Militarily Speaking

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest Major Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder, discuss how TAPS provides support to those grieving the loss of a loved one in the military. They also explore the organizations impactful programs, events, and advocacy efforts.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Jodi introduces Bonnie, including her military history, before founding Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) in 1994.

• In addition to founding TAPS, Bonnie has held government appointments such as the White House liaison, the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Jodi also lists many Board of Directors that Bonnie has sat on throughout the years.
• Bonnie also coauthored Healing Your Grieving Heart After a Military Death, and has appeared on many national programs speaking about military loss.
• She has also received many award including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award from the Department of Defense, any many more.
• Bonnie says that after the unexpected death of her husband in an Army plane crash, she redefined who she was and what her next chapter was going to be about.

Jodi then asks Bonnie to describe the mission of TAPS and what the organization is all about.

• Bonnie explains the story of why and how the organization began, after she realized there was no organization to support those who had lost a loved one in the military.
• She realized that between her own military experience and background working with nonprofit organizations, she needed to stop up and create the organization.
• Bonnie continues detailing how TAPS has played a major role in connecting care for more veterans who developed cancers and pulmonary issues due to their time in the service.
• She says that in addition to continuing support groups for those grieving, TAPS is also pushing for the Love Lives On Act that allows a military widow to remarry before age 55 without losing benefits.

After discussing the artists on the Love Lives On album, Tom asks Bonnie to share some other programs and highlights of the work TAPS has accomplished over the years.

• Bonnie notes how TAPS steps into the space that isn’t covered by the government, with their number one core service being a national network of per based emotional support.
• She explains how grief is a normal human response to love, and the loss of a loved one, which is why they added nearly 9000 new surviving family members last year.
• Last year, she says they had over 1000 events, including community -based care groups called TAPS Togethers, regional survivor seminars, empowerment camps, retreats, and outdoor programs.
• Bonnie adds that in addition to all of those pieces, they also assist with casework to expand the support available to families, emergency financial assistance, and education services.
• Since the beginning of the year, they have fielded almost 500 education requests to help surviving families understand their benefits, securing $116.8 million for surviving children.

Tom then asks Bonnie how others can connect with the organization to either participate or support an event.

• Bonnie begins by noting their very broad assortment of events, meeting people exactly where they are.
• She adds that their National Military Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp is coming up over Memorial Day weekend.
• She continues by explaining that everything they do is through donation dollars, and people can learn about how far those donation dollars go at www.taps.org  

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: What was the name of the one president who served as an enlisted man in the military and did not go on to become an officer?
• Answer: James Buchanan
• This week’s Military Minute question: The Swiss Constitution prohibits Swiss citizens from participating in foreign military service, except for the military unit responsible for guarding what area in Europe?
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to go to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest Bob Thomas, CEO of Operation Homefront, discuss how they help military families in urgent need of assistance. Bob runs through their myriad of programs and different ways they help active-duty service members and their families make the tough transition to civilian life.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Jodi introduces Bob, including his military history, before introducing Operation Homefront.

• Bob served nearly 31 years of distinguished service in the Air Force, the last assignment was directing education and training programs for officers of the Air Force.
• Operation Homefront, a nonprofit that has proudly served America's military family since 2002, provides relief, resiliency and recurring family support programs and services throughout the year to help military families overcome short term difficulties so they don't become long term hardships.

Jodi then asks Bob to continue discussing Operation Homefront, including how the organization got started.

• Bob describes the mission of their organization and how they help build strong, stable, and secure military families.
• He continues by telling the story of how they got started by two spouses in a garage, looking for ways to help the troops.

Tom runs over statistics of how many military families, veterans, and military dependents they have helped, and asks what the secret sauce is behind all the great achievements.

• Bob gives praise to their donors, saying that without them they wouldn’t be able to provide any of their programs.
• He also runs over some milestone achievements the organization is planning to achieve this year, including supporting their 750th military family in a transitional housing village.
• He describes a few of their military support programs and partners, and how they help with anything from collecting school supplies to providing holiday meal assistance to military families.

