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 63 | “I Am Not Wounded, I Am Recalibrated” The SSG (R) Travis Mills Unstoppable Story
What do you do when your life changes forever in a single moment?
On April 10, 2012, during his third deployment with the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Travis Mills set his pack down on a concealed IED. He survived, becoming one of only a few quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In this extraordinary episode of Your Next Mission® video podcast, host 12th SMA (R) Jack L. Tilley sits down with Travis to discuss his recovery at Walter Reed, why he rejects the term “wounded warrior” in favor of “recalibrated warrior,” and how he turned his hardest days into a lifelong mission to support combat-injured Veterans and their Families. From founding the Travis Mills Foundation from a hospital bed to hosting thousands of Military Families at their barrier-freeretreat in Maine, Travis proves that attitude, gratitude, and purposecan overcome any obstacle.
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Your Next Mission® Season #6 EP 62 | “They Saved My Life”: The Untold Power of the Fisher House | David Coker
When a medical emergency strikes, where does a Military or Veteran Family sleep?
When a Servicemember or Veteran faces a severe injury, illness, or medical crisis, family support is vital to recovery. It is nearly impossible to find affordable lodging near a medical center and can be an overwhelming financial barrier. In this episode of Your Next Mission®, host 12th SMA (R) Jack L. Tilley sits down with David A. Coker, President of the Fisher House Foundation, who has spent over 32 years building a lifeline for Military Families. Discover how Fisher House’s network of over 100 homes provides comfortable lodging at no cost, just steps from major VA and military medical centers. He also breaks down vital non-housing support services, including Hero Miles, Hotels for Heroes, commissary scholarships, and family travel for the Warrior Games and Invictus Games.
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.
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.
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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