speaker 1: commanding general of the DAD between the two thousand and 77 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: two thousand five didn't involve recruiting, made sing the strength 78 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: of and so forth. And again this this was a 79 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:09,280 Speaker 1: very relevant, relevant point, relevant discussion with my supportive commanders 80 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: about UH maintained the force and UH it's gave an 81 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: interesting problem for that way. Yeah, and with that's being said, 82 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: I mean, I know the Admiral just talked about, you know, 83 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 1: the schools and you know the talking about nutrition. Is 84 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 1: that an issue in Massachusetts because at one time it 85 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 1: used to not be. But I would imagine especially in 86 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:37,280 Speaker 1: the inner cities up in Boston, is that a big 87 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: issue now? It is an issue. UH, And it has 88 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 1: been you know under the surrunder the radar alphab lot 89 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: it years. UH, but it is definitely an issue. We've 90 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: we've had leaders of the Statehouse UH to advocate additional 91 00:06:55,839 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 1: funding for early childhood education and nutrition. UH. And you 92 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 1: cite some of these statistics UH to the leaders in 93 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 1: the Statehouse and you know, the drys drop they don't 94 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: believe it. And UM, you stopped talking to some of 95 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: the actual legislators themselves in the districts, especially those districts 96 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: have UH in a city issues. Um, they confirm it. 97 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 1: And I can tell you it's it exists UH a 98 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 1: lot of different levels, not just UH school programs, but 99 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: take for example, during COVID. Now there's an organization that 100 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: I it's part of a lot of years, but among 101 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: other things, runs a semi camp up in New Hampshire 102 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 1: for inner city kids as a young kid, and that's 103 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: where I grew up in the inner city and went 104 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: to this place to continue on with to UH for 105 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 1: a long long time. Right now that that programs cancels, 106 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 1: happens those kids that were getting fit uh three times 107 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: a day. But this is camp and being outside. There's 108 00:07:58,040 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: got to be an alternative for that. And that's what 109 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 1: you know, we we're talking about here. They what those 110 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 1: are patives to meet that need? Right and you know, 111 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: back to Admiral diesel Um, one of the questions I 112 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 1: wanted to ask you. There was a report that Mission 113 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: Readiness just put out about bridging the summer meals gap, 114 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: and can you fill in our listeners on this report 115 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: that just came out, Steve, the the summer meal program 116 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: is only right now one in seven children who participate 117 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 1: in the regular school lunch program has access to these 118 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: meals in the summer. And it's uh, it's even become 119 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:49,079 Speaker 1: more complicated with the COVID, the COVID problem that we have. UH. 120 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 1: Last year, almost thirty million students participated in some sort 121 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 1: of a daily school lunch program and just over twenty 122 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: million of those we're receiving free lunches at over a 123 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: hundred thousand schools. Um Last summer the number was only 124 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: about two point seven million kids were able to participate 125 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 1: in the school lunch program and that was over almost 126 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 1: almost forty eight thousand different sites or the necessary not 127 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 1: necessarily the school, but remote sites. But the challenges that 128 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 1: for many of these youngsters, they receive about fifty of 129 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: their daily calories at this meal at this noon program 130 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: that may not be getting the right type of nutrition 131 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: at home. It's not only a physical fitness plus for 132 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: them to get the right types of calories, but it 133 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: also becomes kind of an educational plus and what the 134 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 1: good aspects are of eating correctly. So, you know, we 135 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: were wanted to to point this out that you know, 136 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 1: long running research has shown that they eat the food 137 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: that they eat right now, Uh, will you help address 138 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: this in the food insecurity and the weight gain. We're 139 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 1: going to provide them access to nutritious meals and hopefully 140 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 1: access to some physical activity. There are other problems that 141 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 1: come along with without eating healthy food or things like 142 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: decreased memory, decreased problem solving and reasoning skills, and and 143 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 1: decreased ability to understand concepts. So it's not only about 144 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 1: from the national security perspective about recruiting, but in the 145 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 1: long run, it's about options for these youngsters when they 146 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 1: finished their secondary education, maybe go on to further education. 