Jodi notes that military families are very proud community, and asks what situations the military find themselves in when asking for assistance.

• Bob says the vast majority of people they help through their critical financial assistance program are those that have recently transitioned out of the military.
• He describes the very difficult transition military members have to make when leaving the military for the civilian world, and how this is a vulnerable time for them.
• Bob then tells a story of one person they helped, and how they were able to save his family from becoming homeless due to missed mortgage payments.
• Tom notes that there are Air Force Relief Aid, Navy Relief Aid, and Army Emergency Relief, which Bob notes are not always able to help at the last minute, and may be location specific.

Jodi comments about how much time Bob has spent serving in the military, and continuing that service now by helping military families in need.

• Bob discusses his time in the Air Force, and dives into his personal background of being born on, and growing up in, military bases.
• He continues by identifying with those military families in need, describing how good it feels to be able to help them get through a tough situation.

Tom asks how they decide which programs take priority, and what the process looks like to identify the programs that meet the military community’s needs today.

• Bob says they are focused on the relief space, especially in critical financial assistance and transitional housing.
• He describes the underlying importance of housing to supporting the entire military family, and making sure they can have a safe space to grow.
• He adds that if someone is struggling with their mortgage, they pay the mortgage servicer, landlord, etc. directly to ensure the donor’s money is being used effectively.

Jodi begins asking about the role their leadership team and board help in fulfilling the mission Operation Homefront has laid out.

• Bob describes everyone’s commitment to their mission, noting that the board members are not paid, and in fact they pay and make a commitment to support the organization.
• He then tells the story of one of their board members and their connection to supporting the mission.

Tom asks how people can get involved with Operation Homefront.

• Bob says the best place to get information is their website: www.operationhomefront.org 
• Through the website, you can see bios of board members and the exec team, stories of the military families they have helped, apply for financial assistance or their housing programs, as well as find ways to donate or volunteer.

Tom follows this up by asking about their involvement in the 15th annual Month of the Military Child Celebration happening in D.C. 

• Bob says the event helps put a spotlight on the service and sacrifice military families make all the time.
• He then tells stories about some of the military children that apply to be awarded, and how remarkable they are.

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: Which President made more money playing poker during his Navy days than he did from his military paychecks?
• Answer: Richard Nixon
• This week’s Military Minute question: What was the name of the one president who served as an enlisted man in the military and did not go on to become an officer?
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to go to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest Mitch Fitzpatrick, Director of Training and Outreach at VetBiz, discuss how they help veterans and military spouses start or grow their veteran owned business, the resources available, and benefits of being involved in the military community.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Jodi introduces Mitch, going over his military history, before introducing VetBiz.

• Mitch is the Director of Training and Outreach for VetBiz, which is a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans and military families achieve their dream of owning a business by transitioning military skills to business success.
• The goal of VetBiz is to strengthen communities by building strong veteran small businesses.
• Mitch connects veterans, military spouses, and active military members with business resources.

Jodi notes that Armed Forces Bank also aims to help veteran owned businesses be successful, and asks Mitch to go into more detail about VetBiz.

• Mitch says VetBiz operates as a resource partners Veterans Benefits Outreach Center (VBOC), as part of the Small Business Administration (SBA).
• He adds that they are focused on providing no cost resources to the military community, including military spouses.

Jodi follows up by asking what the distribution is between veterans, military spouses, and other groups that they serve.

• Mitch says that a large part are transitioning service members, describing how Boots to Business Program. 
• He says that they are at the forefront with VBOCs including military spouses, and that they make up about 30% of who they serve, with the other 70% being military and veterans.
• Mitch says that the Boots to Business is typically held on military installations over two days, and the refresher Reboot Training is one day that is held online.

Tom asks Mitch to walk through the steps of how a veteran would begin starting their own business.

