A Boomer and GenXer Walk into a Bar
Wit and wisdom, some smart assery, and a Mother and Daughter questioning “Are we even related?”
A Boomer and GenXer Walk into a Bar
Exploring Iowa National Guard with Guest Jackie Schmillen S:1E:22
Join us for an enlightening conversation with Jackie Schmillen, Director of Public Affairs for the Iowa National Guard. Jackie is a dynamic media personality and dedicated community advocate from Iowa. Discover her impressive journey from a traffic reporter to a celebrated TV host, and her unexpected musical talents showcased at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Jackie provides a firsthand look into the Guard’s crucial role in local and national missions.
We discuss the importance of transparency and how Jackie's media expertise helps navigate these inquiries. To wrap things up, we invite listeners to engage with us on social media and share their thoughts or suggestions for future episodes. With humor and gratitude, we thank you for being part of our journey.
email: boomerandgenxer@gmail.com
Welcome, welcome, welcome everyone to today's show. A boomer and a Gen Xer walk into a bar, Coming to you not from the rabbit hole studio but the rabbit run studio, because, yes, we are still on the road, but you, as our listener, will experience some wit and wisdom, some smart assery and a mother and daughter questioning. Are we even related? So my name is Jane Burt, my co-host is my daughter, bobbi, and for the next I don't know 20 to 25 minutes. We're here to entertain you but, bobbi, I am so excited today because we have a guest in the studio with us.
Speaker 1:We do tell you what this woman is a workaholic, she's always in the media, she's always doing something to promote the community, promote the events in our areas. And, um, jackie was the former traffic reporter on kccitv, a big news channel here in the state of iowa, and, uh, also, she was a former host and head co-host on KCWI-TV. And there's several other things that she certainly is an expert on. And I will say this I do know she is quite the vocalist also Because, jackie, you have been to the National Rodeo in Las Vegas, is that correct?
Speaker 2:That is correct, Jane. You covered everything. Good night, everybody Appreciate your time no no. You don't get off that easily.
Speaker 1:Not that easily at all. So Jackie actually competed for the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at the National Rodeo, did a fabulous job. Maybe some of you remember hearing her. Was it once, or more than once, jackie, that you went?
Speaker 2:as a national finals Roneo. I've only had the opportunity once. I would love to do it again because, uh, it's all a blur from how nervous I was. I've never. That was by far the largest arena and audience I've ever had. You know, and you kind of go in with this confidence and I'm not even sure if I hit any notes.
Speaker 1:Oh, give me a break. I watched it.
Speaker 2:I would love to do it again and consciously be there and remember what happened. I watched it and I heard you and you were fantastic.
Speaker 1:Now I can imagine how nervous you were, but, uh, jackie is also very much involved in the playhouse here in Iowa, in Des Moines, iowa, where she is not only the vocalist there but she's done some acting there on stage and you're just all over the place, jackie, and so you're so interesting and you have such an interesting job and I see you out and about doing so many things. But I wanted to talk about specifically the Iowa National Guard. Now you have a new commander in chief and I wanted to kind of talk about you know what is the primary function of the National Guard and what's your role and how do they serve the community? I don't think everybody knows what these guys do.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I really appreciate that. Thank you so much for this incredible opportunity and platform. Any opportunity I get to talk about the incredible men and women I get to work with, every single day, I cherish. So, yes, so I work with the Iowa National Guard, which is made up of nearly 9,000 men and women who serve in both the Army and Air Guard here in the great state of Iowa.
Speaker 2:We have armories in, or readiness centers in, 36 communities across the state of Iowa, and I say that because we're the only military branch or entity that is special in that we serve both state and nation. So we're the only military branch or entity that is special in that we serve both state and nation. So we're the only military entity that can say that. So our boss is the governor of the state, but then also the president, depending if we're working in a state status or a federal status. So what does that mean? That means if our communities need us and usually people think of that if there's a flood or a derecho tornado God forbid, covid, anything like that we can be called upon to serve our local communities or other states that need our assistance, which we did this summer with Hurricane Helene and other locations as well. So we can do that being a part of the Guard, but then, if our country calls upon us, we can then also work in a federal status as well. So that's how we're unique in working in both state and federal capacities.
Speaker 1:Okay, that's good to know, Because I think, and I know I I did not know, I thought it was just a state and you know. Then, when I listened to the president talk about who they're calling upon for border patrol, for helping with riots, to help with the fires that have been out in California, the flooding, any type of hurricanes or tornadoes, they mentioned the National Guard right. Yes, they mentioned the National Guard right and and and so let me ask you this has the, has the population of the National Guard gone down over the years, or is it up?
