Veteran Cast

On this week's Veteran Cast, we are joined by Michael Fickert, Senior Project Manager of Purple Heart 3, a Veteran Owned & Veteran employed security company out of Indianapolis. Michael joins Veteran Cast to talk about his background in the Army, and then trying to find his purpose again after transitioning into the civilian world. Purple Heart 3 helped Michael find that purpose, and his passion for the organization & their mission is prevalent when he talks. PH3’s main mission is to ensure that the suicide rate among returning combat veterans is reduced.

Special Guest: Michael Fickert.

Sponsored By:

• Veterans Media: Please register on Veterans Media so we can be in contact with new events, podcasts, and other offers.

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• PH3 LLC — The principals of PH3 are all former, wounded combat Infantrymen and are dedicated to serving others. PH3 hires Veterans that have completed a rigorous vetting process, training, and certification. As well as Patriots, ODLE, DOC, or Retired LEO's for some contracts that call for them.

On this week's Veteran Cast, we take a bit of a break from Veteran's affairs and speak to entrepreneur Scott Melby. Scott is a US Marine who founded Indy Custom Cornhole. Indy Custom Cornhole is the first and largest cornhole business in Indiana, starting in 2003, Scott has run over 1400 tournaments, sold thousands of boards and bags and now focus more on the rental sets and monthly competetive cornhole tournaments which feed into a national rankings of over 7000 players that qualify to compete at World Championships every summer.

Special Guest: Scott Melby.

Sponsored By:

• Veterans Media: Please register on Veterans Media so we can be in contact with new events, podcasts, and other offers.

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• Indy Custom Cornhole — Indy Custom Cornhole has built over 1000 custom sets, including sets for Google, ESPN, IU, Ball State University, Indiana Pacers, Fever and Ice, Indianapolis Colts and Indians, Chipotle, Qdoba, The Fiesta & Rose Bowls and National Championship games.
• 2018 Run As One — Run As One is held in honor of Marine veteran Clay Hunt, an original member of Team Rubicon, Mission Continues Fellow, and avid sportsman, who took his own life after battling PTSD and depression. Clay was an active participant in many veteran organizations and the event serves as a celebration of the networks that empower, unite, and enrich the lives of veterans. It is a symbol of leadership, action, and collaboration across the veteran landscape globally and within our local communities.

Team Rubicon’s primary mission is providing disaster relief to those affected by natural disasters, be they domestic or international. By pairing the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders, medical professionals, and technology solutions, Team Rubicon aims to provide the greatest service and impact possible.

Through continued service, Team Rubicon seeks to provide our veterans with three things they lose after leaving the military: a purpose, gained through disaster relief; community, built by serving with others; and identity, from recognizing the impact one individual can make. Coupled with leadership development and other opportunities, Team Rubicon looks to help veterans transition from military to civilian life.

Serving the Underserved. Across the world, disasters are a part of life. No corner of the globe is spared from severe weather – be it crippling winter storms, catastrophic hurricanes, or unchecked wildfires.

By focusing on underserved or economically-challenged communities, Team Rubicon seeks to makes the largest impact possible. Disasters represent a massive financial cost, and by providing immediate relief work, free of cost, TR aims to help communities begin recovery sooner.

Special Guest: Barry Pemberton.

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• Team Rubicon — Team Rubicon is nonprofit that utilizes the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. Founded in 2010, Team Rubicon has deployed across the United States and around the world to provide immediate relief to those impacted by disasters and humanitarian crises.
• 2018 Run As One — Run As One is held in honor of Marine veteran Clay Hunt, an original member of Team Rubicon, Mission Continues Fellow, and avid sportsman, who took his own life after battling PTSD and depression. Clay was an active participant in many veteran organizations and the event serves as a celebration of the networks that empower, unite, and enrich the lives of veterans. It is a symbol of leadership, action, and collaboration across the veteran landscape globally and within our local communities.

Since their founding, The Mission Continues has always been a nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to bringing together veterans and innovative community organizations to create transformational change for communities in need all across the country.

Their operations in cities nationwide deploy veteran volunteers alongside non-profit partners and community leaders to solve some of the most challenging issues facing our communities: improving community education resources, eliminating food deserts, mentoring at-risk youth and more.

Through this unique model, veterans build new skills and networks that help them successfully reintegrate to life after the military while making long-term, sustainable transformations in communities and inspiring future generations to serve.

We interview an Indianapolis City Impact Manager (Emily) and regional Platoon Leader (Jonathan) to find out how Veterans can get involved and what the impact is to the community.

Special Guests: Emily Ferstle Angus and Jonathan Vatovec.

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• The Mission Continues — The Mission Continues empowers veterans who are adjusting to life at home to find purpose through community impact. We deploy veterans on new missions in their communities, so that their actions will inspire future generations to serve.
• 2018 Run As One — Join us once again for the 7th Annual Run As One. Together with our friends from Team Rubicon and The Mission Continues, we'll run/walk/ride/crawl one lap (3 miles) around the Downtown Canal in Indy. Immediately afterward, we'll be hosting a lunch social at Burgerhaus right on the canal for all participants.
• The Mission Continues - Indianapolis — Join the Indianapolis chapter page of Facebook to keep up on the projects that The Mission Continues regionally.

Salesforce created the Vetforce program to build connections between our ecosystem and the military community. Veterans and spouses embark on one or more learning journeys where they receive structured, self-paced Salesforce training, collaborate in an online community, achieve Salesforce certification, and get connected to high-demand and high-wage employment opportunities in our ecosystem of more than 150,000 customers.

Vetforce is also the internal employee resource group that fosters a strong military community at Salesforce. In this interview, we speak with James Deal, a Veteran and Salesforce employee about his transition, the Vetforce program, and how it impacts Veterans' lives.