• Mitch walks through a couple of their touchpoints, and how they meet with individual veterans to get them the right resources.
• Tom follows this up by asking what the biggest fear is for a veteran or military spouse that might be starting a business.
• Mitch says it is likely imposter syndrome, but he helps them by getting them to recognize the soft skills they already have from their time in the military.
• Tom notes that part of getting a small business loan is getting approved for credit, and how their military background can help with credibility.

Jodi understands how difficult it is for transitioning military members, and asks how important VetBiz or an organization they might refer them to are to that community during that time.

• Mitch runs through statistics of military wanting to start businesses, and current military owned businesses compared to their demographics.
• He says that they help bridge that gap to give them the training and strategy to start their own businesses.
• After Tom chimes in with statistics, Mitch continues noting that just being a veteran does not guarantee a successful business.

Tom asks Mitch how his military experience helps him walk in the footsteps of those looking for assistance.

• Mitch reiterates the importance of the soft skills that people develop in the military.
• He goes through how his time serving has molded his mindset, and how he uses that when helping other veterans.
• After prompting from Jodi, Mitch discusses the importance of some of their training compared to the increasing other number of resources that are available for veterans.

Tom asks how Mitch has seen communities be strengthened by the growth of veteran owned small businesses.

• Mitch notes that service is at the heart of what they do, which is why they often hire other veterans, as they have the same heart.
• He runs through the reasoning on why small businesses are the lifeblood of communities.
• Jodi says that Armed Forces Bank retail locations are proud to be staffed by 85% veterans, military spouses, or dependents.

Jodi asks what are the most transferrable skills that Mitch sees when working with veterans.

• Mitch goes back to the soft skills that are developed during their time serving in the military.
• He then runs through some examples of how he helps those transitioning veterans understand and relate those skills to entrepreneurship.

Tom talks about some of the testimonials VetBiz has received over the years, and asks Mitch for some of his favorite stories of people that have gone through the program.

• Mitch discusses the different stages that they can help clients, from starting the businesses to growing the business.
• He then gives examples of some of his favorite stories from previous clients.
• Mitch also explains the importance of their training such as VetBiz Activate, and how it helped a previous client.

After further questioning from Tom, he runs through the difference between VetBiz and vetbiz.va.gov

• Tom runs through the area that VetBiz can help people, which Mitch adds to and includes the Saint Louis Metro Area including Scott Airforce Base.
• He notes that if someone from outside their area contacts them, they will let them go through the training and then connect them with the VBOC in their area to find more veteran business services.
• After prompting from Tom, Mitch talks about upcoming VetBiz events.
• He wraps up by encouraging veterans and military spouses to reach out to their SBA to get connected to the resources they need to get their business up and running.

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: What was initially supposed to be Luke Skywalker’s last name in the original script for Star Wars: A New Hope, that eventually was used as the name for a military base?
• Answer: Starkiller
• This week’s Military Minute question: Which President made more money playing poker during his Navy days than he did from his military paychecks?
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to go to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest David Kim, Co-Founder and CEO of Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, discuss the background and start of the foundation, current goals of the foundation, and how they aim to help fund every children of a fallen patriot.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Tom and Jodi introduce their guest David Kim, and give his military background and current career, and ask him to explain his organization.

• David says that the mission of Children of Fallen Patriots is to provide college scholarships for military children of all branches who lost a parent in the line of duty.
• He says this is their way of honoring the sacrifice of our fallen heroes by investing in the future of their children.

Tom congratulates David on recently winning Veteran of the Year, and asks about David’s personal connection with the mission and with Sgt. William Delaney Gibbs.

• David talks about their shared time in the 7th battalion, and his death a short time before the birth of his daughter.
• He says that thinking about his daughter was what prompted him and his wife to start the foundation.

Jodi asks how children get connected with the organization, how do they receive help, and how many children have they helped so far.