Speaker 2:I will say the the big subject matter anytime you talk, any military branch, I feel like in the last couple of years has been recruitment. Where are we at? Has it been going down? And I will say, around what we lovingly call the COVID years and during that kind of time where we lost connection. I'll even go back further than that. I have quite a few service members. I've only been a part of the organization for two years now, two years and some change, and I'm still learning every single day. But I'll say there was a time, especially where I'm based, which is Camp Dodge in Johnston, iowa, which is our largest military base in the state of Iowa they had a public pool. So when the community went to the local pool, they went to Camp Dodge. So when the community went to the local pool, they went to Camp Dodge. So it was very comfortable for community members to come on to a military base and hang out.
Speaker 1:That is so interesting. I was still there.
Speaker 2:It looked amazing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, and we were up there, yeah we used to go up there. Yeah, to go swimming, and wasn't it like the largest swimming pool in the United States or something? I mean, I know I'm gonna quote it wrong, but it's like the size of like two Olympic pools or some insane was massive, just massive.
Speaker 2:Ronald Reagan, I guess, was you know pool boy or something. But incredible history. But it goes back to the fact that no one thought to sense about going onto a military base because that's where the local community pool was Right. Ever since 9-11, things changed and instead of gates being open and saying, hey, come check out what we're doing behind these doors, it changed and gates went up and said closed, you can't come in here, right. And so ever since then our gates have come back open. But it's now trying to say it's okay, you can come on to base, you can come hang out with us, you can come see what we're doing.
Speaker 2:And people just don't have that comfort level like they used to. Granted, there's not a community pool there anymore that would lure people in. We try to have other events, like summer concert series and things, so people do feel comfortable. No-transcript but it. We're constantly now working to get people's I wouldn't say trust, but just understanding of who we are, because once we put up those gates people were just like, oh, that's us and them Right right.
Speaker 2:We're willing to kind of figure out what was going on.
Speaker 1:Well, and I think that we looked at it. As you know, that's such a secure facility. We have no business as civilians being there. We're going to get in trouble for being on that property and I think that's really. I know that's what my mindset was, and I know a lot of people that I've talked to. You mentioned the summer music series that you have out there, which I will say is fantastic If you are in the Iowa area I've been out there numerous times Beautiful, beautiful grounds, beautiful facility. They have a what is it almost like a shelter, but they put the band up in this area and it's just so conducive to having events out there. I mean, I could see having weddings out there.
Speaker 2:It's just so beautiful and we do. Oh, yeah, okay, okay. That's the thing that we try, or we try to express, not only with Camp Dodge, which obviously has many incredible buildings that people can rent utilize event spaces, but any of our readiness centers across the state of Iowa. People want to use it as a community space. You can.
Speaker 2:Wow, that's good to know, people just don't think of that. They're like again, they're like that's them and this is us, and I don't feel comfortable walking in there because you know a person in uniform is going to be like hey, and it's like ah, and we're trying to change that.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I know, you know not only the pool but, um, you know back when I was being recruited for the military, you know not only the pool but you know back when I was being recruited for the military, you know they had the base open for where we could go work out. When my kids were smaller they went to a taekwondo camp that was actually held on the base. They stayed in the old barracks and things like that and they had a lot of fun and I know you know COVID kind of screwed it up and they had a lot of fun. And I know you know COVID kind of screwed it up. But yeah, a lot of it is, you know, reopened and revamped and things like that and it is a really it's a welcoming space.
Speaker 3:You know where you can just go and you know, have a family event, have a concert, have some place. You know that's kind of and it is kind of central to everybody. You know us. You know that that's kind of and it is kind of central to everybody. You know us. You know coming from where we live, to meet my family down in Des Moines, things like that, it is kind of just a central space even to just, you know, meet up in the parking lot that has the tanks and the aircraft in it that you could come see.
Speaker 1:You know that's always been a meeting point.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's always been a meeting point, you know, ever since high school, and even now my son will meet his cousins there. Um, you know, to go motorcycle riding, because it's just, it's an open space and we all know where it is the facility itself.
Speaker 1:I mean again, if you haven't been out there, I would encourage you to go out, especially for the summer uh, music, um events that they have. That's really kind of all I know, other than Bobby. I think your uncle used to live on the base years and years and years ago.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's how we went swimming is he would get those rolls of tickets and he would give them to us kids and we'd be out there all summer with our friends.
Speaker 1:You're not supposed to talk about those tickets being given away, Bobby, but it is such a beautiful facility. I mean just the grounds are. It's just kept so beautifully and you got to be impressed with it when you go out there and and see it and just know what you're standing on. I mean that that's kind of part of it too. Now, jackie, um, you had mentioned that. Uh, you know the national Guard has called out for help for a national since the border patrol has increased and we have had that step up again with the new commander in chief. Has that affected the travel of your particular area? The guard from Iowa area? The guard from Iowa.
Speaker 2:Not at this time. So we have gone down twice on behalf of our governor, so in a state status, to assist with security protection at the border but we have not been asked in a federal capacity at this time.
