I'm working on a book about my Afghanistan deployment, and going back through my old mission logs and journals turned up some memories I haven't talked about publicly before. In this episode I run through nine of the weirdest, most random things I still remember from that time, from eating what I'm pretty sure was dog meat in Thailand to watching a herd of goats get wiped out because they wandered too close to a jumpy ally unit. It's not the kind of deployment content you'd expect, but it's honest, and it's part of why I'm writing this book in the first place.

(00:00) - Intro

(01:18) - Mission 24 Begins

(03:01) - First IED Strike

(04:00) - Mine Roller Breaks Down

(08:23) - Paperwork Delay Sparks IED

(09:15) - Third IED in 50 Yards

(12:15) - Live Mortar Rounds Found

(14:01) - Letterman's Cigarette and Pizza

(17:36) - Executing Through Chaos

On the Military Millionaire Podcast, I share real conversations with service members, veterans, and their families. Each week, we explore how to build wealth through personal finance, entrepreneurship, and real estate investing.

Produced by ⁠UNFLTR

Everybody wants to know how much money their VA disability rating pays out each month. That number is honestly one of the least exciting parts of the benefit. In this episode, I break down what your rating actually unlocks: free or discounted VA healthcare, property tax exemptions, extra compensation for dependents, education benefits for your kids, adaptive housing grants, and a long list of state-level perks most veterans never look up. Stack all of that with your VA loan, and you have one of the most powerful financial toolkits available to you, if you actually use it.

(00:00) - Intro

(00:58) - VA Healthcare Benefits

(02:49) - Property Tax Exemptions

(04:29) - Education Benefits for Dependents

(05:54) - Travel Reimbursement and Adaptive Housing

(07:04) - State-Level Veteran Benefits

(08:08) - Filing Your VA Disability Claim

(09:09) - VA Loan and Free Training

On the Military Millionaire Podcast, I share real conversations with service members, veterans, and their families. Each week, we explore how to build wealth through personal finance, entrepreneurship, and real estate investing.

Produced by ⁠UNFLTR

Think you need income to use your VA loan? Think again. In this episode, I break down five real ways to qualify for a VA loan with little to no traditional income, from using VA disability as tax-exempt qualifying income, to combining entitlement with a fellow veteran, to counting projected rental income on a multi-unit property. I'm joined by my friend Adit Shah, who shares the real story of how he and another veteran combined entitlement to buy a $1M triplex in Imperial Beach, California with zero down and walked away with a $350,000 profit a year later.

If you've been told you can't qualify for a VA loan without income, this episode will change how you think about it.

(00:00) - Intro

(00:36) - VA Disability As Income

(01:27) - Grossing Up Explained

(02:05) - Combining Entitlement

(03:06) - Two Vets, No Marriage Required

(03:24) - Adit's $1M Triplex Story

(04:31) - $350K Profit, Zero Down

(06:13) - Co-Signing Rules

(07:37) - Using Rental Income To Qualify

On the Military Millionaire Podcast, I share real conversations with service members, veterans, and their families. Each week, we explore how to build wealth through personal finance, entrepreneurship, and real estate investing.

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/militarymillionaire

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Frommilitarytomillionaire?sub_confirmation=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frommilitarytomillionaire/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-pere/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/militaryrei

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@militarymillionaire

Produced by ⁠UNFLTR

If you've ever flipped off a buddy driving past on the highway, stopped cold when you heard reveille, or felt physically uncomfortable when someone thanked you for your service, you already know what this episode is. Twenty habits from military life that never fully leave you, and that can seriously confuse the civilians around you.

In this episode, I walk through the full list: from greeting your best friends with the middle finger to standing at the position of attention during the national anthem, from using military lingo in normal conversation to keeping contingency plans for a night at a concert. Some of these are funny. Some hit different. All of them are real.

(00:00) - Intro

(00:32) - Flipping Off Friends

(01:39) - National Anthem Stance

(02:15) - Roasting and Branch Rivalry

(02:51) - Avoiding Political Discourse

(03:45) - Military Attire and Habits

(04:23) - Military Lingo

(04:36) - Waking Up at 5:30 AM

(04:46) - Judging Posture and Appearance

(05:03) - Showing Up Early

(05:19) - Dark Humor

(05:42) - Sounds That Hit Different

(06:09) - Last Names and Overpacking

(06:48) - Using Acronyms

(07:01) - Contingency Plans

(07:24) - "Living the Dream"

(07:57) - Avoiding the Grass

(08:12) - Being Thanked for Service

On the Military Millionaire Podcast, I share real conversations with service members, veterans, and their families. Each week, we explore how to build wealth through personal finance, entrepreneurship, and real estate investing.