147 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: It's uh, we'd love to be able to recruit, but 148 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: you know what, we want to make them good citizens too. 149 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: With that being said, UM, you know the Council for 150 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 1: Strong America, which is part of Mission Readiness. Um, you know, 151 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: not only is the organization trying to help obviously with 152 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: the nutrition and and uh in physical fitness, but they're 153 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: also looking to improve academic achievement as well. Can you 154 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 1: fill us in a little bit on what some of 155 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 1: the programs they're doing there. A big focus Steve has 156 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: been on the early childhood education and it's quality early 157 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:28,680 Speaker 1: childhood education. The human brain grows tremendously between the age 158 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 1: of birth and five years old, and so we think 159 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 1: that three years and four years old is not too 160 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:44,320 Speaker 1: early to start building that cognitive skills. Uh. Synapses grow 161 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: in the brain that like a million a second in 162 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: these early early days, and uh, we we want these. 163 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:54,319 Speaker 1: You know, if you wait till the kindergarten age, it's 164 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: it's almost too late to start, so long running research 165 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: studies have shown that high quality early education will really 166 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 1: give measurable results improving outcomes for kids. UH. There are 167 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: studies that shown that children who participate in these programs 168 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: early childhood education were more likely to graduate from a 169 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 1: high school and students that didn't participate in programs like 170 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 1: that UH. And there's other offsets that students who participate 171 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:33,080 Speaker 1: in the program were didn't participate had had a higher 172 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 1: incidence of arrest for violent crime by the age of eighteen. UM. 173 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 1: So between the the obesity challenge, nutrition and the education challenge, again, 174 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 1: our goal is to have these students come out the 175 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:49,199 Speaker 1: other end of the of the school pipe their school 176 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 1: career being citizen ready, that is, you know, meaningfully contribute 177 00:12:55,200 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 1: to to the United States. Well. And with the so 178 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: you know you talked about the fight crime UH program 179 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 1: that you have here, I'll ask the general this, um, 180 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 1: you know, how difficult is it to get you know, 181 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 1: state and local governments involved and in helping your program 182 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 1: get off the ground. Because I firmly agree with what 183 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: the animald was just saying. I think you have to 184 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:26,559 Speaker 1: start young and if you get the kids on the right, 185 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 1: you know, you get them on the right cycle early enough, 186 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: everything kind of falls into place, and if you wait 187 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 1: too long, I think it's too late by the time 188 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:40,719 Speaker 1: they were in elementary school. Yeah, I absolutely agree with that. 189 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 1: It couldn't be more correct. It's gonna start earlier. You know, 190 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 1: you talked to the UH legislative leaders and again they're 191 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:53,079 Speaker 1: unaware of some of these statistics, at least from our perspective. 