Discover how Marine Corps veteran and real estate mogul Edwin Carrion achieved Financial Freedom—despite major setbacks—and learn proven strategies for Business Scaling and Wealth Creation in this action-packed episode. From overcoming business failure to developing business systems and processes for growth, Edwin reveals his journey from Ecuador to the U.S., his inspiring service in the Marine Corps, and his blueprint for investing in financial independence. If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur—or a Veteran Business owner—looking to Build a Scalable Business, this conversation will spark new ideas, accelerate your leadership development, and equip you with the mindset for success.

Join us as we unpack essential insights on Entrepreneurship, Leadership Development, and Business Mentorship. Edwin shares priceless lessons on Networking, Business Planning, and delegating effectively to reach your goals faster. Discover how to tap into your own potential, find the right mentors, and ultimately create a life of freedom and impact. 

Ready to grow your venture and level up your Marine Corps Entrepreneur Success story? Hit that subscribe button, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and share this video with fellow entrepreneurs. Let’s work together to achieve the next stage of your business journey!

───────── CHAPTERS ─────────

0:00 Intro  

2:15 Edwin Carrion’s Background  

4:30 Moving from Ecuador to the U.S.  

7:45 Joining the Marine Corps  

11:20 Military Career and Embassy Duty  

16:10 Lessons from Embassy Duty and Networking  

20:30 Transitioning Out of the Military  

25:00 First Business Venture in Real Estate  

29:10 Facing Bankruptcy and Starting Over  

33:45 The Importance of Mentors  

37:20 Learning from Failure  

41:15 Building Business Systems  

46:40 The Power of Delegation  

50:15 Scaling Businesses with the Right Team  

54:00 Balancing Business and Family Life  

58:10 Mindset Shift for Financial Success  

1:02:30 Edwin’s Mentorship Philosophy  

1:07:30 Final Advice for Entrepreneurs  

1:10:45 How to Connect with Edwin Carrion  

1:12:30 Closing Remarks and Podcast Wrap-Up  

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe for more insights on Veteran Business, Business Scaling, and Real Estate Development Business strategies! Leave a comment about your favorite part and don’t forget to share this podcast with entrepreneurs who need to hear it.

#Entrepreneurship #VeteranBusiness #BusinessScaling #MarineCorps #FinancialFreedom #LeadershipDevelopment #RealEstateDevelopment

Join us as we explore the complexities of military to civilian transition through the lens of seasoned veterans who've walked this path. With a focus on leadership and professional development, we dive deep into the mindset shifts required for success after service. Our expert panel shares invaluable insights on maintaining discipline while adapting to civilian culture, offering practical strategies for veterans navigating this crucial life change. 

In this episode of The Strategic Veteran podcast, host Adam Peters interviews Juan Alvarado Jr., a U.S. Army veteran who transformed his life after serving nine years and rising to the rank of Sergeant (E5). Juan shares his inspiring journey—from navigating PTSD and the emotional toll of military service to becoming a full-time speaker dedicated to building leaders in schools and beyond.

Discover how 🎖️UK Special Forces veteran Aaron Hill transitioned from military service with the Royal Marines & UKSF to building a successful coaching business and empowering others. Aaron shares insights on overcoming isolation, finding purpose, and developing a winning mindset, both on the battlefield and in civilian life. If you're a veteran or entrepreneur seeking inspiration, this episode is a must-watch.

Episode Summary

In this episode of *The Strategic Veteran Podcast*, host Adam Peters dives deep into Aaron Hill's remarkable journey. Aaron served 10 dynamic years across the Royal Marines and UK Special Forces, navigating intense operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo. After leaving service, Aaron faced challenges transitioning to civilian life but found his calling as a coach and leader, helping others build resilience and find personal transformation. Hear Aaron's compelling insights on overcoming struggles, staying grounded, and building purpose-driven communities for veterans and entrepreneurs worldwide.