Produced by ⁠UNFLTR

Most service members leave serious money on the table every year because nobody sat them down and explained how the military's pay structure actually works from a tax perspective. I'm breaking down 12 tax advantages built specifically for active duty, Guard, Reserve, and veterans. From BAH exemptions and combat zone TSP contributions to the Section 121 capital gains exclusion that saved one of my buddies close to six figures on a home sale.

(00:00) - Intro

(00:27) - PCS Moving Expense Deductions

(01:09) - BAH, BAS, and Tax-Exempt Allowances

(03:06) - Roth vs. Traditional TSP

(03:54) - Deployment Tax Benefits and Combat Zone TSP

(04:48) - Tax Credits vs. Deductions Explained

(06:51) - Real Estate Tax Benefits and Section 121 Exclusion

(08:57) - State of Residence Strategy

(09:48) - Filing Extensions and Penalty Relief

(10:06) - Reserve and Guard Drill Deductions

(10:25) - Veteran Tax Advantages: Disability Pay, GI Bill, State Benefits

On the Military Millionaire Podcast, I share real conversations with service members, veterans, and their families. Each week, we explore how to build wealth through personal finance, entrepreneurship, and real estate investing.

Download a free copy of my book: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/free-book

Sign up for free webinar trainings: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/register

Apply for The War Room Mastermind: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/mastermind-application

Guide to raising capital: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/capital-raising-guide

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/militarymillionaire

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Frommilitarytomillionaire?sub_confirmation=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frommilitarytomillionaire/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-pere/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/militaryrei

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@militarymillionaire

Produced by ⁠UNFLTR

Real estate agents and lenders get the VA loan wrong constantly, and it's costing veterans and service members one of the most powerful financial tools they'll ever have access to. In this episode, I break down 11 of the most common lies I hear from agents and lenders who either don't understand the VA loan or don't want to learn it because it cuts into their commission. I'm a licensed agent, licensed lender, and VA loan expert, and I'm done watching people get talked out of the best mortgage in the world.

(00:00) - Intro

(00:27) - Lie #1: You Can Only Use the VA Loan Once

(01:57) - Lie #2: The Inspection Kills Deals

(03:33) - Lie #3: VA Appraisals Always Come In Low

(04:24) - Tidewater and Reconsideration of Value

(07:06) - Lie #4: Sellers Won't Accept VA Offers

(10:03) - Lie #5: VA Loans Take Longer to Close

(11:51) - Lie #6: You Can't Buy from a House Flipper

(12:51) - Lie #7: Closing Costs Block the Deal

(14:12) - Lie #8: VA Buyers Are Risky or Less Qualified

(15:09) - Lie #9: The Funding Fee Makes It a Bad Deal

(16:33) - Lie #10: You Can't Buy an Investment Property

(17:25) - Lie #11: VA Loans Are Complicated

(17:42) - The Bottom Line on VA Loans

On the Military Millionaire Podcast, I share real conversations with service members, veterans, and their families. Each week, we explore how to build wealth through personal finance, entrepreneurship, and real estate investing.

Download a free copy of my book: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/free-book

Sign up for free webinar trainings: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/register

Apply for The War Room Mastermind: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/mastermind-application

Guide to raising capital: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/capital-raising-guide

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/militarymillionaire

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Frommilitarytomillionaire?sub_confirmation=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frommilitarytomillionaire/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-pere/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/militaryrei

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@militarymillionaire

Produced by ⁠UNFLTR

Same duty station. Same VA loan. One friend gets paid to own his home. The other writes a $30,000 check just to leave. When orders came through, most guys asked the wrong question. It's not "should I sell or rent?" It's "did I buy something worth keeping?"

In this episode, I walk you through three real PCS housing scenarios, break down how to actually calculate cashflow (not the guru math that gets people wrecked) and give you a clear framework to know exactly what to do with your home before you move.

(00:00) - Intro

(00:27) - Jonathan's Story: The Win

(01:54) - The Adjutant's Story: The $30K Mistake

(03:18) - The Real Question to Ask

(03:39) - Equity Check

(04:39) - Real Cashflow Math

(06:39) - Intent: Home or Investment?

(07:13) - Landlord Reality and Cash Reserves

(08:00) - My First Duplex

(08:51) - Keep or Sell Framework

On the Military Millionaire Podcast, I share real conversations with service members, veterans, and their families. Each week, we explore how to build wealth through personal finance, entrepreneurship, and real estate investing.

