The Dog Tag

On this episode of The Dog Tag, our host Matt Elledge talks with two Veterans Education Coordinators from the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC). Fernando "Fuzzy" Conejo and Rand Bindford break down the different types of education benefits available to military members, Veterans and their dependents.

Matt, Fuzzy and Rand discuss the different GI Bills, as well as education benefits for vocational and on-the-job training. Don't let these often confusing and complex processes keep you from furthering your education. These are some of the most valuable benefits you've earned through your service, so don't leave them behind. Going to college, or learning a trade, will change the quality of your life for the better.

The Dog Tag® is brought to you by the Texas Veterans Land Board and the Texas Veterans Commission. Find more episodes at medium.com/the-dog-tag. If you have questions about this topic, or suggestions for other podcast topics, call 1–800–252-VETS or email [email protected]. Visit TexasVeterans.com to find out more about your benefits!

On this episode of The Dog Tag, our host Matt Elledge talks to a panel of Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) loan experts to better understand the Land Loan Program available to Veterans and military members in Texas. The panel includes Bill McLemore, Deputy Director of the Land and Housing Program, Charlotte Mumphord, Director of Loan Operations, and Kim Mangum, Manager of Loan Origination.

Buying your own little piece of Texas can sometimes seem like an unattainable dream, but Matt and his team will walk you through the land loan process step by step. They cover everything including how to get pre-approved for a land loan, where to begin your search for land and how the loan process unfolds.

*Special Note: After this podcast was recorded the land loan limit wasraised to $150,000. All other rules and guidelines still apply.* 

The Dog Tag® is brought to you by the Texas Veterans Land Board and the Texas Veterans Commission. Find more episodes at medium.com/the-dog-tag. If you have questions about this topic, or suggestions for other podcast topics, call 1–800–252-VETS or email [email protected]. Visit TexasVeterans.com to find out more about your benefits! 

It's vitally important that Veterans share their own unique stories. On this episode of the Dog Tag, Matt Elledge talks with Honorèe Corder, author of You Must Write a Book. Honorèe is a writer, speaker and coach for business professionals, writers, and aspiring non-fiction authors who want to publish their own books. Honoree and Matt cover topics including why and how you should write a book, who you should write the book for, and tips on how to self-publish your book.

"Please do tell your story," says Honorèe, "Because we won't continue to have the next generation of people who grow up and serve, if you don't tell your story—if you don't tell us what it's really like and why it's so important for us to be patriotic. If we don't continue to have people that stand up and serve, we won't have anything left to protect."

The Dog Tag® is brought to you by the Texas Veterans Land Board and the Texas Veterans Commission. Find more episodes at medium.com/the-dog-tag. If you have questions about this topic, or suggestions for other podcast topics, call 1–800–252-VETS or email [email protected]. Visit TexasVeterans.com to find out more about your benefits! 

On this tenth episode of the Dog Tag, our host Matt Elledge leads us through an after action review of the first nine episodes. Whether you're currently serving in the military, transitioning out, or a Veteran already, listen to this debrief and discover the topics Matt discussed with his guests, and why they are relevant to you and your family.

In the episodes to come, we'll dive deeper into issues pertaining to women Veterans and employment programs. We'll also cover education benefits, how to manage your finances, and the VLB Land, Home and Home Improvement Loan Programs. We encourage all our listeners to reach out and let us know if there is a specific topic you would like us to cover. You can contact us via Facebook, Twitter, email or phone. Listen to the Dog Tag on iTunes, and rate and review us—we welcome your feedback.

The Dog Tag® is brought to you by the Texas Veterans Land Board and the Texas Veterans Commission. Find more episodes at medium.com/the-dog-tag. If you have questions about this topic, or suggestions for other podcast topics, call 1–800–252-VETS or email [email protected]. Visit TexasVeterans.com to find out more about your benefits!

On this episode of the Dog Tag, our host Matt Elledge talks with four amazing Veterans who run the Women Veterans Program at the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC). Women Veterans are a historically underserved segment of our our Veteran population, but this small team of Women Veterans intends to change that here in Texas. Matt and his guests discuss topics including underemployment, homeless Women Veterans, filing VA Disability Claims for military sexual trauma, and much more.

Anna Baker, the Women Veterans Program Manager, served as an interpreter in the U.S. Air Force for four years. Pam Maercklein, the Women Veterans Health Care Advisor, served eight years in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Japan, Germany and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Julie Puzan, the Women Veterans Employment Coordinator, served six years in the U.S. Air Force as a Weapons Loader on the B-2 Bomber. Carrie Sconza, the Women Veterans Outreach Coordinator, served for 20 years in the U.S. Navy Veteran and retired as a Navy Career Counselor.

Stay tuned for future podcasts where we'll dive deeper into each of these subjects with the Women Veterans Program.

The Dog Tag® is brought to you by the Texas Veterans Land Board and the Texas Veterans Commission. Find more episodes at medium.com/the-dog-tag. If you have questions about this topic, or suggestions for other podcast topics, call 1–800–252-VETS or email [email protected]. Visit TexasVeterans.com to find out more about your benefits!

