Host Diesel Dee Bartlett, with guest host Rod, welcomes into the KZSM studio Zoe Allen and her band. Zoe Allan, Alexander Carter, and Connor Montoya from New Braunfels will be traveling to Washington DC to share their music.

Live songs include Talk to Jesus, From the Truth, That Ain't You Anymore, and End of the Road.

Guest Host Rob Roark fills in for Diesel Dee and welcomes back Deb Wesloh and John Lowrence from the San Antonio chapter of Soldiers, Songs, and Voices. They have brought with them Mark Stein of the new Austin chapter of Soldiers, Songs, and Voices.

Host Diesel See is back with fellow musician Rod. They cover all topics veteran related.

Derrick and guest cohost Rob Roark are joined by Mark Decker to talk about local VFW events, This Day in History, and other veteran related issues.

Host Diesel Dee welcomes into the studio John E. Gurnot, Michael J. "Maestro" Aurora, and Deb Wesloh from the San Antonio chapter of Soldiers Songs, & Voices. Listen into new singles by John and Deborah, and to live in studio music.

Diesel Dee and Derek from the Barracks discuss a variety of topics

Here are the structured Show Notes for today’s episode. This format is designed for you to copy-paste into your podcast description or share as a PDF for your listeners.

The Big Shift: Restoring Rights, Automating Benefits, and the 2026 COLA Update.

In today’s episode, we break down a historic month for Veterans. From the VA reversing a 30-year policy on Second Amendment rights to the automation of GI Bill benefits following the Rudisill and Perkins rulings, there is a lot of movement in D.C. that affects your wallet and your rights.

1. Memorial Moment: Reflections on the recent loss of three American service members (Operation Epic Fury, March 1st).
2. Disclaimer: Information provided is for educational purposes. For specific case updates, use the VA.gov "Ask VA" portal.

1. The News: As of Feb 17, 2026, the VA has officially ceased reporting Veterans to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) solely because they use a fiduciary.
2. Why it matters: This corrects a decades-old practice that stripped thousands of Vets of their right to own a firearm without due process.
3. Action Step: The VA is currently working with the FBI to retroactively remove names from the NICS list. If you were previously flagged, monitor your status.

1. The Update: The VA has launched an automated review system for 1.04 million Veterans potentially eligible for expanded education benefits.
2. Key Change: You no longer need to manually "opt-in" or request a review. The VA is prioritizing those currently enrolled in school or those who were enrolled in the last 6 months.
3. The 48-Month Rule: Reminder that combined MGIB and Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are still capped at 48 months total.

1. H.R. 980 & H.R. 1458: Passed the House in February. These bills focus on modernizing the GI Bill for hybrid and technical training.
2. The Sharri Briley & Eric Edmundson Act (H.R. 6047): A major push to increase Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) for catastrophically disabled Vets and survivors by roughly $10,000/year.
3. H.R. 3123: The "Ernest Peltz Act" ensures accrued benefits are paid to the estate/family if a Veteran passes away before their claim is finalized.

1. 2.8% Increase: Now in full effect. Ensure your March check reflects the new rate.
2. State Highlights: Discussion on California’s recent $20,000 tax cut for military retirees and the nationwide crackdown on "claim sharks."

1. 2026 Golden Age Games: Hosted in Tampa, FL (June 27 – July 2). Registration is now open for Veterans 55+.

1. VA Fiduciary Program Update: va.gov/fiduciary
2. GI Bill Status Check: va.gov/education
3. Golden Age Games Registration: veteransgoldenagegames.va.gov

Dee and Derek have a talk about things like mental health during the winter and cover some talks about how to deal with struggles during times when the winter hits. Also covering ground hogs day and the San Marcos Awards.