VET S.O.S. Podcast

Your VA disability claim could be in trouble before you even leave active duty. Here's what a former VA rater wants you to know.What if the biggest mistake in your VA disability claim isn't what you submit, but what you failed to document while still serving?Dewayne Kimble, a decorated U.S. Army veteran and former VA rating specialist who adjudicated more than 15,000 disability claims, reveals what veterans consistently get wrong about the VA claims process. From going 12 years without understanding his own VA benefits to reviewing thousands of poorly prepared claims, Dewayne brings an insider's perspective that every transitioning service member needs to hear.In This Episode, You'll Discover:• Prepare your VA disability claim before separation. Learn why Dewayne recommends starting 36 months before leaving active duty, organizing your evidence 12 months out, and preparing for the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) filing window.• Recognize the documentation mistakes that complicate VA claims. Discover why Dewayne believes approximately 75% of the claims he adjudicated showed signs that veterans didn't understand the process, and why going to sick call matters.• Take ownership of your disability claim. Understand why relying entirely on a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to review your medical records can leave you unprepared, and how to identify the evidence needed to support your claim.• Avoid the knowledge gap that cost Dewayne 12 years. Hear how a veteran who eventually became a VA rating specialist spent more than a decade after military service without understanding VA disability compensation—and why he's determined to keep others from making the same mistake.Dewayne also explains how his VA Benefits Navigator software helps veterans develop individualized lay statements, why generic AI-generated statements may miss critical details, and how free education can help veterans become better advocates for themselves.About Dewayne KimbleDewayne Kimble is a decorated U.S. Army veteran, Soldier's Medal recipient, retired VA rating specialist, Amazon bestselling author, and founder of KMD 89 VA Claims Consulting. After adjudicating more than 15,000 VA disability claims, he now uses that experience to educate veterans about VA regulations, medical evidence, disability ratings, and the claims process. His educational platform includes more than 1,000 YouTube videos, books, webinars, and a community of more than 166,000 subscribers.His message: "Don't be frustrated, get educated."Connect With Dewayne KimbleKMD 89 VA Claims Consulting: https://www.kmd89.comVA Benefits Navigator: https://vabenefitsnavigator.comYouTube: KMD 89 VA Claims ConsultingEPISODE CHAPTERS00:00 - Introduction: The VA Claims Process02:00 - Meet Dewayne Kimble: Former VA Rating Specialist04:43 - An Unexpected Transition Out of the Army10:02 - From Corporate America to the Department of Veterans Affairs14:47 - Going 12 Years Without Understanding VA Compensation17:21 - Why Veterans Struggle With VA Disability Claims19:57 - Turning VA Claims Education Into Generational Knowledge21:53 - Free VA Claims Education, Books, and Webinars26:24 - BDD Claims, Medical Documentation, and Preparing Before Separation29:38 - VA Benefits Navigator and Personalized Lay Statements31:35 - Closing & ResourcesConnect with VET S.O.S.Website: https://vetsospodcast.comTwitter/X: https://x.com/vetsospodcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetsospodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vetsospodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/vetsospodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetsospodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vetsospodcastSupport the Mission: https://givebutter.com/vetsosDon't drown in the sea of transition — grab the lifeline.#VETSOS #GrabTheLifeline #HeroesMediaGRP #MilitaryTransition #VADisability #Veterans #MilitaryLife

Military spouses are told to be resilient. But what happens when resilience becomes an excuse to ignore their struggles?After nearly 20 years navigating military life, author and advocate Allison Burton has had enough of the silence surrounding military spouse challenges. Her book, Silent Ranks, Loud Burdens: Invisible, Indispensable, Ignored, exposes the realities of deployments, childcare shortages, discrimination, career sacrifices, and the invisible responsibilities military families carry.In this candid conversation with VET S.O.S. hosts Shawn Welsh and Keith Cassant, Allison challenges the military community to stop celebrating resilience while overlooking the policies and systems that leave spouses struggling. From her husband's unexpected deployment just 72 hours after arriving in Germany to her ongoing fight for childcare access, Allison explains why military spouses deserve more than recognition. They deserve a voice in decisions affecting their families.In This Episode, You'll Discover:• Recognize the hidden costs of military life: Understand why constant relocations, deployment uncertainty, inadequate housing, and limited childcare create challenges that resilience alone cannot solve.