192 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: We think that I think those statistics to them and 193 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:59,359 Speaker 1: there their eyes kind of open up. Was that opportunity 194 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 1: to UH presently mass Senate and the UH Speaker of 195 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 1: the House of Representatives of Massachusetts and up work with 196 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 1: on advocating for additional funding for early childhood education. One 197 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: of the things that the structive was that UH early 198 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: childhood education providers teachers UH a huge percentage of around 199 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 1: public assistance there waits UM. So one of the things 200 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 1: we're talking about is is some of this funding going 201 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: towards UH enhancements are incentives for people to stick with 202 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 1: our early childhood education. Sometimes you find that people go 203 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 1: into those programs and are very good teachers, but they 204 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: have to drop out for economic reasons and pursue other 205 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: other avenues. UH profession to make a living, get off 206 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:56,640 Speaker 1: of little awful. So these are the kind of things 207 00:14:56,720 --> 00:15:00,040 Speaker 1: we talked to our legislators about. Again a stuff A 208 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: direct issue of providing the education is it's what how 209 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 1: do we get that quality? How do we get teachers? 210 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 1: How do we keep and retain them? Uh, we're finally 211 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: legislatis where we got to our arguments. Well, this will 212 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 1: be a question for both of you. Actually, Um, is 213 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: there a way that we can get national attention drawn 214 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: to this and get some national focus on this from Congress? 215 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: Or you know, I understanding right now that the political 216 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: situation of getting any anything bipartisanly put through UM Congress 217 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: is kind of difficult these days. But is there a 218 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: way or do you guys have a program that's attempting 219 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 1: to do that. Steve from this is Bob. The the 220 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 1: topic of national security and again that lens that we 221 00:15:56,920 --> 00:16:03,520 Speaker 1: view this through is pretty bipartisan. Honestly, we we don't 222 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: get much pushback. We're kind of unexpected messengers and we 223 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: go in to talk to a legislator or policymaker and 224 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:13,200 Speaker 1: say we want to talk to you about a matter 225 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: of urgent national security, and then we go into our 226 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: our pitch about school lunch or early childhood education. You know, 227 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 1: they go, wait a minute, So we we bring that 228 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: concerned relevance of some of a couple of gray beards 229 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 1: that Gary and I, you know, and when we talk 230 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 1: to these leaders. One of the challenges we face is 231 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 1: this is not a one and done type of the program. 232 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:45,080 Speaker 1: If you're talking about investing in three to five year 233 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 1: olds or seven to you know, eighteen year olds, you've 234 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 1: you've got you've got to wait for the result at 235 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 1: the other end of the pipe. A lot of what 236 00:16:55,560 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: I think happens in terms of funding and passages. Let's 237 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: let's have it right now, We've got it. It's got 238 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:06,360 Speaker 1: to be a sustained effort. You know. Again, if you're three, 239 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 1: you know, you're taking three or four year olds, you've 240 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:13,359 Speaker 1: got to wait another fifteen, sixteen years to validate what 241 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 1: you did was good. Uh. That may be longer than 242 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 1: some folks, uh, you know, and spending there in a 243 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 1: political career or a career where they can affect things. 244 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 1: So it's a chap. That is a challenge to to 245 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 1: make you know, that bring that awareness that it's not 246 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 1: going to fix it in one administration. It's not going 247 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: to fix it in one term. Congressman. You know, we've 248 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 1: got to be patient with this. It's got to be 249 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 1: long lasting. Yeah, what you know, I wanted to get 250 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:43,640 Speaker 1: the general's take on that too, because that that's one 251 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:48,399 Speaker 1: of the issues I think that's always plagued America because 252 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: we kind of look at things from a very narrow 253 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:55,399 Speaker 1: focus lens like a lot of right now, A lot 254 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: of our talk is on, you know, potential conflict with 255 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:02,159 Speaker 1: the easy who tend to look at things from a 256 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 1: lunch bigger perspective. They look at things much longer term. 257 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:11,679 Speaker 1: But what's your take on this, general, Pappus? Right? I mean, 258 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 1: might might take more focuses on the local levels somewhat active. 