• David says that there are about 25,000 gold star children, and they are trying to find all of them and put them into a single database, noting that they have found about half.
• He explains how they find other gold star children through partnerships with the VA, Gary Sinise Foundation, and other organizations serving the same population.
• He continues by noting they have helped roughly 3,000 students go to college, half of which have graduated debt free.
• David goes over the financial gap that currently exists in trying to send all of these students to college.
• Tom refences the tightknit world of military supporters, including the likes of Sam Meek, the Pat Tillman Foundation, and encourages how they are all working towards a common goal.

Tom asks David to go into detail about how their support has helped families over the years.

• David says that they think of it as wholistic care, trying to get those students through college debt free to lighten the burden.
• He adds that they also provide emotional care and support for their students, and tells the uplifting story of one their students who connected with other individuals like her.
• He continues by discussing their career seminars that they host to help those students find internships and jobs.
• After Jodi asks how a company can get involved with those career seminars, David explains a number of companies and their varied ways of giving.

Jodi asks how David manages to work a fulltime job on top of working with the organization.

• David notes how great his team and board are, mentioning that most of those are veterans or gold star children.
• He also thanks to all the people that donate to supporting our veterans and their families.

Tom asks David to speak about the different and innovative ways the organization raises money.

• David explains how there are individuals in addition to corporate sponsors who raise money through a variety of ways.
• He then gives examples of some of the different ways individuals have raised money.
• David continues the topic by discussing where the money goes, how it is used, and noting that they have a 100% on charity navigator.

Jodi asks how David enjoys getting to work together on the Foundation.

• He talks about how great working with his wife has been, and how inspirational she is.
• David also mentions their background and upbringing, and the tough times when they first started the organization.
• Tom and David discuss some of the other people they both work with, as the military community and military banking community are intertwined.
• Tom continues the conversation by asking David to talk about his family and their trajectories in life.

Tom notes that David is 10% of the way to his goal for the Foundation, and asks if there is anything else he would like to achieve.

• David says his big goal is still to find all 25,000 students, and get them funded by raising $600 Million.
• He says they are a focus factory and that his goal is go achieve those things before he stops working on it.

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: What was the name of the first bakery opened in the United States?
• Answer: United States Bakery or Franz Family Bakery
• This week’s Military Minute question: What was initially supposed to be Luke Skywalker’s last name in the original script for Star Wars: A New Hope, that eventually was used as the name for a military base.
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to go to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest Meghan Ogilvie, CEO of Dog Tag Inc., discuss how their bakery business got started, details about their fellowship program for veterans, military spouses, and military caregivers, and ways that you can get involved.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Tom and Jodi joke around with Meghan before introducing Meghan Ogilvie, CEO of Dog Tag Inc.

• She discusses the motive behind Dog Tag Bakery and their innovative 5-month fellowship program.
• Jodi then continues discussing more of Meghan’s background, including her family’s military service.

Jodi then ask Meghan to explain the story behind Dog Tag Inc. and Dog Tag Bakery.

• Meghan walks through the history of Father Rick Curry and Constance Milstein, who were both avid bakers and advocates for military families.
• She then continues by explaining how the two met and together opened Dog Tag Bakery, and the mission to empower veterans with service-connected disabilities, military spouses. and military caregivers. 
• Meghan then talks about the beginning of their fellowship program, and what is involved in the programs.

Tom asks about whether Dog Tag Bakery has a full bakery in both locations, Washington D.C. and Chicago.

• Meghan says that they only have a full bakery in D.C., and talks about some of the memorabilia that can be found in the bakery, including a massive chandelier made out of veteran dog tags.
• She mentions some of the baked goods they sell, and adds that they are nut-free certified.
• She then discusses their coffee that comes from Compass Coffee, which was started by two marines in Washington D.C., and their partnership with Veteran Roaster in Chicago that employs formerly homeless veterans.

Jodi asks Meghan to give more details about the Dog Tag Fellowship Program, and how people can become a part of it.

