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Veteran's Affairs Plus discusses the issues that veterans in Las Vegas deal with on a daily basis. Your host, David L. Washington connects listeners with relevant community resources and information that they need to help veterans or themselves.
Unknown Speaker 0:00
This is a KU envy studios original program. You're listening to special programming sponsored by making moves life coaching services, the content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 Jazz and more the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Unknown Speaker 0:28
Good morning, Las Vegas. I'm Gene Campbell. I'm sitting in for de Washington. And hopefully you listened to my show last week. And you made it through and it made you want to come back this week. So this is my second show doing this. And we had fun with the first guest, Mr. Chris Thompson, a Air Force veteran. And this week, we're going to speak to two guests, we're going to speak to retired Major Laban green, as well as my friend Zach Collins, who I had the chance to work with at Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, and he's gonna tell us a little bit about his military service. And what he's doing with the firefighters now. So but first, before I introduce my guests a little bit more, I want to just shout out to the Laban green and his family for the passing of their father, Shelley green. For those that know Laban. They know that Laban had a great bringing in a great family. And one of the cornerstones of that family was Shelly green, Shelly green, he hails from Mississippi, and transit, went over to Chicago during the Great Migration, and really set a foundation in that Chicago community and raised his boys there and served in the military. So Laban my hat's off to you and your family for allowing us to share some time with your father over barbecues, over watching football or playing cards. And I'd like you to talk a little bit about maybe about, introduce yourself a little bit and then tell tell our our guests, the people listening today a little bit about your father and why it's important to get one on two, World War Two veterans.
Unknown Speaker 2:18
Well, thank you for having me on Jane. Yeah, I spent 23 years in the military, four years in the Air Force and then 19 in the army, and was enlisted for a total of nine and a half years before I became a commissioned officer just just being at the right place at the right time. And just went on to do a lot of different things as the infantry and went into logistics and graduated from the logistics management College, commanded with 82nd airborne was commander at the Defense Language Institute commanded all of the Russian Czech and Slovak language, how I got to Vegas, I got sent out here to be the recruiting commander, which is an interesting job, and then went on to get promoted and went somewhere else and then decided to retire.
Unknown Speaker 3:01
All right. Well, would you tell us a little bit about your father? Why is it important for everybody to know about? You know, World War Two veterans, and just maybe one or two things you think you learned from your father, that that go good today with some of the youth that might be listening in or somebody to guess that it could be listening?
Unknown Speaker 3:20
I appreciate that. I mean, talk about greatness. I mean, this guy is part of the he was part of the greatest generation isn't your call. If you put it in the right perspective, the man was born in 1924. So he went in the roaring 20s lived with a gloomy 30s lived through World War Two era was basically the 40s in the Korean War in the 50s, and so forth and so on. All the while you stressed a good work ethic is made things have a good work ethic. Never take yourself too seriously. And it was always about grades in our house. You know, I'm here I am, you know, Illinois State Champion wrestling ability. I don't care about it, where should you be? Gonna be? Education is the ticket. That was his main focus and get it and never take yourself too seriously. That was a BS, man. It'll be okay. If I could impart that to anybody. The thing is, toward this last 10 years of his life, he started telling stories, you know, he started telling us things that went on, as he was coming up and in the military and so forth. And one of the funniest things was, was when him is I think, his twin brother, because he had a twin brother who passed away two years ago. They were stationed at Fort Lee, Virginia, and they went into a club and they said, well, we don't serve black people here so that's fine, because we don't eat them. They love telling their stories. Wow. So and that was bad. You figured out in the 40s? Yes, yes. And you spend time around it but it was all about a work ethic if you want something to work for that was the main if you want something to work for it, no matter what you have to do it like like it's as long as it's not illegal, immoral or unsafe. Go for it. That's right. That's right. That kind of stuck with us, all of us. Well, we send
Unknown Speaker 5:03
out love to your family and special shout out to your mother. And she's a great advocate of your father. And those together as a team, they raised a great set of boys and a lovely family, which many of them were here, this last week, over the last week or so, for his putting the rest. So anyway, I want to introduce our next guest. For we started getting some of the questions. Mr. Zack Collins, Mr. Collins, could you introduce yourself, tell us a little bit about your career. And we're gonna go from there and tell us a little bit about yourself. Oh, yeah. How are you doing?
