December 2019, CAVE CANEM MEDIA

The Global War on Terror (GWOT) is 18 years old. It is, far and away, the longest war in US history. In this story for the Black Rifle Coffee Company’s COFFEE OR DIE magazine, I interview Michael “Rod” Rodriguez, 21-year Army veteran, former Green Beret and President of the GWOT Memorial Foundation. Rod and his team want to honor GWOT vets, the GWOT fallen, and those who are still in the fight with a memorial on the national mall.

Global War on Terrorism Memorial: An Unprecedented Project for an Unprecedented War
On Sept. 11, 2019, the Global War on Terrorism turned 18. The GWOT is by far the longest military conflict in U.S. history, eclipsing the previous contender (the Vietnam War) by at least eight years.

In late October, I had the privilege of attending the 2019 VetXpo in Dallas to cover the event for COFFEE OR DIE magazine. The conference, sponsored by GalantFew, concluded with a moving presentation by Army paratrooper veteran Boone Cutler. Cutler is the author of the “Spartan Pledge” — a battle drill created to help veterans cope with the effects of isolation and depression, which so often lead to suicidal thoughts. I followed up with Boone to learn more about his background and the origin of the Spartan Pledge.

How the Spartan Pledge is Working to Prevent Veteran Suicide
“I will not take my own life by my own hand until I talk to my battle buddy first. My mission is to find a mission to help my warfighter family.” These words constitute the Spartan Pledge, a solemn oath meant to reverse the disturbing trend of suicide among veterans of the U.S.