259 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 1: And we have had some success pardon me, obtaining additional 260 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: funding for these programs, these early childhood education programs. I 261 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:29,679 Speaker 1: think it was last year, and someone correct me if 262 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:33,680 Speaker 1: I'm wrong. Uh, the mass legislature allocated I think it 263 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:38,400 Speaker 1: was twenty million dollars additional uh to these early childhood 264 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:41,639 Speaker 1: education programs. So we have had some success with that. 265 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:43,840 Speaker 1: Of that, I'm not sure how much of that is 266 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 1: several money versus state money, but I know the legislature 267 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:51,359 Speaker 1: did to appropriate a failing substantial sum of money, uh 268 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:57,200 Speaker 1: at least again for this one year. The programs. So 269 00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:00,439 Speaker 1: at the local level, I think we've had some success 270 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:05,440 Speaker 1: uh federally, I I really can't come it directly on, 271 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:08,200 Speaker 1: although I've had some off the director discussions for a 272 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: couple of our legislatives are representative, yes, representatives who are 273 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 1: interested in this, and I think that's supportive the appropriate 274 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 1: that bills come before exactly. And you know, uh, something 275 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:32,920 Speaker 1: that the amierald said earlier about a lot of you know, 276 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: a lot of these children are born today and single 277 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:43,679 Speaker 1: parent households UM. Does that kind of tie into UM 278 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 1: as as well as this whole thing that we're talking about, 279 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 1: you know, the nutrition, the schooling, the education. How is childcare? 280 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 1: You know, when we're talking about so many young people 281 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 1: that are perhaps under the age of six with single 282 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 1: parent households's childcare working its way into this equation as well. 283 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 1: Do you guys have a program geared towards this. I 284 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:21,400 Speaker 1: don't think we have a direct program uh for uh 285 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 1: take care if you call it, uh, But again, what 286 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:31,879 Speaker 1: we do supports the concept if you could get a 287 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 1: primary uh educator, someone who's interested in breaking into the 288 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 1: educational system and is interested in early childhood education. I 289 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:45,280 Speaker 1: have a living wage for those people that might attract 290 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 1: more of them into that and help the system. There's 291 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:52,880 Speaker 1: a massive shortage at least in Massachusetts of really childhood 292 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 1: educators that stay on a program. Turned over RATS is premendous. 293 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:05,640 Speaker 1: So in that regard, yeah, we can have some effect 294 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 1: on that when we allocate for the funding, UH to 295 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:15,159 Speaker 1: to get additional compensation for u UM the early childhood educated. 296 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 1: It was and I can't remember the statistics on this, 297 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 1: that there was a pilot program UH sponsored by the 298 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:26,399 Speaker 1: FEDS that in the same uh the Saint Organization right 299 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:29,719 Speaker 1: here in Boston. UH part of some of the teachers 300 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:34,360 Speaker 1: were receiving this additional stipend and UH the other thought 301 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 1: was not. And the turnover rate in comparison was absolutely tremendous. 302 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 1: It was like extraordinary. Uh. I couldn't believe it. We 303 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:44,640 Speaker 1: sat down and talk there, talked to him last year. UH. 304 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 1: So that that that's how we get involved with it 305 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:53,159 Speaker 1: with that that that part of it. So, you know, 306 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 1: Admiral Bizel, I'll ask you this. You know, with the 307 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:01,919 Speaker 1: current COVID nineteen pandemic that out there, is it harder 308 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: right now. Obviously it has to be to a to 309 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:07,879 Speaker 1: a degree about getting your word out there. I mean, 310 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 1: obviously you can't be doing as many face to face 311 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 1: meetings with legislators and and you know, public leaders out there. 312 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,440 Speaker 1: But is it is it getting harder for you to 313 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 1: get the word out with this current you know, pandemic 314 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 1: that's out there, Steves. Has has been a challenge during 315 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 1: the COVID time, just as it has been for our 316 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:34,440 Speaker 1: educators as well as UH as well as those who 317 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:40,680 Speaker 1: who who the policymakers. UH. For instance, there's there's not 318 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:42,399 Speaker 1: a lot of representatives, a lot of them in their 319 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:46,359 Speaker 1: home district. There's opportunities to meet with them. Then UH 320 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:52,840 Speaker 1: mission readiness has done UH some assaults if you will 321 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:56,239 Speaker 1: on the hill where we go in and mask UH 322 00:22:56,680 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 1: like other organizations and meet with a key leaders and 323 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:04,159 Speaker 1: UH we will go with other members of the Council 324 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:08,199 Speaker 1: for Strong America, UH such as UH police officials from 325 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: Fight Crime Investing kids or or athletes Champions for Strong 326 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 1: America and UH we kind of tag team and meetings there. 