The Unwavering

One of the hardest parts about leaving the military is finding a sense of purpose & belonging in our new chapter of life. For Benji, his journey was full of adversity, but he always continued to push himself & bring those around him up. After serving 15 years in the United States Marine Corps as a Critical Skills Operator (Special Forces) he knew that he wanted something different after the military & that idea led him to pursuing business at the University of Southern California (USC). He...

As the month of March comes to a close we wanted to take a moment to highlight one of the many women who served honorably & continues to have an impact on those around her. Our friend Christena Johnston-Pulliam, "CJ" for short has been on an incredible path since she joined the US Army as an Engineer some 25 years ago. After separating from the military things did not go as planned, but that didn't stop her. She has continued to excel above her peers & take on important roles in support of...

It's a question that many (while they may not admit it) think about at least once during their military service... Is the grass really greener on the other side? For some transitioning service members they may be thinking about the civilian workforce, but for a select few they are thinking about life in a different branch of service. Today we get to catch up with my friend, Leigh Zelepugas, who went from serving in multiple MOS (job fields) in the Marine Corps to becoming a full time...

We've all seen it in the news... unemployment claims in the US have increased substantially during the recent pandemic & that has unfortunately resulted in many families or individual filers feeling like they are stuck in between a rock & a hard place. That being said, we recently spoke with our friend & Marine Corps veteran Jose Inoa on a separate podcast episode about his difficult transition (pre-pandemic) from the military & learned that because he was attending school full time he was...

In this episode we talk to our good friend Jose Inoa who's transition from the military into the civilian workforce was anything but seamless. From having a 9 year military education in aviation ordinance & pyrotechnics that didn't open doors for him outside the service to being behind on several months of tuition because the VA had transferred funds to a different "pot" his strides seemed perilous at times, but he never gave up. Find out how he made it out, found a new calling in IT & what...

We interview Army Junior Captain, Brendan Duebner about his military non-profit, Life Skills For Soldiers (LSFS). He discusses the "train the trainer" method that has made his organization so successful in improving the lives of soldiers, as well as what makes service members feel more inclined to reach out for help or guidance during difficult times. Whether its learning how to budget, long term investments, or making an expensive purchase they are developing courses to make talking about...

The Holiday Season can be lonely for many people, including some of our military veterans in hospice care. Find out how Christina “Christie” Etchberger & her organization It’s A Military Life are teaming up to write 10,000 letters during the Holidays to show their appreciation for our elderly veterans.

Don't waste time, take full advantage of your free education benefits! If you are on Active Duty, Tuition Assistance (TA) & Clep Testing may help you get your degree faster than you expected. As a veteran or retiree, you can use the Post 9/11 GI Education Bill for a formal education at a 4 year university (nationally or internationally), getting your pilots license, attending a certified trade school or an abundance of other programs. Join us as we interview Evan Thomsen about how he...

How did companies like Walmart, Disney, Whats App & Instagram start during recessions & disrupt entire industries, changing how we live our lives? Starting a business is not easy, especially during an economic downturn, but there are opportunities for those willing to search. Join us as we share specific examples of simple business ideas, helpful resources for you as a member of the military community & how to begin thinking "big picture."

How many risks would you take to bring your dreams to life? For Tom Burden, the Founder/CEO of Grypmat his invention was so important that he was willing to sell his home & live out of his car just to purchase more inventory for his business. In this episode we discuss what tools & resources he used as a military service member as well as his rise to Forbes 30 Under 30 after appearing on ABC's Shark Tank. Join us for this powerful interview & learn what tools are available to you as a...

We interview Natalie Gross about her childhood experience growing up in a military community. From the separation & strain felt when her father was gone on deployment or various TDY’s to her developing close bonds with friends that have lasted into her adulthood. We also discuss the incredible work she as doing as a journalist & podcast host of ‘ The Spouse Angle, ’ a podcast covering military news on things like base housing & healthcare issues to benefits for military children. Please if...

With roughly 250,000 service members leaving the military each year, there is a growing talent pool of individuals who are career oriented, driven & experienced. One of the main issues they face upon separating from the service is that while they have an incredible set of education, experiences & skills, they have no idea how to translate them. This leads to them losing out on opportunities or in some cases not reaching their full potential. The great news is that organizations like SHIFT...

Regardless of where we served or during what time period, there are certain fears & challenges that many of us face as we separate from the military. One of those universal fears is “not being good enough”… According to Barry Zworestine, a military veteran & psychologist, that self-doubt is an issue that many Australian veterans are facing as well. So the question is, are the challenges we face as veterans, of social adaptability & mental health exclusive to a single nation or are there...

Did you know if you are currently on active duty as an E-1 to E-8 or an O-3 with less than 8 years in the military you should be eligible to receive the full amount of money from the US Treasury Office? While the economic stimulus package is designed to help all Americans who made under $75k as single filers or $150k as a couple, there are stipulations that may delay your payment or make certain individuals ineligible…

If service members make up less than 10% of our nation’s total population, then what percentage of that do our women make up? There are so many opportunities for male veterans / military members to expand their network, highlight the stories of their time in the military & be recognized for their contributions to our country, but what are we doing for our women? How do we inspire women to pursue a path in a STEM related fields or national security & military defense?

As service members, our job requires us to move consistently for professional growth & development, but the same does not always apply to our loved ones. Did you know that if your spouse holds a state specific professional license or certification & they PCS with you to a new state they qualify to be reimbursed for up to $1,000 in transfer / recertification fees?

Why is it that as young service members we spend our hard earned money on liabilities that depreciate in value, instead of assets that can appreciate with compounding interest? More importantly, what resources are available to help us develop the correct mindset or behavioral patterns to generate wealth?

From the Spartans to the Samurai, some of the greatest warriors in history have practiced the life saving techniques of meditation & mindfulness. Today’s modern day warriors (from around the world) face multiple challenges & situations that lead to anxiety as well as PTSD, so the question is what type of support & treatment is out there to help them?

Did you know that loan limits & funding fees for service members utilizing the VA Home Loan changed on January 1, 2020? Continue to educate yourself about benefits available to you & you family…

As a young business owner there are a multitude of benefits available to help us get off the ground, especially during the capital raising period. The unfortunate part is that very rarely do we get to see what investors are looking for before they are willing to join us. A huge thank you to our friend Scott Spitzer of Spitzer Law LLC for giving us exclusive information to help us navigate the world of business & pitching our ideas to investors.