Episode 253 of the Transition Drill podcast, explores Marine Corps combat service, life after injury, and veteran transition for military veterans and first responders navigating identity, trauma, and purpose after the job. You’ll hear Marcus Wilson on surviving an IED blast, fighting his way back into uniform, and what it takes to rebuild a life when the mission changes.

Marcus grew up in Dermott, Arkansas, with the Marine Corps already planted in his mind. His dad had served, and a photo of him in dress blues became a reminder of the path Marcus wanted. After graduating high school in 1994, he left for boot camp in San Diego, became an infantry Marine, and committed early to making the Marine Corps a career.

His service took him from Camp Pendleton to Okinawa, Korea, Australia, Hawaii, Afghanistan, and Iraq. After 9/11, Marcus wanted to be where the fight was. In 2005, he deployed to Afghanistan with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines and experienced combat during a deployment that included Operation Red Wings in his unit’s area of operations. Then came Iraq in 2006, where the pace and violence in Haditha were constant.

On November 14, 2006, Marcus was serving as a QRF platoon sergeant when his vehicle was hit by an IED. Three Marines were killed. Marcus survived, but lost his left leg above the knee and suffered multiple serious injuries, including broken bones, fractured vertebrae, broken ribs, and a punctured lung. After 48 surgeries, years of rehab, and learning to walk with a prosthetic, he fought to stay in the Marine Corps instead of leaving at 12 years. He returned to active duty, became a First Sergeant, served at the School of Infantry, and retired after 21 years.

But retirement brought a different fight. Marcus talks openly about depression, losing his sense of purpose, staying in bed for nearly a year, and finally getting help through the Veterans Center. Today, he’s found purpose in the outdoors through Wounded Warrior Outdoors, guiding veterans and first responders on hunting and fishing trips across North America. His story is about dedication, mental health, brotherhood, and finding a new mission after service.

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Episode 252 of the Transition Drill Podcast, traumatic brain injury recovery, veteran transition, and rebuilding identity for veterans, first responders, and anyone navigating life after service, injury, or high-performance careers. You’ll hear Chrisanne Gordon on the hidden cost of brain injury, the fight to be believed, and what it takes to turn personal adversity into a mission that changes lives.

Dr. Chrisanne Gordon didn’t arrive in the veteran community through military service. She arrived through medicine, personal hardship, and a realization she couldn’t ignore. Chrisanne followed generations of family medicine into becoming a physician. She worked emergency medicine, then later moved into rehabilitation medicine, driven by a simple question she couldn’t let go of: what happens to patients after they leave the ER?

That question became personal after suffering a traumatic brain injury herself. As a physician suddenly becoming the patient, she experienced something she’d spent a career treating but had never fully understood. Cognitive changes, loss of speech, identity disruption, depression, and the realization that medicine didn’t yet have all the answers changed how she viewed recovery and the people living through it.

Then she read reports suggesting returning veterans with traumatic brain injuries were being dismissed, misunderstood, or categorized incorrectly. What started as concern turned into action. Chrisanne volunteered at the VA in Ohio expecting to help however she could. Instead, she found herself evaluating veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and witnessing firsthand how difficult recovery, diagnosis, and transition could become when invisible injuries met institutional systems.

Her work eventually challenged accepted practices and redirected her professional life entirely. From there came advocacy, research initiatives, congressional outreach, documentary filmmaking, and eventually the creation of a nonprofit focused on supporting veterans living with traumatic brain injury. Along the way she helped elevate awareness, pushed for recognition of TBI as a defining wound of modern conflict, and continued listening directly to veterans rather than speaking for them.

Today, Chrisanne’s mission extends through speaking, education, books including Guarding Our Guardians: Guaranteeing America's Veterans a Future from Deployment to Employment, and ongoing support for veterans and their families.