• Meghan says they look for veterans with service-connected care, military spouses, and caregivers and discusses the application process.
• She goes into details about the program, and more specifics about what the program entails.
• She discusses the struggles of transitioning from being an active military member to part of the civilian workforce, and how they help through their program.
• Meghan then describes the different aspects of the program, such as wellness, academic, experiential, and networking pieces.

Jodi asks how others might get involved in or support the program, and Tom asks for some stories about the fellowship’s alumni. 

• Meghan mentions different ways to get involved such as donating or volunteering.
• She then tells the stories of a few different fellowship alumni, including an Air Force Veteran.

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: How many letters to recruits in training and deployed service members has Sandboxx sent?
• Answer: 8.5 Million
• This week’s Military Minute question: What was the name of the first bakery opened in the United States?
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to go to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest Sgt. Sam Meek, Founder and CEO of Sandboxx, discuss their founding story, how they help the military and their families stay connected, and how they support the military community.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Before introducing Sgt. Sam Meek, Tom asks him to tell the listeners the story of how they came up with the name Sandboxx.

• Sam explains the story of how they came up with the name, and the meaning behind having two x’s on the name.
• Jodi then properly introduces Sam, and describes his service history as a Nuclear Biological Chemical Defense Specialist, continuing on to work in reconnaissance, and serving two tours in Iraq.

Jodi follows that up by asking Sam to explain how he moved from that life to where he is now working on Sandboxx.

• Sam briefly touches on how pivotal his military service was to shaping who he is, and then explains how he began creating a platform to help our military be successful.
• He describes the initial goals of the startup, launching their app, and the problems they seek to address.
• He notes that after their initial launch, only sending a few letters per day, how being able to send a letter to someone in basic training is now a main staple of their business.
• Sam adds that the marines were the first to quickly realize the importance that receiving those letters had on morale.
• He also notes that they currently onboard about 70% of new DoD members.

Tom then asks Sam to speak about their new ‘Muster’ app.

• Sam discusses the feature they initially launched with was called “units” that allowed people to communicate better.
• He explains how when they first implemented it, they experienced an empty man in the room scenario.
• He continues by explaining that now they have a critical mass, they are re-implementing the feature with new updates to allow for even better communication.
• Sam lists off some features of the app for recruiters, and how it helps them perform their job better.

Jodi asks what other means Sandboxx offers support to military members and their families.

• Sam notes that most of what they deliver is specific to the individual, after creating a Sandboxx account.
• He says that a lot of the value people can get comes out of their news channel, adding that they communicate a lot via their YouTube videos as well.

Tom asks how many men and women join the military each year, and how many they support through their various pipelines.

• Sam gives numbers for heavy vs. light years of recruitment, and notes that they get about 70% of those that sign up.
• He explains how Sandboxx provides support not only those joining, but also their families and relatives receive information and feel at ease.
• After prompting from Tom, Sam then talks about the team behind the scenes at Sandboxx, and how they feel that they are serving their country as well.

Tom wraps up by asking about partnerships other organizations might have with Sandboxx.

• Sam says that they recognized to do what they wanted to do, the right way, they would have to bring the right partners to the table.
• He says more than the companies that just want to advertise, but the ones who truly care about the military and want to provide positive impact for the military, are the businesses they partner with.
• He finishes by thanking Armed Forces Bank for their support over the years, and for how they support the military.

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: Who is one of the partners of Next Move Military?
• Answer: Armed Forces Bank
• This week’s Military Minute question: How many letters to recruits in training and deployed service members has Sandboxx sent?
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to go to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest Clint Jordan, Director of Next Move Military, discuss the story of how they got started, how they help military families during PCS or any other move, and other ways they help the military community.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Jodi introduces Clint Jordan, discussing his 21 years of service history, and what he is doing after.

• He got into real estate, achieving great success, and becoming an expert in military home buying.
• Clint has also become an expert in the VA Loan process, market analysis, investing, wealth building, and the needs of veterans and their families.
• As director of Next Move Military, his vision is to help educate military families about the benefits of home ownership and the path towards financial freedom.

Jodi then asks Clint to discuss how Next Move Military got started and the mission of the organization.

• Clint begins by noting that they are a network of veteran and military spouse real estate agents.
• He briefly tells the story of how he came up with the idea, and how the organization got started, and their selection process of selecting new real estate agents.
• Tom and Clint discuss how and why Armed Forces Bank became a financial partner of Next Move Military.

Tom asks about the myriad of services they provide and who they provide those services to.

• Clint notes that their agents, because they all have military experience, they understand all of the different processes.
• He adds how he recruits others into their military network, and the importance of educating others on the home buying process for the military.
• After prompting from Tom, Clint says that their educational material can be found at www.militarypcs.com 
• To begin the process with Next Move Military, click the contact button on their website.

Tom asks Clint about his network of military real estate agents, and how they are selected.

• Clint discusses their vetting process for real estate agents that are looking to join their network.
• Tom then adds a testimonial from someone within the network about their cohort.
• Clint says that their agents started off by finding agents within major military markets, and then expanded to include most any city.

Clint adds that their next step of growth is to donate service animals.

• He discusses the process of funding and raising a service dog through Second Chance K9 for a service member in need.
• He notes that this is their first step in looking for additional ways to help military veterans.
• Tom adds that they are of like minds, noting their partnership with Southeastern Guide Dogs.

Jodi asks what populations they service, and what other places people can find them.

• Clint says that they are big on Instagram and Facebook, and they are working to build their YouTube as well.
• He adds that they service all branches including DoD, civilians, and then mentions AFB’s Hero Loan Program for veterans, educators, law enforcement, firefighters/EMTs, and nurses.
• After prompting from Tom, Clint discusses what differentiates them from some of their competitors, even though he doesn’t view them as such.

Jodi asks if there are any other services or things they provide for veterans that they hadn’t asked about.

• Clint says that he owns a CrossFit gym, and says they are almost entirely veteran owned.
• He says their goal is to fund the gym through real estate and provide memberships for free to every veteran.

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: What is TLI?
• Answer: Tillman Leadership Institute
• This week’s Military Minute question: Who is one of the partners of Next Move Military?
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to go to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest Dan Futrell, CEO of the Pat Tillman Foundation, discuss the story of how they got started, the impact the foundation and their scholars have had, and share a number of ways to get involved. 

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Introducing Dan Futrell and the Pat Tillman Foundation

Jodi introduces Dan Futrell, CEO of the Pat Tillman Foundation, and discusses his background, including his time serving as a Ranger Qualified Infantry Officer in Iraq. 

• His background also includes being awarded multiple military awards, as well as being a Tillman Scholar himself.
• Dan then shares Pat Tillman’s story of going from playing in the NFL to then joining the U.S. Army Rangers after 9/11. 
• Dan notes that while he never met Pat, he can still tell how present he is in the mission of the organization today.

Jodi then asks Dan to share how Pat’s life has translated to the pillars of the foundation, and what they do for the community.

• Dan discusses how the Pat Tillman Foundation was started, and what it looks like today.
• He adds that the Pat Tillman Foundation sees their goal as amplifying the impact of their scholars.
• He continues by describing the connections Pat had with those around him, and how the foundation aims to continue that ripple effect through their efforts today.

Tom asks Dan for more details about the impact the foundation has had, and their expansion over the years.

• Dan says they select 60 Tillman Scholars each year, which is about a 3% selection rate.
• He notes that the board decided to serve a few individuals more deeply than to serve a larger number of individuals not as much.
• He continues by discussing their partnerships with universities, and their Tillman Scholars that are currently enrolled.

Jodi asks Dan to talk more about the application process for those who want to become a Tillman Scholar themselves.

• For veterans or military spouses, go to apply.ptf.org and apply before the end of February.
• He then shares the importance of a cover letter by someone that knows you well, and the essay questions that are a part of the application.
• He also notes that there are more resources on their YouTube channel, or reaching out to Tillman Scholars to ask for their assistance.

Tom asks Dan to discuss some of the partnerships the foundation has.

• He discusses their partnership with Service to School, and the Warrior Scholar Project.
• He explains that their Tillman Scholarships are for military veterans and their spouses, noting that there are other organizations that focus on gold star children, and other specialized groups.

Jodi notes that there are leadership attributes and asks Dan to speak a bit more about those.

• Dan notes that in January 2023 they launched the Tillman Leadership Institute, which is an investment in leadership development.
• He continues by describing the six leadership attributes, and the Foundation’s goal of filling the leadership gap that exists today.

Tom then asks Dan to talk about Pints for Pat, which is a longstanding tradition.

• Dan talks about the history of Pints for Pat, and how it got started. 
• He then mentions the involvement of other organizations, such as Diageo, in the event, and the special rights they have granted to Pints for Pat.

Jodi asks about Team Tillman and its purpose within the organization, and how others can get involved.

• Dan explains that Team Tillman is a program that they have for those that want to run a marathon and support their organization in the process.
• He explains how others can get involved, and get some swag in the process.
• Dan continues by mentioning Pat’s Run, which is coming up in April, and explains what that event is all about.
• Tom continues the conversation by discussing the leadership board for the organization, and the amount of leadership, talent, and diversity they have on the board.

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: How many families did FISH surprise with Walmart gift cards in December of 2021?
• Answer: 29
• This week’s Military Minute question: What is TLI?
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to go to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest Paul Chapa, Founder of Friends in Service of Heroes (FISH), discuss the myriad of ways that FISH supports veterans and first responders, events they host, and touching stories of a few of their members.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Jodi begins by giving a background of Paul Chapa and how 9/11 was a life changing event for him spurring the founding of Friends in Service of Heroes (FISH), and then asks him to explain the history of the organization.

• Paul tells the story of how 9/11 impacted him and made him want to do something to honor the military and first responders.
• He then describes how he started his own publication rather than utilize the one he worked for, and the fortuitous events that surrounded FISH’s first event.
• He continues by telling the story of how he was able to talk military leaders and Chef Rick to host a dinner to honor our heroes, and have hosted 30+ of these dinners around the country.

Tom asks Paul to discuss the three pillars of support of FISH.

• Paul begins by describing the first pillar of Recognition, and how they aim to remind retired military members how much their service meant.
• He then dives into their Health pillar where they provide individuals that need assistance with service dogs, mobility scooters, etc.
• Paul explains their final pillar which is Support, where they provide financial assistance for veterans through rent support, utility payments, purchasing flights to see family, etc.

Jodi notes that on FISH’s website there is a story about veteran Jerry Ingram, and asks Paul to share that story with the listeners.

• Paul talks about Jerry’s history in the service, specifically how he was one of a handful of people that came back from Iwo Jima.
• He continues by describing what made Jerry an incredible man and a true American hero.
• He then describes a few of the conversations that he had with Jerry in his final days.
• Paul adds that the service dogs they provide to veterans they name after members of the FISH family, to honor those that have served and passed away.

Tom asks Paul to speak about some of the events FISH has coming up on the calendar.

• Paul describes their speaker series that they have on the third Thursday of every month, at the American Legion at 7500 W 75th St, and lists a couple of the speakers.
• He adds details about a 5k/10k run in Fort Leavenworth, as well as their Armed Forces event that is coming up in May.
• He finishes by describing their 10th Annual FISH Combat Golf Tournament, where on certain holes golfers will tee off while wearing full body armor.

To learn more about Friends in Service of Heroes, visit their website www.friendsinserviceofheroes.org or check out their YouTube channel.

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: What was the success rate of transitioning veterans from homelessness to permanent sustainable housing in 2021?
• Answer: 85%
• This week’s Military Minute question: How many families did FISH surprise with Walmart gift cards in December of 2021?
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to go to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest Bryan Meyer, CEO of Veterans Community Project, discuss all of resources made available to any veteran through their Veteran Outreach Centers and their tiny homes villages. 