Unknown Speaker 5:45
All right. First, I can say that Powell is a proud military service and had opportunity to work for you. At LogMeIn rescue. Well, you are my chief over there. I've worked in, but I grew up in a small town in North Carolina. decided after high school, I wanted to try college, I quickly found out that that wasn't the route that I needed to go at the time. So I joined the military. But I was able to you know what to keep that as an option to circle back to later. So I always say, you know, never turn turn down opportunity for education. So but I ended up getting stationed in California, went overseas had a lot had a good time over there. ended up back here at Nellis and I've been in the Las Vegas Valley man for the past 33 years.
Unknown Speaker 6:35
Wow, you've been a long time. Yes, sir. We've been enjoying your life. Man. I tell you one thing about Zach. To my radio. Yes. He's a sharp dresser. Well, I tell you what, I see him from time to time. And I'm like, where did you buy that from Zach. And because he's very sharp in style. So appreciate you coming on today, Tuesday.
Unknown Speaker 7:00
All right. Thank you, man. Yes, sir. So
Unknown Speaker 7:02
what I'd like to do now is I'm just gonna throw some questions out. And I just, you know, one of our target audiences are veterans. And one of the things we like to do is not only in reminisce about some of the fun times, and some of the fun places and stories, but we also like to give them advice, either about transitioning how you transition out of service, what you find was valuable, or are you reaching out for your benefits? And so I'm gonna throw this up up in the air to you. Laban green, would you share with us a little bit about, you know, how you felt your transition was and what advice you'd give to people might be getting out of the service, as well, as you know, maybe how that education and experience in this service impacted you in the careers that you've had, and you've had quite a few careers since you've gotten out and doing some great things we won't do. We won't tell I guess, I mean, that's a little joke between your friends. But if you just share some things with us?
Unknown Speaker 8:04
Well, the first thing is the education opportunities in the military are far superior to a lot a lot of other opportunities out there as far as education, because not only do you have the GI Bill when you're on active duty, and some of the jobs that regardless of branch of service will give you a cash bonus. ie they have what's called tuition assistance and active duty. So you can use that to pay for classes after work or whatever, and not touch your GI bill you could conceivably go on for years and come out with a master's degree. Wow, no, plus, plus, you're going to get college credit for depending on what you went to school for your job in the military. Getting out. What I found is, you know, what we used to work in until we're finished, but for the most part in the military. And you know, most folks, when you get out, you know, one of the best stories I have a buddy of mine who got a product before I did. He said, Man, all I do. You sit at my desk and finish memos for an extra 15 minutes a day after Everybody's rushing for the door, and they think I'm a superstar. Wow. And it's all about the work ethic. It's all about finishing what you start. It's also a lot of times, if you hire you've already proven to an employer, especially if you complete your enlistment in your time that you're trainable. Yes. Okay, you already trained you can do that for four years. We can you can do what we ask you to do. The other. The other big thing is if you had a security clearance, part of the vetting process is already done. Yes. So those are some of the things you know, coming out of the military that people need to pay attention to. The other thing is, there are a lot of people who all you need to get VA benefits in the military is 180 days on active duty. That's all you need. If you didn't complete your enlistment, let's just for instance, say you got it. You got a general discharge, which you can actually get upgraded to an honorable discharge after six months after After you're out, wow, you qualify for for VA benefits. I've got, I've got a family member who did 186 days, and he got his same knee replaced the same way I got my knee replacement.
Unknown Speaker 10:11
That's a great thing to share it absolutely as a great thing to share.
Unknown Speaker 10:17
So what do you want to do things we're finding with dad's death, is that if the spouse had a VA service connected disability, yes, they have something called the dependent indemnity compensation that the spouse can get up to $1,600 a month for the rest of the surviving spouses life. Wow. Just found it out yesterday.
Unknown Speaker 10:42
You just found out yesterday. And that's something that you had to look for, dig for it, ask for it. And did you find it out on the website? Did somebody call you how'd you get that information later?
Unknown Speaker 10:56
One of my wife's friends was already doing this. And I'm kind of like it my out Preston from the military. They didn't mention that. That's right. VA is the VA is not going to tell you that. So you know. So I called a friend of mine who works at the VA in another state. And she said, Oh, yeah, you might you might qualify for that. Because about a week before dad passed, he got a 10% disability. For somebody who had World War Two. Wow. And that qualified him. So my mom and get this, I think is right there. 2024 is 1600 a month for the rest of her life.