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In episode 251 of the Transition Drill Podcast, explores identity, resilience, and rebuilding after public scrutiny for veterans and first responders navigating career disruption, reputation loss, and life after service. You’ll hear Kwesi Millington on what happens when one moment changes everything, and what it takes to rebuild purpose, identity, and a future when the career you expected disappears.

Former RCMP officer and now resilience keynote speaker Kwesi Millington shares a story that starts far before policing and goes far beyond the incident that made international headlines.

Raised in Toronto by a single mother after emigrating from Trinidad and Tobago, Kwesi describes a childhood that was ordinary by his standards. No clear career calling. No lifelong dream of becoming a police officer. He moved through school, completed a Bachelor of Commerce with a focus in finance, worked office and government jobs, and felt disconnected from the life he imagined for himself. Then one moment changed direction. Watching a police officer while walking a strike line, he realized he wanted work that put him outside, serving people and doing something that felt meaningful.

That decision led him into the RCMP. He trained in Regina, Saskatchewan, entered frontline policing in British Columbia, and expected to build a long career. Instead, only a few years into service, a call at Vancouver International Airport became the defining event of his life. Kwesi walks through that night, the death that followed, the public reaction, the viral footage, internal conflict, investigations, public inquiry, and the long legal aftermath that eventually ended his policing career.

But this conversation doesn’t stop there.

Kwesi talks openly about moral injury, accountability, identity collapse, incarceration, and the reality of trying to re-enter society carrying a criminal record and public history. He reflects on the jobs that never called back, rebuilding through personal training, and discovering that growth sometimes starts where status ends.

What emerged next wasn’t a return to who he was. Through fitness, Toastmasters, communication, and years of rebuilding, Kwesi found a different mission. Today he speaks to audiences on resilience, mindset, accountability, and navigating life after adversity.

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In episode 250 of the Transition Drill Podcast, explore breaking free from toxic cultures and rewriting your identity in transition for veterans and first responders navigating the high stakes of civilian life. You’ll hear Riley Gruppo on overcoming systemic isolation, a traumatic medical retirement, and the pressure to be perfect, and what it takes to reclaim your personal mission as an entrepreneur.

Riley grew up in a chaotic military family, groomed for a life of service under intense pressure. Seeking her own path, she entered an Early Commissioning Program at Valley Forge Military Academy before finishing her degree at Pepperdine University. Driven by ego and a fierce desire to prove her critics wrong, she chose the infantry branch right as combat arms roles opened to women.

Her time on active duty at Fort Benning was defined by physical grit and systemic hurdles. Riley faced isolating dynamics as a woman in a heavily male dominated space, but she outperformed expectations until a severe knee injury forced a trajectory change. She pivoted to lead an integrated training unit on Sand Hill, but the unrelenting demands of command left no space to process personal loss, including the sudden death of her grandmother.

Ultimately, a medical retirement forced her out of the uniform. Riley stepped into the corporate world in survival mode, quickly recognizing that the toxic cultures she tolerated in uniform existed in civilian offices too. After recognizing her skills in strategic planning and operations were highly transferable, she made the bold choice to quit corporate life and build her own brand, The Standard.

Today, she helps clients navigate pivotal career transitions using a framework focused on the mind, body, and mission. She is also a passionate advocate for veteran healthcare, partnering with the Aspen Elevation Institute to pioneer cutting edge treatments for traumatic brain injuries and PTSD. Riley proves that when you leave the military, the ultimate mission becomes taking care of yourself.