Key Discussion Points:

• Aaron Hill’s journey in the Royal Marines & UK Special Forces 🎖️🇬🇧

• Challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life

• How isolation led Aaron to coaching and mindset work

• Building communities for veterans and entrepreneurs

• The importance of mindfulness and being present

• Words of wisdom for veterans finding purpose after service

Military Experience Highlights:

🎖️ Aaron Hill served in the Royal Marines and UKSF, rising to the rank of corporal. Notable deployments in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo shaped his leadership and resilience.

Expertise/Civilian Success:

Aaron is now a mindset and leadership coach focused on empowering veterans and entrepreneurs. He organizes retreats, events, and communities to foster resilience and transformation.

**#VeteranSuccess #SpecialForces #MilitaryTransition #MindsetShift #VeteranEntrepreneurs #AaronHill #OvercomingChallenges #Mindfulness #Leadership #PersonalGrowth**

📢 Discover how Christopher Phillips, 🎖️🇺🇸 former Army Staff Sergeant and founder of QRF Fit, is transforming veterans' lives through fitness and mental resilience. In this episode of 'The Strategic Veteran,' we take a deep dive into Christopher's 11-year military career, his four deployments with the Army, and his transition into creating a nonprofit that helps veterans regain their purpose through physical and mental well-being. Learn about his inspiring journey from military leader to founder of QRF Fit and the challenges he overcame.

Join us as we discuss:

- Christopher's transition from 11 years in the Army to entrepreneurship

- The story behind founding QRF Fit and its mission to empower veterans

- The mental and physical struggles veterans face during transition

- The science of fitness and its impact on mental health

- How QRF Fit tailors fitness solutions and builds supportive communities

QRF Fit proves that fitness can heal more than just the body—it heals the soul. Tune in and uncover actionable insights to inspire your own journey!

✨ **Key Discussion Points:**

• Christopher Phillips’ journey from Army leader to nonprofit founder

• The founding story and mission of QRF Fit

• Tackling veteran mental health and physical well-being

• The unique, tailored approach to fitness coaching at QRF Fit

• Building a supportive veteran community across the country

• QRF Fit's growing impact and vision for the future

🎖️ **Military Experience Highlights:**

- Served 11 years in the United States Army as a Staff Sergeant

- Completed four deployments: two to Iraq and two to Afghanistan

- Demonstrated exceptional leadership within platoons and squads

💼 **Civilian Success:**

- Founder of QRF Fit, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans through fitness and resilience programs

- Mentorship of veterans transitioning from military to civilian life

- Collaboration with fitness coaches to design personalized wellness programs

Sean Welsh 🎖️🇺🇸, a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant with a 20-year career in military intelligence, shares his transformative journey from service to civilian life. In this episode, Sean discusses leadership lessons, the struggles of transitioning from the military, and his mission to educate and empower veterans. Learn how Sean's story of adaptability and servant leadership can guide veterans through their unique challenges.

Sean co-founded the VetSOS Podcast, which aims to support veterans through education, mentorship, and a sense of community. His commitment to helping veterans discover transition resources has significantly impacted the military-to-civilian sphere. Tune in to hear Sean’s advice on navigating post-military challenges, building resilience, and finding purpose after service.

📌 Key Discussion Points: 

• Sean’s 20-year career in U.S. Army Military Intelligence and deployments.

• The importance of mentorship and servant leadership in the military. 

• Transition struggles and learning to find a new purpose post-service. 

• How Sean’s podcast educates veterans on transition resources. 

• Tools like Master Resiliency Training that support mental well-being. 

• Community building and sharing stories to inspire hope.

🔍 Military Experience Highlights:

Sean Welsh served 20 years in the U.S. Army in Military Intelligence.

Completed four deployments, emphasizing resilience and servant leadership.

Mentored by an infantry NCO, Sean honed his leadership philosophy of putting soldiers first.

