From the United States Marine Corps to the United States Naval Academy and national television, Montel Williams says service remains the throughline of his life—now focused on restoring homes and hope for combat veterans across America.
Before he became a household name through The Montel Williams Show, Montel Williams wore the uniform. A veteran of both the Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy, Williams graduated from the United States Naval Academy after becoming the first Black Marine selected to attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School. He later earned a commission and served nearly 22 years in uniform.
In an exclusive interview with 'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' Defense News, Williams described his military experience as “the most important foundation” of his life.
“I’ve had three almost 20-year careers,” Williams said. “The Marine Corps and Navy first, then the Montel show, and now medical initiatives and veteran support. The military gave me the discipline and mission focus for everything that followed.”
Today, that mission focus is channeled into one of television’s longest-running veteran-support programs: Military Makeover.
A Legacy of Service: From R. Lee Ermey to Montel Williams
Williams stepped into the role previously held by R. Lee Ermey, the former Marine drill instructor best known for portraying Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in Full Metal Jacket. Since then, Williams has helped guide the program through dozens of transformative renovations for combat veterans and their families.
Now entering its 45th season on Lifetime and the Armed Forces Network, Military Makeover pairs home renovation with emotional restoration.
Williams says the connection with recipients is immediate.
“These veterans know my background. When they sit down with me, they’re talking to someone who understands deployments, command structure, trauma—and brotherhood.”
Unlike typical home-improvement programming, Military Makeover prioritizes mission clarity: identify a family in need, coordinate community partners, execute the renovation, and deliver stability.
Combat, Purple Hearts and Invisible Wounds
The 45th season spotlights Army veteran Sgt. Matthew Dawson of Florida, a combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan who survived a grenade blast and later received the Purple Heart. Dawson manages PTSD, chronic pain and shrapnel-related injuries while raising a young family.
Williams describes veterans like Dawson as emblematic of America’s post-9/11 generation of warriors:
“In a single day, he saw unimaginable violence and then nearly lost his own life hours later. These are the scars—visible and invisible—that families live with every day.”
The renovation isn’t cosmetic. It’s structural support for long-term resilience.
Design With Purpose: The Human Factor
Designer Jennifer Bertrand, known for winning HGTV Design Star, approaches each project as both architect and psychologist. The daughter of a U.S. Air Force colonel, Bertrand says her upbringing informs her understanding of military families.
For the Dawson family, that meant embracing an unconventional “Hobbitcore” aesthetic inspired by The Lord of the Rings.
“Design is about understanding people’s emotional architecture,” Bertrand said. “When you learn their music, their travel dreams, what they won’t let go of—that’s when you design something that heals.”
Behind every reveal is a network of local contractors, sponsors and volunteers—what Bertrand calls “design summer camp”—where communities unite across political and personal divides to support one military family.
Discipline, Democracy and Duty
Williams credits his sustained success in television to habits forged in uniform: punctuality, preparation, respect and mission mastery.
“If you’re going to accomplish something, you have to understand every aspect of the mission. The military teaches you that.”
He is also blunt about what he sees as performative patriotism.
“Saying ‘thank you for your service’ isn’t enough. Real support requires action.”
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Williams argues that caring for veterans is not charity—it’s national maintenance.
Season Premiere Details
Season 45 of Military Makeover premieres Thursday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET on Lifetime, with additional episodes airing April 2, 9 and 16. The season finale “big reveal” airs April 23.
For Williams, the formula remains simple:
“We’re showing veterans that America doesn’t just say thank you—we prove it.”
======
-- By Leticia Jacobs and John James
© Copyright 2026 JWT Communications. All rights reserved. This article cannot be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten, or distributed in any form without written permission.
No comments:
Post a Comment