On this episode of The Dog Tag, our host Matt Elledge sits down with Col. (ret.) Tom Palladino, the Executive Director of the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC). This Texas State Agency has been serving Veterans in Texas since 1927 and has many programs for Texas Veterans, their dependents and survivors.

The TVC has disability claims officers and Veteran representatives in VA hospitals across the state. They have employment services to help Veterans and their spouses find jobs, and an incredible entrepreneur program dedicated to helping Veterans realize their dream of running their own business.

The TVC also runs the Military Veteran Peer Network which provides peer-to-peer counseling and the Women Veterans Program, that offers women Veterans traditional assistance with VA health care, disability claims, and employment and education benefits, as well as specialized services like assistance with VA maternity care and counseling for military sexual trauma. The TVC also provides grants to Veteran Service Organizations that provide direct services to Texas Veterans and their families.

While the TVC serves a vast population spread across this great state, they remain focused on their mission and are passionate about the services they provide.

"I could think of no other way to spend my foreseeable future than to help Veterans," says Tom Palladino.

The Dog Tag® is brought to you by the Texas Veterans Land Board and the Texas Veterans Commission. Find more episodes at medium.com/the-dog-tag. If you have questions about this topic, or suggestions for other podcast topics, call 1–800–252-VETS or email [email protected]. Visit TexasVeterans.com to find out more about your benefits!

On this episode of the Dog Tag, our host Matt Elledge talks with Col. (ret.) Chuck Hodges, Senior Director of Events and Programs at Hiring Our Heroes. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation launched this program in March 2011, as a nationwide initiative to help Veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses find meaningful employment opportunities. Over 500,000 Veterans and military spouses have been hired thus far.

Chuck Hodges is a 26 year Army Veteran and was Garrison Commander at Joint Base Lewis-McChord from 2012 to 2015. He always encourages everyone to prepare for an HOH Hiring Event, and visit each and every table during the event.

"You've done military operations your entire career and you never went on an objective without doing proper reconnaissance ahead of time. If you're interested in a certain company, or certain area of the country, do your research—get on their website, LinkedIn and Facebook pages," Hodges says. “Don’t rule out a company. They need people from across the spectrum.”

The Dog Tag® is brought to you by the Texas Veterans Land Board and the Texas Veterans Commission. Find more episodes at medium.com/the-dog-tag. If you have questions about this topic, or suggestions for other podcast topics, call 1–800–252-VETS or email [email protected]. Visit TexasVeterans.com to find out more about your benefits!

The best time to prepare for your post-service career is before you leave the military. On this episode of the Dog Tag, our host, Matt Elledge, talks with Charlie Green, Director of Human Resources on Fort Hood, about the Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program and the Army Career Skills Program. Both programs were initiated under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act to help the men and women who served our nation find success in today's highly competitive job market.

The Dog Tag® is brought to you by the Texas Veterans Land Board and the Texas Veterans Commission. Find more episodes at medium.com/the-dog-tag. If you have questions about this topic, or suggestions for other podcast topics, call 1–800–252-VETS or email [email protected]. Visit TexasVeterans.com to find out more about your benefits!

In this pilot episode of the Dog Tag, subject matter experts from the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) and the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) come together for a round table discussion about your first year out of the military. Transitioning out of the military can be a bumpy ride, but the more information you have about all the benefits, resources and programs available to you as a Veteran, the smoother it will be.

Topics will include organizations who offer assistance to military members and Veterans; VA health care and disability claims; medical service records; exit strategies, and more. In future podcasts, we’ll dive deep into each of these subjects individually and share detailed information to help you navigate these often turbulent waters.

“I had no idea how strong the Veteran community was until I got out of the military,” said Eric Brown, VLB Deputy Director of Texas State Veterans Cemeteries. “I can say for a fact, that every step of the way during my transition, there was a Veteran standing there waiting to help me along the way and often times it takes a Veteran to help a Veteran.”

The Dog Tag® is brought to you by the Texas Veterans Land Board and the Texas Veterans Commission. Find more episodes at medium.com/the-dog-tag. If you have questions about this topic, or suggestions for other podcast topics, call 1-800-252-VETS or email [email protected]. Visit TexasVeterans.com to find out more about your benefits! 

Finding a new career after you leave the military can be a daunting task. There are many things to consider including where to live and the job market in that area, educational requirements for particular positions, the minimum income you need to support yourself and your family, and more.

In this episode of the Dog Tag, our host, Matt Elledge, talks about employment opportunities for Veterans with Stan Kurtz, Director of Veterans Employment Services, and Shawn Deabay, Director of Program Operations at the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC). They will discuss the importance of having a plan and understanding your career goals, so you can find an organization that's a good fit for you.

Whether you're still serving in the military, or you've been a Veteran for a while, it's never too early, or too late, to start thinking about your post-military career!

The Dog Tag® is brought to you by the Texas Veterans Land Board and the Texas Veterans Commission. Find more episodes at medium.com/the-dog-tag. If you have questions about this topic, or suggestions for other podcast topics, call 1–800–252-VETS or email [email protected]. Visit TexasVeterans.com to find out more about your benefits!