[00:00:00] Scott DeLuzio: Thanks for tuning into the Drive On Podcast where we’re focused on giving hope and strength to the entire military community. Whether you’re a veteran active duty guard reserve or family member, this podcast will share inspirational stories and resources that are useful to you. I’m your host, Scott DeLuzio.

[00:00:18] Scott DeLuzio: And now let’s get on with the show.

[00:00:21] Scott DeLuzio: Welcome back to the Drive On Podcast. Today my guest is Mike Lamonica. Mike is an air force veteran who serves on the combat control foundation’s board of directors and the combat control foundation provides care and support to combat controllers, their families, and other members of the military community through its programs or through partnerships with similar charitable organizations.

[00:00:49] Scott DeLuzio: And so. Here today to talk about the foundation and everything that they’re doing to help out the community, that they are a part of. So welcome to the show, Mike, I really appreciate you taking [00:01:00] the time to come on the show.

[00:01:02] Mike Lamonica: Hey Scott, thanks for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here and always a good opportunity to get the word out, right?

[00:01:07] Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, absolutely. So for the listeners who may not be familiar with you and your background why don’t you tell us a little bit about your.

[00:01:16] Mike Lamonica: Yeah, no, that’s great. Thank you very much. So again, my name is Michael Monica. I spent 24 years in the air force as a combat controller. When I retired, I was the chief of the, of our entire group, which is all our folks around the globe.

[00:01:29] Mike Lamonica: No. I was stationed in many places. So the pipeline for comeback tours about two years long. So I spent my first couple of years in training and then you know, I was stationed in Washington state and went to Germany. I spent a lot of time in North Carolina. Working with our tier one needed there, or as an instructor or a, we have a couple other units there and then went back to the core for a little bit with Dennis finish my career off in Florida.

[00:01:50] Mike Lamonica: And you know, I just had the benefit of these surrounded by great people, my whole career and high grade assignments and get to do the things that come back controllers do which is always a pretty big question in of itself. How back for what [00:02:00] is that? Right, right. So it probably makes sense for me to talk a little bit about that.

[00:02:04] Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, absolutely. That was actually going to go into deep. My next question. So that would be great. If you could tell us a little bit about that for the people who may not be familiar with combat control and what you guys do.

[00:02:15] Mike Lamonica: Yeah. So, let’s start off about what special operations courses are like each branch of the service has their own special offers support, and they have unique missions, right?

[00:02:23] Mike Lamonica: Special forces do foreign internal defense and seals do. Introduction on boats and things like that. They ended up doing some stuff on land as well. Same thing with the Marines Marines, have a Marine support mission. What, with the air force we have combat controllers and pet rescue kind patrol specifically.

[00:02:41] Mike Lamonica: We’re there to help.

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