American Legion showcases helps high school students civic knowledge

Jeff Stoffer, Director of Media and Communications for the American Legion, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the Legion’s annual National Oratorical Contest. He also discussed June’s edition of the Legion Magazine.

Stoffer joined the show from the American Legion National Oratorical Contest at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Mich. The competition has been held yearly since 1938, with this year's winners taking home more than $200,000 in college scholarships for showcasing their ability to discuss and analyze the U.S. Constitution. Stoffer talked about the competition's history and how it has helped improve civics education among some high school students. He believes the competition can serve as a springboard for a more civically responsible generation.

The June edition of Legion Magazine's cover story is about the April 2014 Phoenix VA Scandal. Stoffer discussed how another 26 VA Healthcare systems were found to be practicing the same illegal operations first uncovered in 2014. He discussed the scandal and how it damaged the public perception of the entire VA system. Stoffer also shared more information about the two whistleblowers and how the Legion helped to reform the VA.

Finally, Stoffer discussed another story about nuclear threats in the world. The story outlines which countries are part of the “nuclear club” and which countries are becoming a greater player in the nuclear arms race. He shared that several countries are working to eliminate several of the nuclear warheads like the United States. Still, Stoffer said the more concerning parts of the story revolve around the unregulated countries continuing to increase their nuclear capabilities.

Listen to the show above to hear more from Stoffer on today’s episode.