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CHAPTERS

00:00:00 - Intro: The Question That Opens Grief

00:03:18 - Grandmother as the Anchor

00:06:38 - Relearning How to Be Human

00:08:38 - Groomed for the Infantry

00:12:20 - Texas, Divorce, and Survival

00:15:27 - Broken Homes, Servant Hearts

00:21:19 - Good Memories Inside Chaos

00:22:24 - Excellence Built on Fear

00:25:24 - Living Alone Senior Year

00:29:08 - Valley Forge and the Hard Way

00:36:42 - Choosing Infantry

00:38:00 - The Injury That Changed the Path

00:44:18 - Pivoting Away From Infantry

00:50:24 - The Cost Behind the Badge

00:55:33 - Medically Retired, Ready to Leave

00:58:09 - Seeing the Culture After Leaving

01:03:30 - Isolation in Uniform

01:09:30 - Women, Competition, and Change

01:25:00 - Now the Mission Is You

01:38:04 - Healing the Brain, Helping Others

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Frontline Optics: Premium eyewear founded by a firefighter and built to withstand the job. Every single purchase helps support the First Responders Children’s Foundation, serving families who’ve paid the ultimate price. Save 10% off your pair at frontlineoptics.com using promo code Transition10

In episode 249 of the Transition Drill Podcast, explore military transition, long-term service, and purpose after retirement for veterans and first responders navigating life beyond the uniform. You’ll hear retired Army Colonel Michael “Sully” Sullivan on leadership, identity, Special Forces service, and what it takes to build a meaningful second mission after a 30-year military career.

Michael “Sully” Sullivan grew up in Yakima, Washington, surrounded by a family legacy of military service that stretched from World War I through Vietnam. His father served as an infantry officer in Vietnam before becoming a longtime prosecuting attorney, and those experiences quietly shaped Sully’s view of service long before he ever put on a uniform himself. Originally headed toward law school, Sully attended Claremont McKenna College to play football and pursue a more traditional civilian path. But an unexpected ROTC opportunity changed everything and sent him into the Army with what he thought would only be a four-year commitment.

Instead, Sully found purpose in leadership, team culture, and the challenge of military life. He shares stories from his early years as a field artillery officer, meeting his wife just weeks after they were introduced, building a family while serving overseas, and eventually taking the difficult leap into the Special Forces community. The episode walks through his path to becoming a Green Beret, the pressure and uncertainty of Special Forces selection, and what it was like entering that world just as 9/11 changed the trajectory of the military forever.

But this conversation isn’t only about military service. Sully speaks candidly about marriage during a 30-year Army career, raising children while constantly moving, financial mistakes, mentorship, and the reality that senior leaders often transition feeling isolated despite decades of experience. He also talks openly about chasing promotion to general officer, accepting when that path didn’t happen, and learning how to move forward without bitterness or regret.

Today, Sully serves as the Executive Director of Team Red, White & Blue, helping veterans reconnect to purpose, health, and community after service. His transition story is rooted in preparation, relationships, humility, and trusting the people who truly know you. This episode is a deep conversation about identity, leadership, family, service, and finding a new mission after the military.

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Frontline Optics: Premium eyewear founded by a firefighter and built to withstand the job. Every single purchase helps support the First Responders Children’s Foundation, serving families who’ve paid the ultimate price. Save 10% off your pair at frontlineoptics.com using promo code Transition10

In episode 248 of the Transition Drill Podcast, explore identity loss, PTSD, addiction, and rebuilding purpose for firefighters, veterans, and first responders navigating the hidden emotional cost of service. You’ll hear Frank Park on what happens when the career you fought to earn becomes the thing quietly destroying you, and what it takes to rebuild your life after hitting rock bottom.

Frank Park’s story starts long before the fire service. Growing up in Torrance, California, he struggled with grief, anger, isolation, and rebellion after losing his grandmother at a young age. By high school, he was drinking, smoking, fighting, ditching school, and convinced he was the burden holding his family together. Then came an unexpected turning point through faith, community, and a decision to completely change the trajectory of his life.

After turning things around academically, Frank attended University of Southern California with plans to become an attorney. But after realizing corporate office life wasn’t for him, he found himself drawn toward the fire service. What followed was years of grinding through EMT work, reserve firefighter shifts, volunteer time, brutal fire academy training, and countless applications across California before finally earning a full-time spot as a firefighter in San Diego County.