Unknown Speaker 11:31
Wow, see? So, you know, one of the things we talked about in the last show before I bring Zack in and ask him some of his impacts. We talked about that, because we didn't get that kind of knowledge or education coming out of monetary, myself at first didn't get that in. And there's so many things out there that you get just general conversation or having those connections. So that's what is this radio show is all about Veterans Affairs. Plus, it's about veterans, speaking other veterans about some of the things that they experienced that we have things in common. And you know what, there's some folks out there that know a little bit more about some things that we do, and you can reach out to them so they can help you. So I really appreciate sharing both of those things. layman because there are so many veterans that don't know, they say, Well, I didn't I didn't, I didn't stay in I didn't do my full four years I got hurt. But if you did 180 days plus, you you're you're eligible, and you can apply for different benefits that you need to you might not even know about. So Zach, I'm gonna reach out to you. What how did they your experience impact you as maybe transitioning out of the military? I know you're, you're a class, a fire inspector, you have a lot of knowledge about fire protection around the city, and there's a lot of places you've been to make sure that we're safe. So tell us about your transition from the military? How did education experience affect you coming out? And maybe if you've had any opportunity to, to interact with the VA? What's been your experience?
Unknown Speaker 13:05
Okay, yeah. The transition for me was I took that training and education that I received in the military, as I was a security policeman and Air Force. So when I got out of the military, I was here in Las Vegas, one of the better jobs at the time, I thought was a career career in Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. So I went in and I pursued that. But I was actually called by another friend, that was a firefighter, who told me say, hey, you know, the fire department is hiring for fire inspectors. But I didn't really know about it. If I did a little research on it found out it's actually an enforcement division of the fire department. So I took that training and from being from law enforcement, military, and just kind of transitioning over to what the fire department was doing in heartland. So I went in to see what I had to offer, offer them. With any public service job, you know, there's a process that we go through to get hired was was a testing process. There are written tests, or interviews, physical agility, and that type things. But I can honestly say that the time that I spent in Air Force and having to go to different boards, like every little quarter board, promotions, below the zone promotion boards, that prepared me to when I went before the oral interview, that I was very possible. Join that because I've done it so many times in my Air Force career. So there was a whole lot of things here that I was able to bring forward. With that. And you know, another thing that really helped was the going through basic training your tech school in Australia, one of the biggest thing that they try to teach US military discipline, yes. And that's kind of, you know, one of the big things that get you preparation Life. And so after that I, you know, just took that, and just tried to build on it. And when I came to those interviews, I was able to lay out those things that the military has taught me and as a layman was said, you've had, when an employer see that you've had that experience, and you're able to be relied upon, and that another thing was declared part of that job, their job of knowing who you are, and you've been prepared for a job is already done.
Unknown Speaker 15:35
Right. Right. Right. Wow. Well, it seems like you both had a similar experience, that the that the education, training and exposure, provide you skills, knowledge and abilities that were sought after that allowed you to transition out successfully. So that is outstanding. So if if you're thinking about the military, and you want to know about some benefits for some people that served many years in the military, you just heard it. And I'm sure that if you're if you're interested, there's a lot of great opportunities out there for you. One of the things I like to bring up really quick, as we move towards the second half, almost into the third quarter of our time together, is I wanted to ask you laying out all the places you travel in the world. Which one that you have the most fun on which base in the United States, you have the most fun and why?
Unknown Speaker 16:35
Well, I spent two tours at Fort Ord California, in Monterey, California. And it's no longer there. But the surrounding area of Carmel, you got Carmel, Monterey, Santa Cruz, that Monterey Bay Area after all my travels have to be in Italy to England and ultra Europe. That's my Shangri La. That's where I go to recharge my batteries get out there on that ocean and, and it's just beautiful. It's peaceful. The people that are well, people are welcoming. Yes. And it's just just just heaven on earth to me.
Unknown Speaker 17:12
Heaven on Earth. Wow. You know, Zach, just a little while ago, a couple of years ago, we were sitting there talking, he would tell me when we're out in North Carolina, and you were going to this in this rodeo, round up and everything. And I said, Man, it sounds like a bunch of fun. So I know you're a person that likes to enjoy life. Was Was there a time that was memorable for you when you were in the military that you'd like to share with us?
