Henry Howard, director of media and communications for the American Legion, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast for the monthly preview of The American Legion Magazine's October issue.
Howard discussed the cover story by Alan Dowd, titled Straitjacket, which examines the Strait of Hormuz through the lens of America's centuries-long commitment to freedom of the seas. The article notes that 40 percent of U.S. global trade value and 70 percent of U.S. trade in goods move through maritime channels, and that nearly 22 million American jobs depend on the maritime industry. That information is paired with the fact that the U.S. Navy currently deploys just 293 ships, but a U.S. Department of Defense assessment claims that at least 500 ships are needed.
Howard also discussed the election of new American Legion National Commander Jay Bowen of Colorado, an Army veteran who worked on Patriot missile defense systems during the First Gulf War and whose theme for his year of service is BPOTS — Be Part of the Solution. Other topics covered during his segment included the American Legion Humvee sweepstakes, featuring a restored military Humvee donated by Dr. Jim Miller, a member of the Sons of the American Legion. Entries will be accepted through Dec. 19 at legion.org/sweepstakes.
- The magazine cover story looks at the Strait of Hormuz and the current conflict with Iran against the historical context of America's founding commitment to freedom of the seas, a principle embedded in the Federalist Papers. Nearly 22 million American jobs depend on maritime commerce, an industry that handles 40 percent of the value of U.S. global trade. The U.S. Navy currently deploys 293 ships, but a DOD assessment estimates that at least 500 ships are needed. National security leaders describe that gap as a significant vulnerability, Howard said.
- Jay Bowen, elected national commander at the American Legion's national convention in late August, is an Army veteran from Memphis whose military specialty was maintaining and operating weapons systems to counter enemy aircraft and drones, including Patriot missile defense systems during the First Gulf War. His theme for his year of service is BPOTS — Be Part of the Solution — which he described as an empowerment message that connects individual action to both the Legion's broader veteran services mission and, specifically, the Be the One veteran suicide prevention initiative. Each national commander visits all 50 states and travels internationally during their one-year term.
- The American Legion Humvee sweepstakes features a restored military Humvee donated by Dr. Jim Miller, a Sons of the American Legion member and Cincinnati business owner whose company restores Humvees. Proceeds from the sweepstakes benefit American Legion Charities, which support veterans. The sweepstakes runs through Dec. 19 at legion.org/sweepstakes. The vehicle has appeared at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota and the Freedom 250 race in Washington, DC.
If you or a veteran you know is struggling, call or text 988 or visit betheone.org. The Be the One program offers free training and resources for recognizing and responding to veteran suicide risk. Training is open to everyone, not just American Legion members.
Freedom of the Seas: Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters
The October cover story of The American Legion Magazine, written by Alan Dowd and titled Straitjacket, places the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz in a much longer context. Howard said the piece examines why this relatively small piece of waterway carries such enormous strategic significance — and traces that significance back centuries to the founding principle that the seas should be free.
The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, anticipated a future in which, as Howard put it, the fleets of America may engage attention. That foresight proved accurate. The maritime industry now accounts for 40 percent of the U.S. global trade value, with 70 percent of U.S. trade goods moving by sea. Close to 22 million American jobs depend on the maritime industry. The freedom of the seas is a foundation of American economic life, Howard said.
The article also addresses the gap between what the U.S. Navy currently deploys and what defense leaders say is required. The Navy at its World War II peak operated more than 6,700 warships. The British fleet numbered approximately 2,300, and Canada contributed another 450. Today, the U.S. Navy deploys 293 ships. A Department of Defense assessment indicates that at least 500 ships are needed to carry out the Navy's global mission. That gap — nearly doubling the current fleet — represents a generational rebuilding challenge at a moment when China's shipbuilding capacity has grown dramatically, and adversaries are well aware of American vulnerabilities, Howard said.
Howard noted that the defense landscape has changed in the decades since the Navy's fleet was at its peak. Resources have been allocated to Space Force, to cyber defense and to other emerging domains. But the waterways have not changed, and the security interests that depend on freedom of the seas have not diminished.
New National Commander: Jay Bowen and Be Part of the Solution
The American Legion held its national convention in late August and elected Jay Bowen as national commander. Bowen is an Army veteran from Memphis who grew up near the Arkansas border and learned a hard work ethic on his grandparents’ farms. His military specialty was maintaining and operating weapons systems designed to counter enemy aircraft and drones, including Patriot missile defense systems that played a significant role in protecting American lives during the First Gulf War.
Each national commander serves a one-year term, traveling to all 50 states and making international visits to meet with Department of Defense leaders, allied nations and American forces overseas. Normandy is a regular stop. Taiwan, Germany and Korea have all been included in recent years. The national commander also testifies before Congress when a new legislative session opens in late winter.
Bowen's theme for his year is BPOTS — Be Part of the Solution. Howard said he values the theme for two reasons. First, it is an empowerment message. It tells every American Legion member that they have the ability and the responsibility to be a changemaker for veterans dealing with career transitions, mental health challenges, financial difficulties or educational needs. Second, it connects directly to the Legion's “Be the One” initiative for veteran suicide prevention, which asks members to be part of the solution by taking training and knowing what to do if they encounter a veteran in crisis.
The Be the One program offers free training, developed in partnership with Columbia University, that is open to anyone — not just American Legion members. Resources and training sessions are listed at betheone.org.
If you or a veteran you know is struggling, call or text 988 or visit betheone.org.
The Humvee Sweepstakes: A Story About Giving Back
The American Legion Humvee sweepstakes features a restored military Humvee donated by Dr. Jim Miller, a Cincinnati business owner and Sons of the American Legion member. Miller is not a veteran himself, but his father served in the Army, and his mother was active in the American Legion Auxiliary. He played American Legion baseball as a young man and received Legion scholarships during his collegiate career. His business restores Humvees, and he wanted to use that to give something back to the organization that gave to him.
The Humvee has been on the road since the donation, appearing at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota and the Freedom 250 race in Washington, D.C., with transportation support from a veteran business owner profiled in the October issue.
That profile features Stephanie Augustine, who co-owns a trailer company with her husband. Both are veterans. Howard shared an interesting story about how Augustine started her time in the military. As part of a military family, she intended to follow in her mother's footsteps and join the Air Force. When she drove to the Air Force recruiting station, she realized it was surrounded by parallel parking spaces. Unable to parallel park, Augustine walked to the Navy recruiting station instead, where parking was not a problem. She joined the Navy, met her husband and built a life and a business. Howard confirmed that, as of the interview, Augustine still cannot parallel park.
The sweepstakes is open to anyone. Entries can be made with any donation to American Legion Charities, which supports veterans, or through a no-purchase-necessary entry method. All rules and entry information can be found at legion.org/sweepstakes. The entry deadline is Dec. 19.
More information on the American Legion is available at legion.org. The full October issue cover story and all features are available through the magazine.
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