There’s a version of every man before the uniform, during the uniform, and after the uniform comes off.In this conversation, I sit down with Carl Baltes to talk honestly about all three.Before the military, life often looks one way. Identity is still forming. Direction can feel unclear. Discipline might exist in pieces, or not at all. For some, structure is missing. For others, purpose feels distant. Carl and I talk about what life looked like before service, the influences that shaped us, the mindsets we carried, and the decisions that eventually led us toward the military.Then comes military life.This is where everything changes.Structure becomes non-negotiable. Discipline is no longer optional. You learn quickly that your actions do not just affect you, they affect the people to your left and right. Accountability becomes real. Standards are enforced. Excuses stop working. You learn how to show up when you are tired, uncomfortable, or stretched beyond what you thought you had.We talk about what military life actually teaches beyond the surface. Not just training or deployments, but the internal shift. The way your mindset changes. The way responsibility becomes a way of life. The way trust is built through consistency, not words. The way leadership is earned through service, not titles.And then comes the season people rarely prepare for.Life after the military.When the uniform comes off, structure does not automatically stay. Discipline can fade if it is not intentionally carried forward. Identity can feel unstable if it was built only around a role. Purpose has to be redefined. Many struggle here, not because they are weak, but because they were never shown how to translate military lessons into everyday life.That is where this conversation goes deeper.We break down the seven Army values, Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage, and why they matter far beyond the military.These values are not just words to memorize. They are tools for life.Loyalty matters in friendships, marriages, and teams. Duty shows up when responsibility is inconvenient. Respect changes how you speak and listen, especially when emotions are high. Selfless service reminds us that real leadership begins with others in mind. Honor is who you are when no one is watching. Integrity is doing what is right even when it costs you. Personal courage is the willingness to be honest, to grow, and to stand firm when it would be easier to fold.We also talk about why these values matter when it comes to relationships.Who you walk with matters. Who you trust matters. Who you build with matters. Values determine how someone handles conflict, commitment, accountability, and growth. When standards are missing, relationships suffer. When values are lived, relationships strengthen.You do not have to serve in the military to live with structure. You do not need a uniform to live with honor. But you do need discipline. You do need accountability. You do need values that guide your decisions when emotions and comfort try to take the lead.This conversation is not about glorifying the military.It is about learning from it.It is about taking principles forged under pressure and applying them to everyday life. It is about becoming someone your family can depend on, your team can trust, and your future can stand on.Whether you are considering service, currently serving, a veteran, or simply someone looking for more direction and purpose, this episode is for you.Because values only matter when they are lived.And life gets clearer when you choose to live by something bigger than yourself.