Special Guest: James Deal.

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• Vetforce — Salesforce is the world's #1 Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution and fastest growing enterprise software company. Equality is one of our core values, and Vetforce is our program to increase the number of veterans in cloud computing careers. At Salesforce, we not only hire and support veterans and spouses, but we also invest in military talent to support our customers.

Operation: Job Ready Veterans™ (OJRV) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preparing veterans, service members and military families for successful employment by connecting them with employers that seek top quality, well-trained employees. We make a personal connection and assist veterans of all eras and ability levels with their employment and career goals.

OJRV was founded in 2007 as the Crane Learning and Employment Center for Veterans with Disabilities – with a focus on helping veterans find employment at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, located in Southwest Indiana.

As the organization grew to serve veterans in Central Indiana, the group changed its name to the Career Learning and Employment Center for Veterans (CLEC). CLEC is a 501(c)3 organization. In 2012, the organization opened the program to all veterans and moved its headquarters to Indianapolis. In 2013, CLEC adopted the d/b/a, Operation: Job Ready Veterans, to more clearly communicate our mission.

Special Guests: Mike Espinda and Tom Reust.

Sponsored By:

• Tech Warriors: The Speak Easy, with coworking locations throughout Indianapolis, is offering a Veteran Membership of just $25 per month. Promo Code: Vets

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• Operation: Job Ready Veterans — Operation: Job Ready Veterans™ (OJRV) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preparing veterans, service members, military spouses and caregivers for successful employment by connecting them with employers that seek top quality, well-trained employees.
• Tech Warriors Part II: March 6, 2018 — The Speak Easy is proud to host Part II of our quarterly event, Tech Warriors. Tech Warriors seeks to connect Veterans with opportunities in local tech companies and educate tech leaders on the advantages of hiring veterans.

Eleven Fifty's coding academy provides immersive learning programs that help you develop into polished entry-level professionals in weeks not years. They recognize that people in their program are looking to launch or change your career immediately.

In this interview with John Qualls, he shares his experiences as an enlisted Marine, how that prepared him for a career in technology, and what his mission is at Eleven Fifty Academy.

Special Guest: John Qualls.

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• Eleven Fifty Academy — Eleven Fifty Academy is bridging the growing technology skills gap by providing immersive training for coders of all skill levels. From introductory coding bootcamps to multi-tiered, advanced learning programs, Eleven Fifty Academy has a program for you.

The Taylor brothers both served in combat - Scott as an F-15 Fighter Pilot in the Air Force and Ted as an EOD Chief in the Navy. The experiences and transition for these two warriors were starkly different. We discuss the challenges of their journeys here, including post-traumatic stress, and encourage others to listen and get the assistance they need.

As part of the conversation, we also discuss the YMCA's new initiative to serve all Veterans and are building a facility in Indiana specific to treating our warriors returning home.

Special Guests: Scott Taylor and Ted Taylor.

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• YLovesVets — YLovesVets – these are words the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis is committed to. Every one of us can pitch in to keep veterans and their families strong. Help us pioneer a new kind of YMCA that blends the best community programs with specialized services for veterans and active military.

In 2013, 3rd Ranger Battalion combat veteran Cory Smith highlighted the difficult transition so many veterans face by making a very difficult, public and personal transition. Cory ran from Columbus, GA to Indianapolis, IN – 565 miles - to his daughter. His example is now a national movement called Run Ranger Run where individuals and teams from around the country raise funds and awareness to assist in the transition from active military to civilian life.

You can join Cory to make a difference right where you are, and bring awareness to the difficult transition many of our honored military veterans face. A team of up to ten individuals will pledge to walk, run and/or ride bicycles a combined total of 565 miles in the month of February (usually 28 days). Teams may be formed from anywhere in the world and your miles can be logged from the comfort of your own home. As a collective, all participants will raise funds for GallantFew and increase awareness for veteran issues surrounding the transition from active military service to civilian life.

Special Guest: Cory Smith.

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• Run Ranger Run — A team of up to ten individuals will pledge to walk, run and/or ride bicycles a combined total of 565 miles in the month of February (usually 28 days). Teams may be formed from anywhere in the world and your miles can be logged from the comfort of your own home. As a collective, all participants will raise funds for GallantFew and increase awareness for veteran issues surrounding the transition from active military service to civilian life.
• GallantFew — GallantFew’s mission is to prevent veteran isolation by connecting new veterans with hometown veteran mentors, thereby facilitating a peaceful, successful transition from military service to a civilian life filled with hope and purpose.

The Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) is strengthening America’s national character. In an increasingly divisive cultural climate, they unite and strengthen communities. Our nation needs role models that inspire and we should look no further than the civic assets already living in our communities. Veterans and families of the fallen are leading the charge, pushing us to be better versions of ourselves and improving our collective character.

In this episode, we speak to Courtney Mitchell, Director of Development for the Travis Manion Foundation, where she manages the organization's growth and strategy through its national strategic partners.

Special Guest: Courtney Mitchell.

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• Travis Manion Foundation — TMF Ambassadors develop character and leadership skills in young adults. Grounded in the evidence-based field of Positive Psychology, they use a strengths-based approach to develop character traits in the next generation through a combination of informal discussions and activity-based learning.
• 12 Strong — A powerful new war drama that tells the declassified true story of the first American soldiers sent into Afghanistan after 9/11. “12 Strong” is set in the harrowing days following 9/11 when an elite U.S. Special Forces unit, led by their Captain, Mitch Nelson (Hemsworth), is chosen to be the first U.S. soldiers sent into Afghanistan for an extremely dangerous mission in response to the attacks.