Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You

This is a special producer pick episode from Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You—one that still resonates every time we hear it.

Army combat engineer Joe Hogge turned a love of Bavarian beer into a Texas Hill Country brewery named after his old MOS. In this episode, he shares the reality of his first-year transition, the hidden trauma that can build from years of explosives training, and the decision to launch the Fireside Chat Support Network after a local tragedy. Joe’s story is a clear reminder that finding—or creating—your community after the military is essential.

If you haven’t heard it yet (or it’s been a while), this one’s worth your time.

Original show notes and transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535619/episodes/18642081-12-foxtrot-to-12-fox-beer-brewing-community-finding-family

Follow us for more veteran stories, and share this episode with a service member who needs the reminder to find their post-service family.

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Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com to learn more about the show.

Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at [email protected].

Leaving the military often means more than changing your uniform or job. It means figuring out who you are when the rank, the title, and the built-in community are gone.

In this special Exit Buddy episode, four veterans share honest moments about the identity shift and mental reset that happens after service. You’ll hear about empty chairs after the retirement ceremony, the challenge of becoming “just” yourself, reclaiming identity in small but meaningful ways, and learning how to come down from a constant state of high alert.

These are real stories about the internal side of transition.

Featured Guests:

• Joey Meininger (Air Force) on going from Command Chief to “just Joey,” the empty chairs moment, and why the identity shift can hit harder than expected
• Jaimee Freeman (Air Force) on starting the process years before she left and learning who she was outside of being Chief
• Trecie Spencer (Air Force) on the fear of not having an identity outside the military, feeling like a child again, and reclaiming herself
• Patience Ulstad (Army, 82nd Airborne) on living at a 10 out of 10 and what it took to create range and reset

Key Takeaways:

• The identity shift is real and often arrives later than you expect
• Start exploring who you are outside of rank while you’re still in
• Small acts of reclaiming yourself matter
• Constant high alert is not sustainable—learn how to come back down

Links to the Full Featured Episodes:

• The Off Ramp: Empty Chairs, New Chapters, and Betting on Yourself (Joey Meininger)
• From Chief to “Just” Jaimee: Soul Searching & Taking Your Shot (Jaimee Freeman)
• Red Nails, New Trails: Forging Your Identity After Service (Trecie Spencer)
• Nervous System Reset: From Combat Ready to Calm Within (Patience Ulstad)

If this episode resonated, share it with a fellow service member or veteran who’s in the middle of their own reset.

Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Exit Buddy: Veteran Voices, to stay updated and connect with other listeners and guests.

#VeteranStories #MilitaryTransition #ExitBuddy #IdentityShift #VeteranMentalHealth

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Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com to learn more about the show.

Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at [email protected].

This is a producer pick from Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You — one we still recommend every time someone asks for a strong transition story.

Marine veteran Tom Eston went from infantry to cybersecurity leader, podcaster, and mentor. In this episode, he shares how curiosity and self-discipline fueled his career shift, why mentorship doesn’t have to be formal to be powerful, and how the skills he built in the Corps still set him apart in the corporate world. He also talks about launching a podcast and the risks that paid off along the way.

It's worth another listen if you haven’t heard it (or even if you have).

Original show notes and transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535619/episodes/18159486-buckle-down-break-through-from-devil-dog-to-cyber-champion

Follow along for more veteran stories, and send this one to a service member who’s mapping out their next chapter.

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Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com to learn more about the show.

Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at [email protected].

If you’ve ever stared at a blank resume, wondered how your MOS actually translates, felt lost in a sea of civilian job titles, or struggled to stand out at job fairs and interviews, this episode is for you.

In this special Exit Buddy episode, we pull together powerful moments from six veterans who’ve already walked the path from military service into civilian careers. You’ll hear honest stories about finding direction through networking, realizing your skills transfer more than expected, tailoring resumes, networking on LinkedIn, starting over with humility, leaning on mentors, and introducing yourself in a way that sticks.

These aren’t cookie-cutter tips. They’re real experiences and practical lessons to help guide your own transition.