#VeteranTransition #MilitaryPodcast #SeanWelsh #ServantLeadership #Resilience

Veterans, leaders, and changemakers—welcome to Part II of our Hidden Bridge series, where we expose the uncomfortable truths about military transition that have been hidden in plain sight for over fifty years. I’m joined again by Thomas McKenzie, along with special guest Matt Lasher, a 20-year Marine Corps veteran and former regional executive recruiting trainer. Together, we dive into where the transition problem truly begins—not when service members separate, but the moment they first consider putting on the uniform.

We’re not just talking about the failures of transition programs—we’re going deeper into systemic issues in military recruiting, retention, and leadership. We uncover how a declining veteran population is fueling a recruiting crisis, why outdated policies are failing today’s service members, and what really needs to change to prevent the next generation from suffering the same fate. This is a hard-hitting, no-BS conversation about the future of military service, national security, and the urgent need to fix transition now. Buckle up.

Next Week: The Hidden Bridge (Part III)

This series isn’t over yet. Next week, we pull zero punches in our deep dive into leadership, accountability, and how bad policies at the highest levels are crushing veterans before they even leave service. If you care about the future of our military, you can’t afford to miss this conversation.

If this episode hit home, please share it, leave a review, and let’s keep making noise. The system won’t fix itself—we have to force it. 🎙️💥 #MilitaryTransition #Veterans #HiddenBridge #FixTheSystem

The military transition isn’t just about finding a job or updating a LinkedIn profile—it’s an identity crisis. In this first installment of our three-part series, Thomas McKenzie joins me for an unfiltered conversation about the harsh realities of life after service. Thomas, a Marine with 20 years of experience in recruiting, mentoring, and shaping futures, opens up about his own unexpected and brutal transition—one that cost him everything, from his career to his sense of self.

But he didn’t just survive—he fought back. He took the lessons from his painful transition and built one of the most impactful SkillBridge programs in the country, helping nearly 10,000 service members navigate the uncertain path to civilian life. Together, we rip the Band-Aid off the biggest lies veterans are told about transition, the emotional programming no one warns you about, and why transition is a battlefield of its own. If you’re a veteran, active-duty service member, or someone who supports those who served, this episode is a wake-up call.

Join Us for Part II!

We’re not stopping here. Next week, Thomas and special guest Matt Lasher break down how broken transitions are crushing military recruitment—and what needs to change before it’s too late. Same time, same place. Mark your calendars!

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with the veteran community, leave a review, and let’s keep this conversation going. Change starts with us. 💪 🎙️ #VeteranTransition #MilitaryToCivilian #SkillBridge #TheHiddenBridge

Discover the inspiring journey of George Emerson Hayworth, 🎖️🇺🇸 a former Army field artillery officer turned leadership coach. Learn how his military career and lessons in resilience, leadership, and masculinity fueled his creation of Elite Sentinel Coaching. George's impact extends beyond military service, helping men build legacies and transform their lives authentically. Join us as we explore his motivated transition to civilian life and his mission to empower men through leadership and personal development.

Key Discussion Points: 

• George’s military journey as a field artillery officer and battalion leader.

• Lessons learned from deployment to Afghanistan 🇦🇫 and military failures. 

• Transitioning from active duty to corporate IT sales leadership. 

• The four pillars of authentic masculinity: king, warrior, mentor, lover. 

• Addressing modern masculinity and leadership challenges for men. 

• How Elite Sentinel Coaching helps men seize leadership and identity.

Military Experience Highlights: 

• Branch: U.S. Army 🎖️ 

• Role: Field artillery officer, deployments to Afghanistan. 

• Leadership: Command at the battalion level, mentorship development. 

• Active Service: Tennessee Army National Guard, rank of Major.

Expertise & Civilian Success: 

• Founder of Elite Sentinel Coaching: Focused on leadership and legacy-building. 

• Co-host of Present Fathers Podcast: Empowering men to lead at home. 