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Tom and Jodi their guest Bryan Meyer, CEO of Veterans Community Project (VCP).

• Jodi discusses Bryan’s service history, and briefly touches on how he, along with a few other cofounders, started VCP.
• Bryan then shares his struggles transitioning to civilian life, and how that motivated him to start Veterans Community Project.
• After graduating law school, he started a non-profit that granted free legal services to veterans.

Bryan continues to discuss what Veterans Community Project is, and what they do to help veterans.

• He says that it is a walk-in clinic where the only prerequisite is that you have taken an oath to serve our country. 
• He continues by saying they are more famous for building their villages of tiny homes for veterans with on-site case management.
• After prompting from Tom about the sizes, Bryan notes that they are not like the tiny homes you see on tv, but are actually regular homes, just less square footage.

Tom asks Bryan what their solution to provide both the Veteran Outreach Center and the VCP Village, and how veterans can transition between them.

• Bryan begins with the outreach center, noting that extremely low barrier for entry of taken an oath to serve the country.
• He says that VCP doesn’t house all of the programs themselves, but partners with local businesses that have agreed to partner and help veterans in need.
• When people show up are homeless or housing insecure is when Bryan says they move them to the residential program.
• He talks about how if someone is housing insecure, they aren’t able to focus on other things that may be going poorly, which is why they start at the most basic level.

Jodi notes that VCP is one of the fastest growing veterans’ nonprofits in America, and asks Bryan to talk about where they are expanding, and how people can bring VCP to their community.

• Bryan recalls the timeline of starting VCP, and where they are now, noting they see the demand to expand to other cities, but limit their growth to not dilute their service offerings.
• He says that the best place for people to learn about VCP, or how to bring it to your city, visit their website: https://www.veteranscommunityproject.org/
• He then discusses how far along every city is that they are currently building in.

Tom says that they have 50 houses in Kansas City, with 49 occupied, and asks Bryan if that is normal, or if they are now at full occupancy.

• Bryan says they strive for 85% occupancy, because that allows them to flip houses in between residents, and have extra room in case of emergencies.
• He then tells two stories of two veterans that suddenly found themselves homeless, and how they were able to help in those situations.

Tom then asks a number of questions, focusing on how people can get involved in the organization.

• Bryan says that they operate entirely off of donations of good will, because federal or state funding has a number of restrictions.
• He then reiterates to find out more about how to help, whether through donations or volunteering, visit their website: https://www.veteranscommunityproject.org/
• After prompting from Tom, Bryan then discusses their successful transition rates compared to other programs of a similar nature.
• He says that while the case management programs are individualized, the are based off of their five pillars of support: health and wellness, income stability, fiscal understanding, education and training, network and support.
• He then recalls another story of a veteran that they assisted, even though he was dishonorably discharged.

Jodi then asks Bryan to touch on the other services Veterans Community Project offers to veterans.

• Bryan discusses their emergency assistance program, which offers financial assistance in particular cases.
• He notes that they don’t just give the help as a band aid, but do a deeper dive to solve the issue at its core.
• He then discusses the free bus pass program they set up in Kansas City.

Jodi then asks Bryan in what ways he is getting involved in the local communities to raise awareness for Veterans Community Project.

• He says raising awareness is the most important thing they do because there are people out there that need their assistance that are just unaware that this type of assistance exists.
• He continues by noting some of the events they host, such as their annual House Party in Kansas City, where they talk about how many of their ideas are permeating across the country.
• Bryan also says there are other organizations that also host bingo nights, golf tournaments, etc. that help them raise both awareness and money.

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food insecurity nationwide is at approximately ____%
• Answer: 10%
• This week’s Military Minute question: What was the success rate of transitioning veterans from homelessness to permanent sustainable housing in 2021?
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to go to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com