• Advocate for military family childcare: Learn why Allison identifies childcare as her top priority and how she's challenging her installation to provide respite care outlined in Army policy.• Navigate deployment and reintegration: Hear how Allison's family received unexpected deployment orders within 72 hours of arriving in Germany and why returning service members and spouses both need time to readjust.• Translate military spouse experience into career opportunities: Discover why Allison believes military spouses are experienced project managers whose leadership, logistics, fundraising, and community-building skills deserve recognition by civilian employers.• Challenge discrimination within the spouse community: Explore the exclusion experienced by foreign-born military spouses and why Allison believes every spouse deserves respect, regardless of background or military status.About Allison BurtonAllison Burton is a military spouse, author, speaker, and advocate who has spent nearly two decades navigating Army family life alongside her active-duty husband. She is the author of Silent Ranks, Loud Burdens: Invisible, Indispensable, Ignored, which examines the challenges military spouses are often expected to endure quietly.Through writing, speaking, and consulting, Allison advocates for stronger military family support, improved childcare access, and recognition of military spouses' professional capabilities.Connect with Allison: https://allisonburton.coSupport the MissionIf this episode helped you, please follow the show and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — open the app, search VET S.O.S., scroll down, and tap "Write a Review." It takes 30 seconds and puts this show in front of a veteran who needs it right now.Explore the Full VET S.O.S. Network▶ VET S.O.S. — Flagship Show
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Operation Startup
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▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Testimony StrongConnect with VET S.O.S.Website: https://vetsospodcast.comX: https://x.com/vetsospodcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetsospodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vetsospodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/vetsospodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetsospodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vetsospodcastSupport Our Mission: https://givebutter.com/vetsosDon't drown in the sea of transition — grab the lifeline.#VETSOS #MilitarySpouse #MilitaryLife #MilitaryTransition #VeteranPodcast #GrabTheLifeline #HeroesMediaGRP

Most veterans are taught how to serve—not how to become someone new afterward. Music can help rebuild what comes next.Taylor Ullom discovered that recovery requires more than a short-term program. After receiving her own PTSD diagnosis, the Air Force veteran recognized that she had spent years trying to “outserve” her own struggles by helping others. That realization eventually helped shape Heroes Encore: a nine-month journey using music to rebuild purpose, identity, confidence, and belonging.In This Episode, You'll Discover:• Understand why transition can become an identity problem, especially after years spent in a military system that taught you what to do, how to think, and where you belonged.• Explore Heroes Encore's three-stage approach using guitar and bass instruction, songwriting, vocal lessons, and live performance to move participants from “peer to performer.”• Challenge the belief that you have to be musical to belong. Taylor explains why everyone can have a role—from playing an instrument to running sound, setting lights, maintaining equipment, or simply finding another way to contribute.• Hear what happens when people begin showing up again. Taylor shares how participants who once struggled to speak, make eye contact, or enter public spaces have gone on to volunteer for performances and even release their own music.About Taylor UllomTaylor Ullom is a U.S. Air Force veteran, singer-songwriter, mental health advocate, and founder and executive director of Heroes Encore. After 10 years of Air Force service and more than a decade working in veteran programming, nonprofit leadership, advocacy, and community building, she founded Heroes Encore in 2025 to help veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders rediscover identity, purpose, and belonging through music.Follow & ReviewIf this episode helped you, please follow the show and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — open the app, search VET S.O.S., scroll down, and tap “Write a Review.” It takes 30 seconds and puts this show in front of a veteran who needs it right now.Episode Chapters00:00 — Introduction: Music, Purpose & Healing
01:07 — Meet Taylor Ullom
02:51 — 10 Years in the Air Force
09:12 — Losing Connection After Military Service
10:15 — PTSD, Recovery & Trying to “Outserve” Your Struggles
12:00 — Why Heroes Encore Became a Nine-Month Program
13:00 — Who Teaches Veterans How to “Detransition”?
