UNITED THROUGH SERVICE AND ACTION
Aug 12, 2026
October 13, 2026
Your Next Mission®
Your Next Mission® is a new initiative from the American Freedom Foundation that provides content, resources, and support to Veterans, Military Servicemembers, Military Spouses and Families as they transition from military to civilian life. At the center of the program is a video podcast hosted by 12th SMA (R) Jack L. Tilley which addresses important issues and challenges faced in that transition. It’s a place where we can have frank and honest conversation, tackle the tough questions, share stories, and have some fun along the way.
Our Host
12th SMA (R) Jack L. Tilley
Jack L. Tilley served as the 12th Sergeant Major of the Army from June 2000 – January 2004. A Vietnam War Veteran, SMA Tilley has held a variety of important leadership positions throughout his 36-year career. Now retired, SMA Tilley continues to serve as advisor, leader, and supporter of all Servicemembers, Veterans and their Families as co-founder of the American Freedom Foundation. As the host of the Your Next Mission® podcast, he continues to impart his experience and advice to those transitioning from military to civilian life.
Your Next Mission® Season #6 EP 61 | Generational Service to National Policy: D’Juan Wilcher, Life After the Service
After 14 years as a U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer, LCDR (R) Wilcher transitioned his leadership from the bridge of warships to the forefront of national Veteran policy. Today, as Deputy Director of the Veteran and Military Family Program at the George W. Bush Institute, D’Juan is championing cross-sector solutions to transform Veteran higher education, boost economic mobility, and expand mental health care access for post-9/11 Veterans and their Families. Joined by host SMA (R) Jack L. Tilley, D’Juan breaks down how we can bridge the civilian-military divide, empower student Veterans on college campuses, and build sustainable pathways for successful transition.
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RECENTLY AIRED
A Miracle 20 Years in the Making: Building the Army’s Bone Marrow Database
What if saving a stranger’s life was as simple as a cheek swab?
After losing his mother to blood cancer when he was just four years old, Sergeant Christian S. Sutton has spent years turning that devastating heartbreak into a mission to register bone marrow donors and save lives. Building an Army-wide campaign called “Operation Ring the Bell” from the ground up, SGT Sutton’s journey is nothing short of miraculous.
In the middle of single-handedly registering thousands of Soldiers, SGT Sutton received a life-changing call: he was a genetic match for a 72-year-old grandmother in Illinois battling leukemia. The journey took him to Charleston, South Carolina, where he discovered he was donating at the exact same hospital where his mother fought cancer, exactly 20 years to the day after she passed away.
Your Next Mission® Season #6 EP 59 | A General’s New Mission: Ending Child Hunger | LTG (R) Donna W. Martin #EndChildHunger #Veterans
Welcome to Your Next Mission® video podcast, the nation’s number one video podcast on military transition and leadership!
Our guest rose to the rank of Lieutenant General in the U.S. Army. Now in retirement, LTG (R) Donna W. Martin is fighting a different kind of battle as the Founder and President of Securing Our Children’s Future, LLC, a nonprofit dedicated to making sure no child in her Hampton Roads community goes hungry.
In this deeply moving episode, host SMA (R) Jack L. Tilley, explores the realities of transitioning out of uniform, the struggle to find renewed purpose, and the incredible true story of a lunch lady’s apron that inspired a community-wide movement to feed vulnerable children. We also dive into LTG (R) Martin’s work as Chairperson of The ROCKS, Inc., discussing the critical need to mentor the next generation of military and civilian leaders.
Your Next Mission® Season #6 EP 58 | Whoever Owns Alaska Owns the World: Inside the Army’s Most Extreme Division
These prophetic words from the founder of the modern Air Force, General Billy Mitchell, ring truer today than ever before. Operating in the most unforgiving and extreme environment on the planet, the 11th Airborne Division “Arctic Angels” stands guard at the top of the world. But what does it take to fight, survive, and win when temperatures plummet to -40°F and the elements are as dangerous as the enemy?
Testimonial
“Finally somebody is talking about how difficult and COMPLICATED it is for vets to transition to civilian life. Thank you Sergeant Major.”
OUR PARTNERS
Your Next Mission® wouldn’t be possible without the help and support of our strategic partners. Please visit their websites for information and resources on transitioning from military to civilian life.
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