Featured Guests:

• Bryson Bort (Army Veteran) on why resumes feel impossible until you know what you’re aiming for, and how networking helps you find direction
• Stephanie West (Navy Veteran) on how logistics skills transferred directly into a corporate operations role at Starbucks, plus the importance of staying open-minded
• Shanon Raab (Navy Veteran) on tailoring your resume, beating AI screening, and using LinkedIn to create real opportunities
• Jacki Davenport (Air Force Veteran) on starting at the bottom again, learning the new corporate language, and never self-selecting out of opportunities
• Tom Eston (Marine Veteran) on seeking mentorship and the military life experiences that set you apart in the corporate world
• William “Jax” Jackson (Navy & Air Force Veteran) on how a clear, value-driven introduction can make all the difference when speaking to employers

Key Takeaways:

• You need some direction before a strong resume is possible—networking conversations can help you discover what’s possible
• Military skills often transfer more directly than you think
• Tailor your resume and LinkedIn to the specific role; keywords matter
• Be willing to start over, stay humble, and learn the new language
• Your network and mentors can open doors that applications alone cannot
• Know how to introduce yourself so people remember the value you bring

Links to the Full Featured Episodes:

• Cracking the Corporate Code: Turning Military Skills into Cyber Success (Bryson Bort)
• Brewing Your Next Chapter: Translating Supply Corps Skills to Starbucks (Stephanie West)
• Fire on Deck to Fire in the Belly: If You Lose Your Passion, You've Lost at Life (Shanon Raab)
• We Can All Win: Don’t Self-Select Out of Your Next Mission (Jacki Davenport)
• Buckle Down & Break Through: From Devil Dog to Cyber Champion (Tom Eston)
• Stocking Freezers at 3 A.M. to Pentagon Recruiter: A Zero‑Excuses Transition (William “Jax” Jackson)

If this episode resonated, share it with a fellow service member or veteran who’s figuring out their next chapter. Thanks for listening to Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You. Take care of yourself and keep going.

Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Exit Buddy: Veteran Voices, to stay updated and connect with other listeners and guests.

#VeteranStories #MilitaryTransition #ExitBuddy #CivilianCareer #JobSearch

Send us Fan Mail

Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com to learn more about the show.

Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at [email protected].

Welcome to this special producer pick edition of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You.

If you missed it the first time around, be sure to listen as Army veteran John Stoner shares his resilient path from signals intelligence analyst to cybersecurity leader. He opens up about embracing authenticity through his iconic mohawk, navigating a volatile cybersecurity job market, and leveraging military-honed skills like briefing under pressure to bring calm to cyber chaos. John also offers candid advice on building support networks, prioritizing mental health, and discovering purpose outside the familiar anchor of a security clearance during the transition to civilian life.

You can find the original show notes and transcript here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535619/episodes/17880463-hawk-hack-finding-your-personal-brand-and-cyber-tribe

Follow us for more authentic veteran stories, and don’t forget to share this episode with a service member who’s navigating their exit.

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Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com to learn more about the show.

Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at [email protected].

Welcome to this special episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You. We’ve pulled together powerful moments from three standout guests around one of the most important topics in military transition: VA benefits and the critical importance of documenting injuries.

If you’ve ever pushed through pain with “Vitamin M,” skipped sick call, or thought “it’ll be fine,” this episode is for you. You’ll hear raw, honest stories about denied claims, transition injuries, chronic pain, nervous system burnout, and why claiming what you’ve earned isn’t optional — it’s essential for your health, your family, and your future.

These are hard-won warnings and practical roadmaps straight from veterans who’ve lived it.

Featured Guests:

• Rob Fuller (U.S. Marine Combat Engineer) on the long-term cost of toughing it out and relying on Motrin instead of medical documentation.
• Patience Ulstad (Army Veteran, 82nd Airborne) on feeling “27 going on 70,” finding holistic reset tools, and the power of getting your VA benefits immediately.
• Jessica Ruttenber (Retired Air Force Pilot) on letting go of ego, documenting injuries for your family’s future, and addressing mental health alongside physical claims.

Key Takeaways:

• Document everything while you’re in or right after separation. Build that paper trail now.
• File for VA benefits early for better outcomes and potential back pay.
• Address the full picture: physical injuries, chronic pain, and nervous system health. You’ve earned the support.
• Do it for yourself and your family. These benefits are not handouts.

Links to the Full Featured Episodes:

• Don’t Tough It Out: A Marine’s VA & Vitamin M Warning (Rob Fuller)
• Nervous System Reset: From Combat Ready to Calm Within (Patience Ulstad)
• Breaking Barriers in Aviation & Turning Passion into Nonprofit Purpose (Jessica Ruttenber)

If this episode resonated, share it with a fellow service member or veteran who’s transitioning. Thanks for listening to Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You. Take care of yourself!

Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Exit Buddy: Veteran Voices, to stay updated and connect with other listeners and guests.