14:00 — Stage One: Learning Guitar & Understanding Stress
16:00 — Stage Two: Songwriting, Creativity & Identity
17:00 — Stage Three: Vocal Training & Live Performance
20:49 — “There's a Place for You to Belong”
21:59 — Creativity, Neuroplasticity & Recovery
27:44 — How to Join or Support Heroes Encore
29:54 — Closing & ResourcesExplore the Full VET S.O.S. Network▶ VET S.O.S. — Flagship Show
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Operation Startup
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▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Testimony StrongConnect with VET S.O.S.Website: vetsospodcast.com
Twitter: @vetsospodcast
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Veteran homelessness rarely starts with losing a home. It starts when the support system underneath someone disappears.Veteran homelessness is more complicated than housing—and Bruce Buckley has spent more than two decades learning what it takes to create lasting stability.In this conversation, Bruce explains how Soldier On evolved from transitional housing into a comprehensive support system serving thousands of veterans. From furnished permanent housing and mobile SSVF teams to peer support, healthcare navigation, financial literacy, and landlords willing to work alongside veterans, this episode shows what can happen when the goal isn't simply getting someone off the street—it's helping them stay there.In this episode, you'll discover:• Recognize why homelessness often develops over years, as broken relationships, financial struggles, health challenges, pride, and the loss of a reliable support system begin stacking up.• Understand why housing alone isn't enough and how Soldier On combines affordable housing with case management, meals, transportation, healthcare coordination, and ongoing support.• See how mobile SSVF teams reach veterans where they are, including emergency hotel placement, landlord navigation, healthcare assistance, and peer support instead of requiring veterans to find their way through the system alone.• Learn why Soldier On believes recovery may require multiple attempts, including Bruce's story of a veteran who has experienced repeated alcohol relapses but has retained his housing while continuing to receive treatment and support.About Bruce Buckley:Bruce Buckley is President and CEO of Soldier On, a nonprofit dedicated to ending veteran homelessness. Bruce is not a veteran; he is a CPA by training who became involved with Soldier On in 2002, when the organization had only a handful of employees, and eventually developed a deeply personal commitment to the veterans it serves.Under his leadership, Soldier On has expanded its housing and support programs across Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Bruce also serves as Treasurer of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.🎙️ If this episode helped you, please follow the show and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — open the app, search VET S.O.S., scroll down, and tap "Write a Review." It takes 30 seconds and puts this show in front of a veteran who needs it right now.⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00 — Introduction: The Fight to End Veteran Homelessness
02:23 — How Bruce Buckley Found His Mission at Soldier On
04:54 — Homelessness and the Missing Support System
06:54 — Why Veterans Can Become Vulnerable Years After Service
09:49 — How Soldier On's Housing Model Works
13:00 — From Transitional Housing to Permanent Supportive Housing
17:00 — Meals, Case Management, Transportation & Healthcare
20:42 — Who Qualifies for Soldier On Housing?
