The True Cost of Defense

The True Cost of Defense − ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Beyond the budget numbers lies the human story of America's defense spending.

The true price of America's defense isn't just measured in the $800 billion official defense budget. It approaches $1.4 trillion when accounting for all related costs. But even this staggering figure doesn't capture what matters most: the lives forever changed by service and sacrifice.

Meet Travis Mills, who lost all four limbs serving in Afghanistan and now navigates life with cutting-edge prosthetics. Follow military recruiters working to build our all-volunteer force. Visit family-focused overseas bases and small-town economies that depend on military spending. Witness the decades-long environmental cleanup of former military installations. And discover the expanding role of private charities in supporting veterans when government resources fall short.

As America maintains its network of global alliances and military partnerships, we examine how these international obligations shape both foreign policy and the individual lives of those who serve. Behind each policy decision and strategic alliance are real people whose stories reveal the true price of maintaining America's position on the world stage.

The True Cost of Defense is a production of Free To Choose^® Media. The program is produced and directed by Kip Perry and Elan Bentov. Thomas Skinner and Robert Chatfield are the Executive Producers.

Major funding is provided by the Sarah Scaife Foundation, Robert and Marion Oster, and Ron and Connie Muhlenkamp.

Participants

The True Cost of Defense features insights from distinguished military leaders, policy experts, and veterans’ advocates, including former Secretary of Defense General James Mattis, renowned author and security expert Kori Schake, actor and veterans’ advocate Gary Sinise, and economist Tim Kane. Additional commentary is by Elaine McCusker, former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, Mackenzie Eaglen, American Enterprise Institute, Jack Segal, former State Department diplomat and advisor to NATO, and Rose Gottemoeller, former Deputy Secretary General of NATO.

Katelyn Barrett

Industrial Worker, Tobyhanna Army Depot

Jeffrey Box

President & CEO, Northeastern PA Alliance

Mary Brown

Program Director, BAE Systems Norfolk

Capt. Rick G. Burgess

Commanding Officer, USS Gerald R. Ford

Sofia Cheliak

Journalist

Dan Clare

Veterans Advocate

Lt. Chrystal Corcodilos

Tank Commander, 1st Battalion 67th Armored Regiment

Col. Mark Crow

Director, Office of Economic and Manpower Analysis

Mackenzie Eaglen

Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Col. Jennifer Gotie

Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Army 5th Corps

Rose Gottemoeller

Former Deputy Secretary General, NATO

Capt. John-Felix Gubuan

Executive Officer, Sacramento MEPS

Sgt. Corie Anthony Heffner

Company 1st Sgt., U.S. Army 5th Corps

Yaroslav Hrytsak

Professor, Ukranian Catholic University

LtC. Robert Humphrey

Commander, 1st Battalion 67th Armored Regiment

Andrew Hunter

Asst. Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics

Tim Kane

Author, Bleeding Talent

LtC. Tim Lau

Commander, 420th Test Flight Squadron

Joelle Lobo

BRAC Environmental Coordinator

Layne Long

City Manager, Marina, CA

Amy Luyster

VP Business Development, Scranton Chamber of Commerce

General Jim Mattis

U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.)

Elaine McCusker

Former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)

Travis Mills

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant (Ret.)

LtC. Charles F. Noble III

U.S. Army 1-79th Field Artillery

GySgt. Joleo Parhm

U.S. Marine Corps Recruiter

SSgt. Raymond Propst

U.S. Army

Edward R. Reese Jr.

Executive Director, Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

Kori Schake

Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Jack Segal

Ret. Diplomat, U.S. Department of State

Michael Sherin

Engineering Division Chief, Tobyhanna Army Depot

Gary Sinise

Chairman, Gary Sinise Foundation

Kelvin Spencer

Deputy Director, Tobyhanna Army Depot

David Thomas

VP & GM, BAE Systems Norfolk

James Tucker

Historian, Edwards Air Force Base

Val Valdez

Munitions & Explosives of Concern Field Manager

Capt. Christopher S. Williams

Executive Officer, USS Gerald R. Ford

Col. Ryan Workman

Garrison Commander, USAG Humphreys

Underwriters

Funding provided by:

Sarah Scaife Foundation

Robert and Marion Oster

Ron and Connie Muhlenkamp

Production Credits

Directed By:	Elan Bentov & Kip Perry
Produced By:	Kip Perry & Elan Bentov
Executive Producers:	Thomas Skinner Robert Chatfield
Written By:	Elan Bentov
Camera:	Elan Bentov
Editor:	Erik Swanson
Music:	Slipstream
Graphics:	Steven Shulgach
Sound Mixer:	Shaun Merryman
Local Producers:	Ukraine: Dmytro Kolchynskyy Oleksandr Kulyk Anton Avdeev South Korea: Borderless Film Sejin Park Joseph Shin
Project Managers:	Charles Santini Taylor States
Production Research:	Marley Behrendt
Project Accounting:	Cindee Behrendt Dustin Vanderhoof
Project Assistants:	Kyle Pude Melina Garcia
Marketing:	Return on Ideas
Station Relations:	De Shields Associates, Inc.
Community Engagement:	Rachael Robertson
Product Package Design:	Mike Hanel Len Juniewicz
Archival:	U.S. Department of Defense Library of Congress Gary Sinise Foundation
Special Thanks:	Special Thanks to the U.S. Department of Defense Jim Ravella Gary Sinise Foundation Travis Mills Foundation Disabled American Veterans
Production Services:	Parking Lot Productions, Inc.
Original Production Funding by:	Sarah Scaife Foundation Robert and Marion Oster Ron and Connie Muhlenkamp
For American Public Television:	Judy Barlow Shawn Halford

This program was produced by
Free To Choose^® Media
which is solely responsible for its content.

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