Unknown Speaker 17:38
Absolutely. So I spent a lot of time overseas, so I was in Korea for a year, then I got a chance to spend time in Japan, Thailand, Guam, and the Philippines. I think at all those I enjoyed most of the Philippines. Just the subtitles, you get out of the United States in the spirit of other cultures. It's just amazing to me just to see how someone else lives compared to how you live in the United States. We have a lot of conference here that's not in other countries. But you can still see what they do there and get that experience. The duties at in the Philippines were the job on the job. They were some of the best I've had in the Air Force. And then of course, you get a chance to get around and the island. That was a it was just amazing. Like I said, I'm a person that likes to travel, and then experience different cultures. So that was really inspiring to me.
Unknown Speaker 18:45
Wow. Great. Yes. Yes. Well, you know what? I know a little bit about both of you. And I know you both like to eat. And I think Wes if I get to come back on another show, I want to talk about the food or the military. I'm going to ask every guest about the food as a military because we've had some bad experiences on KP duty, but being able to travel like you, Zach and you Laban whether it's Germany or the Philippines or Thailand or wherever it was, I know you both had some great food. But labor I want to ask you a little bit about something else that that you do in your spare time and that's a little bit about some trap shooting. Can you tell us how you got involved in trap shooting and what milestone you made in the last six months with that to share with our guests.
Unknown Speaker 19:37
Well, a former coworker when I was doing executive protection Valley, he is the I guess the administrator for the trap League and he's made me to try to try to make man I'm a rifle guy. Long story short, I got into it last year. You get out and you go pull and you try to hit the Clay Target and I won for my friend my first season I won the most improved shooter award for the league. And then secondly, second season and we put together a team. And it just put together a team of my friends. And we wouldn't think anything about it. And the guy that he says, you know, this is the first all black trapshooting team in history in Nevada. And and we did, we actually showed up showed out a little bit, we did fairly well. But it's a great sport, and I had to pick it up, because because of my knee replacements, I have difficulty playing golf anymore. And well, I wasn't very good at it anyway. So one of the ones I took a few lessons with the shotgun, you have to have a shot gun. And I kind of picked up on it. Now the big thing about that is there is a Youth League out there that I haven't gotten involved with yet, but I intend to, and it's just a sport is just like golf, you gets addicted. And you can spend as much money on the accessories for that, that, that sport as you can for golf. And that's kind of what's going on with it right now. Right,
Unknown Speaker 20:53
so let's set the Clark County shooting range. Right? Is that correct labeling and I think county shooting
Unknown Speaker 21:00
range. Yep. And they have you can shoot there almost every day of the week, except Monday, I think they're closed. There. They also have an archery range up there, they have a pistol range or rifle range. And they have a trap and a skeet range. And those are two separate sports. The trap is the most simplest sport where you shoot and shoot at one target at a time when clay pigeon at a time. And of course, you know, the more youth we I'd like to think we get some of our youth in the neighborhood exposed to something different. Everybody can't be the quarterback, everybody can't can't be the star guard star sitting on the basketball court. This is something a guy like me was a little guy, you know, if they got people out there in wheelchairs that are shooting in a trampoline is for handicap as well. So it's a universal sport, in my opinion.
Unknown Speaker 21:48
Yes. And just a little bit about what I saw out there when she Laban was this last spring seemed like they were just recruiting kids after school. And they had different people out there and they had different sponsors. And so you know, when those kids are out of school and spring break, or summertime, there's an opportunity for them to be exposed to something else. So I appreciate you being an advocate for that labor insurance. And with today's guest. Zach, could you tell me a little bit about the professional black firefighters in Las Vegas and what you're doing with that organization now? And what the organization is currently up to in the community?
Unknown Speaker 22:32
Absolutely. So right now I'm the acting president of United firefight in Southern Nevada, which is a local chapter of the International Association of Black professional firefighters. What I've got one of my goals is to ensure the equality and inclusion of minorities within the fire service. So if I wasn't no fact that the fire service is a white male dominated profession. Right now, with the City of Las Vegas Fire Rescue, we have approximately 30 African American employees out of over 700. So there's really not a great percentage compared to what the percentage in our community is. And as my my goal as a president is to reach out to these communities go out and find the people that want to be firefighters and get them prepared to where they can be successful in achieving that goal. So we can make our Department representative of community. Great, great.