23:08 — Responding When a Veteran Needs Housing Now
23:13 — SSVF: Taking Services Directly to Veterans
27:20 — “Serve the Veteran”: The Culture Behind Soldier On
30:06 — Why Hope and Human Connection Matter
31:45 — How Veterans Can Get Help & Additional Resources
34:01 — Closing & Resources🎧 Explore the Full VET S.O.S. Network:▶ VET S.O.S. — Flagship Show
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Your military skills may qualify you for the job. Your people skills may determine whether you actually get it.Meegan Kriley-Mackay knows that distinction firsthand. After watching her former spouse—a highly experienced Air Force C-17 pilot—struggle in civilian job interviews, she realized technical expertise wasn't the problem. He had the skills to do the job but needed the people skills to get the job.That experience helped launch the Skills for Life Foundation and a methodology designed to strengthen the human intelligence veterans, military spouses, and families need to communicate, adapt, and lead beyond the uniform.In this episode, you'll discover:• Translate your military expertise into human connection by understanding why technical qualifications alone may not carry you through a civilian interview.• Apply the LIFE methodology—Look and Listen, Imagine, Focus, Empower—to recognize old patterns, assess what's happening now, and deliberately move toward a new goal.• Strengthen your human intelligence by developing EQ, SQ, AQ, situational awareness, nonverbal communication, and other people skills that Meegan says can be learned and improved.• Understand why AI makes human intelligence even more important, and why Meegan believes developing HI alongside AI will be critical for the future of leadership and work.About Meegan Kriley-MackayMeegan Kriley-Mackay is a military spouse, former U.S. Department of Defense Human Intelligence Specialist, certified interrogator, author, leadership strategist, and founder of the Skills for Life Foundation. Her transition work grew from helping her former spouse, an Air Force C-17 pilot, develop the people skills he needed to successfully move into commercial aviation.Her work now combines human intelligence, neuroscience, communication, and leadership to help transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses, and families prepare for life beyond the uniform.If this episode helped you, please follow the show and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — open the app, search VET S.O.S., scroll down, and tap "Write a Review." It takes 30 seconds and puts this show in front of a veteran who needs it right now.Explore the Full VET S.O.S. Network▶ VET S.O.S. — Flagship Show
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EPISODE PREMISEAI is changing the workforce. Veterans can fear the change—or learn how to put it to work.AI doesn't have to replace your experience—it can extend what you already know.Ted Adair and Kris Saling break down how AI Mission Ready helps veterans, military spouses, and caregivers move beyond AI hype and build practical tools for real problems. The bigger conversation goes deeper than technology: identity after service, rebuilding structure, finding purpose, and preparing yourself for a workforce changing faster than traditional transition programs can keep up.In this episode, you'll discover:• Learn why Kris says AI takes over tasks—not jobs—and why your experience and domain knowledge still matter when evaluating what AI produces.• See how an 82nd Airborne veteran built an AI agent to triage community emails, prioritize issues, and turn hours of administrative work into roughly 15 minutes a day.• Recognize why trying to copy and paste the entire military ecosystem into your first civilian job can leave you struggling with identity, structure, community, and purpose.• Understand the AI Mission Ready model: practical training, live coaching, small "fire teams," and a requirement to finish with a functional asset—not just another certificate.About Ted Adair & Kris SalingTed Adair is a fourth-generation Army combat veteran and former field artillery officer who completed two deployments, including a 14-month combat tour in Iraq. After two decades in federal consulting and growth strategy, he founded Oath & Oak to help veterans, military spouses, and caregivers build economic agency in an AI-enabled world.Kris Saling is a people analytics and talent management expert, Director of Workforce Transformation at IBR, author of Data-Driven Talent Management, and founder of the Navigator Foundation. Her experience at the intersection of workforce transformation, data, technology, and people brings an important perspective to understanding what AI can—and cannot—do.🎙️ If this episode helped you, please follow the show and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — open the app, search VET S.O.S., scroll down, and tap "Write a Review." It takes 30 seconds and puts this show in front of a veteran who needs it right now.🎧 Explore the Full VET S.O.S. Network▶ VET S.O.S. — Flagship Show
