UNITED THROUGH SERVICE AND ACTION
April 16, 2026
Aug 12, 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 50 | The “Secret Service” Nobody Gives You a Medal For
Military Spouses make massive sacrifices, but how do you build a powerhouse career when you’re constantly relocating? In this episode of Your Next Mission®, SMA(R) Tilley sits down with Nicole Leth—a resilient Military Spouse, public health expert, and current instructor at the U.S. Secret Service Health and Resilience Training Center.
Nicole shares her raw, “un-sugarcoated” journey navigating 27 years of military moves, handling the “bumpy” transition to civilian retirement with her Servicemember spouse, and how she went from directing Armed Forces Wellness Centers to training federal secret agents. If you are a Veteran, Military Spouse, or Servicemember preparing to transition, this episode is packed with essential advice on resilience, marriage communication, and maintaining your health under extreme stress.
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RECENTLY AIRED
Your Next Mission® Season #6 EP 49 | The True Cost of Freedom: A Marine’s Unfiltered Vietnam Story of Survival
In this special Memorial Day episode, on the number #1 video podcast on military transition and leadership, host 12th SMA(R) Jack L. Tilley sits down with fellow Vietnam Veteran Esteban Valenzuela, founder of the Law Offices of Esteban L. Valenzuela & Associates.
In this deeply moving conversation, Esteban opens up about the darkness that swallowed him upon returning from war—from carrying weapons on the streets of California and battling severe addiction to a moment where he nearly took his own life. Discover how a brotherhood of Marines, a dedicated VA counselor, and a life-changing return trip to Vietnam hosted saved his life, transforming his perspective on Memorial Day from a dark, isolated nightmare into a beautiful celebration of family, gratitude, and remembrance.
Your Next Mission® Season #6 EP 48 | The Brutal Truth About Military Transition (What They Don’t Tell You) | Staci Holt & 15th MPCON (R) Russell L. Smith
Military retirement sounds like the finish line, but the next battle begins after you take off the uniform. Welcome to Your Next Mission®, the nation’s #1 video podcast on military transition and leadership.
In this episode, host and the 12th SMA (R) Jack L. Tilley sits down with Staci Holt, @usaa Military Affairs Director Spouse Engagement & 30+ year Marine spouse and the 15th MCPON (R) Russell L. Smith to pull back the curtain on the intense, unexpected, and often unsettling challenges of military retirement.
From the reality of financial readiness under the Blended Retirement System (BRS) to personal mental health battles post-command, this raw and honest conversation gives Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families the blueprint to survive and conquer their “second act.”
Your Next Mission® Season #6 EP 47 | 90 MPH With No Brakes: How This Olympian Built an AI-Proof Career | Matt Mortensen
How do you transition from the absolute pinnacle of world sports to the competitive world of institutional finance? On this episode of the Your Next Mission® video podcast, host the 12th SMA (R) Jack L. Tilley sits down with two-time Olympic Luge Athlete and U.S. Army National Guard Veteran Matt Mortenson.
Matt pulls back the curtain on the extreme discipline required to compete in the Sochi 2014 and Pyongyang 2018 Winter Olympics, how the Army’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) saved his athletic career, and the realities of transitioning to civilian life.
In this complete interview, Matt also drops invaluable advice on future-proofing your career against Artificial Intelligence, choosing a broadly applicable degree that keeps you from being siloed, and the ultimate truth of transition: “Your next mission doesn’t just show up—you have to build it.
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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