The episode dives deep into the realities of firefighting culture, old-school mentorship, proving yourself inside tight-knit departments, strike team deployments during major California wildfires, and the mental toll that accumulates from traumatic calls involving children, death, and violence. Frank opens up about the call that changed him, the PTSD symptoms he didn’t recognize, and the hidden alcoholism and isolation that nearly consumed him while everyone around him thought he was thriving.

What makes this conversation powerful is the second half of Frank’s life. He talks openly about surrender, faith, rebuilding his identity outside the badge, and transitioning into entrepreneurship as the CEO of El Horno Chimi. This is a conversation about purpose, masculinity, trauma, accountability, and learning how to live after the uniform comes off.

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Blue Line Roasting: Premium, law-enforcement-owned coffee roasted to fuel the shift. A portion of every order directly supports law enforcement families facing line-of-duty injury or loss. Save 10% at bluelineroasting.com with promo code Transition10

Frontline Optics: Premium eyewear founded by a firefighter and built to withstand the job. Every single purchase helps support the First Responders Children’s Foundation, serving families who’ve paid the ultimate price. Save 10% off your pair at frontlineoptics.com using promo code Transition10

In episode 247 of the Transition Drill Podcast, hear the journey of former Navy Corpsman Jason Brooks for veterans and first responders navigating the shift from service to health tech and agentic AI. Jason talks about the power of testing the waters during a career pivot, and what it takes to find your "North Star" after the uniform.

Jason grew up in a intrigued by science and academic ambition, but his home life was far from stable. After his parents divorced, he spent his youth bouncing between New York and Pennsylvania, eventually finding himself on the streets and living in friends’ homes during high school. Despite the chaos, Jason maintained a laser focus on his dream of becoming a doctor, inspired by his Uncle Walter. A tragic car accident at age 17, where he felt helpless as a friend passed away, solidified his "why" and shifted his focus toward medicine and service.

Though he initially resisted the military, Jason eventually joined the Navy as a Corpsman. His time in service was defined by the same curiosity that led him to science as a child. He thrived in the medical field, but like many, he reached a point where he had to decide what came next. His transition wasn't a straight line. He describes a process of "dipping his toes" into various opportunities, moving through a career that eventually shifted from direct patient care to the tech and business side of healthcare.

Today, Jason is a leader in the health tech space as the CEO of Innovo AI, proving that the skills learned in the field translate directly to the corporate boardroom. He’s now a father of two, balancing his professional accomplishments with a commitment to his family and his roots. From working on seventh generation farms in the Hudson Valley to managing high-level healthcare operations, Jason’s story is a testament to seizing the day. He shares how to handle the friction of a tumultuous transition and why you should never be afraid to take a chance on a new direction, even if it feels like starting over.

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#transitiondrillpodcast #militarytransition #firstresponders

In episode 246 of the Transition Drill Podcast explore military transition, identity loss, and career reinvention for veterans and first responders navigating life after service. You’ll hear Ryan Cunningham on losing the profession he loved, rebuilding after an unexpected medical setback, and what it takes to create a new mission when the original plan ends.

Ryan Cunningham’s story starts in Missouri before his family relocated to San Diego, where seeing fighter jets over Miramar changed the direction of his life. As a kid, he was a constant reader, competitive soccer player, and someone drawn to discipline, challenge, and service. That drive eventually took him to Florida State, where an early lack of direction turned into renewed purpose when he entered ROTC and later made the bold decision to leave the Army track for a shot at Marine Corps aviation. It was a gamble that required persistence, pressure, and family support, but it paid off.

Ryan went on to earn a Marine pilot slot, excelled in flight training, finished first in primary, and selected jets. He flew the F-18, deployed overseas, supported combat operations over Iraq, and later became an instructor. He talks openly about the reality behind the dream career, the long training pipeline, leadership responsibilities, squadron life, and the difference between wanting to be a fighter pilot versus living the full demands of being a Marine officer.

Then everything changed. A medical event in 2016 led to an 18-month battle to regain flight status. Ryan believed he’d return to the cockpit, but eventually learned his flying career was over. He shares the emotional toll of not knowing your last flight was your last flight, the anger that followed, and how time gave him a different perspective through family and fatherhood.