327 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:18,600 Speaker 1: But yes, it has been a challenge right now with 328 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 1: the folks on lockdown travel being what it is it's 329 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:27,919 Speaker 1: it's a real challenge. So what's next with the school 330 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:31,480 Speaker 1: year coming up? I mean a lot of you know, 331 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 1: from what we read in a newspaper, what we see 332 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:37,119 Speaker 1: on the news at night, there's still a lot of 333 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:40,680 Speaker 1: questions on how schools are going to approach this upcoming 334 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:44,879 Speaker 1: school year. And you know, is the kids going to 335 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,360 Speaker 1: be actually in school? Are they going to be doing 336 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:50,440 Speaker 1: this you know, distance learning thing, and how does that 337 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 1: all tie in with these nutritional programs? Okay, let me 338 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 1: let me uh comment if I mike. Uh. The the 339 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:07,920 Speaker 1: whole issue of what happens in the fall at the 340 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 1: local level, at the primary school, uh, in high school level. Uh, 341 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:18,960 Speaker 1: it's still the year. We don't know what's going to happen. 342 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:22,920 Speaker 1: There vision different ideas of some of them are very good, 343 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:28,400 Speaker 1: some of the unworkable. Once that settles in, UH, that's 344 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 1: gonna have an impact on again the school lunch programs, 345 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:36,960 Speaker 1: school meal folk rams, if you've got uh kids attending school, 346 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:41,160 Speaker 1: say two days a week one site and three days 347 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:45,359 Speaker 1: a week distance training? UH? With with the bridge and 348 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: there far as the patricianal aspects go, that's the question. 349 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:52,120 Speaker 1: I've had some of these folks who they're talking about 350 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:55,639 Speaker 1: their place. Are you considering this stuff again? If the 351 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 1: number of kids that rely on uh school lun school 352 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 1: breakfast programs for their basic nutrition, Uh, it's definitely gonna 353 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:13,160 Speaker 1: be impacted by how the schools reopened. Mhm. So again 354 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 1: I don't know that yet. Yeah, I don't think anyone does. 355 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:21,879 Speaker 1: I mean, it's uh, we're we're kind of sailing and 356 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 1: uncharted waders these days. But um, you know another question 357 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:30,159 Speaker 1: and again and there might not be a answer for it, 358 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:33,320 Speaker 1: but I'll ask the admiral. Um, you know, with so 359 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 1: many states uh, you know struggling right now because you 360 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 1: know the taxes aren't coming in from people from businesses, 361 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: are we looking at funding shortages that were you know 362 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 1: for states? Are we going to be looking at no 363 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:57,240 Speaker 1: states cutting back? Is that going to affect school lunch programs, education? 364 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:01,199 Speaker 1: I mean, this is something I know that we're going 365 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 1: to have to face this sooner or later. Steve, I 366 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:08,960 Speaker 1: know that most states have got to run a balanced 367 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:14,640 Speaker 1: budget program and given the expenses that may be shifted 368 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:21,119 Speaker 1: to other priorities, whether it's medical care, uh provision, law enforcement, 369 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:23,639 Speaker 1: so forth, it's going to be it's gonna be a 370 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 1: tough fight to protect some of these budgets at least 371 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:30,639 Speaker 1: in the future. I know that we a lot of 372 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:34,560 Speaker 1: people have turned to h private sector or let's say, 373 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:39,440 Speaker 1: UH nonprofit sector for some relief. Here in Charleston, we 374 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:43,920 Speaker 1: have an organization, UH, the Low Country Food Bank that 375 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 1: serves ten counties along the coastal Carolina and UH seventeen 376 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:53,880 Speaker 1: different school districts. Through this summer. They have taken upon 377 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 1: themselves to develop a lunch program and they distribute these 378 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 1: lunches at at forty seven different sites where kids or 379 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:08,640 Speaker 1: family can anybody eighteen years under can come and grab 380 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:11,200 Speaker 1: and go. You know, they've got