• Speaker on emotional regulation, authentic masculinity, and resilience.

Contact Information: 

🌐 Website: theelitesentinel.com

 📸 Instagram: @george.hayworth 

🐦 Twitter: @elitesentinelx 

📘 LinkedIn: George Hayworth 

🎙️ Podcast: Present Fathers Podcast

🎖️ Empower your transition from military to civilian life with key insights from Wendy Ray, former Army Captain and host of the Beyond the Military podcast. Wendy shares her journey from serving in the Adjutant General Corps to becoming an advocate for mental health and balanced living among military women. Learn about her leadership lessons, pivotal moments in service, and how she overcame self-doubt while transitioning to civilian life. This episode dives into building a post-military identity, networking, and finding your purpose outside the uniform. Don't miss this empowering conversation!

Key Discussion Points:

• Wendy’s journey as a former Army Captain and her Adjutant General Corps experience

• Transitioning out of military life and dealing with self-doubt

• The importance of networking and connecting with like-minded individuals

• Building emotional resilience and practicing vulnerability as a leader

• Advocating for mental health and balanced lifestyles for veterans

Military Experience Highlights:

Wendy Ray served as an Army Captain in the Adjutant General Corps, specializing in human resources and military operations. Known for her exemplary leadership, Wendy took on battalion and corps-level roles, navigating challenges like officer drawdowns and supporting mission-critical operations at Fort Bragg and Fort Drum.

Expertise/Civilian Success:

Wendy is the founder and host of the Beyond the Military podcast, where she empowers military women to build mentally, emotionally, and physically balanced lives. Her coaching focuses on creating post-military success stories by highlighting self-care, emotional health, and leadership skills. Wendy actively helps women veterans redefine their identity beyond their service careers.

🎙️ Join host Adam Peters in this powerful episode featuring Darren Palatina, a former British Army Royal Engineer and Royal Navy serviceman, as he shares his transformational journey from military life to entrepreneurial success. Discover how Darren overcame PTSD, grappled with civilian transition, and built a thriving design business. Darren's inspiring story takes you from the trenches of Afghanistan to empowering others through creative entrepreneurship. 💡

🪖🎖️ Key topics covered include the challenges of military life, the transition to civilian life, vital mental health insights, and the power of resilience. Don't miss this emotional, eye-opening episode as we uncover Darren's journey to reclaiming purpose.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction to Darren Palatina and Host Adam Peters

3:12 - Childhood Struggles and Joining the Army

8:45 - Military Life as a Royal Engineer

15:22 - Bomb Disposal in Afghanistan and PTSD Impact

28:10 - Transitioning from the Army to the Navy

38:45 - Overcoming Mental Health Challenges with Hypnotherapy

48:05 - Founding a Design Business and Community Impact

58:22 - Forex Trading and Future Goals

1:04:43 - Advice for Transitioning Veterans

1:10:35 - Closing Thoughts and Contact Details

🛠️ **Key Discussion Points:**

• Darren’s journey from military to civilian life and mental health struggles.

• His pivotal role as a combat engineer specializing in bomb disposal.

• His use of hypnotherapy to overcome PTSD and anxiety.

• Starting a successful design business to reclaim purpose.

• Sharing advice on how veterans can thrive post-military.

🎖️ **Military Background at a Glance:**

• Branches: British Army (Royal Engineers, Welsh Guards), Royal Navy

• Roles: Combat Engineer, Bomb Disposal Team, Structural Finisher

• Notable Deployments: Afghanistan, Oman, Cyprus, and others

• Key Elements: Overcoming combat trauma and significant leadership during deployments

🌟 **Civilian Success:**

• Founder of a thriving design agency impacting global clients

• Advocate for entrepreneurship among veterans

• Upcoming ventures in Forex trading and veteran financial empowerment

🔗 **Hashtags:** #VeteranStories #Entrepreneurship #MentalHealthAwareness #MilitaryTransition #PTSDRecovery