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Operation Startup
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▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Testimony Strong🔗 Connect with VET S.O.S.Website: vetsospodcast.com
Twitter: @vetsospodcast
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VET S.O.S. — Veteran Transition, Resources & Brain HealthWhat if your lingering concussion symptoms aren't coming only from your brain—but from an injury everyone missed?A veteran can have clear scans and still battle headaches, brain fog, dizziness, sleep problems, and hypervigilance years after a mild traumatic brain injury. Army veteran Dr. Chris Slininger believes part of the problem may be that we're examining the brain while overlooking what happened to the neck during the same blast, impact, or concussion.In this episode, Dr. Slininger breaks down his research into the craniocervical junction and explains why asking "What did the kinetic force do?" may be more useful than simply asking where someone was hit.In this episode, you'll discover:• Recognize common long-term MTBI symptoms—including headaches, migraines, dizziness, brain fog, cognitive decline, sleep disruption, and persistent fight-or-flight responses.• Understand why Dr. Slininger believes the upper cervical spine deserves greater attention after blast exposure, concussions, airborne injuries, vehicle accidents, and other high-force events common in military service.• Learn how neurological communication, blood flow, and cerebrospinal fluid flow factor into his theory about the relationship between the upper neck and brain function.• Explore the veteran MTBI research he's building—from an initial 10-person pilot to a planned 400-person randomized controlled trial comparing brain-focused and craniocervical interventions, including former NFL players as a comparison group.About Dr. Chris SliningerDr. Chris Slininger is a U.S. Army Reserve veteran who deployed to Kuwait in 2004–2005 and served in both the Engineer Corps and Medical Corps. His exposure to service members dealing with blast-related injuries helped drive his focus toward brain health and the invisible wounds associated with MTBI.Today, his clinical work focuses on complex neurological conditions and the craniocervical junction. He is leading research examining whether upper cervical correction can affect persistent symptoms associated with mild traumatic brain injury in veterans.Learn more:
cerebralchiropractic.com
mtbiresearch.comSupport VET S.O.S.If this episode helped you, please follow the show and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — open the app, search VET S.O.S., scroll down, and tap "Write a Review." It takes 30 seconds and puts this show in front of a veteran who needs it right now.Episode Chapters00:00 — Introduction: Back Pain, Brain Health & the Invisible Wound
03:36 — Dr. Slininger's Army Service and Transition
08:33 — Fighting Red Tape to Continue the Mission
09:31 — How Does the Spine Affect the Brain?
15:07 — What a Concussion Can Do to the Neck
19:38 — Building a Veteran MTBI Research Study
21:36 — Battlefield vs. Playing Field: Veterans and NFL Players
24:28 — Precision Upper Cervical Correction Explained
28:17 — Headaches, Brain Fog, Dizziness & Hypervigilance
31:12 — Dr. Slininger's Own History of Multiple MTBIs
33:18 — Research, Resources & How to Get Involved
35:06 — Closing & ResourcesExplore the Full VET S.O.S. Network▶ VET S.O.S. — Flagship Show
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Getting a veteran off the street solves tonight's problem. Recovery means rebuilding what comes next.Five Star Veteran Center CEO John Bear explains why his organization is not a shelter—it's a recovery program designed to help veterans regain stability and independence. After his own transition from a 32-year Navy career, John now leads a team addressing veteran homelessness through three interconnected pillars: mental health, financial stability, and physical health. This conversation gets especially powerful when John shares the story of a veteran who arrived battling addiction and anger. Through Veterans Treatment Court, Five Star, and skilled-trades training, he became drug- and alcohol-free, earned three certifications, secured an electrical apprenticeship, found permanent housing, and began rebuilding his relationship with his daughter as he became a grandfather. In this episode, you'll discover:• Understand why housing alone isn't enough and how Five Star prepares veterans to become self-sustaining rather than simply providing a temporary bed.