After leaving active duty in 2018, Ryan transitioned with a newborn daughter and no clear roadmap. He leaned on relationships, accepted an opportunity in military simulation training, then moved into F-15 simulator instruction. Today, he works back at Miramar training F-35 students, proving that even when one chapter closes, experience, credibility, and purpose can still open the next one.

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In episode 245 of the Transition Drill Podcast explore military transition, leadership under pressure, and career reinvention for veterans and first responders navigating life after service. You’ll hear Retired Master Sergeant Eric Harmon on the challenge of translating elite skills into the civilian world, and what it takes to build a new mission with real ownership and risk.

Eric Harmon grew up in Southern California after spending part of his childhood in Hawaii, raised by a father who served as both a police officer and FBI agent. With no clear plan after high school, he entered the Marine Corps at 18, initially as a military police reservist before quickly committing to active duty. His early career placed him in Iraq, where he worked as part of a security element supporting EOD teams. That exposure shifted his trajectory. Watching those teams operate, he realized he wanted to be the one solving the problem, not just protecting the perimeter.

After multiple deployments, Harmon made the transition into Explosive Ordnance Disposal. He approached EOD school with the mindset that it was his version of college, knowing that failure to learn could have real consequences downrange. Over the next 16 years, including time in MARSOC, he operated in high-risk environments where calm decision-making, pattern recognition, and adaptability were critical. He describes how those traits are built through repetition and experience, not personality.

His transition out of the military forced a different kind of pressure. Moving into civilian life and eventually starting his own business, Harmon found that the stress shifted from mission execution to total accountability. Without the structure of the military, he became the single point of failure, responsible for every decision, outcome, and setback. That shift tested his leadership, forcing him to adapt how he communicates, manages people, and applies the skills he developed in uniform.

Today, he the Game Day Men’s Health clinic in Tustin, CA, carrying forward the lessons from EOD into entrepreneurship. Eric also survived a horrific motorcycle crash after getting out of the Marine Corps and starting his business. His story highlights a key reality for transitioning service members. The technical skills may not always transfer directly, but the ability to lead, operate under pressure, and solve problems does. The challenge is learning how to apply them in a completely different environment.

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Episode 244 of the Transition Drill Podcast explores the power of working backwards from a goal for veterans and first responders navigating the complexities of career shifts. You'll hear retired Navy Commander and helicopter pilot Jeremy Vellon on overcoming the friction of being an outsider, and what it takes to build a successful post-service life by finding your people.

Jeremy's journey started in Brooklyn, inspired by a trip to the movies with his father to see Top Gun. That moment sparked a lifelong commitment to naval aviation. His father didn't just offer support; he laid out a clear roadmap of the grades, athletic milestones, and leadership skills required to reach the Naval Academy. Jeremy took that advice to heart, spending his youth working backwards from that singular objective despite being younger and smaller than his peers.

Throughout his twenty-year career in the Navy, Jeremy leaned into the discipline of setting preconditions for success. Set to deploy on September 19, 2011, his unit was one of the first to go active after 9/11; deploying immediately to Afghanistan. He faced the harsh realities of service, including the loss of friends, which grounded his professional outlook in the gravity of the mission. This mindset of service and sacrifice was a family legacy, shared with his father who served during the Vietnam era.

After retiring in 2018, Jeremy transitioned into a new chapter that prioritized his family and individual growth. Building on his military experience and his MBA from the University of Michigan, he embarked on a new Human Resources career, with a stop at Amazon, he was building his own HR Consulting company. But while he was focused on his career, he was not focused on himself. Then one day he struggled physically to get out of bed. With his wife’s prompting and the need to help care for his son, who has Cerebral Palsy, he realized he needed to put focus back on his personal fitness. That caused a new career pivot, and he and his wife are now owners of a Burn Bootcamp Fitness center.

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