cold lunch. Is prepared 381 00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:16,119 Speaker 1: to try and stay in these nutritional guidelines and and 382 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:21,200 Speaker 1: alleviate some of the food and security that a good 383 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:25,399 Speaker 1: sector piece of the population here goes through. So I 384 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 1: think we may see turn to UH to other organizations, charitable, nonprofit, 385 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:34,760 Speaker 1: religious based, and so forth to try to help pick 386 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:37,960 Speaker 1: up the slack. Again. They rely on donations, whether they're 387 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:43,399 Speaker 1: corporate or private citizen donations. So there may be some 388 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:45,639 Speaker 1: relief there, but I think it's going to be a 389 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:51,520 Speaker 1: challenge from from the state budget levels. So you know, 390 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:55,159 Speaker 1: I know that there's a couple of hundred admirals in 391 00:27:55,280 --> 00:28:00,360 Speaker 1: generals involved in you know, mission readiness. UM. For our 392 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:03,440 Speaker 1: listeners out there, how can they help? How can the 393 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:08,119 Speaker 1: average citizen out there help support what you people are 394 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 1: doing out there, you know, and all the work that 395 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:16,120 Speaker 1: you're doing for the kids in our future. I think 396 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:20,439 Speaker 1: the first step is is awareness that these problems do exist, 397 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:24,000 Speaker 1: UH to the level that they exist. I think most 398 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:28,399 Speaker 1: people around here, UH from the Greater Boston area are 399 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:30,400 Speaker 1: aware that, you know, there is a there is an issue. 400 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:32,920 Speaker 1: There is a problem, the extent of which is just 401 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:35,920 Speaker 1: coming to a head as a news media now focuses 402 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:41,800 Speaker 1: on that. UH food and security UM. Greater Boston Food Bank, UH, 403 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 1: which services the Greater Boston area. UH, I'd say most 404 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 1: of Suffolk and part of Middlesex County and the part 405 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:54,720 Speaker 1: of Offa County UH is under extreme stress. UH. They're 406 00:28:54,800 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 1: very successful in raising money UH from you know, the population. How, 407 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:04,480 Speaker 1: how and if that will continue on? UH there's something 408 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:09,440 Speaker 1: that remains to be seen, UH encouraging the population by 409 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 1: awareness and encouragement to donate to organizations like the like 410 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 1: the food Bank, both as described Charleston and up as 411 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 1: I'm talking about the bit of Boston Food Bank. Uh, 412 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 1: it's gonna go a long way. We also sorry, no, 413 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:30,600 Speaker 1: I was just going to ask you if you wanted 414 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:36,000 Speaker 1: to add into that the uh what Gary mentioned is correct, 415 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 1: and that's awareness and and we uh. In addition to 416 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:46,760 Speaker 1: meeting with legislators and policymakers, UH, you will find mission 417 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:52,040 Speaker 1: readiness members who will write letters to the other or 418 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 1: opinion pieces. I'm looking at one here that Major General 419 00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 1: Thomas Cutler was just published on the first of Joe 420 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:04,480 Speaker 1: lie in the Lansing UH State Journal, and he addresses 421 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:07,479 Speaker 1: this prolonged food and security and how it hurts children, 422 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:11,960 Speaker 1: a sort of a double whammy between the COVID nineteen 423 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 1: as well as folks losing employment and not having the 424 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:20,360 Speaker 1: income that they do. So we uh, we use just 425 00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:24,960 Speaker 1: about every medium, including thank you very much soft reap 426 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:30,240 Speaker 1: to get the word out and it's uh. Nothing helps 427 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 1: like you making your legislator and your your your district, 428 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 1: your congressman, your senators know how you feel about it 429 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 1: and the long term effects of this uh uh and 430 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:46,880 Speaker 1: the overall population. Yeah. In fact, you know when you 431 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 1: mentioned that, I clicked on the Lansing State Journal and 432 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 1: I just read the letter from General Color as you're 433 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:57,840 Speaker 1: as you were speaking, and it's it's it's amazing. I mean, 434 00:30:58,560 --> 00:31:02,880 Speaker 1: you know, in his letter he mentions President Truman signing 435 00:31:02,920 --> 00:31:05,920 Speaker 1: into the National School Lunch Law all the way back 436 00:31:05,960 --> 00:31:08,960 Speaker 1: in right after World War Two. And it's hard to 437 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:15,680 Speaker 1: believe that in this country nutrition is such an issue. 