• Recognize the role mental health plays in veteran homelessness, including why John believes professional support for the trauma surrounding housing instability is essential to long-term recovery. • See what a complete turnaround can look like through one veteran's journey from addiction and legal trouble to certifications, employment, housing, and renewed family connection.• Apply John's military transition lessons, from using Onward Opportunity to earn a project management certification to networking his way through a civilian employment system dominated by online applications and AI resume screening. About John BearJohn Bear retired from the U.S. Navy after 32 years, rising from enlisted nuclear machinist mate to commissioned Surface Warfare Officer through the Seaman to Admiral-21 program. His career culminated in command of the USS St. Louis. Today, he serves as CEO of Five Star Veteran Center, helping veterans facing homelessness and housing instability build independent, stable lives. If this episode helped you, please follow the show and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — open the app, search VET S.O.S., scroll down, and tap “Write a Review.” It takes 30 seconds and puts this show in front of a veteran who needs it right now.Episode Chapters00:00 - Introduction
03:08 - Leaving the Navy After 32 Years
05:00 - AI, Resumes & the Modern Veteran Job Search
08:38 - Why Networking Still Matters
10:56 - Five Star Veteran Center: More Than a Shelter
13:00 - The Three Pillars of Veteran Recovery
16:18 - Former Residents Helping Other Veterans
18:28 - Community Partnerships & Food Security
21:54 - From Addiction and Homelessness to a New Career
26:07 - Expanding Five Star to Serve Women Veterans
27:09 - How Veterans Can Find Help
28:03 - Closing & ResourcesExplore the Full VET S.O.S. Network▶ VET S.O.S. — Flagship Show▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Operation Startup▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Learning Lifeline▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: The Scoop▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Testimony StrongConnect with VET S.O.S.Website: vetsospodcast.com
Twitter: @vetsospodcast
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vetsospodcast
YouTube: youtube.com/@vetsospodcast
Facebook: facebook.com/vetsospodcast
Instagram: instagram.com/vetsospodcast
TikTok: tiktok.com/@vetsospodcastDon't drown in the sea of transition — grab the lifeline.#VETSOS #VeteranPodcast #GrabTheLifeline #HeroesMediaGRP #VeteranHomelessness #VeteranSupport #MilitaryTransition #Veterans #MilitaryLife

📻 VET S.O.S. — Veteran Support / Mental Health / TransitionA service dog can help a veteran with PTSD reclaim places, relationships, and parts of life they thought they'd lost.Daniel Bean has seen that transformation happen in a matter of weeks. As CEO, General Counsel, and Board Chair of K9s For Warriors, he explains why pairing a veteran with the right service dog is about far more than companionship—and why the organization says it is "saving lives on both sides of the leash."This conversation also takes an unexpected turn into Bean's own military transition, including the remarkable story of suing the United States Navy while serving as a Navy JAG reservist, winning the case, and watching that decision ultimately help propel his civilian legal career.In this episode, you'll discover:• Understand why a service dog isn't simply a pet—and how it can help a veteran with post-traumatic stress enter environments that previously felt unsafe or overwhelming.• Learn how K9s For Warriors matches the dog to the veteran, studying the personalities of both rather than simply assigning the next available animal.• Hear what Daniel sees during the three-week training process, from veterans arriving with little eye contact and closed-off body language to beginning to engage, communicate, and rebuild confidence.• Discover the story behind K9s For Warriors, beginning with Shari Duval's determination to help her son Brett after he returned from Iraq and seeing the difference their family dog made.• Hear why Daniel believes doing the right thing can require professional risk, including his decision to represent a Navy nurse against the Navy—and the unexpected opportunity that followed.About Daniel BeanCaptain Daniel Bean served 25 years in the U.S. Navy, beginning as a Surface Warfare Officer before being selected for the Navy's Law Education Program and continuing his career in the Judge Advocate General's Corps.Today, he serves as CEO, General Counsel, and Board Chair of K9s For Warriors, which has paired more than 1,300 veterans with service dogs while rescuing more than 2,500 dogs. Its mission is focused on ending veteran suicide and improving the lives of veterans living with post-traumatic stress.Connect with K9s For WarriorsWebsite: k9sforwarriors.orgWhether you're a veteran interested in a service dog or someone looking to support the mission, visit K9s For Warriors to learn more.Follow & ReviewIf this episode helped you, please follow the show and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — open the app, search VET S.O.S., scroll down, and tap "Write a Review." It takes 30 seconds and puts this show in front of a veteran who needs it right now.Explore the Full VET S.O.S. Network▶ VET S.O.S. — Flagship Show