Unknown Speaker 23:38
Zach, is there any classes that are going on a ways for people that either go online or find out more information, you know, sometimes, we get, we get this information from other people who are sitting listening to radio stations on Saturday morning, who might already be in their career or might be listening for their maybe their nephew or their niece or somebody up and coming? And how could they get some information from us today? Over the over the radio where they can either look online or get a number or reach out to somebody about maybe getting some information about a career in the fire service, whether it being a fire inspector or fire dispatcher or firefighter?
Unknown Speaker 24:20
Yes, now let's start. So we have some retired. Firefighters have put together an active duty firefighter that put together one question I could tell you about is they'll be on fire prep and Leadership Academy. And that's an academy put together by some retired and current that was started by Sam Smith. The late Sam Smith, who was instrumental in I say, out of the almost every African American that went on to fire department from now say the 80s up until time he passed, that he responsible for 95% of them that there was no department. And so they were correct. They were teaching classes helping people get signed up for the EMTs. Get the EMT certification, which was a big step. But I can honestly say that the Las Vegas Fire Rescue did in the last testing process, get rid of the qualitative sort of necessity to have the EMT prior to get hired on the department. Yes. So what the so that was that was a big improvement because that was a barrier in the minority neighborhoods.
Unknown Speaker 25:46
Yes. You talked about three things I wanted to touch on real quick one. You said firefighter prep Leadership Academy. And I think the current president there, her name, what's her name? Zack, she's from Clark County, I can't think of her name right now. But they have a group group going they also have the Las Vegas Valley retirees Incorporated. And I have its email address for anybody listening. And that's lv vffr@gmail.com, or their telephone number is 702555555. And they they have links or connection with free classes for people who wrote who run so into like academies, where people come in and get an orientation, they tell them about the three, five or 10 week class, they expose them to physical fitness, as well as all the aspects of the agility test, in any written tests. And so, just want to make sure that our listeners know that Las Vegas Fire and Rescue North Las Vegas, Clark County, Mesquite, and Boulder City are always constantly recruiting. And so if we have some people who are interested, and they're still in high school, and they want to be an explorer program, one of these organizations we mentioned, you can google image, search them out or reach out to the department. And they'll tell you, if they have an explorer program, what the criteria for that is, as well as when they're going to be recruiting for firefighter paramedics, EMTs and or folks in fire prevention, and dispatches as well as a myriad of other careers in the fire service. So, Zach, we're going to close. So I'm going to go ahead and let you have your last few words. Give me about 1015 seconds, anything you want to share, then leave and I'll give you a few minutes. And then I'm going to close with a few words. Great Zack.
Unknown Speaker 27:54
Yes, any young young man or women out here in valid visible, if you're interested in three to five services, just know there's more than one career. So you can be more than just a firefighter. Take the time to get out and kind of research to get to the individual department, know what it takes to get heart, make contact with people that's on the department. And we do ride alongs where you can come right along with this. And spend the day with us and see if that's truly what you want to do you get a firsthand firsthand knowledge of what we're doing. And what I will say though, my first choice would be to say, after leaving high school, go to college, that'd be my first thing, get your education while you have that opportunity. And if it's not for you look at military, look at these careers as the firefighter, law enforcement. Then there's a lot other careers also here that you can take to take advantage of that will provide a very different lifestyle for you.
Unknown Speaker 28:58
All right, thank you. Zack layman, you got a couple of words, we got about 15 seconds.
Unknown Speaker 29:03
Now, if anybody who has served in the military in any capacity, your VA or your American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, any kind of organization to see if you qualify for any kind of VA assistance is out there is yours. You earned it. Go get it.
Unknown Speaker 29:19
Thank you leaving I'm gonna give you an last number here. Department of Veteran Affairs for the state of Nevada 702-486-3830. That's 702-486-3830 Thank you for having me again. Wes. This is Gene Campbell, sitting in for day Washington on this week's Veterans Affairs plus. I look forward to maybe being a future guests on this show. And thank you folks and have a great Saturday.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai