Having a little bit of fun with this episode, I spent some time with Dave and Allie over a glass of wine (and in Dave's case bourbon). A nice long conversation with a husband and wife team, talking about both of their experiences over the course of an entire military career and through their transition. We talk about deployments, multiple moves, homesteading in Maine, job hunting and job security, spraying the ships captain and master chief with water guns, travel, and how setting expectations can lead to some quality outcomes in life.

North Gate Travel (Allie Lewis): https://www.facebook.com/alewis007

David Lewis: https://www.facebook.com/lewisd42

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This is the full interview with Romaine Byrd. He is a current employee with hireheroesusa.org and actively works to help Veterans with all aspects of their transition. He is a retired SFC from the United States Army. Romaine started from essentially nothing when he joined the military and worked his way up to a full career ending with recruiting and retention. Now he takes those skills he learned in the military to help Veterans get over the hurdles that come along with transition and retirement. The conversation covers various aspects of transitioning from military to civilian life, including morning routines, choosing a retirement location, retirement benefits, creating a transition plan, and leaving a legacy and impact. We share our personal experiences and provide advice for transitioning service members. We also discuss the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program and the importance of advocating for oneself during the transition process. In this conversation, Romaine Byrd shares his experiences and insights on transitioning out of the military and finding purpose in serving others. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the next step and not trying to implement new plans or leave a big legacy on the way out. Romaine discusses the value of mentors and mentorship, highlighting the impact of both good and bad leadership. He encourages individuals to be open to learning and adapting, and to be honest with themselves about their career goals. Romaine also emphasizes the importance of personal branding and networking, and offers advice on crafting an elevator pitch.

Takeaways

- Take the time to plan and prepare for your transition from military to civilian life.

- Consider the location where you want to retire and research the benefits and tax exemptions available in that area.

- Utilize resources like the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program to expedite the process of receiving VA benefits.

- Advocate for yourself and take care of your own needs during the transition process.

- Leave a legacy by helping and supporting others who are transitioning from the military.

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage

06:14 Morning Routine in the Military vs. Civilian Life

09:26 Transitioning to Civilian Employment

11:20 Choosing a Location for Retirement

13:10 Retirement Benefits and Moving Allowance

17:33 Making the Decision to Retire

23:54 Creating a Transition Plan

28:08 Advice for Transitioning Service Members

32:33 Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) Program

38:27 Leaving a Legacy and Impact

41:00 Transitioning Out of the Military

42:00 Finding Purpose and Serving Others

43:42 Helping the Next Generation

44:32 Creating a Time Capsule and Helping Others

45:11 The Importance of Mentors and Mentorship

46:09 Learning from Good and Bad Leadership

47:40 Advice for Your 16-Year-Old Self

48:35 Reflecting on Life Experiences

50:02 Salary Expectations and Valuing Experience

51:08 Being Open to Learning and Adapting

53:55 The Importance of Networking and Personal Branding

55:28 Finding the Right Path for You

56:18 Choosing the Right Certifications and Training

58:33 Being Honest About Your Career Goals

59:42 The Value of Trade Skills and Experience

01:01:42 The Benefits of Joining the Military

01:08:23 The Importance of Personal Branding

01:09:37 Crafting an Elevator Pitch

01:15:06 Final Thoughts and Advice

Links:

🔗 https://HireHeroesUSA.org

🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/romainebyrd/

To all the brave men and women out there still protecting our freedom 🇺🇸 🫡 Thank you for your service!

Thanks to my recording platform of choice:

@riversidefm #riversidefm for their amazing software https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_2&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-mcconnell

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In this conversation, John McConnell and Victor discuss property taxes and housing for retired veterans. They focus on the property tax situation in California and the proposed bill that would exempt disabled veterans from property taxes up to a certain amount. They also explore the benefits and considerations of property taxes in different states, including income tax exemptions. The conversation highlights the potential savings and opportunities for veterans in terms of housing and education benefits. They encourage veterans to research and explore the benefits they may be eligible for and consider getting involved in local communities.

Takeaways

California has a proposed bill that would exempt disabled veterans from property taxes up to a certain amount.

Different states have different property tax exemptions and income tax exemptions for veterans.

Veterans should research and explore the benefits they may be eligible for, including housing and education benefits.

Getting involved in local communities and veteran outreach programs can provide support and opportunities for veterans.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and Overview

03:13 - Property Tax Exemption in California

06:02 - Considerations for Property Taxes in Different States

08:05 - Offsetting Costs with Income Tax Exemptions

09:21 - Property Tax Exemptions in Other States

11:50 - Forecast for Housing Market in California

14:12 - Exploring Benefits for Disabled Veterans

16:56 - Discovering Benefits and Doing Research

19:14 - Getting Involved in Local Communities

20:47 - Conclusion and Call to Action

Links:

🔗 CALVET chapter 33 - https://www.calvet.ca.gov/veteran-services-benefits/education

🔗 Chapter 35 VA educational benefits - https://www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/chapter-35-rates/

🔗 VA disabled Veterans property tax exemptions by state - https://www.veteransunited.com/futurehomeowners/veteran-property-tax-exemptions-by-state/

🔗 Veterans United Home Loans - https://www.veteransunited.com/

🔗 VA benefits - https://benefits.va.gov/benefits/

To all the brave men and women out there still protecting our freedom 🇺🇸 🫡 Thank you for your service!

Thanks to my recording platform of choice:

@riversidefm #riversidefm for their amazing software https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_2&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-mcconnell

All of my recording/editing equipment can be found here: https://kit.co/Chief_McConnell/john-mcconnell

some links may result in commissions for the site

In this conversation, Romaine Byrd from Hire Heroes USA discusses the challenges and strategies for transitioning from military to civilian life. The conversation covers topics such as finding oneself, resume building, utilizing LinkedIn, and preparing for job interviews. Romaine emphasizes the importance of self-discovery and shedding the military persona when transitioning to the civilian workforce. He also highlights the resources and support available through organizations like Hire Heroes USA for both veterans and military spouses. Overall, the conversation provides valuable insights and guidance for a successful transition into civilian employment. The conversation covers various aspects of resume building and job hunting. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring resumes for each specific job and using AI tools to assist in the process. The speakers also discuss the benefits of keeping a running log of accomplishments and regularly updating resumes. They highlight the need to invest time in oneself and the transition process. The conversation also touches on the differences between federal resumes and standard resumes, as well as the importance of not including salary information on civilian resumes. The speakers provide insights on negotiating salary during interviews and avoiding shortchanging oneself.

Takeaways

Tailor your resume for each specific job you apply for.

Use AI tools to assist in resume building and tailoring.

Keep a running log of your accomplishments to easily update your resume.

Invest time in yourself and your transition process.

Avoid including salary information on civilian resumes.

Negotiate salary during the interview process to ensure fair compensation.

Chapters

00:00 Finding Yourself

09:44 Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life

23:01 Resume Building

31:48 Utilizing LinkedIn

38:25 Preparing for Job Interviews

41:12 Common Challenges in Transitioning

41:41 Talking about yourself in a way that others can understand

42:05 Using AI for resume building

43:01 Tailoring the resume using AI tools

43:56 Building a resume as you go along

44:53 Keeping a running log of your accomplishments

45:20 Taking the time to update your resume regularly

46:19 Revisiting and revising your resume

47:06 Scheduling time for resume building and networking

48:32 Investing in yourself and your transition

49:36 Continuing to apply for jobs while in the interview process

53:45 Differences between a federal resume and a standard resume

55:04 Tailoring resumes for each specific job

55:36 Revisiting and revising resumes for federal jobs

57:36 Not including salary on civilian resumes

59:14 Not giving a specific salary expectation during interviews

01:00:28 Negotiating salary during the interview process

01:02:46 Avoiding shortchanging yourself in salary negotiations

01:03:13 Accessing Hire Heroes USA services

To all the brave men and women out there still protecting our freedom 🇺🇸 🫡 Thank you for your service!

Thanks to my recording platform of choice:

@riversidefm #riversidefm for their amazing software https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_2&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-mcconnell

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some links may result in commissions for the site

In this conversation, John and Victor discuss the reasons why they would join the military all over again. They highlight the benefits of a good paying and reliable job, free education and certifications, the importance of networking and building relationships, the sense of belonging and camaraderie, gaining valuable job experience, and the opportunities for personal and professional growth. They also express their appreciation for the military and their desire to continue supporting veterans through their podcast. Overall, they emphasize the positive impact the military has had on their lives and the importance of making informed decisions when considering a military career.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Appreciation

09:13 Good Paying, Reliable Job

11:21 Free School and Education

15:28 Networking and Building Relationships

19:21 Feeling of Belonging and Camaraderie

23:28 Gaining Job Experience

26:45 Networking for Opportunities

29:51 Conclusion

Future Plans and Q&A EpisodeTo all the brave men and women out there still protecting our freedom 🇺🇸 🫡 Thank you for your service!

Thanks to my recording platform of choice:

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Giving you some of our top 5 things to know going into retirement. Whether you are retiring this week or 5 years from now. These are things to keep at the front of your brainpan.

To all the brave men and women out there still protecting our freedom 🇺🇸 🫡 Thank you for your service!

Timestamps:

⌚ 0:00 - Intro

⌚ 0:27 - 1. Preplanning

⌚ 7:42 - 2. Gather your gear

⌚ 13:06 - 3. Audit your finances

⌚ 18:02 - 4. Resume building

⌚ 22:42 - 5. Skillbridge

⌚ 27:09 - 6a. Set up a calendar

⌚ 27:36 - 6b. Share your calendar

⌚ 28:28 - 7. Networking

Links:

🔗 SanDisk Extreme Pro SSD (seen in video) https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1595432-REG/sandisk_sdssde61_2t00_g25_2tb_extreme_portable_ssd.html

🔗 If I were to buy a desk scanner now - Canon imageFORMULA DR-C225 II Document Scanner - https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1433723-REG/canon_3258c002aa_imageformula_dr_c225_ii_office.html

🔗 https://www.hireheroesusa.org/

🔗 Vet Tech - https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/vettec-high-tech-program/

🔗 Linkedin Premium - https://socialimpact.linkedin.com/programs/veterans/premiumform

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Discussing a recent podcast episode of Arnold Schwarzenegger talking about his new book of course, but also talking about being useful, his struggles growing up, porta potties and much more.

To all the brave men and women out there still protecting our freedom 🇺🇸 🫡 Thank you for your service!

Timestamps:

⌚ 0:00 - Intro

⌚ 0:46 - Being Useful

⌚ 2:07 - Link to livestream

⌚ 3:45 - Arnold podcasts (links below)

⌚ 8:18 - How to find quiet time to think

⌚ 10:31 - Key highlights from the Arnold interviews

⌚ 17:18 - setting up your day for success - little wins equal big wins

⌚ 23:24 - final thoughts - not limiting yourself with mental roadblocks

Links:

🔗 Arnold Schwarzenegger episode - @timferriss https://tim.blog/2023/10/02/arnold-schwarzenegger-be-useful/ 


🔗 Arnold Schwarzenegger episode @richroll https://www.richroll.com/podcast/arnold-schwarzenegger-784/

🔗 AFN Sigonella - https://europe.afn.mil/stations/sigonella/

🔗 Arnold Schwarzenegger Presents on Apple Podcasts -https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/arnold-schwarzenegger-presents/id1450778285

Books:

📚 Arnold Schwarzenegger - Be Useful - https://www.amazon.com/Be-Useful-Seven-Tools-Life/dp/0593655958

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Riverside.fm #riversidefm for their amazing software https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_2&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-mcconnell

All of my recording/editing equipment can be found here: https://kit.co/Chief_McConnell/john-mcconnell

some links may result in commissions for the site