438 00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:19,480 Speaker 1: I mean, I you know, Um, I'll be honest, I 439 00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:23,040 Speaker 1: didn't think it was that big of a deal because 440 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 1: I I guess we're just kind of we're kind of 441 00:31:26,760 --> 00:31:32,120 Speaker 1: brainwashed into thinking, you know, we have everything, but actually 442 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:34,719 Speaker 1: we're you know, we're hurting as much as a lot 443 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 1: of other countries are when it comes to this, and 444 00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:39,480 Speaker 1: you know, this is the kind of thing that we 445 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:42,960 Speaker 1: need to bring attention to. And you know, when when 446 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:46,040 Speaker 1: you have I believe I saw her on your website, 447 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:50,680 Speaker 1: twenty four out of the thirty four million seventeen to 448 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:55,040 Speaker 1: twenty four year olds in this country ineligible for military 449 00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:59,880 Speaker 1: service due to obesity or other issues. That's that's a 450 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:04,440 Speaker 1: telling that's a very telling statistic that we have an 451 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:07,000 Speaker 1: issue in this country that needs to really get fixed. 452 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:09,160 Speaker 1: So with this, I'm going to turn it over to 453 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:14,480 Speaker 1: each of you and I'll let you guys. Um, you know, uh, 454 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:19,640 Speaker 1: tell our listeners about your organization, what you want to say, 455 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:23,760 Speaker 1: what's what's upcoming, and how you know we can help, 456 00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:27,080 Speaker 1: how all of us can help do I know you 457 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:29,920 Speaker 1: you mentioned getting the word out, but if there's anything 458 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:33,720 Speaker 1: else we can do, um, let everyone know how to 459 00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:37,680 Speaker 1: do that. So with with that, general, I'll start with you, right, 460 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:42,480 Speaker 1: the things that the organization, and that's individually. At first 461 00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:49,480 Speaker 1: of all, they're about admirals and generals want to get asked, 462 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:52,120 Speaker 1: you know, why are you interesting this? Well, okay, from 463 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:56,520 Speaker 1: a selfish standpoint, yes, recruiting your retention. But as a citizen, uh, 464 00:32:56,960 --> 00:33:00,640 Speaker 1: you look at those statistics, they're horrifying that many people 465 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:06,440 Speaker 1: can't be qualified basically entering into the military service. Um. 466 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:10,640 Speaker 1: And again, the the issue is not just nutritional. Uh. 467 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:14,360 Speaker 1: They deal with it dropping out of school, not getting 468 00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:18,840 Speaker 1: a high school diploma, crying those things. And as you 469 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:21,640 Speaker 1: look at how the progression of of how this goes, 470 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:29,320 Speaker 1: the better the early childhood education nutrition system is, the 471 00:33:29,480 --> 00:33:32,600 Speaker 1: less like it is for a young individual to fall 472 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:35,680 Speaker 1: into one of those categories. And that's that's the the 473 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:40,360 Speaker 1: prime direction uh that we need to go in attack 474 00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:43,320 Speaker 1: that problem. And the source of it is, as we've 475 00:33:43,360 --> 00:33:48,280 Speaker 1: been saying, early child education and nutrition, two fundamentalists, basic 476 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:51,120 Speaker 1: building blocks for the whole thing. Everything else falls and 477 00:33:51,240 --> 00:33:54,720 Speaker 1: after that, Um, what else can we do? Okay, that's 478 00:33:54,760 --> 00:34:00,440 Speaker 1: a that's a great question. Uh. Education of the public. Uh, 479 00:34:00,800 --> 00:34:03,080 Speaker 1: I think to me that is a key because it 480 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:05,720 Speaker 1: said people don't know this, and when I know the 481 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:09,800 Speaker 1: legislators that we talked to heard these statistics that gods 482 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:15,320 Speaker 1: dropped to complete these numbers. Um. And again, some of 483 00:34:15,360 --> 00:34:20,640 Speaker 1: the home districts of the state representatives are very much 484 00:34:20,640 --> 00:34:23,920 Speaker 1: affected by the lack of a school lunch program right now, 485 00:34:24,040 --> 00:34:28,480 Speaker 1: a lot of nutrition for their uh, their constituents. Uh. 486 00:34:28,680 --> 00:34:30,560 Speaker 1: And some of the outlying cities of Boston, some of 487 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:35,160 Speaker 1: the neighborhoods. Uh, this is a real, real problem. Uh. 488 00:34:36,560 --> 00:34:39,080 Speaker 1: So they are interested, and now how do we fund it? 489 00:34:39,440 --> 00:34:42,880 Speaker 1: Reduced the income at the state and local level. Um, 490 00:34:44,080 --> 00:34:46,920 Speaker 1: that that's beyond me. I got give an answer to 491 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:50,680 Speaker 1: that one. But that's government we're gonna all have to 492 00:34:50,719 --> 00:34:56,520 Speaker 1: work with, that's for sure. Absolutely absolutely, the Admirald, did 493 00:34:56,560 --> 00:35:00,120 Speaker 1: you want to add into this, Thanks very much. I 494 00:35:01,160 --> 00:35:04,800 Speaker 1: totally agree with what the what the General said. You know, 495 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:09,360 Speaker 1: at this time, people are understandably concerned about the cost 496 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:14,560 Speaker 1: of childhood programs when budget cuts are sort of the norm. 497 00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:18,040 Speaker 1: But if we fail to invest in children right now 498 00:35:18,120 --> 00:35:21,560 Speaker 1: who are very young, it's it's almost always meant a 499 00:35:21,719 --> 00:35:25,839 Speaker 1: higher cost to society down the road. A youngster who 500 