#VeteranStories #MilitaryTransition #ExitBuddy #VABenefits

Send us Fan Mail

Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com to learn more about the show.

Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at [email protected].

Welcome to this special producer pick edition of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You.

We’re thrilled to bring back one of our standout episodes with Air Force veteran Jaimee Freeman. In this powerful conversation, Jaimee opens up about her transition after 28 years of service — stepping out of the “Chief” identity, finding the courage to turn down the wrong opportunity, and landing her dream SkillBridge role at National Geographic.

If you missed it the first time, you’re in for a treat.

You can find the original show notes and transcript here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535619/episodes/18077605-from-chief-to-just-jaimee-soul-searching-taking-your-shot

Follow us for more inspiring veteran stories, and don’t forget to text this episode to a service member who’s preparing for their own transition.

Send us Fan Mail

Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com to learn more about the show.

Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at [email protected].

In this episode, we meet William “Jax” Jackson, a Navy and Air Force veteran who went from making six figures in Japan to being ghosted by employers and stocking freezers at Sam’s Club at 3 a.m., before becoming a Pentagon recruiter. Jax shares how a brutal first transition exposed the gaps in TAP, why most veterans still introduce themselves in ways recruiters forget, and how he rebuilt his approach with the hallway resonator, the 310 Method (three priorities, one objective, zero excuses), and his Zero Protocol for closing gaps without waiting for permission. His story is a candid look at what it really takes to stand out in a market flooded with AI‑generated resumes and why “What do you have for me?” is the wrong question to bring to a job fair.

Chapters

• 01:58 – Joining the Navy, Leaving Active Duty, and Joining the Air Force Reserve
• 03:38 – “My First Transition Was Brutal”: TAP, Degrees, and Still No Job
• 04:20 – From Six Figures in Japan to Stocking Freezers at Sam’s Club
• 05:55 – Learning to Translate Military Experience for Civilian Employers
• 06:08 – Personal Branding & the “Hallway Resonator”
• 08:22 – Talent Acquisition at Washington Headquarters Services
• 10:26 – “What Do You Have for Me?” vs. Bringing Real Value
• 11:00 – The Army Captain’s One‑Line Pitch That Stood Out
• 13:00 – AI Resumes: Perfect Grammar, Zero Personality
• 15:07 – The 310 Method: Three Priorities, One Objective, Zero Excuses
• 16:00 – The Zero Protocol: See the Gap, Close the Gap, Don’t Wait
• 17:03 – Start 12 Months Out: Runway, Target Lock, and Avoiding Panic Moves 

Key Takeaways

• Lead with a Hallway Resonator, Not a Job Title: When speaking with employers, saying “I’m a logistics manager” is forgettable. A line like “I manage men, equipment, and $20M in property—and I bring it all back” sticks. Think of what will resonate long after you’ve left the room.
• AI Can’t Tell Your Story: Recruiters can spot AI‑generated resumes fast. Use AI to clean up language, but you must provide the stories: the night everything went sideways and you held the team together, the mission you saved, the costs you cut...
• Live the 310 Method: Pick three priorities, commit to one must‑do each day, and give yourself zero excuses. Small, consistent action beats scattershot applications.
• Become a Force Multiplier: Don’t wait for HR or permission when you see a problem. See the gap, close it, and become a force multiplier in every room you walk into.

Follow us for more real veteran stories to guide your transition, and share this episode with someone who’s still asking, “What do you have for me?”—they may just need a hallway resonator and a zero‑excuses plan.

Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Exit Buddy: Veteran Voices, to stay updated and connect with other listeners and guests.

#VeteranStories #MilitaryTransition #ExitBuddy

Send us Fan Mail

Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com to learn more about the show.

Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at [email protected].

In this episode, we meet Stephanie Hahn, an Air Force Reserve Colonel with 21 years of service, who transitioned from intelligence and cyberspace operations into enterprise software sales. Through a prestigious Secretary of Defense Executive Fellowship at Cisco, she gained a front-row seat to corporate leadership and discovered a completely different way of working and living. Stephanie shares how a mentor became a sponsor, how she found the courage to take on a quota-carrying sales role, and why being fully present as a mom was just as meaningful as any promotion. Her story highlights the difference between mentorship and sponsorship, the power of betting on yourself, and her mother’s wisdom: if a door doesn’t open, it simply wasn’t your door.