Download a free copy of my book: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/free-book

Sign up for free webinar trainings: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/register

Apply for The War Room Mastermind: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/mastermind-application

Guide to raising capital: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/capital-raising-guide

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/militarymillionaire

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Frommilitarytomillionaire?sub_confirmation=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frommilitarytomillionaire/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-pere/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/militaryrei

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@

Produced by ⁠UNFLTR

I did what most service members do. I found cheap rent, pocketed the difference from my BAH, and thought I was winning. Then I bought a duplex in Missouri and dropped my out-of-pocket housing cost to $110 a month. That's when everything changed. In this episode, I break down the three ways military members use their BAH and why only one of them actually builds wealth.

I walk through the real numbers on house hacking, the break-even buy, and the rent-and-spend trap, with honest math on what three to four years of saved BAH can look like when you put it to work. Your BAH is tax-exempt investment capital the military handed you. The question is whether you treat it that way.

(00:00) - Intro

(00:27) - The BAH pocketing trap

(01:42) - My duplex story

(02:06) - BAH is investment capital

(02:27) - Option 1: House hacking

(03:09) - Option 2: Break even buy

(04:25) - Option 3: Rent and spend

(05:33) - The house hack math

(06:45) - What $100K in BAH savings unlocks

On the Military Millionaire Podcast, I share real conversations with service members, veterans, and their families. Each week, we explore how to build wealth through personal finance, entrepreneurship, and real estate investing.

Download a free copy of my book: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/free-book

Sign up for free webinar trainings: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/register

Apply for The War Room Mastermind: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/mastermind-application

Guide to raising capital: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/capital-raising-guide

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/militarymillionaire

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Frommilitarytomillionaire?sub_confirmation=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frommilitarytomillionaire/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-pere/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/militaryrei

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@militarymillionaire

Produced by ⁠UNFLTR

Every PCS is a chance to buy an investment property with zero or near-zero out of pocket, and most service members let it pass. I walk through the exact strategy I used three times across three duty stations: buy a multi-unit or house-hack-able property using the VA loan, live for free while you're there, then turn it into a cash-flowing rental when orders come through again.

I cover the full step-by-step, the common objections (deployments, market drops, not knowing where to start), and the real math behind why pocketing your BAH instead of spending it changes everything.

(00:00) - Intro

(00:27) - The PCS Investing Opportunity

(01:33) - Buy an Investment Property, Not a Dream Home

(02:09) - House Hacking with a VA Loan

(03:20) - Pocket Your BAH and Reinvest It

(04:21) - Turn It Into a Rental When You Move

(05:15) - Property Management Basics

(05:46) - My Real Portfolio Story

(07:12) - Handling Objections: Deploy, Market Drop, Don't Know Where to Start

(07:51) - Free Book + Resources

On the Military Millionaire Podcast, I share real conversations with service members, veterans, and their families. Each week, we explore how to build wealth through personal finance, entrepreneurship, and real estate investing.

Download a free copy of my book: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/free-book

Sign up for free webinar trainings: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/register

Apply for The War Room Mastermind: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/mastermind-application

Guide to raising capital: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/capital-raising-guide

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/militarymillionaire

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Frommilitarytomillionaire?sub_confirmation=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frommilitarytomillionaire/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-pere/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/militaryrei

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@militarymillionaire

Produced by UNFLTR

Most service members have no idea how far their military medical benefits actually stretch. In this episode, I break down 11 procedures TRICARE and military hospitals will cover. From vision correction and rhinoplasty to vasectomies and scar revision. I also share the exact framework for getting elective procedures approved before you separate.

(00:00) - Intro

(00:48) - LASIK and PRK Vision Correction

(01:45) - Functional Rhinoplasty

(02:21) - Vasectomy Coverage

(02:42) - Breast Reductions and Implants

(03:44) - Cleft Lip and Palate Repair

(04:09) - Braces and TMJ

(04:36) - Wisdom Teeth

(04:57) - Varicose Vein Treatment

(05:09) - Scar Revision

(05:48) - Excess Skin Removal

(06:18) - Deviated Septum

(06:39) - On-Base Cosmetic Surgery Programs

(07:12) - How to Get Procedures Approved

On the Military Millionaire Podcast, I share real conversations with service members, veterans, and their families. Each week, we explore how to build wealth through personal finance, entrepreneurship, and real estate investing.

Download a free copy of my book: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/free-book

Sign up for free webinar trainings: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/register

Apply for The War Room Mastermind: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/mastermind-application

Guide to raising capital: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/capital-raising-guide

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/militarymillionaire

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Frommilitarytomillionaire?sub_confirmation=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frommilitarytomillionaire/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-pere/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/militaryrei

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@militarymillionaire

Produced by UNFLTR