Join us on Operation Insight as we welcome Lieutenant Colonel Mike Vincent!

After leading a heartfelt rendition of "Happy Birthday" sung to Jesus Christ, Gunnery Sergeant Hartman announces to his Marine Corps recruits, "Today is Christmas!" During this scene in the oft-cited and critically acclaimed film Full Metal Jacket, the Senior Drill Instructor says things not normally included in a yuletide message, such as, "You can give your heart to Jesus, but your ass belongs to the Corps!" So, in the spirit of Christmas and having missed our opportunity to properly wish the Marines a "Happy 250th Birthday," Operation Insight is proud to present LtCol Michael E. Vincent! Mike is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and embodies the motto "For God, Country, and the Corps!" After twenty years of service and a couple of badly-timed deployment announcements, Mike and his family returned to St. Charles County. Not only that, but Mike returned to his former place of employment, his father-in-law's HVAC company, while simultaneously pursuing his passion for personal coaching.

Mike is also on a mission to convert his beloved Marine Corps from believing in a definition of resilience that relies heavily upon the idea of American bravado. Despite its lukewarm reception in the series of Rocky Balboa films, Rocky III actually provides a clear picture of the type of resilience for which LtCol Vincent advocates. In one scene, Apollo Creed, Rocky's rival-turned-friend, coaches him before the film's pivotal fight: "If you stand toe-to-toe with this chump, he'll kill you. He's just a man, Rock, so be more man than him! Eye Of the Tiger!" As crazy as it might sound, the Marine Corps and America's fighting forces have something to learn from that mindset. Mike argues that mental agility and adaptation are more important than rock-solid sturdiness and toughness when defining resilience. That is the type of mindset Mike strove to maintain as a Marine, and it's the same one he hopes will save lives today. President Reagan is quoted as saying, "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in this world. Marines don't have that problem." Veterans like Mike make our community and our country better and stronger. It is an honor to celebrate this year’s end and commemorate our season finale with LtCol Vincent’s deeply moving and motivating interview!

(00:00) Disclaimer

(01:22) Introduction

(24:00) Remembrances of 9/11

(31:04) OCS & Choosing to Stay

(36:16) Durable Skills

(39:32) An Okie in Oki & Deploying

(54:41) Twentynine Palms: No Beach Days but Some of the Best Days

(1:02:29) Combat Zone HVAC & Logistics in No Man's Land

(1:19:37) DLI & Managing Stress in Cali

(1:31:16) Reflections, Resilience & Rocky

(1:50:58) Closing