00:35:25,960 --> 00:35:30,439 Speaker 1: drops out of school, Uh, maybe it gets drawn into 501 00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:36,360 Speaker 1: using drugs or becomes a career criminal. On the average, 502 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:40,960 Speaker 1: that costs our society two point five million dollars per 503 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:45,680 Speaker 1: person over the long haul. So we're we're into not 504 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:49,680 Speaker 1: only funding things, but we're in the cost avoidance. Research 505 00:35:49,719 --> 00:35:53,120 Speaker 1: has shown that this quality preschool is an excellent investment 506 00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:59,920 Speaker 1: for taxpayers. UH. Independent cost benefit analysis UH preschool program 507 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:04,240 Speaker 1: them show that really preschool can on average almost return 508 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:08,759 Speaker 1: twenty seven thousand dollars to society for each choke each 509 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:13,360 Speaker 1: child served. And that's largely from reductions in crime, special 510 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:16,040 Speaker 1: let in great retention. And it's also going to be 511 00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:20,880 Speaker 1: in terms of costs we avoid for healthcare down to 512 00:36:20,960 --> 00:36:26,320 Speaker 1: vote as complicating with obesity, there are other factors that 513 00:36:26,440 --> 00:36:31,200 Speaker 1: come along, such as diabetes and so forth that puts 514 00:36:31,239 --> 00:36:35,520 Speaker 1: a strain on a healthcare system. So again, general awareness, 515 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:39,160 Speaker 1: getting this out to the to the population at large, 516 00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:44,080 Speaker 1: and making them understand it's it's not an immediate betterment 517 00:36:44,239 --> 00:36:47,239 Speaker 1: right now, but the long term betterment. Again, we want 518 00:36:47,280 --> 00:36:51,399 Speaker 1: to offer youngsters options when they come out that we'd 519 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:53,480 Speaker 1: love to have them in the military. But you know what, 520 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:58,000 Speaker 1: when when they've got an option to choose, uh, you're 521 00:36:58,040 --> 00:37:02,359 Speaker 1: going to find a satisfied and contributing citizen. It's when 522 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:06,040 Speaker 1: people don't have options that they wind up pushed in 523 00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:10,000 Speaker 1: the bad decisions. This is the only thing I've got left, 524 00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:13,160 Speaker 1: and it might be you know, a whop being a 525 00:37:13,280 --> 00:37:15,400 Speaker 1: ward of the state into in a prison or a 526 00:37:15,520 --> 00:37:18,680 Speaker 1: jail or in a hospital. So those are the things 527 00:37:18,719 --> 00:37:22,520 Speaker 1: that we want to push for. Excellent. And uh, I 528 00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:25,040 Speaker 1: know I'm going to get some emails about this, so 529 00:37:25,440 --> 00:37:28,919 Speaker 1: before I do, I'll nip this one in the butt. 530 00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:31,239 Speaker 1: A lot of our listeners always like to know the 531 00:37:31,360 --> 00:37:35,160 Speaker 1: background of our guests, so I'll fill this in for 532 00:37:35,560 --> 00:37:39,839 Speaker 1: you guys. Uh, for our listeners out there. Admiral Rear 533 00:37:39,920 --> 00:37:44,480 Speaker 1: Admiral retired Bob Beazel, who has been joining us from Charleston, 534 00:37:44,760 --> 00:37:48,719 Speaker 1: was the final commanding officer of the supercarrier us AS America. 535 00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:50,800 Speaker 1: And you can correct me if I'm wrong. Was the 536 00:37:50,880 --> 00:37:57,239 Speaker 1: CV six s. That is correct. Yes, I think the 537 00:37:57,320 --> 00:38:01,239 Speaker 1: Admiral knows what he's talking about. And our our other 538 00:38:01,360 --> 00:38:05,480 Speaker 1: guests general uh bringing their General Gary Pappas again from 539 00:38:05,520 --> 00:38:08,560 Speaker 1: my home state of Massachusetts, was the commander of the 540 00:38:08,640 --> 00:38:13,120 Speaker 1: Massachusetts Army National Guard from June of two thousand, I 541 00:38:13,160 --> 00:38:17,360 Speaker 1: believe till two thousand five. So I know our listeners 542 00:38:17,400 --> 00:38:21,400 Speaker 1: will be asking us, you know about our guests background 543 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:24,400 Speaker 1: and so there that is. But gentlemen, I want to 544 00:38:24,480 --> 00:38:27,680 Speaker 1: thank you. Um, I want to thank you all for 545 00:38:27,800 --> 00:38:31,360 Speaker 1: what you're doing with mission readiness and uh, thanks for 546 00:38:31,480 --> 00:38:35,480 Speaker 1: bringing this to our attention. Again. Until I had met 547 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:39,840 Speaker 1: Sarah and Megan online, I didn't realize a lot of 548 00:38:39,920 --> 00:38:43,440 Speaker 1: this even existed. I'll admit I was one of those 549 00:38:43,480 --> 00:38:48,080 Speaker 1: people in the dark. And uh, you know, thanks to 550 00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:51,520 Speaker 1: you and the work they're doing as well. You're bringing 551 00:38:51,600 --> 00:38:55,600 Speaker 1: this to our attention and hopefully, you know, we can 552 00:38:55,880 --> 00:38:59,080 Speaker 1: kind of nimptus in the bud for future generations because 553 00:38:59,239 --> 00:39:02,719 Speaker 1: our national security depends on it. So gentlemen, thank you 554 00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:06,680 Speaker 1: once again for joining us. Uh. We really appreciate your time, 555 00:39:07,239 --> 00:39:09,960 Speaker 1: your insight, and we wish you all the best of 556 00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:19,560 Speaker 1: luck with this see. Thanks for having it again. Thank 557 00:39:19,600 --> 00:39:26,480 Speaker 1: you Megan, Yeah yes, uh so. For myself Steve balistreri Admerald, 558 00:39:27,080 --> 00:39:30,360 Speaker 1: Bob Basil, General, Gary Pappas, thanks for listening to the 559 00:39:30,440 --> 00:39:33,920 Speaker 1: SOFTWAREP Radio Software Radio on Time, on Target. We'll be 560 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:37,239 Speaker 1: back with another podcast in the very near future. We 561 00:39:37,400 --> 00:39:39,759 Speaker 1: have some great guests coming up, and be sure to 562 00:39:39,840 --> 00:39:43,239 Speaker 1: check out all our articles online at softwarep dot com. 563 00:39:43,680 --> 00:39:46,399 Speaker 1: For myself Steve Boost, thanks for listening. We'll be back. 564 00:40:01,520 --> 00:40:03,920 Speaker 1: Use them listening to the self red Radio