Speaker 1:Okay. And then the other, because you know, you think about it and you think about the deportation too, because they're deporting several illegal aliens that came over the border. And I know, here in Georgia there's been quite a roundup down here. I mean, it's pretty visible and people talk about it all the time. But the other thing that I wanted to ask about and this will seem silly probably to you, but I'm going to ask this silly question because I'm a silly civilian and don't know these things but, um, we had the drone issue.
Speaker 1:You know where, oh my goodness, everybody was seeing the drones all over the place and nobody knew anything about it. And then you know, all of a sudden, we have a change in administration and now, all of a sudden, we do know about it. And then you know, all of a sudden, we have a change in administration and now, all of a sudden, we do know about it. And was that information? And you can tell me, if you? If you can't tell me, that's OK too, but was that information that would get shared with you? Know the staff there?
Speaker 2:All I can really speak to from the public affairs side is that it because we did have a couple of claims that I saw on social media where people would call in and say, hey, I saw something in the sky. I can't verify if they actually did or not. All I know is it was none of our, it was none of our equipment.
Speaker 1:None of your aircraft Right. We don't own the things that Right.
Speaker 2:We don't own the things that people were claiming to see up in the sky, so all I can do is verify that it was nothing from the Iowa National Guard, if anyone thought they saw something up in the sky related to that in Iowa.
Speaker 1:Do those types of?
Speaker 2:reports put you guys on a higher alert at all, or it's just informational. Basically, it's more just informational, uh it, if it got to a level of heightened awareness that I needed to be, uh, brought into that conversation, um, I certainly would be, so I could handle any media uh requests or conversations that were happening. Uh, so, to make sure, because our boss wants to make sure we're the most, uh, um, honest and truthful organization out there that's a first for him, so we would tell you exactly what we're allowed to say. And we weren't related to it at all. There was no threat of any kind from our stance. So, no, it really wasn't anything in our state.
Speaker 3:I have a question.
Speaker 1:I'm sorry, bobby, I interrupted her, so I just talked over. What did you say, jackie, this last?
Speaker 2:Oh sorry, I was just saying from the. I have a National Guard perspective. It was nothing in our state.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Go ahead. Sorry, Bobbi.
Speaker 3:I have a question for you.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 3:Bobbi, so I know that you've had a very long and illustrious career. Um, you know, on both sides of the media. Okay, that right there was jackie. You're not that old but you know, that was jackie laughing way back and laughing come on, jackie.
Speaker 1:To us man, this is yeah, you're highfalutin like a superstar, yeah you're highfalutin now.
Speaker 3:Does that help you in your position now, knowing both sides of you, know not only what the media is, is after what the reporters are after what they're willing to go through and not really to be mean about it, but how they can twist the narrative depending on what the story is. Does that help you in dealing with the media now on the other side, as a representative of the National Guard?
Speaker 2:Yes, and I think it was a big part of me getting hired into this role. I'm the first civilian to ever hold this role in the state of Iowa and, I'm pretty sure, the first civilian with no military background in the country in a public affairs position for the National Guard specifically. But this is a new direction they're going and my boss at the time of my hiring took a chance and here I am still today. But yes, I think a big part of me getting hired was because not only my relationships that I worked really hard to build throughout central Iowa and beyond from my time in broadcasting, but also how to handle the media and I think the first thing is just to realize that they're not villains, they're not evil people out to get us. I know it can come across that way with a lot of the politics that have been happening over the course of many, many years, but especially across Iowa.
Speaker 2:It's a very small media world across the country, but especially here in Iowa. Many of them are friends or acquaintances. Many of them are friends or acquaintances, so it's really easy for me to pick up the phone and have a conversation and know that we're going to be on the same playing field and just having a conversation, and there's no going to be gotcha moments or anything like that, or I'm just going to be really honest and say this is what we're here to talk about and I will give them whatever they want, if I'm capable of. I want everybody to know what we're doing. I want people to know what we're doing. I want people to know incredible people that are part of the Iowa National Guard. So please call me. I wish they called me more.
Speaker 1:Yeah, on the other side of that though, jackie, I mean they are looking for a story, right. I mean every news person is looking for a story and something of interest. So you know, I get what you're saying. I mean you have enough expertise and you've been exposed to it long enough, and I don't want to say know the tricks of the trade, but I would say know the personalities and know the approaches that people you know the reporters would take with you, which I think would be a great advantage, but they're looking for a story.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, and they're not going to play it if it's not a good story and you want it to be a juicy one, because you'd like it to play towards the top, when most people are watching, as opposed to, you know, channel surfing or turning or, you know, get caught up in other things that are happening in their lives. So you want it to be a good story and to kind of go back to what you asked before, jane, about recruiting, I'm happy to say our numbers are actually going in the right direction and we have the highest retention rate in the state with our people. So I think that verbiage is changing and going in a positive way. So when the usual question from journalists is, how's recruiting, that now is becoming a really older question. That doesn't pertain to us much anymore because our numbers are going in the right direction.