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Operation Startup
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Learning Lifeline
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: The Scoop
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Testimony StrongConnect with VET S.O.S.Website: vetsospodcast.com
Twitter: @vetsospodcast
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vetsospodcast
YouTube: youtube.com/@vetsospodcast
Facebook: facebook.com/vetsospodcast
Instagram: instagram.com/vetsospodcast
TikTok: tiktok.com/@vetsospodcastDon't drown in the sea of transition — grab the lifeline.#VETSOS #VeteranPodcast #GrabTheLifeline #HeroesMediaGRP
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Veterans don't lose jobs because of experience—they lose them in the interview. Here's how to change that.Landing a civilian job takes more than a great résumé. It takes confidence, preparation, and knowing how to communicate your military experience in a way hiring managers understand.In this episode of VET S.O.S., Shawn Welsh and Keith Cassant welcome Pat Hubbell, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Candorful, to unpack one of the biggest challenges veterans face during transition: interviewing. Pat explains why veterans are often fully qualified for civilian careers but struggle to sell themselves in interviews, and how realistic mock interviews with experienced hiring managers can dramatically improve confidence, performance, and hiring outcomes. In This Episode, You'll Discover:• Learn why practicing three or more mock interviews can dramatically improve your confidence before the real interview. • Understand why veterans are prepared for civilian jobs—but often not prepared for civilian interviews—and how to bridge that gap. • Discover why networking leads to nearly 80% of job opportunities and hear practical advice on building relationships that open doors. • Hear how Candorful connects veterans and military spouses with volunteer hiring managers from companies like Amazon, Oracle, Dell, Verizon, and PwC for real-world interview coaching. • Gain insight into what hiring managers should focus on when interviewing veterans—including why character matters more than assumptions or first impressions. About Pat HubbellPat Hubbell is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Candorful, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses succeed in civilian careers through personalized interview coaching. With more than four decades of experience in engineering, management consulting, higher education, and career development, she has helped thousands navigate career transitions. Pat also serves on the FourBlock Foundation Board, expanding opportunities for veterans across the country. Featured Quote"Veterans are prepared for civilian jobs. They're just not prepared for civilian interviews." If this episode helped you...Please follow VET S.O.S. and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Open the Apple Podcasts app, search VET S.O.S., scroll to the Ratings & Reviews section, and tap "Write a Review." It only takes about 30 seconds, and it helps another veteran discover the resources and support they need during transition.Episode Chapters00:00 – Introduction01:29 – Meet Pat Hubbell & the Mission Behind Candorful07:57 – Why Mock Interviews Work12:23 – Building Confidence Through Practice20:32 – FourBlock Partnership & Future Growth21:42 – Why Networking Beats Online Applications25:40 – Advice for Hiring Managers30:09 – How to Get Started with Candorful32:08 – Closing & ResourcesExplore the VET S.O.S. Network▶ VET S.O.S. — Flagship Show▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Operation Startup▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Learning Lifeline▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: The Scoop▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Testimony StrongConnect with VET S.O.S.Website: https://vetsospodcast.comSubstack: https://substack.com/@vetsosYouTube: https://youtube.com/@vetsospodcastLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/vetsospodcastFacebook: https://facebook.com/vetsospodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/vetsospodcastX: https://x.com/vetsospodcastTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@vetsospodcast#VETSOS #VeteranPodcast #GrabTheLifeline #HeroesMediaGRP #VeteranTransition #MilitaryCareers #CareerDevelopment