Graham Flanagan recognized by Military Reporters & Editors
WASHINGTON — During its annual conference for journalists who cover the military, Military Reporters & Editors presented awards to winners of its 2025 MRE Journalism Contest. Graham Flanagan receives MRE’s Honorable Mention for TV/Video Documentary Division 1 award for documentary on beating the odds in the Marines boot camp, published by Business Insider.
Award Summary
Story: “How This 5-Foot-4 Marine From The Philippines Survived Boot Camp”, Business Insider 1/11/2025
Prize Category: Honorable Mention TV/Video Documentary Division 1, Journalism content broadcast via television or video published by online media.
Best documentary or docuseries designed around a single topic related to the military and distributed by a national or international outlet or network, including partnerships between local stations and networks, where the network has significant editorial input into a story or series.
Additional Credits: Copy Editor – Marisa Frey, Executive Producer – Kristen Griffin, Production Assistant – Maximillian Boudreaux, Head of Video – Erica Berenstein
Judges’ Comments:
“How This 5-Foot-4 Marine From The Philippines Survived Boot Camp” follows the journey of 24-year-old Ralph Dahilig through his experience of US Marine Corps boot camp, and his subsequent station in Japan. It’s an encouraging, triumphant personal story to watch unfold, with an interesting draw: Graham Flanagan reports that the United States military offers an expedited path to US citizenship for lawful residents who commit to service; since 2020, more US military members from the Philippines have attained US citizenship by serving than any other country. Dahilig emigrated to the US from the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Viewers feel the emotion of Dahilig graduating boot camp. Surprisingly, at the time this report was published, Dahilig’s citizenship was still pending. This report helped jump-start an effort to correct that.
Watch the Winning Video Documentary
Journalist Biography
Graham Flanagan
I’m a filmmaker based in Charlottesville, Virginia where I work as the Chief Video Correspondent for Business Insider. I’m also an FAA-certified drone pilot. Originally from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, I graduated from the University of Alabama in 2005.Before joining Business Insider in 2014, I worked in the New York City bureaus of CNN (2006-2010) and Bloomberg Television (2010-2013).
HIGHLIGHTS:
⦁ I created Business Insider’s award-winning “Boot Camp” series, which goes inside the basic training programs of military and law enforcement agencies. Episodes include the United States Secret Service, the United States Border Patrol, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Army, United States Air Force the United States Navy, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police aka “Mounties.”
⦁ In 2024, I produced and directed my second feature-length documentary: “War Ready: Inside Army War Games.”
⦁ In 2023, I produced and directed my debut feature-length documentary: “Welcome To The J: Inside Army Jungle School,” which was selected by the Sidewalk Film Festival.
⦁ I’ve gone inside West Point, Annapolis, and the Virginia Military Institute to experience what it’s like on day one at the country’s most prestigious military academies.
⦁ Produced interviews with Jamie Dimon, Lebron James, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Richard Branson, and many more.
⦁ Led Business Insider’s video coverage at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland from 2017 to 2019.
⦁ Produced videos about what it’s like to fly in a fighter jet, float in zero gravity, and ride in the Goodyear Blimp.
⦁ Embarked on a cross country road trip in a Tesla Model X with fellow producer Will Wei.
⦁ Returned to my hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama to produce a documentary about how my alma mater Central High School resegregated years after a court-ordered integration.
⦁ Spent a day on the set of “Jeopardy!” with Alex Trebek.
⦁ Profiled the former Dos Equis spokesperson Jonathan Goldsmith, better known as “The Most Interesting Man in the World” at the actor’s secluded farmhouse in Vermont.
⦁ Traveled to Fiji with correspondent Rich Feloni to spend a few days with Tony Robbins at his resort to chronicle the performance coach’s intense daily routine.
⦁ Traveled to Cuba to see what it’s like to visit the country as a tourist.
I live in Charlottesville, Virginia with my wife, son, daughter, and our adopted Boykin Spaniel, “Daisy.”