Chapters

• 01:10 – From Military Household to Air Force ROTC & Intelligence
• 04:10 – The SecDef Fellowship: Cisco, Corporate Life & New Lexicons
• 10:15 – Meeting a Mentor Who Became a Sponsor
• 14:10 – From Fellowship to UKG & Discovering Life‑Work Balance
• 18:05 – Facing the Fear of Quota and Commission‑Based Pay
• 21:00 – Negotiating Your First Offer & Understanding the Upside
• 24:15 – Mentor vs. Sponsor & How to Ask for 15 Minutes
• 26:00 – “If It Doesn’t Open, It’s Not Your Door”

Key Takeaways

• Your Path Doesn’t Have to Be Linear: From “I’ll do four years and get out” to 21 years in uniform to software sales, Stephanie’s journey proves you don’t need everything figured out on day one.
• Military Skills Translate More Than You Think: Leadership, accountability, decision‑making under pressure, and grooming successors are deeply valuable in corporate roles, from fellowships to customer‑facing and sales positions.
• Know the Difference Between a Mentor and a Sponsor: Mentors coach you and help you think through things. Sponsors know your strengths and ambitions and say your name in rooms where decisions get made—sometimes even creating opportunities on your behalf.
• You’re Allowed to “Just Try It” and Pivot: Leaving a culture of guaranteed pay and 20‑year plans makes sales and commission scary, but in corporate, you can try something, learn from it, and move on if it isn’t right. It’s business, not a lifetime contract.
• Be Intentional and Direct About Relationships: Asking for 15 minutes instead of an hour, coming prepared with questions, and clearly stating your intent builds genuine, long‑term relationships instead of transactional “help me get a job” conversations.

Follow us for more real veteran stories to guide your transition, and share this episode with someone who’s staring at a closed door—they may just need a reminder that their next door is still out there.

Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Exit Buddy: Veteran Voices, to stay updated and connect with other listeners and guests.

#VeteranStories #MilitaryTransition #ExitBuddy

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Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com to learn more about the show.

Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at [email protected].

In this episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You, Kathleen and Rachel sit down with Joey Meininger, an Air Force veteran who spent 20 years as a firefighter, became a command chief, and then had to figure out what it meant to be “just” himself without the rank, title, or guaranteed paycheck. He shares how growing up overseas on an Air Force base, choosing firefighting over a flying job, and spending decades running toward other people’s worst days shaped his calm-in-the-storm perspective. From sitting alone in an auditorium after his retirement ceremony, staring at empty chairs, to helping other veterans face their fear of the unknown, this conversation digs into the part of transition TAP class doesn’t cover: grieving identity, betting on yourself, and learning you don’t have to do it alone.

Chapters

• 00:31 – Welcome to Exit Buddy & Joey’s Story
• 04:27 – Perspective from Other People’s Worst Days
• 06:25 – From Chief to “Just Joey”
• 08:59 – The Empty Chairs Moment
• 10:16 – What TAP Doesn’t Cover
• 13:23 – Preparing Emotionally Before You Separate
• 14:16 – Location First, Job Second
• 17:14 – The Fear That Keeps People In
• 18:45 – You Can’t Do It Alone

Key Takeaways

• Everyone Has an Off Ramp—Don’t Stay Just Because You’re Scared: At some point, every service member leaves. Staying in only because you’re afraid of the outside world, losing guaranteed income, or starting over is an understandable instinct—but not a great life strategy. Fear shouldn’t be the primary reason you delay a transition you already know is coming.
• Your First Job Is Not Your Forever Job: With most veterans changing roles in the first year, Joey urges you to choose location first, job second so you’re not uprooting your whole life every time you change employers.
• TAP Covers Resumes, Not Identity Grief: TAP is great for job search basics, but it doesn’t always prepare you for losing rank, status, and built‑in community. Joey’s story shows that becoming “just Joey” was a much bigger emotional shift than he expected.
• You Don’t Have to White‑Knuckle Transition Alone: Joey’s biggest message: you cannot and should not do this by yourself. Lean on other veterans, cohorts, and community, so you have people to call when the auditorium is empty and your next chapter begins.

Follow us for more real veteran stories to guide your transition, and share this episode with someone who’s standing at their own off ramp and afraid to take the exit. They may need to hear that they’re not the only one scared of the unknown.

Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Exit Buddy: Veteran Voices, to stay updated and connect with other listeners and guests.

#VeteranStories #MilitaryTransition #ExitBuddy #IdentityAfterService #BetOnYourself

Send us Fan Mail

Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com to learn more about the show.

Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at [email protected].