Speaker 2:So then it's more like it goes to our training, it goes to our individual soldiers and airmen that are doing incredible things and things like that. It's, you know, it's welcome home ceremonies, it's mission sets, that you know they're going on, if they're helping our own neighbors in northwest Iowa with the flooding that happened this past summer, and I'm able to, you know, talk about the incredible work that they're doing. You know soldiers whose own homes are being affected, but they drop what they're doing so they can help their fellow neighbor. You know, those are the stories I'm hoping. I don't want it to all be devastation. I also want it to be celebration, but those are the stories I'm always working to try and get across.
Speaker 1:Right, and I noticed on I think it was on your Facebook maybe where the National Guard was even helping with Habitat for Humanity and, you know, always helping with the community, and I think it's great to kind of change that perception of you. Know, what we've seen in the past or what people may have perceived the military as I don't know what other word to say very militant, and you know, just you know, but they're very approachable, very kind, very. You know, like I said, when we've been out there, everybody's been so helpful and just so great out there. Um, so we do appreciate everything that the Iowa National Guard's doing. We do appreciate everything that you're doing. Thank you and, um, oh, I'm sorry, go ahead.
Speaker 2:Go. I was just going to say I'm very grateful. Uh, one of my passions, uh and Jane, you know this um, in what I call many of my side hustles or side loves, the things that I do, is nonprofit work. So I have a boss that also believes in that and he's like, if we have a force of people that have incredible skills but also passions for giving back, why not use them in a non, you know, connecting with nonprofits? So he identified three and we have already wholeheartedly supported those nonprofits towards the end of last year and already heading into this year. So, yeah, very passionate and excited to work for an organization that has the same passion that I do for nonprofits.
Speaker 1:Well, I can say this I've watched you over the years and I don't think I've ever seen you so happy you seem, I mean you're so beautiful.
Speaker 1:You're so beautiful, you're so well-spoken, you come across so positively in everything that you've done. I've known you for years. I was trying to think of how many years it's been. It's probably been 20 years now, hasn't it? Yeah, it's probably 20 years. You're not near my age but I'm getting old. But you know, every time I have seen you, I mean just so positive and I, I will tell you that is so rewarding even you know for me to see and to watch you. So thank you for that, thank you for the job that you do with the national guard. And, uh, you guys probably heard a little bit of shuffling here a few minutes ago. That was Dr Domain, who's always in the studio and didn't realize his mic was on.
Speaker 2:Oh, but that dog is not mine.
Speaker 1:That was my noise-making dog Hold on, hold on, hold on.
Speaker 2:We're coming back to that, all right you were just talking about noise, and then you got set off my four dogs and I'm like oh, that's timing.
Speaker 1:So Dr Domain was shoveling some paper, not knowing that his mic was on, and I'm over here like stop, stop and plus I think he might be sniffing some pens or markers or something. But he had a question for you, jackie, and this is what I have to deal with on a regular basis. His question is, jackie, are there really two scoops of raisins in Raisin Bran?
Speaker 2:Oh, depends if you get the generic box or not, like my mom used to. I was like I can't believe. First of all, I was in love with Raisin Bran when I was a kid and I think my mom found it on sale but like the generic brand and I swear like the basement had 10 boxes of generic raisin.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I don't even know what that was called. It was just a really ugly purple box and I ate so much of that I don't really care if there's raisins in it or not anymore. Well.
Speaker 1:I just wanted you to know what we had to deal with here in the studio, but we do appreciate you being on the show with us and we're hopeful that you join us again sometime.
Speaker 1:Oh yes, anytime it's hard to get her scheduled, folks, because I will tell you she is all over the place, but if you live in Iowa, or even near Iowa, you know the name, jackie Schmill, and she's been, she's been out there and doing her part for the community and, uh, we really appreciate it, jackie. So thank you for that and, bobby, with that I think we're probably um, I think that's all we've probably got for the day. What do you think, bob?
Speaker 3:I think it is, but we definitely appreciate you joining us here at the Rabbit Run Studio on the road. Be sure to follow us and like us, and if you have anything that you want us to talk about, if you have a suggestion or even just a nice little comment, you can drop us an email at boomerandjenexeratgmailcom. You can go over to our Facebook page, which is A Boomer and a Gen Xer. Walk Into a Bar, the podcast official. If you have hate mail, well you know where you can put that. So until next week, I'm Bobbi Joyce and I'm Jane Burt and you're stuck with us.
Speaker 1:Thank you, jackie. Thank you, jackie, thank you, guys you you.